One year after Romania made electronic invoicing (e-Factura) mandatory, 82% of companies have already adopted automation solutions to manage the shift, according to a new industry study by local fintech company Profluo.
Despite a complex and costly transition, the majority of businesses are seeing tangible operational benefits. These include fewer invoice processing errors (36%), faster document handling (31%), and reduced time spent on financial reporting (20%).
While 88% of businesses recognize e-invoicing as both valuable and necessary, the road to compliance was not smooth. 55% reported a manageable but still challenging transition—mostly those already digitalized or using external support. 18% faced significant difficulties, citing unclear requirements and technical hurdles.
Efficiency gains outweigh cost savings
Surprisingly, only 4% of companies cited direct cost savings. The majority viewed the move as a strategic investment in efficiency. Companies processing higher invoice volumes – over 1,000 per month – were the fastest adopters of advanced ERP and automation tools.
The features most valued in automation platforms included automated invoice processing (63%), integration with internal systems (57%), or real-time tracking of invoice workflows (53%).
Ongoing technical and operational hurdles
Despite widespread adoption, businesses continue to struggle:
- 55% citing instability or downtime in the tax authority’s e-invoicing portal;
- 50% encountering integration difficulties with internal systems;
- 35% reporting legislative or technical confusion.
Operational concerns such as higher implementation costs (32%), increased internal complexity (21%), and slower approval processes (18%) also featured prominently.
Also, the shift to e-invoicing had limited impact on partner relationships. Only 15% noted improved transparency and workflow coordination, 38% saw no major changes, and 24% experienced new challenges like delays and misalignment.
