Overview
Paper invoices are highly inefficient and more expensive for the buyer and supplier. They also are one of the greatest barriers to reducing days-sales-outstanding (DSO). An electronic invoice (e-invoice) offers the opportunity to reduce DSO by eliminating inefficient delivery and manual processing for both buyers and suppliers—while supporting multinational compliance. In addition, e-invoicing is the first step to achieving straight-through processing for business-to-business (B2B) payments.
The Business Payments Coalition (BPC) is dedicated to broadening the ability for businesses to exchange e-invoices with each other. In September 2021, the BPC with support from the Federal Reserve, began convening the E-invoice Exchange Market Pilot to establish a secure, open e-invoice delivery framework – known as an exchange framework. An exchange framework is an electronic delivery network based on a set of technical standards and policies to allow businesses to securely share electronic supply chain documents with one another. As a testament to the importance of this work, 73 industry organizations joined this effort (Off-site).
Watch the video below, for an overview of an exchange framework.
Connect to the Digital Business Networks Alliance’s Exchange Framework
Following completion of the market pilot, in early summer of 2023, participants of the E-invoice Exchange Market Pilot launched a market ready exchange framework (Off-site) and formed the Digital Business Networks Alliance (DBNAlliance) as the legal entity to oversee it. Today, the DBNAlliance is operating the exchange framework that is now available to all businesses via their service providers. To learn more and connect to the exchange framework today, contact the DBNAlliance at membership@dbnalliance.org or visit the DBNAlliance website (Off-site).
Resources
- E-invoice Exchange Framework: Requirements for Oversight (PDF) (2021)
The report documents the standards involved with the exchange framework and their corresponding oversight requirements in an effort to provide an overview and deeper understanding of the requirements for oversight of an e-invoice exchange framework in the U.S. market. - e-Invoice Exchange Framework – Approach to Managing a Federated Registry Services Model in a Four-Corner Network (PDF) (2021)
The BPC has successfully completed a proof of concept (POC) of a federated registry services model for the U.S. e-invoice exchange framework. The POC also helped the BPC to gain an understanding of the technical components required for establishing federated registry services. - Global Interoperability Framework (Off-site) (2020)
The global interoperability framework (e-Invoice exchange framework) is a set of recommended practices, policies and standards for operating a four corner interoperability network. - Overview of the e-Delivery Network & Semantic Model Assessment Reports webinar (Off-site) (2020)
This second FedPayments Improvement webinar in the e-Invoice series explores the e-Delivery Network Feasibility Assessment (PDF) and the Semantic Model Assessment (PDF) reports. - Overview of an e-Invoice Interoperability Framework webinar (Off-site) (2019)
The BPC is working on an initiative to advance e-Invoicing for the benefit of businesses and providers. This webinar highlights the Overview of the Interoperability Framework (PDF), which was published November 2019. - e-Invoicing webinars FAQs (PDF) (2020)
- Overview of an e-Invoice Interoperability Framework (PDF) (2019)
Introduces the concept of an e-Invoice interoperability framework (e-Invoice exchange framework) as well as market challenges and the benefits of addressing them. - e-Invoice Interoperability Framework – e-Delivery Network Feasibility Assessment Report (PDF) (2019)
Provides business and technology stakeholders with an understanding of the high-level requirements and standards required to establish an open, federated network of access points for the U.S. market. - e-Invoice Interoperability Framework: Semantic Model Assessment (PDF) (2019)
Provides a comprehensive analysis of existing semantic data models to determine the feasibility, high-level requirements and recommendations for the U.S. market.
Additional Resources
- e-Invoice Interoperability Framework Assessment Report (PDF) (2018)
Report of the findings of a preliminary e-Invoicing Interoperability Framework (e-Invoice exchange framework) assessment with an overview of the goals and approach used for the preliminary assessment along with key themes that emerged. The report includes recommendations and considerations for future BPC e-Invoicing efforts. - Catalog of Electronic Invoice Technical Standards in the U.S. (PDF) (2017)
The Catalog documents the large number of electronic invoice technical standards that exist in the U.S. market, resulting in a fragmented market and interoperability challenges among the standards. - U.S. Adoption of Electronic Invoicing: Challenges and Opportunities (Off-site) (2016)
U.S. corporations lag in adopting e-Invoice solutions. This white paper by the Payments, Standards, and Outreach Group of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis highlights opportunities for businesses to gain efficiencies and reduce costs by more broadly adopting e-Invoicing.