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Automated processing of invoices


Digital invoice processing, in combination with the document management system (DMS), contributes significantly to the efficiency and success of your company and towards a paperless office. The need for digital invoice processing is now an important aspect for everyone.

Professional tip

In the current article, we show you how to implement digital invoice processing correctly, list the advantages of implementation and describe the effects of successful implementation.

The need for digitization is now an important aspect for everyone.

In our guide you will now find several reports on how digitization should take place around companies and how many advantages this brings for you.

But almost every 3 question that comes in from our customers relates to the digital implementation of invoice processing. So we decided to take a closer look at this topic.

PaperOffice employee sits over the bills
Automated processing of invoices brings advantages for companies and increases efficiency

In the current article, we look a little deeper into information about digital invoice processing. The advantages of digitizing invoices. We will show you how you can implement everything and describe the impact of a successful implementation.

Before we turn to the actual implementation, let's answer the question:

Why is it necessary to digitize invoices and documents in companies?

This is a question that more and more companies are asking: "Do I really have to digitize my accounting"? The answer is yes, you must. Among other things, because the legislature requires it to be so. More and more companies are faced with having to comply with the process documentation.

What do legal regulations require?

Legal regulations require compliance with the requirements regarding the receipt, processing and archiving of all test-relevant incoming documents.

In our current article we show a couple of practical examples. How you can easily solve digitization thanks to PaperOffice DMS. But first we come to the general advantages of digital processing of invoices.

What are the advantages of digitization?

In today's world of home office and digital media, it's still common to see paper bills piled up on shelves and tables.

The main reasons for using paper are that employees find it difficult to accept digitization or to start with it. It lies in the challenges of dealing with change and digitization.

Stack of paper in front of the computer
Paperless work through digital processes

Physical document copy despite digitization

Many people like to keep a physical copy of the documents they work with. But the process of handling paper that has been rehearsed for years also plays a role here.

On the subject of the paperless conversion we have already written a detailed article. Here we explicitly address the topic of digital accounting.

Manually entering the invoice not only means a lot of time, but also hidden high costs. Getting it right can save a lot of time and money.

Key benefits include:

  • You can find any invoice in seconds / save time

    Because thanks to the digitization of your documents, you can find all the invoices stored in PaperOffice in a matter of seconds. You no longer have to laboriously leaf through thick folders. By digitizing all invoices in your company, you only need a few clicks to find them in the system.

    This also leads us to the second point:

  • You benefit from optimized work / paper savings

    You no longer need space for physical folders. From now on you can archive your invoices in PaperOffice. Reducing paper consumption leads to clean and tidy offices.

  • Simplify accounting processes / For example with workflows

    By managing your invoices digitally, you save time and effort. As well as costs for the creation, delivery and processing. Do not make copies for advanced tasks, workflows, and forwarding. Everything runs digitally and is transparent and comprehensible.

    Thanks to the digitization of your invoices, you will no longer miss valuable discount deadlines.

  • Set permission for push button access

    Individual access rights to individual documents and folders ensure clear security. You can grant access to individuals or entire departments. Such as accounting.

  • Detect contacts automatically

    PaperOffice intelligently recognizes address data in document content. Then logically links the document to your existing contacts. This enables, among other things, the display of all documents for a specific contact with just a few clicks.

  • Automated keywording

    PaperOffice supports you with intelligent AI recognition and keywording. In this way, the invoice is searched for the most important document data.

    KI PIA intelligently reads the data out of the document. Then file the document with full keywords. If necessary with your test or automatically in the background.

  • Embedding / export function for tax consultants

    You can easily hand over your invoices. With account assignment and keywording. Thanks to the advanced search, you have everything you need for the export. Like all the bills from last month, for example.

    Incl. the folder structure, PDF file, Excel file with all information. As a result, your accountant or accountant can easily import the documentation.

  • Fast editing options

    Accounting can be implemented quickly in the future. Not only can you find all documents immediately, you can also edit/classify them directly, for example. All legal requirements are met thanks to audit-proof archiving. Checking and approving is thus child's play.

    The digitization of invoices is unavoidable for several reasons. Many companies are also already convinced that digitization of invoices is the future. This must also be accepted today and now.

    Nevertheless, many still fear that this step will be associated with a lengthy project. Which will be difficult, expensive, risky and destabilizing. The good news is that ultimately, thanks to PaperOffice, this is no longer the case!

What needs to be considered before digitizing invoices?

First of all, it is important not to confuse or reduce digitization to the scanning of incoming invoices. So that they can then get into the workflow process for validation, payment and archiving more easily and quickly. Digitization is much more.

Advantages of OCR text recognition: Thanks to OCR text recognition, many things can be automated. For example with artificial intelligence (AI). In this way, learning functions are becoming more and more powerful and reliable detection algorithms.

Items appearing on the invoice can be immediately identified and extracted from the document. The document is filed and can be made available to the accounting or ERP system.

For example, with digitization, the financial service provider benefits from reliable information in real time when the invoice is received.

We're getting to the real question of this article:

How do I implement invoice processing?

If you manage your invoices with PaperOffice, incoming invoice processing is completely electronic. You will already receive the incoming invoice digitally, i.e. by email or by scanning it. This makes no difference.

Digitize incoming invoices with DropMail, how?

If you already receive your incoming invoices in digital format, we recommend the DropMail module integrated in PaperOffice. This allows you to create a personal DropMail email address in PaperOffice. You only send invoices to them.

All invoices that are sent to your DropMail address as an email attachment are automatically archived in PaperOffice. With definable filing rules and no work.

Tip

On the topic "DropMail - Automatically archive documents by email when you're on the go" there is also a video on YouTube that explains this process in a simple and understandable way:

PaperOffice recognizes the invoice and reads out the relevant data. The software then files the invoice in the appropriate folder. Thanks to the intelligent AI, further approval processes, tasks and workflows are optionally started.

All employees who are to be involved in the process are informed. The invoice workflow runs automatically.

Step-by-step digital invoice processing:

Digital invoice processing with DropMail
Digital invoice processing with DropMail shown step by step

Invoice receipt

Simply create your desired address in the format "meine_rechnungen@paperoffice.com", specify a storage mask or activate PIA and that's it!

Digital invoice processing

PaperOffice automatically captures the invoice and starts processing

Defined filing rules are executed. Audit-proof archiving takes place automatically in the background according to plan.

You can check the invoice, approve it and run workflows.

Forward

Export the invoices to the tax advisor or third-party systems with relevant information.

What does the future of invoice digitization look like. Where is the journey going?

First of all, the digitization of invoices brings significant and immediate increases in productivity. Digitization not only frees employees from a time-consuming, dense operational task. Besides, problems of delay and dispute due to manual error will be solved.

Inherent costs for storing, searching and losing important paper documents are drastically reduced. In addition, the rationalization and automation of the validation and control processes in the entire accounts payable process.

From purchase request to payment, multiply these benefits even further.

What are the advantages?

Overall, the cycle time of document processing can be reduced by 5. Administrative costs by 80%.

With these figures, you immediately understand the urgency of digitizing invoices. Ultimately, these numbers are not the only ones to consider.

What does a company achieve thanks to digitization?

Through digitization, the company manages to free up important human and financial resources. Be it to absorb the growth of activity with constant resources. Or to mobilize your teams in transformation projects. For employees, the digitization of invoices is not an enemy. On the contrary – the ally. These make their work more interesting and create added value for the company's financial management.

Negotiations for a contract
Digitization with PaperOffice brings immense advantages

Can paper be destroyed after digitization?

First of all, it is very important to note that the factors for digital archiving of documents must be observed. According to the GoBD, paper documents may be destroyed. Unless they have to be kept in the original in accordance with foreign tax or tax regulations.

This includes, for example, opening balance sheets and building law documents. The GoBD also says that the paper documents should be withdrawn from further processing. Also, the file may not be changed after the scanning process.

Revision-proof according to GoBD-compliant versioning

Which is given at any time thanks to the versioning in PaperOffice. The document must be accessible and evaluable for the duration of the retention period.

PaperOffice thus meets all required standards through certification and testing of all software requirements according to GOBD.

Retention period

The question of the retention period comes up again and again with our customers. Because there are no clear instructions on how and whether the original invoice should be kept. First of all, you should contact your responsible tax authority, i.e. the responsible auditor.

What documents are accepted?

Documents with legal relevance, such as contracts, are still required to be retained in the original.

The Ultimate 5-Step Guide

Tip

We have created the ultimate 5-step guide to going paperless and digitizing your business as a downloadable document, detailing each 5 steps and how long it takes:

The ultimate 5-step guide to the paperless office - how to maximize your company's performance in just 3 months

To get to the point:

The tax office accepts electronic receipts. The court in case of dispute only originals.

This has to do with the fact that a signature can only be checked for authenticity on original documents. We recommend never throwing away Original.

It turns out that you need to consider several aspects to successfully process incoming invoices.

Let's summarize:

In order to completely banish paper from the process, you have to implement a continuous digitization of all incoming invoices. Improvements come from automating the process as much as possible.

Such a digital document has a bundle of advantages for the company. Tailor-made software ensures significantly more productivity in the company.

So, digitizing invoices is an important step in transforming your business into a paperless office. It saves time and labor. Increases the quality of your work results.

Use all the advantages of a paperless office.

Be sure to avoid this error

While large companies have long appointed digitization officers who deal with the topic of converting analog documents full-time, small and medium-sized companies usually lack human resources, especially since appropriate professional qualifications are required.
However, this is a common mistake and leads to bad investments, because many manufacturers take advantage of this ignorance.

Interim conclusion

You don't need an IT specialist or a trained librarian!

All you really need is

  • the right software
  • reliable IT partner
  • corresponding hardware
Sometimes the hardware is often already there, has more potential than before and can be used immediately.

Tip

By the way, there is a special article on the subject of "digital invoice processing", which reported on the advantages of digitization or digital invoice processing:

Notebook with PaperOffice interface for digital invoice processing
Digitize incoming invoice processing: made easy with PaperOffice

Click here for the guide

FAQs

To conclude, we will answer a few commonly asked questions on the topic. "Implement digital invoice processing correctly in 10 steps":

Can paper be destroyed after digitization?

First of all, it is very important to note that the factors for digital archiving of documents must be observed. According to the GoBD, paper documents may be destroyed. Unless they have to be kept in the original in accordance with foreign tax or tax regulations.

This includes, for example, opening balance sheets and building law documents.

When is it worth using document management software, e.g. only to digitize invoice processing?

It is worth using a DMS for any size of company to digitize your invoices. Not only can you archive documents in accordance with legal regulations, but you can also simplify extensive processes in accounting, for example through workflows.

What does the future of digitization of invoices look like. Where is the journey going?

First of all, the digitization of invoices brings significant and immediate increases in productivity. Digitization not only frees employees from a time-consuming, dense operational task. Besides, problems of delay and dispute due to manual error will be solved.

Inherent costs for storing, searching and losing important paper documents are drastically reduced. In addition, the rationalization and automation of the validation and control processes in the entire accounts payable process.

From purchase request to payment, multiply these benefits even further.

Conclusion

  • Benefits justify the effort and costs

    Working digitally and bringing old documents into the new age will be the best key investment to save an incredible amount of time, money and nerves in the future.

  • You need someone who knows

    You don't need your own IT specialist to take advantage of all the advantages of digitization.
    What you need is the right partner at your side who, thanks to his experience, can implement exactly what you need. Avoid scaremongering and choose test positions instead of fancy PowerPoint presentations without having really tested it.

  • The hardware is usually already available

    Experience has shown that almost every operation, company and company has a large copier that does not use its potential. These devices love mass scans, are tolerant of paperclips and can be the basis for a digital start without a scanner investment.

  • Cheaper than expected with the right DMS

    Avoid cost traps with DMS / ECM systems where you are mercilessly at the mercy of the manufacturers. Do not make any compromises when it comes to your own administration options, such as teaching documents and making settings yourself. If you need help, the manufacturer will be happy to help you, but remain independent.

  • Digital automation is the future

    Procedures will be completely identical in the future, but fully automated.
    Invoice coming in? The workflow is triggered and everything goes its defined way.
    Search through all 1000 folders? No problem, because you have your own Google!

PaperOffice solves every problem: Guaranteed.

Case study

Digitization in pharmacies - Digital healthcare thanks to the integration of PaperOffice DMS

“PaperOffice is one of the best document management systems that we know. Thanks to the different price options, everyone in the company can afford digitization.”

Henrique Santos
Managing director of the pharmacy in Portugal