A PDF invoice is not an e-invoice; the two are entirely different. As outlined in Directive 2014/55/EU and Germany’s E-Invoicing Ordinance, an electronic invoice differs from a PDF invoice as it is generated, transmitted, and received in a structured electronic format. This facilitates automated and digital processing.
Although PDFs are electronic files, they do not have a standardised structure in the same way EDI messages have. Consequently, receiving PDF invoices without a PDF invoice processing solution and automated workflow in place still poses a challenge to organisations.
Businesses that receive high volumes of PDF invoices will still experience many of the challenges associated with paper invoices. With no automation in place, the processing of PDF invoices adds to their AP department’s workload, as opening and processing the invoices will require human intervention, with the need to print and scan or rekey invoices into their accounts package.