What is an EHF invoice in Norway?

When we talk about digitalization in business, EHF invoice is a concept that often comes up in the discussion. But what does it actually mean? What does EHF stand for, and how can Norwegian companies benefit from this modern form of invoicing? In this guide, we will dive deep into the world of EHF invoicing and give you all the information you need to understand and implement this form of invoicing in your business.

What does EHF mean and what is it?

EHF stands for Electronic Trade Format. It is essentially a format that has been designed for electronic invoicing, especially for governmental invoicing transactions in Norway. But what exactly is the background to this format? EHF was developed as a response to the need for a standardized method of electronic commerce, especially between public organizations and their suppliers. What is an EHF invoice? It’s an electronic invoice sent directly from the sender’s to the recipient’s financial system. The big advantage? When an EHF invoice is received, it is automatically read by the recipient’s system, ensuring fast delivery to the right recipient without human intervention.

The benefits of EHF invoicing

So, what is an EHF invoice and why should businesses consider using it? The use of EHF invoices offers many benefits for both sender and recipient:

1. Efficiency: One of the most obvious benefits is that invoices are sent directly from the sender’s financial system to the recipient’s, eliminating the need for manual data entry and potential errors that can occur with it.
2. Environmentally friendly: Sending electronic invoices reduces paper waste and is therefore more sustainable.
3. Cost-saving: Without the need for paper, ink or postage, businesses can save significant sums of money over time.
4. Security: EHF invoices are secure, as they are sent through trusted and secure networks such as PEPPOL, which stands for “Pan-European Public Procurement OnLine”.

How does EHF invoice work?

Now that you understand what EHF is and why it’s important, how does ehf invoice work in practice? The process, although it may seem technical, is designed to be simple and user-friendly for both senders and recipients.

1. Creating the invoice: As with any invoice, the process starts with creating it in a suitable invoice system that supports EHF. It’s no different from creating a conventional invoice. You fill in the necessary information, select products or services, set prices and add any discounts or surcharges.
2. Choice of format: When the invoice is ready, select EHF as the format for sending. This ensures that the invoice is sent in the correct electronic format, optimized for fast and error-free processing in the recipient’s system.
3. Register your organization number: This is an important part of the process. By registering the recipient’s organization number, the system will check against ELMA, the address register for EHF, to ensure that the recipient can accept this type of invoice. The organization number is a unique identifier that ensures that the invoice is sent to the correct recipient.
4. Automatic sending: After selecting the EHF format, the invoicing system will automatically send the invoice to the recipient via the PEPPOL network in EHF format. This network ensures secure and reliable transmission of invoices across Europe.

Requirements and regulations around EHF

How to receive EHF invoices? The public sector in Norway has set a standard for electronic invoicing. All government organizations, as well as Norwegian municipalities, are required to be able to receive EHF invoices. This is part of Norway’s commitment to modernizing and digitizing its public services. Many municipalities and public institutions have already taken the initiative and exclusively accept invoices in EHF format. For companies interacting with the public sector, it is therefore important to be aware of these requirements and ensure that they have the necessary infrastructure to send EHF invoices.

Conclusion

The establishment and adoption of EHF invoicing in Norway is not just a technological development; it is a step towards a more modern, efficient and sustainable business environment. With its many benefits, especially in terms of efficiency and reliability, EHF invoices provide Norwegian businesses with a golden opportunity to optimize their invoicing processes and strengthen collaboration with the public sector. As technology continues to evolve, those businesses that adapt and adopt new solutions such as EHF will be better equipped for the challenges of the future.