Create, send and receive electronic invoices directly in SAP – legally compliant with EN 16931. Supports XRechnung, ZUGFeRD and Peppol.
SAP e-invoicing – According to the current legal situation, e-invoicing has been the norm for domestic B2B sales since Companies must be able to receive and process EN 16931-compliant e-invoices (e.g. XRechnung or ZUGFeRD from 2.0.1). Transitional periods apply to the issuance in 2025 and 2026; in certain cases until . There are separate requirements for invoices to the public sector (B2G).
MailCenter supports practical implementation in SAP ECC and SAP S/4HANA. E-invoices are generated, checked, sent and received in the system – including XRechnung, ZUGFeRD and sending/receiving.
Our add-on makes your SAP ECC or S/4HANA fit for the obligation – today and in the future.
With our solution, you can create, send and receive SAP electronic invoices in a legally compliant and automated manner – directly in SAP ECC or S/4HANA.
More than 200 companies rely on our solutions. These include customers such as Dr. Oetker, Augustiner Bräu, Carl Zeiss, Siemens Healthineers, Sortimo, thyssenkrupp and many more…
★★★★★
XRechnung and ZUGFeRD – “With the MailCenter, we are advancing digitization in our company.”
Wolfgang Scheffler, SAP Senior Consultant Logistics/Accounting (Project Management) | Duisburger Versorgungs- und Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH
Success Story
Relationship management by sending invoices with MailCenter.
Pneuhage Group | Read the success story >
Success Story
Advancing digitalization and meeting legal requirements.
DVV | Read the success story >
“The fact that we can combine invoices and attachments within one e-mail is a major advantage of the solution for us.”
“Thanks to the dialog options, the MailCenter simultaneously ensures optimized accounts receivable management and clean, always up-to-date master data in our accounting.”
“We are also fulfilling a wish of many customers who want a format that can be processed automatically. ” They want to read the data directly into their systems. This is only possible to a limited extent with normal PDF files, as the data always has to be typed manually from there.”
With the MailCenter add-on, you can send and receive electronic invoices in XRechnung or ZUGFeRD format directly from SAP – automated, secure and legally compliant. We use three practical use cases to show how easy it is to do this:
Challenge:
Invoices must be transmitted to authorities and business customers in a structured manner and without media discontinuity.
Solution with MailCenter:
Create and send electronic invoices directly from SAP – automated, format-compliant and flexible.
View MailCenter XRechnung and ZUGFeRD invoices in dispatch
Your advantage:
Smooth, automated outgoing invoices – without manual post-processing.
Challenge:
Standard formats often lack project-specific information or internal references.
This is what e-invoicing looks like in SAP au XRechnungs (non-visual part / XML) – SAP
Solution with MailCenter:
Extension with configurable fields and free text – directly in SAP, without any external tools.
This is what e-invoicing looks like in SAP au XRechnungs (non-visual part / XML) – SAP
Your advantage:
Maximum flexibility – with consistent data and optimized processes.
Challenge:
Incoming invoices often have to be checked and posted manually.
Solution with MailCenter:
Central processing in the SAP invoice receipt cockpit with automatic data recognition.
E-invoice receipt in SAP
Your advantage:
Less manual work – faster approvals and more transparency.
Arrange a personal live demo and experience the solution in your SAP system.
✔ Digital & automated invoicing processes
✔ Simple & user-friendly operation
✔ Fast implementation without additional hardware
✔ Meets the EN 16931 standard for B2B and B2G
Why munich enterprise software?
We have more than 15 years of experience in SAP-related output automation, SAP mail dispatch and e-invoice formats. With our SAP MailCenter and the integrated e-invoice extensions, you are well equipped for the digitization of your invoicing processes.
Dispatch
✔ Creation of XRechnung and ZUGFeRD invoices directly in SAP
✔ Visualization & control in the MailCenter Cockpit
✔ Shipping to customers and authorities
✔ Automatic archiving
Reception & Processing
✔ Automatic capture of incoming e-invoices
✔ Validation Service
✔ Forwarding to release
✔ Archiving in the SAP system
✔ Optional automatic booking
Software
Services
In addition to technical implementation, we offer business solutions, individual service options and sound advice.
Yes, incoming invoices can be posted automatically. If you use workflows in the DMS system (e.g. ELO), we integrate our solution in such a way that no additional workflows are required in other systems.
Our MailCenter add-on supports all current ZUGFeRD and XRechnung versions from ZUGFeRD 2.0 onwards with the latest versions (as of July 2025):
Thanks to continuous development and maintenance, our customers always stay up to date with the latest technology – in compliance with the law, proven in practice and future-proof.
SAP System Versions
Software
Implementation:
1. Standardised procedure
The setup is based on our proven project roadmap. This speeds up implementation and saves your internal resources.
2. Record your requirements
We use a predefined questionnaire to record your specific requirements. These flow directly into the adaptation of the solution.
3. Technical implementation
Training & Testing
After setup, your users will receive a briefing. During the test and go-live phase, we will actively accompany you.
Operation & Support
An e-invoice (electronic invoice) is a digital invoice in a structured format that is created, sent and received electronically. It streamlines the invoicing process and reduces manual intervention.
E-invoices are created in XML or EDIFACT format and sent via electronic channels. The recipient can automatically read and process the document, which minimizes manual intervention and speeds up the entire process. Various conditions are important when using. These include the consent of the invoice recipient, human readability, authenticity of origin, mandatory information (see also paper invoice).
Read also => E-invoice
From 2025, the e-invoicing obligation in the B2B sector will apply in Germany . Companies will then have to invoice
electronically in structured formats (e.g. XRechnung, ZUGFeRD).
All deadlines, affected companies and recommendations for action can be found here:
Introduction of the e-invoicing obligation in 2025.
The terms refer to different formats for electronic invoices. Here is a brief description of the differences:
| Format | Description | Application | Particularities |
|---|---|---|---|
| XBill | XML standard for Germany | B2G (mandatory for public clients) | EN 16931 compliant, purely structured |
| ZUGFeRD | PDF/A-3 with embedded XML | B2B & B2G | Readable for humans and machines |
| PEPPOL | EU network for secure document exchange | International, especially EU procurement | Shipping via certified access points |
In common parlance, the term “e-invoice” refers to e-mails with attachments, pictorial representations and structured data formats.
The European Directive 2014/55/EU of 16 April 2014 establishes the framework for electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) in public procurement. In § 4a, it defines the term electronic invoice as follows:
“An invoice is electronic if it is issued, transmitted and received in a structured electronic format and the format allows the invoice to be processed automatically and electronically.”
The PEPPOL network (Pan-European Public Procurement Online) enables the secure and legally compliant exchange of electronic invoices at the European level.
While sending by e-mail is still permitted in Germany, many countries rely on PEPPOL as a binding standard – especially in the public sector.
Via a certified PEPPOL access point, such as the MailCenter we offer, invoices can be sent automatically and directly from the SAP system. This makes PEPPOL the ideal solution
for companies with international business partners or public clients.
certified access point
Learn more about the integration on our
PEPPOL network page.
In order to help the acceptance and dissemination of electronic mail in everyday business, the legislator has reduced the requirements. This applies specifically to e-invoices. Transmission can be done in edi procedure. The qualified electronic signature is no longer required. This digital signature has not been necessary since 1 July 2011. Invoices can be sent electronically without the need to use a digital signature.
The abolition of electronic signaturehas have simplified the creation and use of e-invoicing for the biller and the recipient. Since then, the mailing of invoices has been steadily increasing. Of course, there are still customers who only accept invoices by paper. Nevertheless, electronically sent invoices are on the rise and are legally valid.
The Growth Opportunities Act makes electronic invoicing mandatory for B2B transactions in Germany from January 1, 2025 . Invoices must then be issued, transmitted and received in a structured format , for example as XRechnung or ZUGFeRD.
Paper invoices and simple PDFs without structured data are no longer considered e-invoices. Companies should adapt their processes at an early stage in order to remain compliant with the law and benefit from the advantages of digital invoice processing.
Yes, SAP provides a standard solution with “Document and Reporting Compliance (DRC) – eDocument”. This is very powerful and covers many country requirements. However, it is complex to introduce, often associated with additional licensing costs and is based on large international scenarios. Our add-on is specially developed for medium-sized companies: quickly ready for use, cost-effective, with flexible transmission paths and without high implementation effort.
Originally, e-invoicing started with XRechung. Authorities have the obligation to issue invoices in X-invoice format. Here are a few well-known examples:
| Public contracting authority | Description |
|---|---|
| Bunch | Federal ministries and their subordinate authorities (e.g. Federal Police, Federal Customs, BZSt, BSI, BAMF) |
| Countries | State ministries, universities, state offices (e.g. LfSt, LZB) |
| Municipalities | Cities, municipalities, districts and municipal companies |
| Deutsche Bahn AG | Public contracting authority within the meaning of the GWB, high investment sums |
| Bundeswehr | Procurement of equipment, IT, infrastructure |
| Procurement Office of the BMI | Central procurement office of the federal government (e.g. for IT, vehicles, equipment) |
ViDA stands for “VAT in the Digital Age” and is an EU initiative to modernise the VAT system. The aim is to adapt the existing regulations to the requirements of the digital age. The key points are the mandatory introduction of electronic invoices in a standardised, machine-readable format and a digital real-time reporting system for transactions (Continuous Transaction Controls, CTC for short).
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Electronic invoice
The solution for suppliers of contracting authorities.
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