Using electronic invoicing to manage cash forecasting and working capital in the financial supply chain

Electronic Invoice Presentment and Payment (EIPP) can assist corporate treasurers in cash management and can be integrated with e-marketplaces and other B2B financial settlement activities. Its interactive approach to dispute resolution and robust payment options are critical if corporate financiers are to secure the advantages of B2B marketplaces and straight through processing (STP). Cash management providers used to offer corporates and banks different cash management products and services, but the launch of the Euro and increasing competition have seen these solutions converge. More sophisticated corporate treasurers are currently using state-of-the-art financial tools for cash management, and EIPP can assist these corporates in a similar manner to banks. This research builds on previous literature on EIPP and banking, and examines what drives EIPP adoption for financial treasurers in cash forecasting and cash-to-collections process and their use of EIPP techniques. Survey results from industry are discussed.