Since August 2011 BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH of Ludwigsburg, Germany, has been issuing invoices with the TecCom platform using TecInvoice. All customers of this leading supplier of technology for ignition and diesel cold starts can now receive their invoices electronically.

Through electronic invoice processing both BorgWarner BERU Systems and their connected invoice recipients can save time and money while significantly reducing the work involved. Each invoice is automatically generated with a legally valid signature, verified and sent to the recipient with the method he prefers– without chasing paperwork or complicated scanning procedures.

Turnkey solution for SAP invoice senders

BERU Systems uses the solution TecInvoice SAP to send invoices electronically. The solution was developed especially for SAP invoice senders and is completely integrated in the SAP environment. This ensures that it is easy to use for SAP users.

Due to the seamless integration in the SAP message control, the complete power of the SAP condition technique can be brought to bear for message control. Because the documents from TecInvoice SAP are sent completely automatically but the SAP standard does not provide a surveillance tool, TecInvoice is provided with a supplementary monitor.

With the TecInvoice Monitor the status of sent messages can be determined at any time. Request and response data, a message protocol and log files can be processed later for analysis.

Screenshot of TecInvoice Monitor

Electronically, or do you prefer paper?

Through the solution TecInvoice, SAP data from the printed invoice form are sent in PDF format to TecCom. Here they are evaluated for which way the invoice should go in its next step. In addition to generating electronic invoices, printing invoices and sending them off can be delegated completely to TecInvoice and observed on the SAP Monitor. For postal invoices printing and sending are initiated.

At BERU Systems TecInvoice SAP is now used to transmit electronic invoices. These are signed and sent to the recipient in minutes, together with the signature and verification report. This way the recipient can claim the VAT on input almost immediately.

Three basic delivery variants can be configured. The standard is the delivery of electronic invoices by e-mail; it is accompanied by a free online portal. There customers can retrieve their invoices comfortably by mass download for 90 days. The conversion into a legally secure long-term archive is also possible.

The third, even more comfortable option is receipt with the TecCom receiving component TomConnect. TomConnect makes it possible for the recipient of an invoice to retrieve electronic invoices without any manual steps directly from the Internet to his server. The invoices are then filed within a defined file structure and accompanied by XML data to make possible machine processing or linking to other electronic messages. 

Win-win situation – both traders and suppliers profit

With electronic invoice receipt traders save both time and money; this is because the printing of paper is eliminated and invoices can be further processed automatically. Invoices no longer need to be scanned; they can be forwarded digitally within the company. The use of a qualified signature ensures that the payment of VAT on input is recognised throughout Europe, giving the invoice recipient the chance to deduct it. Together with the Internet-based archive solution from TecCom the method provides legal security in the case of an audit. BorgWarner BERU Systems as invoice sender decided in favour of TecInvoice not only because it is a solution that saves time and costs through automation; by saving raw materials used in postal delivery it fits into the sustainability policy of the company.

Photo: BERU Systems

The first invoice recipients have already been successfully connected. Now the focus lies on connecting even more invoice recipients. The medium-term goal is to work with TecCom to provide the majority of invoice recipients with electronic invoices.

If you are interested in a solution for electronic invoice processing, Kathrin Harrer (kathrin.harrer@teccom.eu) will be happy to help you.

If you are interested in electronic invoice receipt by archive and e-mail, you can register directly online under http://www.teccom.de/internet/siteshome/products/tecinvoiceregister_eng.php.