Although electronic-invoice solutions exist, a flexible standard for electronic invoicing had not been developed until recently. But now rapid e-Invoice, the first XML-based standard for electronic invoicing via the Internet, is available for industry-wide use.

With the help of Sandia National Laboratories, Recap Inc., and the Institute of Management and Administration (IOMA), a group of accounts-payable/accounts-receivable consultants and professionals formed the Electronic Invoice and Electronic Payment Information (EI&EPI) Task Force to increase the use of electronic invoicing throughout industry with a single-standard invoice. Developers say the new standard can be used throughout industry with vendors and suppliers sending and receiving the same information.

More than 200 organizations participated in developing the standard with the help of accounts-payable organizations, standardssetting organizations, and individuals throughout industry.

Sandia National Laboratories, along with Direct Commerce, Complete Business Solution, and Abba Technologies, tested the standard. Along with the Rapid e-Invoice, the task force created a guide for companies implementing the standard. Sandia and Abba Technologies led creation of the guide that can be used by companies wishing to utilize the standard electronic invoice.

"Sandia's participation in developing the Rapid e-Invoice was intended to help industry become more efficient," says Tim Knewitz, Sandia Labs Services business manager and EI&EPI task force cochair. "The Rapid e-Invoice provides a mechanism for suppliers of goods or services to bill their customers electronically using the Internet and a universally understood format."

The Rapid e-Invoice and the implementation guide are both available free. The Rapid e-Invoice home page at www.sandia.gov/elecinvoice/home.html gives details, lists major contributors to the task force, and provides links to the user manual. The website's links page lists bill-processing software companies, government sites, newsletters, consulting organizations that can help companies get started with XML and Rapid eInvoice, standards bodies, and links to XML protocols.