The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Financial Services Center (VAFSC) seems to be leaving paper invoices behind and moving to electronic invoicing. To enable the transition, the VAFSC contracted with A&T Systems and OB10.
OB10 operates the global e-Invoicing network, and A&T Systems is a provider of technology and other solutions to the federal government. Jointly, they will enroll suppliers on the OB10 network, allowing invoice submission to the VAFSC in any electronic format. The network also provides data mapping and translation services, and presents the VAFSC with the invoice in its desired format.
The VAFSC operates in a shared services environment, with a central site located in Austin, Texas, that processes invoices for the nationwide network of Veterans Health Administration hospitals and other field facilities. Currently, the VAFSC processes over one million invoices annually.
"We are looking to eliminate invoice errors, reduce or eliminate late payment penalties, and make our accounts payable process a model for other federal agencies," says VAFSC director Ron Wood.
By going electronic, the VAFSC will gain significant efficiencies in its invoice handling. Not only will it require less staff time to open mail and deal with the mountain of paper involved with nearly 17,000 invoices arriving each week, but security will be enhanced as well.
The OB10 global e-Invoicing network, which has members in 70 countries and across six continents, allows suppliers to submit invoices in any electronic format, from sophisticated ERP systems such as SAP and Oracle all the way down to small-business QuickBooks-generated invoices.
OB10 and A&T Systems will work to convert 70 percent of the VAFSC annual invoice total, received from the 2,700 highest-volume vendors, from paper to electronic form within 12 months.
