How electronic invoices make your company more sustainable

Save money thanks to electronic invoices

Thanks to the switch to the sending or receiving of digital invoices, your company is reducing its costs.
Calculate how much money you may be able to save. 

Sustainability is high on the list of priorities for many companies. But between what is mandatory and what is optional, many don't know where to start. A first step is the implementation of electronic invoices. It offers a straightforward opportunity to promote sustainability in your company – and, at the same time, to cut costs and design more efficient processes.

Reduce costs thanks to electronic Billing Solutions

Issuing invoices takes time: entering data, printing invoices, putting them in envelopes and sending them – this takes time. The same is true when you receive an invoice and need to process it in your accounting system. And it all comes down to money. Every paper invoice generates costs that you can save by sending electronic invoices.

Digitized invoicing processes eliminate a large part of the work. The costs are correspondingly lower. Implementation of electronic invoices requires one-off investments. However, these are small and can be recouped after a short period. There are also four positive side effects:

• Faster incoming payments: because digitally structured invoices are paid faster, the company enjoys increased financial flexibility.
• Process cost optimization thanks to automation: you do not have to manually input the invoices that you receive. The order assignment also takes place automatically in your accounting software.
• Digital archiving: digitized invoices are archived automatically, require hardly any storage space, and can be accessed with just a few clicks – in contrast to paper invoices in a folder.
• Fewer payment reminders: experience shows that electronic invoices are paid much more reliably than paper bills.

Switch to electronic invoices with PostFinance

Switching to electronic invoices makes companies more sustainable. PostFinance supports you on the path to greater sustainability. 

B2B e-invoicing for corporate customers

The integrated B2B e-invoicing solution processes invoice data from your accounting software and automatically forwards it to the recipient in electronic form. Or you can send, receive and manage B2B e-bills directly and independently with the eInvoicing portal from PostFinance.

Go to our Best Practice kits

eBill for private customers

eBill enables you to send invoices in electronic form to your private customers thanks to e-banking, where they can be settled with ease.  Find out how to motivate your customers in the article "How to get your customers excited about eBill" and on our Info page "Acquiring eBill recipients".

Being paperless fights climate change

Electronic invoices not only make your company more economical, but also more environmentally sustainable. By making the switch, you are taking responsibility for the environment. You are conserving natural resources and helping to protect trees and forests, because large quantities of wood are consumed in the production of paper invoices.

In addition to protecting trees, switching to electronic invoices also reduces your company's carbon footprint.

The myclimate-certified "The link will open in a new window 2023 Sustainability in invoicing" SIX study came to the conclusion that digital invoicing methods – compared to paper- and e-mail invoices –are the most environmentally friendly solutions. They emit the least CO₂ across the entire value chain. With electronic invoices, paper consumption and CO₂emissions are reduced to zero because they are issued, transmitted and received in a predefined, structured electronic format. The invoice exchange takes place system to system, so to speak – without any possible media disruption.

According to the study CO₂ emissions are cut by 89% on average compared to paper invoices thanks to the processing of eBill invoices. Even in comparison to e-mail invoices eBill cut CO₂emissions by 33%. Other purely digital invoices such as the B2B e-invoice are likely to reach similar values.

Reinforcing a sustainable image

Regardless of the industry, sustainable products and companies are in demand. Customers value sustainability, so a service provider’s environmentally friendly image can have a positive influence on purchasing decisions. Therefore rely on electronic invoices. It shows that you are willing to use advances in digital technology to conserve resources.

Electronic invoices gain ground – in Switzerland, Europe and around the world.

The use of electronic invoices is growing steadily. A trend that will continue in the coming years. It is estimated that by 2028 around 80% of invoice traffic will be digital. There are several reasons for this: in addition to the aforementioned benefits of receiving digital invoices, there are also mandatory regulations. For example in Switzerland, invoices to public administrations have had to be submitted electronically since 2016 for contract values of more than CHF 5,000. And outside Switzerland, more and more countries are introducing laws on electronic invoices, not only in Europe, but also in other parts of the world. In Germany for example, electronic invoices have been mandatory for business transactions since 1 January 2025.

Conclusion

The change to electronic invoices is an effective step towards sustainability. In addition to financial savings, companies benefit from efficient processes and reduce their ecological footprint. Digital invoicing and receipt will become increasingly relevant in the future – those who switch will contribute to protecting the environment and secure competitive advantage.