" By moving forward step by step—mapping, data, models, PA choices, testing, change management, steering—you transform a stressful undertaking into a structuring project that modernizes your financial management. " – Alban Giroux – Compliance Director at Docoon.
With just a few months to go before the electronic invoicing reform comes into force, many CFOs and CIOs are still putting off the project, thinking they have time or finding the choice of Approved Platform too vague. However, it is better not to wait!
Alban Giroux, Compliance Director at Docoon, has been overseeing regulatory compliance for the Docoon Approved Platform for several years. An expert in digital trust services, he supports publishers, integrators, and companies in their transition to electronic invoicing.
Alban, many CFOs and CIOs of SMEs believe they still have time to implement reforms. What is the first mistake to avoid?
Alban Giroux: The worst mistake a CFO or CIO of an SME can make is no longer to "prepare poorly" for the reform, but to not launch it at all. The good news is that by breaking the project down into clear stages, the transition to electronic invoicing becomes a manageable project... and a useful one for the entire organization.
Where should we start, in practical terms?
A.G.: Before talking about tools or Approved Platforms, you need to map your flows. List your sales and purchasing flows: B2B in France, B2C, international, subsidiaries, subcontractors. Identify the channels used: paper, PDF by email, customer/supplier portals, EDI, etc. List the tools involved: ERP, invoicing software, sales management, business tools, cash flow. The goal is simple: to know who sends what, to whom, in what volume, and using which tool. This mapping allows you to prioritize projects and avoid unpleasant surprises.
What about customer/supplier data? Many companies have files that are not necessarily up to date...
A.G.: Without reliable data on your customers and suppliers, electronic invoicing quickly becomes a headache. Focus on two key elements: is the customer a professional or not, which is essential for e-reporting; for professionals, the SIREN number must be present and correct. Launch an update campaign: extraction from the ERP, cleaning, completion, validation by the sales, accounting, and commerce teams.
The cleaner your third-party files are, the smoother the implementation with a PA will be. On this point, check that your customer file is capable of managing multiple electronic billing addresses. An electronic billing address is an address linked to a SIREN code.
How do invoice templates change things for an SME?
A.G.: The reform imposes new mandatory information and structured formats. Adapt your templates now. Check all standard legal information, add the new mandatory information (goods or services, electronic billing address), and test your tool's ability to generate Factur-X, UBL, or CII. The challenge is to avoid rejection by the PA, but also to standardize your invoices to simplify internal controls and accounting reconciliations.
Keep in mind that even though the platform handles most of the work, at this stage, you need to allow time to standardize invoices, particularly with regard to the sales cycle. The latter always takes longer to set up. At Docoon, we support our customers through this phase based on their specific use cases, as it is an important one.
Choosing an approved platform: where many people get stuck... How can you see clearly?
A.G.: The market seems unclear when you haven't done your research. Set specific criteria: regulatory status (final approval*), integration capacity (ERP connectors, API), functional scope (customer/supplier invoices, statuses, e-reporting), project support, scalability. Select two or three providers, request demos, talk to them... then make your decision. Waiting "because the market is changing" will only cause you to lose precious months.
Three fundamental tips at this stage: 1) Make sure that the PA you choose meets all the use cases you have identified in advance. I am thinking in particular of specific cases such as self-billing or billing mandates. 2) Choose a software publisher capable of interfacing with the "USB port of the reform," the XP Z12-013 standard. This is a key standard that ensures smooth communication between your information systems and the Approved Platform (PA) you have chosen. 3) Choose a PA that offers 10-year archiving , if possible in accordance with the Z 42-013 standard. The Docoon Approved Platform allows our customers to interface their IS within the framework of this standard, which is essential.
*On this topic, read: Docoon officially registered by the DGFiP: why does this change the game?
Should you launch everything at once or start small?
A.G.: Resist the big bang. Proceed with "quick wins." Launch a well-defined pilot: a site, a business unit, a representative panel of customers/suppliers. Test end-to-end: invoice creation, PA sending, customer receipt, status tracking, accounting integration. Measure deadlines, rejection rates, workload, incidents. Document everything. This phase gives you a solid foundation for adjusting and reassuring teams before general deployment.
Change management is often the Achilles heel...
A.G.: The reform affects finance, purchasing, sales, and operations. Without support, you risk blockages and a return to old habits. Inform people early on about the issues at stake: compliance, time savings, improved cash flow. Provide training by role: sales administration, accounting, purchasing, IT. Provide guides, FAQs, and short videos. Appoint business representatives in each team. The goal is for everyone to understand what is changing for them and know where to find help.
Once it's in place, can we forget about the subject?
A.G.: No. Electronic invoicing is becoming a management tool. Track your KPIs: DSO, DPO, validation times, rejection rates, disputes. Identify bottlenecks. Use the data to negotiate better with customers/suppliers. Anticipate regulatory changes by monitoring your PA. At this stage, the reform is no longer about compliance. It is a tool for improving cash flow reliability, securing the supplier cycle, and freeing up time for analysis. Moreover, if you are going to spend time bringing the sales cycle into compliance, don't neglect the purchasing cycle: it's an opportunity to increase productivity!
Your final message to CFOs/CIOs/executives who are still hesitating?
A.G.: For a CFO/CIO or executive who thinks they "still have time," the real risk is finding themselves in an emergency situation, forced to make decisions. By moving forward step by step—mapping, data, models, PA choices, testing, change management, steering—you transform a stressful project into a structuring project that modernizes your financial management. On all these points, Docoon is the ideal partner to support you at every stage with a dedicated project team, including a Customer Success Manager who ensures that your project is a success.
Thank you, Alban, for answering our questions clearly to help decision-makers see more clearly and make their choice.
The Docoon Invoice solution, registered with the DGFiP, offers compliance, interoperability, and industrialization capabilities. Don't let the 2026 deadline catch you off guard. Launch a pilot audit today.
