One year of e-Invoicing (e-Factura) in Romania: 82% of companies have adopted automation solutions for electronic invoicing

• Profluo, a Romanian tech company specializing in AI-driven financial automation, launches the “One year of e-Invoicing in Romania” study, analyzing the business impact of the first year of mandatory electronic invoicing.
• The study reveals the top benefits companies have experienced: fewer invoice processing errors (36%), faster document processing (31%), and shorter financial reporting times (20%).
• Based on responses from over 150 finance professionals, the report offers an in-depth view of the benefits, challenges, and effects of e-Invoicing across various industries and company sizes.

A challenging but necessary transition

The study highlights a fundamental tension in Romania’s e-invoicing adoption: while an overwhelming 88% of businesses consider it both valuable and necessary, the transition has been far from seamless. This strong support for the system is tempered by significant implementation challenges and a high demand for fully integrated solutions.

The level of difficulty experienced during implementation varied:

• A manageable but still challenging transition was reported by 55% of companies, particularly those already digitalized or supported by external vendors.
• Significant difficulties were faced by 18% of businesses during the process.

Furthermore, skepticism remains high regarding some of the government’s stated objectives, particularly the extent to which e-Invoicing will reduce Romania’s VAT gap (currently the largest in the EU) and simplify tax reporting.

The business sector sees clear benefits

After the first year of mandatory e-invoicing, companies are reporting clear operational benefits. According to the study, the top advantages cited were a decrease in processing errors (36%), faster document processing (31%), and less time required for financial reporting (20%).

Interestingly, only 4% of respondents mentioned cost savings, suggesting that companies value operational efficiency and process improvements more than immediate financial gains.

Technical and operational challenges

The transition to e-invoicing presented companies with considerable operational, financial, and technical challenges. From a business perspective, a significant number of companies reported high implementation costs (32%), increased complexity in their day-to-day operations (21%), and more cumbersome internal approval workflows (18%).

These operational frictions were often rooted in specific technical issues. Most respondents (55%) encountered problems with the availability and stability of the tax authority’s public portal. 50% struggled with integrating the new system into their existing internal platforms. Furthermore, 35% of companies found the process technically complex, with an equal percentage of 35% having difficulty fully understanding the legislative and technical requirements.

Impact on business relationships and automation

The transition to e-invoicing had a mixed effect on business relationships. While 38% of respondents reported no significant changes, 24% experienced challenges like delays and alignment difficulties with partners. Only 15% noted improvements in transparency and workflow coordination.

To manage these new complexities, an overwhelming 82% of companies have turned to automation solutions. The most valued features in these platforms include:

• Automated invoice processing (63%)
• Integration with existing systems (57%)
• Real-time tracking of invoicing workflows (53%)

Most companies expect these solutions to further reduce manual intervention (63%) and improve operational efficiency (62%).

Profile of respondent companies

The study’s findings are based on responses from over 150 finance and accounting professionals across Romania. The participants represent a diverse range of industries, including financial services, IT & software, manufacturing, retail, pharmaceuticals, logistics, energy, and construction.

Respondent profile by company size:

• Large enterprises (>250 employees): 40%
• Medium-sized companies (51–250 employees): 27%
• Small companies (10–50 employees): 20%
• Micro-enterprises (<10 employees): 13%

Respondent profile by monthly invoice volume:

• Over 1,000 invoices: 44%
• 501–1,000 invoices: 16%
• 100–500 invoices: 24%
• Fewer than 100 invoices: 16%

The data indicates that companies processing higher invoice volumes are more inclined to invest in advanced automation and ERP integration solutions to strengthen compliance and improve operational efficiency.

In contrast, companies handling fewer than 500 invoices per month tend to rely more on basic accounting software or manual processes. Although they face less immediate pressure to fully digitize, these organizations can still benefit from automation through improved accuracy and stronger compliance with tax regulations.

Conclusions

“The first year of electronic invoicing in Romania has been an intense period of adaptation and learning for businesses. e-Invoicing marked a significant milestone in the country’s financial digitalization journey, and our study confirms this: companies that invested in automation have gained time, accuracy, and operational efficiency”, said Bogdan Năforniță, CEO & Co-Founder of Profluo.

The study underlines the competitive advantage of digitalized companies. While implementation posed challenges for some, the benefits – such as reduced errors and faster processing – are clear. Automation has proven to be not only valuable but essential for meeting new fiscal and compliance requirements.

“Profluo has successfully guided many companies through the e-Invoicing transition, helping them transform a complex obligation into a real competitive advantage”,Năforniță added. “Looking ahead, the next evolutionary step is the full automation of their financial processes, building on the digital foundation they’ve now established.”

What companies expect from authorities

The successful evolution of Romania’s fiscal digitalization hinges on a strong partnership between the private sector and public institutions. The study reveals a clear call from the business community for a predictable and transparent framework for all new initiatives.

To ensure smooth and effective transitions, businesses need authorities to provide:

• Proactive clarity: Communicating clear goals, project scope, and firm deadlines far in advance of implementation.
• Technical partnership: Allowing adequate time for system testing and involving key business stakeholders early in the development process.
• Transparent accountability: Providing regular public updates on progress and transparently reporting results against the stated objectives.

This study offers a roadmap that can help both businesses and authorities prepare for the next stages of fiscal digitalization, including the EU’s upcoming ViDA requirements.