SIDN and Simplerinvoinving Join Forces

SIDN, the company behind .NL extension, announced recently that they will be working closely together with the Simplerinvoincing Foundation to expedite the introduction and adoption of electronic invoices.

You can read the press release after the jump :

“The Simplerinvoicing Foundation and SIDN, the company behind .nl, will be working closely together to expedite the introduction and adoption of electronic invoices that conform to the European standard (PEPPOL). SIDN will initially take over a number of operational tasks from Simplerinvoicing, with a view to assuming full responsibility for management of the Simplerinvoicing package system in due course. By entering into the partnership, the Simplerinvoicing Foundation aims to further professionalise and future-proof the administration of e-invoicing standards and the fulfilment of its governance tasks.

SIDN has the expertise that Simplerinvoicing needs
Set up by a consortium of e-invoicing service providers, Simplerinvoicing is the new standard for sending and receiving electronic invoices using e-invoicing, ERP or accounting software. Bram Kuijper, CEO of the Simplerinvoicing Foundation said, “Simplerinvoicing has been operating since November 2013 and now has a solid basis. We have built up a network that includes the main service providers active in the field. The point has now been reached where the standard can be adopted and used much more widely by the Dutch business community. With that aim in mind, we have been looking for a partner to help us take Simplerinvoicing forward. SIDN is an ideal prospective partner organisation for us. SIDN has enormous expertise of the kind that we need and SIDN’s track record as the .nl registry can be a real asset to Simplerinvoicing.”

A logical partnership
SIDN’s CEO Roelof Meijer commented, “We are very pleased to be partnering Simplerinvoicing. It’s a great opportunity for us to take the experience and unique expertise that we’ve built up by running .nl and utilise it for other purposes, increasing our own added value. The work that the Simplerinvoicing Foundation does has a lot in common with the running of an internet domain. The development and administration of technical standards, the cooperation with a network of agents and stakeholders and the definition and maintenance of policy and procedures – there are numerous areas of overlap. What’s more, our two organisations have a shared understanding of how we can best work together and a shared vision of the future. Partnership with Simplerinvoicing also dovetails with our ambition to play a role within trust frameworks, which are going to be very important in relation to internet use and public confidence in the internet, as well as for the wider community.”

Phased transfer
Bram Kuijper: “The plan is to transfer management of the Simplerinvoicing package system to SIDN in phases. To begin with, SIDN will be a sort of subcontractor, with responsibility for operational activities. Over time, SIDN’s role will be expanded to include more strategic activities. Ultimately, we envisage SIDN assuming full responsibility for management of the Simplerinvoicing package system.” Roelof Meijer: “Although the two organisations are very similar in operational terms, e-invoicing is of course a new field for SIDN. The phased transfer will enable us to familiarise ourselves with the e-invoicing world and its market processes, and to adapt our organisation to accommodate the new role.”