Netherlands-based global express service provider TNT has announced its intention to offer secured electronic invoices with digital signature in over 30 countries by the end of March 2008. The new, free web-based service, called Express Invoicing, will be available for customers in most European countries, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
TNT said it already offers e-invoices in 37 countries around the world, with another 10 countries preparing to introduce the paperless invoice this year. TNT estimates it will eventually eliminate up to one million paper invoices per month.
“Electronic invoices save time, money and trees,” stated the director marketing and sales of TNT’s express division, Jan Willem Breen. “But with internet fraud on the rise, customers also ask for legally recognised techniques like digital signatures that authenticate the source of invoices and protect the documents’ integrity.”
“To benefit from the new service, all they need is an internet connection and an e-mail account. Instead of a paper invoice, TNT sends an e-mail to its customers directing them to a secure website, where they enter a password to access their downloadable electronic invoices. Invoice data is current and available in several formats, including PDF and CSV. XML format will also be available by March 2008.”
TNT pointed out that in the US and many European countries such as Germany, the UK and Italy, digital signatures had the same value as a handwritten signature.
“From a legal perspective, digital signature is the most widely accepted way to shift from paper to electronic invoices,” it added.