What is the difference between e-invoices and PDF invoices? Hint: there's a clear winner

Remember the last time you received or sent a PDF invoice via email? The manual data entry, the risk of it getting lost in your inbox, delayed payment... sound familiar?

We've all been there. And a lot of European countries still are. 

In Sweden, 65% of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) send PDF invoices via email, while 77% receive them the same way. In the Netherlands, these numbers are even higher, with 70% sending and 78% receiving PDF invoices through email. In Belgium, SMB SaaS companies report that 93% of their customers receive invoices as PDFs through email; all highlighting the significant opportunity for businesses to transition to more efficient e-invoicing solution.

We're not going to go full myth busters on you here but there's one thing we need to get straight from the beginning: 

Why you should offer electronic invoicing to your customers

Now that that's out of the way - here’s a breakdown of why you shouldn’t wait any longer to offer real electronic invoicing to your customers.

1. All electronic documents, a single API solution

Your customers shouldn't juggle between multiple systems.

With Maventa's single API, you provide your customers with a modern and reliable way to deliver electronic documents, such as invoices and order documents for B2B, B2G, and B2C. You read it right, one API integration covering all electronic document transactions. 

And don’t fear taking your business international. E-invoicing ensures cross-border connectivity and allows your customers to do business easily across borders too.

2. Invoicing automation reduces errors and saves time

The days of invoicing being a full-time job are behind.

E-invoicing eliminates lost emails, manual errors, and tedious data entry while improving accuracy. E-invoices offer more comprehensive and accurate data than PDFs or scanned PDFs, making both booking and approval processes easier. 

With e-invoicing, your customers can save up to 50% time compared to handling paper invoices. More time for growth, less time for chasing paper - physical or digital. 

3. Boost your customers' cash flow 

Emails get buried in the mailbox. Paper gets lost in the mail. E-invoices get paid. 

Near real-time delivery to the right system means 90% on-time payments and an improved cash flow. Real-time tracking increases transparency in invoice processing, meaning no invoice gets lost again. 

4. Enhanced fraud protection

Technology is advancing quickly, and that's obviously great. But it also means that cyber crimes will become more advanced. It’s only getting more difficult to spot a fraudulent invoice. 

E-invoicing offers protection for your customers through secure networks, encryption, and both traceable and transparent transactions. Some e-invoicing solution providers, such as Maventa, offer an additional level of security through performing automatic checks on purchase invoices and their senders, helping mitigate the risks such as fraudulent invoices ending up in payment. 

E-invoice vs. PDF invoice: A detailed comparison

What are the differences in features and functionality between e-invoices and PDFs? If you’re looking to dive deeper into the comparison between e-invoices and PDFs, we’ve done the work for you. 

Are you ready to take digitalisation all the way? 

Let's digitalise invoicing for your customers together. Maventa has partnered with over 300 software vendors to provide a seamless e-invoicing experience to businesses across Europe.