Ready for e-invoicing now!

With the introduction of mandatory e-invoicing for B2B companies in Germany from January 1, 2025, companies must ensure that they can process electronic invoices. The WEIG Group, a specialist in plasterboard and integrated expertise in packaging board and cardboard packaging, has already proactively taken this step.

WEIG processes e-invoices with the tangro EDI converter and is therefore ideally prepared for the upcoming obligation.

As soon as an electronic invoice is received, it is automatically read by the EDI converter and the relevant data is transferred directly to the SAP system. This eliminates the need for manual intervention. The time-consuming reading of PDF or scanned paper invoices with OCR software is no longer necessary. Thanks to the uncomplicated implementation, the EDI converter could be installed quickly. Ole Pötter, Head of GS Purchasing at Weig says:

“The implementation of the tangro EDI converter was a simple plug and play process."

In combination with tangro's automated invoice processing, which has been used successfully for years, WEIG has not only future-proofed its accounting processes, but also benefits from significantly more efficient workflows. The company also processes order confirmations and delivery bills automatically with tangro. In this way, Weig has achieved a fully automated purchasing process from the purchase requisition (BANF) to the invoice. 

Purchasing at WEIG is organized in an extremely complex manner, as 220 product groups and 2,500 suppliers are managed. The purchasing department is divided into strategic and operational units that process 15,900 orders with 28,000 materials management (MM) and 13,000 financial accounting (FI) invoices in SAP S/4HANA each year. In addition, 9,800 orders and a total of 12,600 invoices are processed in SAP ERP. With the tangro EDI converter, WEIG can process e-invoices in the XRechnung and ZUGFeRD formats required by law from 2025 and therefore already meets the requirements of the e-invoicing obligation.

If all content is consistent and the data structure is correct, the document is posted fully automatically in the background.

The tangro EDI converter ideally complements the tangro IM solution for automated invoice processing that WEIG has been using for years.

WEIG has been able to speed up the recognition, checking and posting of these invoice documents with tangro to such an extent that cash discounts can now be used for 99 percent of invoices. At the same time, employees are relieved of time-consuming checking work, can process queries more quickly and concentrate on more complex tasks.

If errors occur during transmission - for example due to an incorrect structure on the part of the invoice issuer - clerks can still easily correct the document. Whereas with conventional EDI processing, content is only available as a cryptic data record and is therefore difficult to check, the EDI converter automatically generates a PDF of the invoice data that looks like a conventional invoice. The PDF can then be post-processed as usual in the tangro pre-entry mask.

The automated document processes for order confirmations and delivery bills also contribute to an enormous increase in efficiency.

tangro OC software automatically recognizes the relevant content of incoming order confirmations and compares it with the order data. The clerk can then rework the document if necessary or, if the order confirmation is correct, simply post it in SAP at the click of a mouse - without time-consuming typing or checking of data. When the ordered goods are delivered, tangro DM processes the delivery note and posts the goods receipt in SAP. This also speeds up this work step considerably and avoids errors. General documents containing additional information are also recorded electronically with tangro software and automatically assigned to the correct transaction in SAP. The electronic archiving of document images and workflow logs also ensures complete traceability of all processes.

By automating document processing, WEIG benefits from consistently automated and accelerated processes throughout purchasing, lower error rates and cost savings thanks to the reliable use of cash discounts.

ABOUT WEIG

WEIG, a recognized, owner-managed group of companies in the international paper and cardboard industry, employs 1,800 people at locations in Europe and South America. With a turnover of one billion euros, its portfolio comprises a closed value-added cycle, from waste paper recycling to the manufacture and marketing of paper and cardboard products such as folding cartons and plasterboard. Its business model is based on an efficient closed-loop system and a clear commitment to sustainability and resource conservation. Through direct customer contact, WEIG is constantly developing its products in line with the expectations of the respective customer groups.