Interoperability agreement provides a boost to e-invoicing

Thursday 10th January, 2013

In his latest blog, Gary Benson reports that the European e-Invoicing Service Providers’ Association (EESPA) has taken a "significant step" towards achieving one of its founding aims - interoperability between suppliers. Currently a hot topic across the industry, interoperability is seen as a key driver to accelerating e-invoicing adoption across Europe. Just over a year since it formed, the association members, chaired by Esa Tihilä have launched the Model Interoperability Agreement (MIA).

The MIA is a standardised, bilateral agreement for exchanging invoices between two e-Invoicing service providers. Developed by the association’s working group on interoperability, led by Tim Cole, the agreement has been blessed by the EESPA members’ legal counsel, which includes OB10's Head of Legal, Sam Sears.

In the recent announcement, Esa Tihilä, says, “Trading partners can be assured that their information will be transmitted promptly, in the right format and with the necessary quality to meet compliance requirements.”

When the European e-Invoicing Service Providers’ Association (EESPA) was formed, among its high-level objectives was the promotion of an interoperable eco-system. Fourteen months later, the organisation has taken a significant step towards achieving this aim with the launch of the Model Interoperability Agreement (MIA), and we're proud to be part of it.

The MIA is a standardised, bilateral agreement for exchanging invoices between two e-Invoicing service providers. Developed by the association’s working group on interoperability, led by Tim Cole, the agreement has been blessed by the EESPA members’ legal counsel, which includes our own Head of Legal, Sam Sears.

It’s a major achievement to get consensus from members representing companies from across the spectrum of invoice automation service providers. In the recent announcement, EESPA’s Chair, Esa Tihilä, says, “Trading partners can be assured that their information will be transmitted promptly, in the right format and with the necessary quality to meet compliance requirements.”