How Vertec supports the new Swiss QR invoice

The QR invoice will finally replace the payment slip (ESR) in 2022

Innovation in Swiss payment transactions: The QR invoice is to simplify many things from the cut-off date of 30 September 2022. Consumer and businesses in particular are to benefit from the implementation of the new payment slip, officially called “Zahlteil QR-Rechnung”. In contrast to the previous payment slips in red or orange, the new standard document in Swiss payment transactions will in future be printed in black and white. In addition, the invoice with QR code has extended features: The QR code contains all relevant payment information and thus makes the QR invoice faster, digital and suitable for litigation.

Since 30 June 2020, it has already been possible to send it in Switzerland instead of the usual payment slips.

Create QR invoices with Vertec

Vertec customers are well positioned for this, because our CRM and ERP software covers all requirements.

Vertec 6.2 already included the implementation of the ISO 20022-compatible QR invoice. The new QR code is a further continuous improvement of the ESR standard. Since the known ESR number was the main identification, the proven Vertec logic could easily be applied here.

The first templates for QR invoices were released in Vertec in version 6.2. The implementation of the QR invoice has been postponed several times in the past and some specifications of the invoice have been changed and adjusted.

For our Swiss Customers:

• On 30.09.2022 the two-year transition period ends
• For dispatching valid QR invoices we recommend using Vertec version 6.4.0.22 or higher
• Vertec invoice templates created with previous Vertec versions need to be customized.

How to set up QR invoices in Vertec is explained step by step in our Knowledge Base Articles. If you need further assistance, please contact us personally.

Background: What is the QR invoice?

The Information portal iso-20022 provides the following information on QR invoices in Switzerland:

“The payment part of the QR invoice replaces the previous orange and red payment slips, allows the previous procedures with an ESA reference number or with a message, but goes much further in terms of possibilities. As part of the QR invoice, the payment part is the element which contains all the payment information necessary for the execution of the payment or further processing of the invoice. It can be printed directly at the bottom of the invoice or attached as a separate element to the invoice. In both cases: the QR invoice is in A6 format horizontally (148 x 105 MKT) and always positioned at the bottom right. It does not require a form and is printed in black on white.”

How did the implementation of the QR invoice go?

Following the publication of the technical standards at the end of April 2017, Swiss Financial institutions completed the migration at the end of 2017. Business customers were required to migrate to the new system by mid-2018. In mid-2019, the end customer, as the recipient of the invoice, was to come into contact with the new payment slips, so that billers could send the new invoices with QR code from that date.

The project has been going on for a long time and has also taken a couple turns over time. The aim was to keep the transition period of the parallel phase, in which QR invoices and the orange and red payment slips can be used, “as short as possible”. A binding deadline for the implementation of QR invoices has been set by the Swiss financial centre at 30.09.2022. Then the transition period ends and until then the normal ESR payment slips for payment orders may remain in circulation.