Digitization: all the latest news

We would like to share with you a press review covering the latest news on digitization solutions over the past few months. You will find articles related to electronic invoicing, document digitization, digital transformation, electronic signatures, the SMS market, and Docoon ecosystem partners.

Enjoy reading!

Llegislation

Creation of an AFNOR commission to ensure interoperability between platforms (PDP)

New progress in the reform of electronic invoicing, meeting the expectations of those involved in the reform. At the end of last year, the DGFiP and the AIFE announced the creation of an AFNOR commission to ensure interoperability between platforms and harmonize national standards with European standards. 

In addition, the DGFiP has announced that it will soon take on the role of PEPPOL authority for France. This international network, designed to ensure secure and standardized exchanges of commercial documents, will be crucial in promoting interoperability between different platforms.

→ Read the article published on IT for Business: https://bit.ly/4hiItxD

Since the announcement of the creation of this commission, Cyrille Sautereau has been appointed as its chair and Sandrine Hilaire as vice-chair.

→ Read the article published on RÉPUBLIK IT: https://bit.ly/4bDTgBg

→ Read our blog post on the establishment of a French PEPPOL authority:  https://freedz.io/autorite-peppol-francaise-un-nouvel-elan-pour-la-facturation-electronique/ 

Reduction in the scope of the Public Invoicing Portal (PPF) 

On October 15, 2024, in a press release, the government announced that it was abandoning the development of the Public Invoicing Portal (PPF) as a free invoicing platform for all businesses... It should be noted that this "abandonment" concerns the service for issuing and receiving invoices, which was to be free and available to French companies that did not wish to use a PDP. The PPF still exists and offers a directory and billing data hub service. This is crucial information for those involved in the electronic invoicing reform, foremost among which are companies that will have to use a Partner Dematerialization Platform (PDP) to manage all their electronic invoicing. The legislator states that it is " fully confident in the platforms' ability to guarantee high-quality, secure services and to offer a range of services that is broad enough to cover the current and future needs of all companies. In this context, the project will continue, with a focus on building a directory of recipients, which is essential for exchanges between platforms, and a data hub enabling data to be transmitted to the tax authorities. This reorientation should, in particular, ensure that the schedule set out in the 2024 Finance Act is met and that the defined resources are respected. " 

A crucial step for the ViDA Directive

While legislation is evolving somewhat with regard to the implementation of electronic invoicing in France, things are also changing at the European level with regard to the harmonization of digital VAT. Thus, theEuropean Union member states agreed on November 5, 2024, at the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Ecofin) meeting, to establish a progressive timetable for the rollout of the ViDA directive. But what exactly are we talking about? The ViDA directive, which stands for "VAT in the Digital Age," is a major initiative launched by the European Union to reform VAT collection. This reform aims to make the VAT declaration and payment process more transparent, secure, and efficient. In concrete terms, ViDA requires the adoption of electronic invoicing within the European Union, replacing traditional PDF formats with invoices structured according to the EN16931 standard. This reform aims to increase transparency and facilitate tax audits. The objective is to make e-invoicing mandatory and to implement e-reporting requirements to combat VAT fraud.

→ If you missed the news, read the European Union Council press release: https://bit.ly/41F4nVU 

→ We reported on this on the Docoon blog, but what should we take away from this announcement? https://docoon.com/la-directive-europeenne-vida-tva-a-l-heure-du-numerique/ 

Entry into force of the DORA regulation

In response to the increasing risks associated with information and communication technologies (ICT) and the proliferation of digitization projects, the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) has been introduced to strengthen the digital resilience of the EU financial sector by introducing a common legal framework.

The DORA regulation sets out specific rules on managing risks and incidents related to information and communication technology (ICT), digital resilience testing, and risks associated with third-party ICT service providers. It covers a wide range of players in the EU financial sector, applying to more than 20 types of financial entities. DORA came into force for EU financial entities on January 17, 2025.

→ On this subject, read the full article published on the CSSF (Financial Sector Supervisory Commission) website: https://bit.ly/3XDXgfi 

Digital transformation – ANSSI sounds the alarm on cyber risks linked to the cloud

The French National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) recently published its latest report on the risks associated with cloud computing. This eagerly awaited new edition highlights a worrying trend: an increase in cyberattacks targeting cloud infrastructures and greater sophistication in the techniques used by attackers. In this context, ANSSI presents its analysis of the IT threat to cloud computing. The conclusion is unequivocal: the growing outsourcing of data is attracting the attention of cybercriminals, who are now targeting both cloud service providers and their customers, using increasingly effective methods.

On this subject, read the article published on February 24, 2025, on the government website: https://bit.ly/3Fg3snw

→ For more information, download the report: https://bit.ly/4hgD9L7

Digitization – Digital Product Passport (DPP) 

Have you ever heard of the Digital Product Passport (DPP)? 

As part of the Green Deal, the European Commission has adopted a regulation on the eco-design of sustainable products (ESPR). This regulation will give rise to the future product passport. The aim is to track a product's life cycle, from manufacture to recycling or reuse. It is important to note that the DPP is a key instrument for the circular economy, although many other uses are also expected. It will be phased in gradually from 2027, with stages defined according to product categories. The first categories to be covered will be electric batteries, followed by sectors such as textiles, construction materials, tires, and intermediate products such as steel, etc.

→ Afnor Group provides an update on the subject in an article published on January 15, 2025: https://bit.ly/43yfSRG

Markets 

The announced end of SMS

In 2025, SMS messages, limited to 160 characters and technologically outdated, will bow out to make way for RCS (Rich Communication Services). This new standard, which operates via the internet, offers enhanced features such as high-quality photo sharing, read receipts, and group conversations. Already adopted by several operators and manufacturers, RCS promises an experience similar to apps such as WhatsApp, while remaining integrated with native smartphone services.

→ On this topic, read the article published on the media site linternaute : https://bit.ly/4bBWYva  

→ Download the 2024 SMS Marketing Barometer from the AF2M website: https://bit.ly/3FhONIp