Problem Statement

Pelcro currently generates invoices as standard PDF documents only. Customers operating in Germany need to issue invoices that comply with local electronic invoicing standards, which require invoices to be delivered in structured, machine-readable formats.

Specifically, customers require support for:

1. XRechnung: a standalone XML electronic invoice format used primarily for German public sector invoicing.

2. ZUGFeRD: a hybrid format that combines a standard PDF invoice with embedded XML invoice data.

Without support for these standards, customers must manually recreate invoices using third-party tools before submitting them, preventing Pelcro from serving as their complete invoicing solution.

User Story

As a Pelcro customer issuing invoices in Germany,

I want Pelcro to generate invoices in both XRechnung and ZUGFeRD formats,

so that I can comply with my customers' electronic invoicing requirements without using external systems.

Definition of Done

1. Support generation of invoices in both supported e-invoicing formats:

2. XRechnung (XML)

3. ZUGFeRD (PDF with embedded XML)

4. Generate XML compliant with the supported EN16931/XRechnung specification.

5. Populate all mandatory fields from Pelcro invoice data, including:

6. Invoice number

7. Invoice date

8. Supplier information

9. Buyer information

10. Invoice line items

11. Quantity

12. Unit prices

13. Taxes

14. Discounts (where applicable)

15. Currency

16. Payment terms

17. Invoice totals

18. Support inclusion of the Leitweg-ID (Routing ID) for XRechnung invoices when required.

19. Validate generated XML against the supported specification before delivery.

Invoice Generation

XRechnung

1. Generate a standalone XML invoice.

2. Allow users to download the XML file.

ZUGFeRD

1. Generate the standard PDF invoice.

2. Embed the generated XML into the PDF.

3. The PDF appearance remains unchanged while containing the embedded XML attachment.

Platform

1. Allow users to generate/download invoices in the supported format(s).

2. Existing PDF invoice generation continues to work unchanged for customers not using e-invoicing.

3. If applicable, allow accounts to configure their preferred invoice format.

Validation

1. XML validates against the supported XRechnung/EN16931 specification.

2. ZUGFeRD PDFs contain valid embedded XML.

3. Invoice values in the XML match those displayed in the PDF.

4. Leitweg-ID is included in XRechnung invoices when configured.