The E-bill for SAP has been mandatory for all B2B companies since 2025
in Germany. Automate with our CICS and CBCS cloud services
complete e-invoices in SAP - for Invoice receipt and
Outgoing invoice. Validated, compliant, and seamless integration with your SAP system
integrated.
Whether SAP ERP, S/4HANA or RISE: our SAP e-invoicing solution fits
adapts to your landscape. E-bill ready in 6 weeks.
Electronic invoicing, also known as e-invoicing, optimizes invoice management and facilitates the integration of invoices and compliance documents.
By digitally processing invoice data and matching it with contracts, purchase orders, service entry sheets and goods receipts, the risk of errors and exceptions is minimized. Electronic invoices transmitted over a digital network and programmed using document data and business rules can be automatically reconciled before payment is approved. Since digital information is more easily accessible across systems than paper-based receipts, electronic invoicing offers numerous advantages:
The Growth Opportunities Actwhich was introduced by the German government in March 2024, aims to Digitization of the economy to push ahead. An important component of this law is the Promotion electronic invoicing. SAP users are encouraged to replace paper-based processes.
digitize and standardized e-invoicing SAP formats such as
ZUGFeRD to use.
ZUGFeRD and XInvoice are the two central formats for electronic invoices (e-invoices) in Germany - and they are both based on the European standard EN 16931, which forms the basis for all e-invoices.
The XInvoice is a purely XML-based format. It was developed specifically for invoices to public clients and has been mandatory for public administration in Germany since 2020/2021. This makes XRechnung particularly suitable for B2G (business-to-government) transactions, as authorities and public bodies can process electronic invoices in a standardized and automated manner.
ZUGFeRD The ZUGFeRD invoice management system follows a hybrid approach: it combines a visually readable PDF invoice with an embedded XML file that contains all the necessary structured invoice data. This makes ZUGFeRD invoices both human-readable and machine-processable - a particular advantage for companies with traditional invoice processes. In the currently valid version (e.g. 2.3.3, status 2025), ZUGFeRD fulfills all legal requirements for electronic invoices in accordance with EN 16931.
For many companies, this means that ZUGFeRD is particularly convenient if you often send invoices to other companies (B2B) - with the advantage that the Invoice continues to work as a PDF as usual, but can also be analyzed automatically. XRechnung, on the other hand, is the secure format if you send invoices to authorities or public institutions - because the XML standard is mandatory here.
The e-invoicing obligation brings with it considerable opportunities - but also obligations and risks. An incorrect or invalid e-invoice can have serious consequences:
Technical and formal errors rule out the invoice as an e-invoice
According to the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF), most recently in the Letter dated October 15, 2025 In the case of e-invoices, a distinction is made between three main types of error: format errors, business rule errors and content errors.
A format error - e.g. an invalid XML structure - means that the invoice is not technically recognized and processed as a compliant e-invoice.
If such a faulty file exists, it is not considered an e-invoice - with all the consequences: It may be rejected, further processing will hang and the automated invoice workflow will fail.
Tax consequences - input tax deduction at risk
In addition to technical requirements, the mandatory information required by the German Value Added Tax Act (Section 14 UStG) is also relevant. If, for example, a valid VAT identification number is missing, the tax rate is incorrect or the amounts and totals are not correct, the invoice may not be recognized. This jeopardizes the deduction of input tax - a serious consequence that affects the existence of many companies.
Automation and efficiency only possible with reliable validation
Companies that want to automatically import, process or archive invoices are particularly reliant on valid e-invoices. Incorrect or error-prone invoices sabotage automated processes and lead to additional work - manual checks, queries and corrections. This contradicts the goal of efficient, seamless digital invoice processing.
Compliance, legal security and documented audit trails as protection against liability
With the increasing spread and legal obligation of e-invoicing, the documentation of validation is becoming increasingly important. Anyone who cannot document or prove that invoices have been validated correctly - both technically and in terms of content - runs the risk of not being able to provide evidence for tax or legal queries. This can pose considerable risks during tax audits or audits.
Regardless of which SAP system you use, we offer you an uncomplicated and, compared to alternative solutions, extremely cost-effective option for the entire incoming and outgoing invoice process. Our services integrate smoothly into existing SAP landscapes, reduce implementation costs and ensure that your e-invoices are always processed in a standard-compliant, validated and automated manner.
Short definition: CBCS (Cloud Billing Conversion Service) is a cloud-based SAP e-invoice solution for outgoing invoicing - in other words: CBCS automatically generates a legally compliant e-invoice from a classic PDF + metadata, e.g. in XRechnung or ZUGFeRD format.
Purpose: Generate invoices that comply with legal requirements - without manual XML coding or complex ERP adjustments.
Particularly relevant for: Companies that need to send invoices automatically (e.g. regularly, many customers) and want to ensure compliance.
Short definition: CICS is an "inbound conversion service" that analyzes and reads incoming invoices and transfers them into a structured, machine-readable format.
Purpose: Validate receipt of e-invoices & ensure that they are legally compliant (e.g. in accordance with EN 16931 / national standard) - particularly relevant since the new audit obligations of the BMF.
Result: structured XML invoice that flows seamlessly into the internal accounting / ERP / financial system.
Our e-billing SAP services CICS and CBCS are suitable for all companies with SAP systems that process a medium to high invoice volume - regardless of whether you use SAP ERP (ECC), SAP S/4HANA, On-Premise, RISE with SAP, SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition or hybrid landscapes.
Especially in complex SAP environments, the two services offer a decisive advantage: they relieve the system of time-consuming conversion, checking and formatting processes and ensure fast, automated and standard-compliant processing in input and output.
This makes CICS and CBCS ideal for companies that
In the domestic B2B sector, e-invoices will become mandatory, while other forms of invoicing such as paper invoices are to be discontinued in the long term. E-invoices must be archived electronically for eight years; a printout is not sufficient. Exceptions to the e-invoice obligation apply to small-value invoices up to 250 euros and for tickets. Tax-free services, invoices to private individuals or services to entrepreneurs for their private use are also not obliged to use e-invoices - other types of invoice can still be used here, although the customer's consent is required for electronic invoices. If there is no purely domestic business relationship, there is also no obligation to issue an e-invoice.
For small and medium-sized companies, transitional periods until the end of 2027 have been created to facilitate the switch to e-invoicing. During this period, sales can still be invoiced using paper invoices, provided the invoice recipient agrees to this. However, these transitional regulations only apply to invoice issuers, not invoice recipients. This is because every business must be able to receive e-invoices for services subject to VAT and process the data they contain automatically from January 1, 2025.
If an entrepreneur provides a taxable service to another entrepreneur in Germany, the invoice must still be issued within six months of the service being provided. Staggered transitional regulations apply to the form of the invoice: In 2025 and 2026, invoicing by e-invoice is possible but not yet mandatory. From January 1, 2027, companies with a turnover of more than 800,000 euros in 2026 will be obliged to issue e-invoices. From January 1, 2028, e-invoicing will then be mandatory for all domestic B2B sales - regardless of the amount of sales.
Small businesses are exempt from the obligation to issue e-invoices, as provided for in Section 34a of the VAT Implementation Ordinance, which will be introduced by the Annual Tax Act 2024. However, this exemption only applies to the issuing of e-invoices: Small businesses must also be able to receive e-invoices and process them electronically.
From 2025, a pure PDF document will no longer be considered an e-invoice, but will only be classified as a miscellaneous invoice. Instead, a valid e-invoice must be in a structured, machine-readable and machine-processable electronic format. In addition, its authenticity must be ensured by suitable technical procedures, such as a digital signature.
Only structured electronic formats according to the European standard EN 16931 qualify as valid e-invoices. Specifically: XRechnung in all current versions, ZUGFeRD from version 2.0.1 onwards, and EDI formats, provided they meet the EN 16931 requirements. Paper invoices and plain PDF documents (even with a professional layout) are no longer considered e-invoices — as of 2025, they are classified as other invoices. Scanned paper invoices do not meet the requirements.
XRechnung is a pure XML format - the recipient needs a system that can read and display the XML. It is mandatory for public contracting authorities (B2G). ZUGFeRD is a hybrid format: a PDF into which the structured XML data is embedded. Advantage of ZUGFeRD: Even those without an e-invoicing system can read the PDF - ideal for B2B business with differently digitized recipients. Advantage of XRechnung: Strictly standardized, clearly machine-readable. Both formats are based on the European standard EN 16931 and fulfill the German e-invoicing obligation.
Peppol is a Europe-wide network for the structured exchange of electronic business documents — comparable to a standardized postal system for e-invoices. Peppol is already mandatory for many public contracting authorities in Germany and Europe. In pure B2B business, Peppol is currently optional, but it is gaining increasing importance through international business and, prospectively, through the EU's ViDA (VAT in the Digital Age). Our cloud services CICS and CBCS optionally support the Peppol connection, so you can seamlessly switch to the network if needed.
You provide the input format (e.g. PDF or XML), the service converts it into the required structure, validates it according to EN 16931 rules and returns a fully standard-compliant file - ready for SAP, Peppol or archiving.
A non-valid E-bill cannot be processed technically or in terms of content. Authorities and many companies reject them. The invoicing process stops, queries arise and delays occur.
Yes, if the invoice does not contain mandatory information or if the amounts or tax rates are incorrect, the input tax deduction can be denied. A content check is therefore just as important as the technical validation.
GoBD compliant and audit-proof. Incoming e-invoices are archived in their original format (XML, ZUGFeRD PDF/A), as are outgoing documents. The statutory retention period for tax-relevant documents is eight years – a printout is not sufficient; the original must remain electronically available. We use proven archiving solutions from our partner DOXIS Solutions, or alternatively, we integrate existing archiving systems according to your specifications.
For SAP users, we recommend CICS for incoming invoices and CBCS for outgoing invoices. Both services integrate seamlessly into SAP ERP, S/4HANA and RISE environments.
With a conversion service such as CBCSYou output a PDF or structured data from SAP as usual and the service automatically generates a valid XRechnung or ZUGFeRD file - fully compliant with standards.
No. Cloud services such as CICS and CBCS are system-independent and do not require any complex installations or releases. They complement existing SAP systems in a lean and cost-efficient manner.
No. CBCS works with the existing SAP standard invoice printing - you do not change your layout. The cloud service takes the PDF generated by SAP, validates it, converts it to PDF/A, and enriches it with the structured XML data according to EN 16931. The result is a hybrid ZUGFeRD document or a pure XRechnung. This significantly reduces the implementation effort because no print programs need to be touched, no SmartForms need to be rebuilt, and no SAPScript adjustments need to be made.
In six weeks. A pure CBCS introduction for outgoing is live in 4-6 weeks from order, a CICS introduction for incoming in 3-4 weeks. Both in parallel are realistically productive in 6-8 weeks — depending on the number of different invoice templates and recipient requirements. Thanks to the cloud architecture, complex on-premise installations or long release cycles are eliminated.
With three simple steps:
Check incoming and outgoing processes,
Integrate validation and conversion services (CICS/CBCS),
employees in dealing with XRechnung and ZUGFeRD schools.
Technical implementation is usually possible in just a few days.
