eInvoicing Could Revolutionize Public Sector, Say UK MPs

“Electronic invoicing could streamline government administration at a stroke, save taxpayers billions of pounds and enable the government to use its immense purchasing power to open new markets,” this is the bold statement made by Stephen Partland and Adam Afriyie, two conservative Members of the UK Parliament (MPs).

The two politicians believe that the implementation of eInvoicing could, among other things, stimulate the emergence of online public services. The two MPs state that full adoption of eInvoicing by the British government could lead to benefits of £22bn-£28bn a year.

However, the two blame the country’s bureaucracy for the lack of eInvoicing services in the country. “In this age of austerity, e-invoicing is too good an opportunity to miss. Yet we face an enemy from within: an often cumbersome civil service bureaucracy that is slow to accept change. Britain must escape the stranglehold of the political-bureaucratic obsession that often places a premium on process over outcome. The government must push on if Britain is to fulfil its potential and become a global leader in a digital revolution, having the power to increase national productivity overnight,” the two claim.

They continue, “Britain already lags behind most of Europe and many of our global competitors. In Denmark, paper invoicing has been banned in the public sector since 2005. e-invoicing in the public sector has been in operation in Sweden since 2008. The Finnish government has accepted e-invoices only since January 2010. Britain must step up its game.”

Not all is lost though, the two MPs explain: “Francis Maude, minister for the Cabinet Office, and others in government have shown tenacity in pursuing savings for taxpayers by eliminating waste and improving public sector productivity. To introduce e-invoicing as the default for public bodies will take strong political will. But be assured that, as forward-thinking MPs with experience of business and industry, we will do what we can to press for its introduction at the earliest opportunity.”

It remains to be seen whether the two politicians’ efforts result in a change in the government’s policy.

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