New service in Dutch ports saves millions of Euros
Mittwoch 14 September 2011
Port companies and logistics service providers adopt electronic invoicing en masse
Rotterdam, 14 September 2011 – All port companies and logistics service providers in the Netherlands can now safely and reliably make use of e-invoicing. In cooperation with Ricoh, Portbase is offering them the service E-invoicing as an extension to the existing Port Community System for logistics information exchange. This allows clients to easily send and receive electronic invoices without the need for any initial investment. The new service will save the sector millions of Euros in manpower, paper, printing and postage costs, and is also sustainable.
E-invoicing makes the step to electronic invoicing very simple for companies.ll that is needed is a computer with an internet connection. Portbase offers participants the use of a virtual printer driver, the Portbase Invoice Printer, free of charge. In order to do this, Portbase has entered a cooperation agreement with Ricoh, a specialist in IT and document management solutions. By just changing their way of working slightly, companies can send their invoice data to Ricoh’s Shared Service Centre in a digital format. Here, the invoice data is converted and automatically sent to the invoicee, whether within the Netherlands or abroad. Parties always receive the e-invoices in the way that suits them best: digital delivery directly to their computer systems (as XML), as .pdf documents or, if preferred, the old-fashioned way (on paper). Naturally all data is always optimally secured.
Successful pilot project receives award
Over the past year, Portbase and Ricoh have successfully tested the service E-invoicing in a pilot project with a small number of companies.t the annual Invoice Conference in Eindhoven, the new service was awarded the ‘Golden Invoice’ for 2011 for the best practical case in the field of e-invoicing in the Netherlands.
An even more comprehensive range of services
At present, around 2,000 companies who are active in the supply chains of the Dutch ports are using Portbase’s Port Community System to efficiently exchange data, both with each other and with the authorities, like the port authorities and Customs. Every year, the Port Community System generates around 50 million messages. The service E-invoicing makes this information exchange even more extensive, and the service provided by Portbase as a neutral party even more comprehensive. Now companies can also organise their financial data streams via Portbase, and so improve their competitive position.
About Ricoh Netherlands
Ricoh is a supplier of IT and document management solutions. Thanks to the key role that Ricoh has played in the rapid development of office automation worldwide, in just 20 years the company has grown to be a world market leader in sustainable document solutions. With 109,000 employees and offices in more than 50 countries, Ricoh currently has one of the largest sales and service networks in the industry. The head office of Ricoh Netherlands is located in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. For more information, please see www.ricoh.nl.
About Portbase - home of logistics intelligence
Portbase is the neutral and reliable hub for all logistics information in the ports of Rotterdam andmsterdam. Via Portbase’s port-transcending Port Community System, companies can benefit from a multitude of intelligent services for simple and efficient information exchange, both between companies and between the public and the private sector. This enables all participants to optimise their logistics processes, thereby improving their own competitive position and that of the ports. Portbase belongs to and serves the port community and is a non-profit organisation. For more information, please visit www.portbase.com.