Electronic Invoicing Could Unlock €15.5 Billion for France's Economy
Electronic invoicing in France could yield substantial economic benefits, totaling €15.5 billion annually.
Key Points
- • Full adoption of electronic invoicing could unlock €15.5 billion for France.
- • Average productivity gains from electronic invoicing could reach €400,000 annually per company.
- • Only 37% of French SMEs have adopted electronic invoicing due to various barriers.
- • The French government aims to mandate electronic invoicing by 2026.
A recent report by Avalara, released on June 23, 2025, reveals that the full adoption of electronic invoicing in France could generate approximately €15.5 billion annually. The study, conducted in collaboration with the Center for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), estimates the global economic opportunity from electronic invoicing at $616 billion each year, emphasizing its potential to enhance productivity, speed up payments, and reduce fraud.
For French businesses, the benefits are substantial, with the average company potentially saving around €400,000 ($433,561) annually. Larger enterprises report the most significant time savings from electronic invoicing, averaging 54.4 minutes saved per received invoice. This translates to an enhanced productivity gain of about €10 for each processed invoice.
Currently, adoption rates among French small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain low, with only 37% fully utilizing this technology. Major barriers to adoption include the complexities of personnel training and integration into existing systems. However, a shift in awareness is evident; 95% of businesses that rely on manual invoicing are familiar with electronic invoicing, while 73% are considering its adoption in the next five years.
The urgency for this transition is heightened by the French government's mandate to make electronic invoicing compulsory by 2026. According to the report, 41% of companies are actively working to comply with this upcoming regulation, while 36% are aware of it but have yet to initiate changes. The study underscores the necessity for businesses to integrate electronic invoicing to improve operational efficiency and security.