About IMDA
The Info-communications Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) aims to develop a vibrant, world class infocomm media sector that drives the economy, connects people, bonds communities and powers Singapore’s Smart Nation vision. IMDA achieves this through: • Developing talent, strengthening business capabilities, and enhancing Singapore’s ICT and media infrastructure • Regulating the telecommunications and media sectors to safeguard consumer interests while fostering a pro-business environment • Enhancing Singapore’s data protection regime through the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC)
E-Invoicing as Part of The Digital Economy
IMDA recognised the need to helping Singapore businesses to digitalise when 80% of businesses are still on manual invoicing, with fragmented single-sided non-interoperable solutions.
Benefits of eInvoicing:
The eInvoice network will potentially serve hundreds of thousands of businesses in Singapore and around the region. How can we create a widespread system, such as email, for Business-to-Business financial document exchange?
Why Peppol?
What Peppol does for Singapore
- Market enabler for interoperable eProcurement solutions
- Facilitates standards-based end-to-end electronic procurement processes
- Agreement framework for network trust, governance and compliance that enables multilateral cross-border interoperability
- Governance through a member-based non-profit organisation
- Enables a significant simplification and improvement of the on-boarding process
- Supports buyers and sellers to trade electronically
Our Building Blocks to Implement Peppol
There were many strategic and tactical decisions that were required at various juncture of the initiative. Below are some of the key ones. IMDA started a project office to drive these activities.
Engaging Key Stakeholders
It was imperative that IMDA’s project office worked in collaboration with various internal and external stakeholders right from the start in opening doors, leveraging capabilities and designing new levers to drive adoption.
Peppol Adoption Timeline
In May 2018, IMDA became the first Peppol Authority in Asia and 45 Government agencies and private sector entities expressed support for this nationwide eInvoicing framework. Key steps that we have taken so far:
Operationalising the Peppol Authority
2018
- Q1 Announced of nationwide eInvoicing Framework
- Q1 – Q2 Studied and selected the Peppol standards
- Q2 Established the Peppol Authority
- Q2 Negotiated and signed the Peppol Transport Infrastructure Agreement
- Q3 Appointed the Service Metadata Provider
- Q4 Prepared for Peppol network ‘Go Live’
Onboarding the Access Point providers
2018
- Q3 Held industry workshop, supported by Peppol expert Opened Access Point
applications and set up the Access Point Community - Q4 Certified and Approved Access Points Grew the local Access Point Community
Driving adoption by large businesses and SMEs
2018
Q2 – Q3 Leverage trade associations and existing SME outreach programmes
Recruitment of large early adopters and match-making with Access Points
Q4 Prepared platform providers (eg ERP) to connect to SMEs
Continued onboarding of large businessesPublic sector engagement
2018
Q2 – Q4 Engaged the centralised platform for Government inbound invoices
Engaged the various Government outbound invoice platformseInvoicing Go Live
2019
Q1 the eInvoice network in Singapore launched on 9th January 2019Driving early adopters
2019
Q2 – Q3 Helped large early adopters initiate project and test eInvoice exchange
Connect platform providers and on-board SMEsDeveloping market awareness
2019
Q1 – Q3 Prepare information on eInvoice website
Q2 Print advertising and seminars
Q2 – Q3 Roadshows and meetings with large enterprises
Q3 Digital marketing and monthly business briefingsNex Steps
Singapore is a booming digital economy and we provide a test bed for new technology. Enterprises across all sectors are beginning their journey to come on board the Peppol network and we are building towards cross-border acceptance with Asia Pacific, having held meetings with several countries in the region.
eInvoicing Project Office
IMDA