2. FIN-USE
Professor Robin
Jarvis
A member of FIN-USE
Head of SME Affairs
ACCA
3. What is FIN-USE?
n An independent expert forum set up by
the European Commission in April 2004
n Objective: To improve financial services
policy from a user perspective –
Consumers and Small Business
n Give opinions to the Commission
including a response to the Expert Group
Report on E-Invoicing
4. European SME Landscape – by
number of entities
Micros 91.9%
Small 6.8%
Medium 1.1%
SMEs 99.8%
Large 0.2%
Total 100.0%
5. SMEs and Consumers
n Report, disappointingly, was written from
a large business perspective
n Representation: only two members of
Expert Group come from a SME back
ground
n Consumers appeared to be ignored in
Report
6. Trade Credit, Late Payment and
the link with Invoicing
n Trade Credit, Late payment and E-
Invoicing
n A significant amount of invoices are not
right first time!
n UK Government and others issue Guides
on best practice which highlights
invoicing as a critical issue
7. Public Procurement
n Tendering process for government
contracts
n Recognised problem for SMEs to
meet contractual requirements
n Will E – Invoicing be another barrier
to public contract tendering?
8. IT : Use, motivation and
barriers
Usage
n Sales Recording
n Order processing
n General Accounting
Motivation
n Increase operational efficiency
n Keep up with competitors
n Increase staff satisfaction / Enhance
customer service
9. IT : Use, motivation and
barriers
Barriers
n Concern over costs
n Uncertainty as to the benefits to the
business
10. Finally - Three messages:!
n Think Small First
n Bottom Up Approach
n Consideration of Consumers
