Technical and semantic standards form the foundation for electronic invoice exchange. The European standard EN 16931 defines a uniform semantic data model that is implemented in syntaxes such as UBL or CII and put into concrete form through specifications like XRechnung. Hybrid formats such as ZUGFeRD / Factur-X are used in addition. At the same time, interoperable exchange mechanisms—for example within the Peppol network—are becoming increasingly important. Harmonizing national and European specifications is a key prerequisite for a functioning digital invoicing ecosystem.

For companies, this gives rise to clear requirements for system architectures and process integration. Standards must be implemented correctly, validation rules applied, and different formats connected in an interoperable way. Misinterpretations, inconsistent data structures, or poorly aligned interfaces quickly lead to processing errors. At the same time, companies face the task of selecting suitable standards and transmission channels and integrating them into existing system landscapes.

In the “Standards & Standardization” Competence Center, experts analyze specifications, assess their impact on practice, and develop sound decision-making foundations for their application. The findings are translated into expert position papers and brought into national and European standardization bodies.

Key Focus Areas

Structuring relevant standards and data models

Assessing interoperability requirements and exchange mechanisms

Translating standards into system and process logic

Developing guidelines for format and implementation strategies

Contributing to standardization initiatives