Counteract cybercrime and IBAN counterfeiting with secure electronic invoice exchange
Electronic invoice exchange in Germany">IBAN forgery-proof
Avoid identity falsification
Prevent damage to image
Rapid implementation
Process consulting included
The initial situation
Electronic invoicing in the B2B sector will gradually become mandatory in Germany from 2025 until 2028.
Prepare for this changeover in good time to benefit from advantages such as cost savings and automated processes. E-billing contributes to better transparency and traceability of business transactions.
Do you want to prevent the IBAN on your invoices from being falsified in the event of a cybercrime attack?
Do you want to give your customer the certainty that the electronic invoice actually comes from you?
Do you want to automatically validate the signature of electronic incoming invoices and handle the internal approval process without media discontinuity and in a traceable manner?
High savings potential
The type of electronic dispatch process for outgoing invoices to your customers plays a key role. It is common practice for many companies to send electronic invoices to customers by email, often still as PDF files, in structured form in XML format or as hybrid PDF formats (XRechnung, ZUGFeRD, etc.).
Traceable security and reduced cybercrime risk
Unfortunately, it often happens that electronic invoices are manipulated by third parties, a false account number is often quoted and the invoice amount ends up in someone else's account and is therefore lost.
However, it is possible to sign the invoice automatically using an official company certificate or seal and then send it to the customer by email. This gives your customer the assurance that the invoice actually comes from you, has not been tampered with and that the money is going to the correct account.
The r>it signature services have been used by a large number of customers for 20 years and have proven themselves in business practice.
Solution
Electronically sign hybrid PDF or XML invoices from SAP
With the e-Sign 4 SAP add-on, the signature process can be seamlessly and easily integrated into your existing SAP ERP or S/4HANA invoice process. Once the invoice has been created in SAP (PDF, XML or both), the file is automatically transferred via the e-Sign 4 SAP add-on to the corresponding e-Sign 4 service for processing. Software certificates/seals of your choice, issued to the company and/or to a natural person by an authorised certification service provider, are used for the signature or validation process.
Advanced certificates/seals are recommended for signing invoices. However, qualified certificates in the form of seals or mobile remote signatures can also be used. Electronic time stamps are also often attached as an option.
After the signature or validation process, the invoice is automatically linked to the original document in SAP® ERP or S/4HANA and stored in the existing archive.
The entire process can be monitored by the specialist department or by IT directly in SAP®. Every single processing step is fully traceable.
Validate electronically signed PDF or XML invoices
If you receive electronically signed invoices in PDF or XML format from your supplier, you are obliged to validate the electronic signature (authenticity and immutability of the document). The e-Sign 4 Validation Service is available for automated validation to save you from having to do this manually. A validation protocol documents the check and is transferred to the SAP system together with the electronic incoming invoice for further processing.
Your added value
Invoices reach the customer faster and the payment period begins earlier than with conventional postal delivery
Invoices are protected against manipulation or the latter would be immediately recognisable
Cost-effective entry option for low invoice volumes
Cost savings (paper, printing, dispatch and processing costs are eliminated)
Manageable, short project lead time
Seamless integration and monitoring of your existing SAP processes
Traceable certainty for your customers that the invoice originates from your company
Scalable for any company size and any invoice volume
Available as a cloud service or on-premise
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