ZUGFeRD - standard for electronic invoices

The use of electronic invoices has not been established in small and medium-sized businesses. This is mainly due to the unclear and changing law situation. There is a cost saving potential in the electronic billing for companies compared to paper invoices.

What makes ZUGFeRD easier (FeRD Version 1.0 - © AWV e.V. 2014) 

The default ZUGFeRD offers a unified invoice format. As a transport container a PDF / A-3 structure is used. This enables  to combine the human- and machine-readable data (XML and PDF).  

Creating and process the invoice ZUGFeRD (FeRD Version 1.0 - © AWV e.V. 2014)

After the abolition of the duty of a qualified signature in electronic bills in 2011 it is a further attempt to support the dissemination of electronic invoices in business.

Receipt of invoice processing at the BVA (FeRD Version 1.0 - © AWV e.V. 2014)

Through the support of the German IT industry association BITKOM and by standardizing authorities of the EU who want to work for a Europe-wide eInvoicenorm, the ZUGFeRD standard is extremely promising.

German Version

Resources:
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Fast-fertig-Standard-fuer-elektronische-Rechnungen-1883552.html
http://www.bitkom.org/de/presse/8477_79507.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invoice#UBL
http://www.pdfa.org/
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Zwang-zur-Rechnungssignatur-endet-1268158.html
http://www.ferd-net.de/