The Cost Savings, Enablers and Barriers of Electronic Invoicing in Belgium

20 Pages Posted: 10 Jan 2015 Last revised: 12 Jan 2015

See all articles by Kevin Poel

Kevin Poel

Hasselt University; KPMG Belgium

Wim Marneffe

Hasselt University - Faculty of Applied Economics

Willem Vanlaer

Hasselt University; KPMG Belgium

Date Written: January 8, 2015

Abstract

Governments around the world have identified the advancement of electronic invoicing in private sector companies as a crucial policy measure for tackling administrative burdens. This paper examines, for the first time, the total overall cost of invoicing for private sector companies in Belgium as well as the potential savings of electronic invoicing. In 2013 the total cost of invoicing in private sector companies amounts to €3,77 billion (0,97% GDP), which would be reduced to €1,46 billion (0,38% GDP) if all invoices were sent electronically. Furthermore, our analysis of both barriers and enablers of e-invoicing in Belgium reveals that on the one hand a majority of private sector companies welcome the efficiency gains realised by e-invoicing, although uncertainty remains regarding the safety of e-invoicing. Moreover, a majority of companies state that governments should provide more information on how to efficiently implement e-invoicing.

Keywords: Administrative burdens, administrative simplification, Belgium, cost savings, e-invoicing, policy

Suggested Citation

Poel, Kevin and Poel, Kevin and Marneffe, Wim and Vanlaer, Willem, The Cost Savings, Enablers and Barriers of Electronic Invoicing in Belgium (January 8, 2015). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2546815 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2546815

Kevin Poel (Contact Author)

KPMG Belgium

Bourgetlaan 40
1130
Brussels, Brussels 1130
Belgium

Hasselt University ( email )

Agoralaan - building D
Gebouw D
Diepenbeek, 3590
Belgium

Wim Marneffe

Hasselt University - Faculty of Applied Economics ( email )

Agoralaan 30, Building D
Diepenbeek, 3590
Belgium

Willem Vanlaer

Hasselt University ( email )

Agoralaan - building D
Gebouw D
Diepenbeek, 3590
Belgium

KPMG Belgium ( email )

Bourgetlaan 40
1130
Brussels, Brussels 1130
Belgium

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