Digitalisation of Italian B2B companies: 5 solutions for 5 current challenges

We often talk about digital transformation in business to business (B2B) as if it were a uniform and linear process. But anyone who works in a company knows that reality is a little different and is made up of peaks, slowdowns, changing regulations and temporary solutions. And also of many Excel sheets that resist the changes underway. In recent years, Europe has accelerated: it has put new rules, new standards and new obligations on the table. And Italian B2B? In some cases it has got ahead of the curve, in others it is still struggling. Not everything is negative, far from it: there are clear signs of progress. But there are also obstacles, and they are often not the ones we think. In this article we put things in order: we look at what is working and what the 5 challenges are that we still have to face. For each one, we will propose useful tools to give a boost to the digitalisation of B2B companies. 

Italian B2B and digitalisation: where we are already ahead

According to a recent study by osservatori.net of the Politecnico di Milano, in 2023 product B2B e-commerce grew by 10% compared with the previous year, reaching 265 billion euros. If we compare these data with 2020, meanwhile, transactions via B2B marketplaces increased by 50%. This trend is certainly supported by a more mature technology ecosystem. Increasingly advanced and customisable tools are improving financial management, transactional processes and the user experience.

Other positive signs come from regulatory changes at European level. Some of these caught some countries unprepared, but not Italy, which is ahead on several points. Among these is the new version of eIDAS 2.0, which introduced eArchiving as a trust service with mutual recognition among Member States. 

The introduction of the ViDA package also found Italy more than prepared, being the first country to introduce e-invoicing. In short: Italian B2B companies are already ready for the digital transmission of documents. But in other respects, the game is still to be played.

The 5 challenges of digitalising Italian B2B companies and 5 possible solutions

So far we have explored the progress made. Some areas, however, remain critical and require attention. These are issues that, if not addressed with concrete solutions, risk slowing down the competitiveness of the industrial system. 

1. Document retention and possible new European standards

The digital archiving of documents is a fundamental pillar of B2B processes. However, the evolution of standards at Community level could put Italian systems under pressure. If Italy were to adopt European specifications different from those currently in use at national level, many operators would risk finding themselves unprepared, with significant impacts on compliance and operational continuity. 

In this context, a solution such as A-Cube Transfer, capable of uploading, converting and sharing documents in any format in a compliant way, can prove to be a real trump card. By enabling automated and compliant management of archived documents, it can simplify not only business workflows but also any transition to new regulatory standards.

2. Logistics and digitalisation of delivery documents

The European eFTI regulation and the eCMR protocol aim to digitalise document workflows in the logistics sector, promoting the automation of data transmission. Their purpose is to reduce the use of paper documents and simplify processes, making them at the same time safer and more transparent. In the absence of operational standards, and because many digital infrastructures are outdated, Italian B2B is still far from widespread adoption. 

The Peppol network provides valuable support for international document exchange and can be used via A-Cube Access Point. This makes it possible to manage communications and document transmissions securely and in compliance with the law. In addition, it can be easily integrated into workflows already in use within the company and with specific ERPs.

3. Transport Document: still untapped potential

The Transport Document (DdT) is central to logistics management, but its digitalisation is still not widespread. According to the Polimi study by osservatori.net, only 35% of companies send it in electronic format and just 22% receive it digitally. Yet it is estimated that a structured obligation to transmit it electronically could generate savings of 18 billion euros for the country as a whole. 

In this case too, adopting A-Cube Transfer would speed up business workflows. The service is also able to manage Transport Documents with full traceability. Ideal for companies that want to digitalise DdTs quickly without overhauling existing infrastructure, with significant savings in time and costs.

4. Interoperability between internal and external systems

Many companies, especially SMEs in the B2B sector, struggle to make the various systems in use such as ERP, CRM, e-commerce, tax databases etc. communicate with one another. This can easily create inefficiencies in the processing and sharing of data. It can also increase the risk of errors and non-compliance, especially when cross-border standards come into play.

In addition to the Peppol API, which we have already discussed, A-Cube offers several solutions for integration between business systems and external platforms. One of these is the E-invoicing API, capable of managing the full cycle of incoming and outgoing electronic invoicing to and from the Interchange System of the Revenue Agency. All in full regulatory compliance. One of its main plus points? Simple and intuitive integration with the ERPs already in use.

5. Digital investment from theory to practice

Another piece of data emerges from the Politecnico di Milano study osservatorio.net. 79% of Italian companies say they intend to invest in digital B2B over the next 12 months, with priorities on document management, Cloud and ERP. But there is a clear mismatch between ambition and reality: 33% of companies allocate less than 1% of their turnover to these technologies. The real obstacle, more than technical or economic, remains mindset. 

Knowledge can turn the situation around. The digitalisation processes of B2B companies do not necessarily have to be complex or long term. Sometimes it is enough to get informed to find the solutions best suited to your needs, however specific they may be. A-Cube products and services are extremely versatile and feature a modular, scalable architecture. This makes it possible to start with a minimal investment and grow over time as business needs change. In addition to adapting to the specific context of the company, they avoid technological lock-in and enable a sustainable digital transformation, even in B2B. 

What does the future of digitalisation hold?

The digitalisation of Italian B2B companies is at a turning point. The numbers tell us that the potential is there, as are the intentions. But they also show that greater concreteness is needed. That can be achieved with interoperable solutions, updatable in line with regulations and with a modular approach.

With flexible APIs, a scalable architecture and a specific focus on document integration, compliance and automation, A-Cube is the ideal technology partner to tackle these challenges. To find out how to digitalise business workflows in a strategic and sustainable way, contact us at info@acubeapi.com.