INVOIC EDIFACT

Invoice

How Do I Use an INVOIC EDIFACT Message?

The credit advice INVOIC EDIFACT message is a digital invoice enabling trading partners to prompt payment for goods and services previously agreed upon by the seller and buyer. The INVOIC message follows the UN/EDIFACT standard, and various industries, such as retail and automotive, utilize these messages to simplify supply chain management.

An INVOIC EDIFACT message can be used instead of a PDF, paper, or email invoice. Leveraging this electronic data interchange (EDI) message allows partners to automatically match their billing with corresponding orders, creating a seamless invoicing process.

Trading partners also use INVOIC EDIFACT messages for debit and credit notes.

What Are the Key Data for Credit Advice Messages?

An INVOIC EDIFACT message claims payment for goods or services.  The INVOIC EDIFACT guideline specifies segments and elements required for a correct and complete invoice message.

EDIFACT INVOIC messages usually include the following information:

  • Invoice number
  • Invoice date
  • Payment terms
  • Discounts
  • Date of shipment of each item
  • Specific item details

The EDIFACT INVOIC message is commonly used in Europe. In North America, similar invoice message codes are EDI 210, EDI 880, and EDI 310 for specific transactions, while suppliers use EDI 810 invoices for general transactions.

How Do I Process an INVOIC EDIFACT Message?

The supplier generates an INVOIC EDIFACT and sends it to the buyer. The buyer's system then receives and verifies the message and sends an acknowledgment back. Once the supplier receives confirmation of receipt, they can integrate the invoice data into their enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform and create a new invoice record.

Where Do INVOIC EDIFACT Messages Fit in the EDI Workflow?

EDI trading partners follow a standard process when exchanging documents, which may vary depending on the industry. The seller's system issues EDIFACT INVOIC messages after obtaining a receiving advice (EDIFACT RECADV) message wherein the buyer confirms collecting the consignment.

What Are the Benefits of INVOIC EDIFACT Messages?

Leveraging EDI to deploy invoices reduces your company's paper trail, but automated electronic invoicing also holds a range of other business advantages, as these messages can:

  • Reduce employee workload: Employees can spend time on other tasks because they need not provide data by hand.
  • Simplify payment procedures: Electronic invoices are easy for buyers to pay and archive.
  • Minimise errors: EDI systems generate invoicing data automatically, reducing human-induced inaccuracies.
  • Enhance transparency for suppliers: Utilizing INVOIC EDIFACT messages provides complete visibility and control over invoices.
  • Protect partners' data: EDI protocols like the ODETTE File Transfer Protocol 2 (OFTP2), Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), and Applicability Statement 2 (AS2) safeguard the buyer's and seller's data.
  • Streamline payment for buyers: INVOIC EDIFACT messages eliminate the need for manual data entry, providing a clear overview of outstanding fees.

Seamlessly Connect with Your Business Partners

Connect and seamlessly communicate with your business partners through the TrueCommerce EDI solution. We offer small and medium-sized businesses and Fortune 500 companies industry-leading technology to connect them with a global commerce network and streamline supply chain management. To see the program in action, schedule a demo today!