EHF Faktura and Other Documents That Can Be Sent Using EHF

EHF is often considered a format used only for e-invoicing but that is far from true. This standard format for data exchange between businesses for trade purposes is used for orders, despatches, and even catalogues, making it integral to e-procurement.

It is estimated that there is an 80% difference in the time spent during manual procurement processes and e-procurement processes (oxfordcollegeofprocurementandsupply.com, THE BENEFITS OF E-PROCUREMENT, 2014). The procurement process when done electronically includes using electronic catalogues, requisition forms, order slips, invoices, etc.

EHF is the standard format used in Norway for electronic invoices, credit notes, collection letters, and other documents sent electronically for e-procurement and e-invoicing purposes. A standard format allows for an easy digital interface between suppliers and buyers, which is faster and cheaper, because of the use of standard processes and an open infrastructure. Listed below are the different types of documents that can be used sending Elektronisk Handelsformat or EHF.

EHF Faktura

With an EHF invoice system, buyers and sellers need to fill in the requisite pieces of information and then submit it to the system. The electronic invoice with the order number is matched against the order placed and then transferred to the accounts department for payments. This saves both the buyer and the seller a lot of money and translates into a more optimized system.

EHF Orders

Buyers and sellers using EHF are not limited to using the electronic commerce format for invoices only. There are standardized messages developed to exchange orders electronically. This standardizes the process of ordering by ensuring that the information being transmitted is what the sellers and buyers need. Order messages also allow for whole or partial responses to the order depending on changes required. This eliminates unnecessary delays.

EHF Catalogue

A standard product and service list which has been developed in collaboration with Open Peppol and CEN (a European Standardization Organization), EHF catalogue is a service catalogue or a product and service list. It allows sellers to showcase their product/service range electronically in a standard way for public and private sectors. These catalogues are often integrated with a search engine to allow easy searching of different elements.

EHF Despatch

During the procurement and then fulfilment processes, EHF despatch messages are used by sellers to send details about the despatch of goods and delivery timelines to the buyers. Despatch messages also include details about the goods being sent and how they were packed. This ensures that the buyer has all the information about the care of the goods that have been ordered and that all information can be cross checked.

According to estimates, using faktura på nett or e-invoicing alone can save businesses in Europe approximately EUR 64.5 billion annually (ec.europa.eu, E-INVOICING, 2016). Using standard EHF for all aspects of e-procurement and delivery can translate into huge savings for governments and businesses. Companies like Basware which provide purchase-to-pay, e-invoicing and financing services, especially for corporations and small organizations, are perfect partners to help organizations increase savings and optimize operations.

For every business process and aspect, there are always questions as to which functions should be conducted with premise-based solution or which ones should be outsourced.