Introduction

As more countries roll out mandatory e-invoicing and e-reporting frameworks, finance leaders are under pressure to digitize — fast. The EU’s upcoming VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) reforms are accelerating this shift, requiring companies to rethink how they issue, receive and store invoices digitally.

But as the latest report from Sharedserviceslink (2025) reveals, many businesses continue to fall into familiar traps. Implementing e-invoicing isn’t just a technical project — it’s a strategic transformation that affects finance, tax, IT and compliance across the enterprise

At Telema, we’ve seen the same patterns among organizations modernizing their B2B networks. Here’s what the data — and our experience — show are the five most common mistakes companies must avoid to make e-invoicing a success.

Mistake #1: Thinking E-Invoicing Is “Plug-and-Play”

Nearly half of surveyed companies (45%) underestimated the system integration work required for e-invoicing.

This misconception often leads to project delays, budget overruns and compliance failures.

E-invoicing mandates differ country by country — from formats and validation rules to clearance platforms. Successful companies start integration planning early, ensuring clean master data, coordinated internal teams and scalable architectures.

Telema insight: Treat e-invoicing as a long-term capability, not a quick IT fix. A strong integration strategy across ERP, procurement and tax systems lays the foundation for future compliance automation.

Mistake #2: Focusing Only on Compliance — Ignoring the Bigger Picture

Compliance may drive adoption, but it shouldn’t be the end goal.
According to the report, 51% of companies listed compliance as their top driver, yet 42% later regretted not understanding the broader business impact.

When implemented strategically, e-invoicing improves cashflow, reduces cycle times and enhances operational resilience. Limiting it to a compliance exercise leaves massive value untapped.

Telema insight: View regulatory change as a catalyst for process automation and data transparency. Compliance is the starting point — not the destination.

Mistake #3: Overestimating Your ERP’s Readiness

Many organizations assume their ERP system can handle everything.
In reality, ERPs often lack real-time compliance updates, especially across multiple jurisdictions. Only 42% of companies surveyed felt fully confident in their ERP’s capabilities.

“If your ERP provider isn’t a certified Peppol Access Point, that’s a sign it may not be enough on its own,” the report warns.

Telema insight: Your ERP is a vital component — but not the whole solution. Partnering with specialized e-invoicing networks ensures you remain compliant and connected as mandates evolve.

Mistake #4: Undervaluing Integration and Implementation

Implementation is where most projects fail. Poor integration creates manual workarounds, reporting errors and compliance risks. The survey found that 45% of respondents underestimated integration complexity

Telema insight: Integration isn’t an afterthought — it’s the heart of digital invoicing success. Engage your IT, tax and AP/AR teams early and choose providers that seamlessly connect to your existing ERP and workflows.

Mistake #5: Choosing Providers Who Can’t Support Growth

Perhaps the most costly mistake is selecting a provider that can’t scale.
E-invoicing mandates evolve rapidly — Italy alone issued 42 technical updates to its system. If your partner can’t keep pace, every update becomes an IT fire drill.

Telema insight: Look beyond compliance checklists. Evaluate a provider’s reach, update cadence and multi-network capability. At Telema, we prioritize continuity — ensuring your invoicing stays compliant and connected, no matter how regulations change.

Conclusion: Building a Future-Ready E-Invoicing Framework

The report’s final message is clear: “E-invoicing is no longer a technical finance project. It has become a strategic, enterprise-wide initiative”

Organizations that thrive aren’t just reacting to mandates — they’re building flexible, scalable frameworks that turn regulatory change into a competitive advantage.

At Telema, we believe e-invoicing should be simple, secure and sustainable. Whether you’re implementing your first mandate or optimizing a global invoicing network, choosing the right partner today will define your digital success tomorrow.

This article is an adaptation of a Sharedserviceslink report. Telema does not claim authorship of the original research.

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