The Global E-Invoicing Shift: 2025 Perspectives and Momentum

What 1,150 finance, tax, and IT leaders are telling us about e-invoicing

Nearly 100 countries have already implemented e-invoicing mandates, and the pace is accelerating. To understand how businesses are responding, Vertex commissioned Sapio Research to survey 1,150 senior decision-makers across finance, IT, and tax functions in 18 countries. This report shares what they found.

Optimism is higher than you might expect

Despite the complexity, 79% of respondents believe the benefits of e-invoicing outweigh the challenges. Only 12% hold a negative view. Among multi-country sellers, 82% report improvements in financial health as a direct result of e-invoicing adoption. Businesses are not just tolerating mandates. Many see them as a catalyst for broader digital transformation.

The real challenges are integration, data, and scale

Technology integration tops the list of pain points. It is a challenge for 55% of businesses in mandated markets, rising to 63% among multi-country sellers. Data governance is close behind, with half of respondents flagging data security and privacy as significant concerns. The lack of a unified global standard adds further complexity, driving up cost and operational effort for businesses operating across jurisdictions.

E-invoicing is becoming essential for cross-border trade

Multi-country sellers estimate that nearly half of their current sales could be disrupted if their e-invoicing capabilities failed. That figure is expected to rise to 57% within two years. Non-compliance is no longer just a regulatory risk. It is a barrier to market access. Businesses are responding by moving toward globally focused platforms that can handle jurisdictional nuances across multiple regions.

AI and automation are already in play

Around half of businesses currently affected by mandates are already using AI to support e-invoicing. Key applications include fraud detection, invoice matching, predictive analytics for cash flow, and compliance reporting. The trend is clear: AI is becoming a standard part of managing high-volume, multi-jurisdiction VAT and e-invoicing compliance, not a future consideration.

Five actions to take now

The report closes with practical guidance for teams at any stage of their e-invoicing journey. Prioritize integration, embed e-invoicing within your broader digital finance strategy, strengthen data governance, invest in change management, and choose scalable solutions that can grow with evolving mandates. Businesses that act early and invest strategically are best positioned to turn compliance pressure into long-term operational advantage.