Celtrino have been working with the HSE on a pilot project that seeks to demonstrate the benefits that e-Invoicing can bring to the public sector. This public procurement project is being run in conjunction with the European Commission using the PEPPOL (Pan European Public Procurement Online) initiative which looks to streamline processes in the public sector through e-Invoicing to facilitate greater cross border commerce among EU member states. Minister for State for Public Service Reform Brian Hayes knows that there are huge efficiency savings to be made by adopting e-Invoicing as a standard across the public sector. Here Celtrino’s Managing Director Ken Halpin discusses his views on the pilot project.

1. IT
eInvoicing
Celtrino:- Making Ireland work smarter
Never has it been more important to
achieve real cost effective business
solutions and if you happen to work
in the public sector then that mantra is
probably etched on your desk.
Mention of the dreaded Croke Park
agreement can send people into a panic
and hitting speed dial to their unions as
fears of new negotiations on pay cuts
spring to mind.
However, one Irish company is
spearheading a revolution among the
public sector which could see costs
slashed by a quarter of a billion without
one job lost or one cent in pay cuts.
Celtrino, which is the market leader
in Ireland in the supply of e-invoicing
software, has been working with the
Health Service Executive on a pilot
project to clearly illustrate the benefits of
e-invoicing.
When one considers that over
four million invoices are processed
by government departments and
agencies on an annual basis then the
cost effectives from both a staff and
monetary point of view are clearly
evident.
And for Celtrino their focus is very
much on bringing our government
and all our statutory agencies into the
modern era with a professional and
smooth transition that could establish
Ireland as a driving force in this
technology among EU nations.
Streamlining
Operations
Managing Director of Celtrino, Ken
Halpin, has seen much change over
his 30 years involved in this business.
However, it is that very concept of
change which is perhaps hindering our
public service from taking that final step
into the modern age which would allow
“Over four million invoices are them streamline so much paper work
and reduce cost.
processed by government departments Halpin and many others in this
business though are breaking down
and agencies on an annual basis.” these fears and have found a firm
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2. IT
friend in the form of Minister of State for Public Service
Reform Brian Hayes.
“When you start to change how systems work there is
naturally going to be a hesitancy,” remarked Halpin.
“In our business there is a fear that by introducing new
software, which would allow for e-invoicing to take place,
that whole rafts of IT systems across government departments
would become redundant and have to be modernised.
“There is a small degree of fear among people in the
Department of Finance as they are naturally concerned about
cost. As a result people have pulled back from pressing the go
button on the roll out of the services that we and others provide.
“However, we are actively demonstrating to government
and their agencies that by reusing work done previously for the
private sector, we can in fact modernise the existing systems
without impacting significantly on what is already in place.”
It is this kind of imaginative thinking outside of the box
which is making the transition to e-invoicing a more tangible
reality for suppliers all over Ireland.
Halpin and Celtrino’s work with the HSE is just but a
fraction of what needs to be done among the public service
sector. In the pilot projects in which they are involved they
processed 50,000 e-invoices for the HSE. It is just but a drop in
the ocean but they are important first steps.
Gaining Ground in the EU
The change towards e-invoicing is becoming unstoppable
though with EU countries such as Austria aiming to have 100%
of their business conducted in this method by next year and the Managing Director of Celtrino, Ken Halpin
Netherlands aiming for 80% by 2014. Such statistics make you
realise this is something which Ireland needs to embrace. (Pan-European Public Procurement Online), a European
In that regard we have a long way to go considering a mere 2% Commission initiative to provide an infrastructure to facilitate
of invoices are processed using e-invoicing methods at the end of cross border commerce including e-invoicing.
2012. However, by the time the country marks 100 years since the Minister Hayes stated that “transparent public procurement
1916 rising it is the aim of the government to be 100% compliant. is critical to achieving more efficient allocation of resources
Halpin feels it would be advantageous for the government through increased competition, and helping the government
to be a trend setter rather than trying to catch up with the rest of and taxpayers to realise budgetary savings” and in this
Europe when the inevitable happens and the EU Commission regard, reform of public sector procurement “is central to the
mandates change in this regard. On top of that the figures Government’s reform agenda”.
quoted for how much these systems could save the exchequer The Government, he added, wants to make eProcurement
makes this a no brainer. “the rule rather than the exception”.
“We are confident that the application of e-invoicing across E-invoicing, the Minister said, is a flagship initiative for
government agencies could save the exchequer in the region of this Government and Ireland is one of the lead countries
quarter of a billion a year,” remarked Halpin. piloting electronic invoicing across the European Union.“ The
“We are the longest established and largest of all the Government“shares the Commission’s desire to see e-invoicing
providers in this country and we have developed an arsenal of become the predominant method of invoicing by 2020 in Europe.
tools to assist any department. We know professional people Realising this vision requires careful planning, and not just a
need precision and our track record is proven in this regard.” technological solution, but also organizational and legal solutions
Keenly aware of the benefits which e-invoicing and that advantage and not disadvantage the private sector.”
tendering could bring Minister Hayes was anxious that the This project, according to Minister Hayes, “has proven
public sector become more competitive and responsive to its that suppliers can send invoices electronically to Government
suppliers both at home and abroad. agencies irrespective of the formats used by the Government
Agency or the supplier.”
Public Procurement Such ringing endorsements from the top is something which
is music to Halpin’s ears and with a company like Celtrino
At the beginning of 2012, the Minister prioritised resources for ready to take up the challenge Ireland is well positioned
the National Procurement Service to conduct a Pilot Project on to embrace e-invoicing and become a leading light in this
e-invoicing and one that would investigate the use of PEPPOL technology across Europe.
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