In 2011 there was a significant increase in the use of e-invoicing throughout Europe and in market awareness. The European Commission's objective of full automation of all B2B transactions the Eurozone by 2020 has really focused governments and companies. Most of the legal changes required for fully electronic business transactions come into force in January 2013.

The European Commission has stipulated that each country has to have its own forum made up of SMEs, large businesses, banks and suppliers to drive the process. The networks have set up a 37 member E-invoicing Service Provider Association to ensure there is co-operation and inter-operability between suppliers. Over the last three years, there has been a steady increase in 4-party exchange between the e-invoicing providers, e.g. OB10 had 11 4-party exchange partnerships by end 2009, 21 by end 2010 and 29 at end of 2011.