EHF-Faktura and Other PEPPOL Specifications for Procurements

Compliance with PEPPOL standards and regulations ensures that businesses in Europe have better interoperability in their trade and procurement processes, particularly when dealing with trans-boundary operations. The following are some PEPPOL specifications such the use of as EHF documents, etc.PEPPOL stands for Pan-European Public Procurement Online and is an international project that has been actively in work since 2005. PEPPOL aims to have trans-boundary electronic trade standardized across the European Union member states, particularly for public procurements. The OpenPEPPOL Association, founded in 2012, has various guidelines and mandatory regulations monitoring specifications that allow businesses in Europe to deal with each other electronically in an easy manner without any interoperability issues (peppol.eu, "ABOUT OPENPEPPOL", 2014).

The use of electronic invoices that conform to a particular format, for example, is one such mandatory requirement. An EHF-faktura is an ElektroniskHandelsformatinvoice that complies with PEPPOL’s Business Interoperability Specifications (BIS). Making use of such standardized formats and processes helps business streamline procurement and billing processes. The following are more details on PEPPOL specifications for easy cross-boundary trade in the EU:

Accounts Automation

Automating accounts processes is the first step towards being able to conduct trade and business in a hassle free manner, particularly in the EU or those countries working in close relation with EU states. Automation means that the purchase-to-pay process takes place from start to finish in a fast, efficient manner. Businesses would also be able to save on paper and postage costs where invoices are concerned. With e-invoicing, payments also take place faster and with fewer errors, which can help businesses better manage their cash flow (Norwegian Communications Authority, "ELECTRONIC INVOICES (EHF)", 2016)

EHF Documents

In order to be compliant with the applicable regulations, businesses in Norway have to follow a certain standard electronic commerce format for all documents exchanged with other businesses, suppliers, buyers, etc. These documents could be eCatalogues, eDespatch Advices, eOrders and eInvoices and they have to be in the EHF format which is a format compliant with PEPPOL BIS. In Norway, any trade or procurement undertaken with the public sector has to compulsorily be done with EHF faktura format for payments. For example, the Norwegian Communications Authority (Nkom) EHF documents for their various dealings.

Access Point Providers

An access point (AP) connects businesses and communities electronically so that there can be a free and easy exchange of data, documents, communication, etc. In order to electronicallytransfer business documents through automated procurement and invoicing systems, for example sending and receiving e-invoices, businesses would need to make use of an access point. PEPPOL access point services are offered by access point providers who are part of PEPPOL’s community and who are in compliance with PEPPOL standards and regulations. PEPPOL lists certified access point providers on its website. One company in Norway that is in compliance with all standard regulations and is a PEPPOL AP provider is Basware (peppol.eu, "AP PROVIDERS AND SOFTWARE FOR PEPPOL IMPLEMENTATIONS", n.d.). More information can be found on their website.

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.