HO2C v3.0: a new validation tool will soon be available
For the exchange of transactional data, GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg, together with partners from the FMCG & Foodservice sector, developed the Harmonised Order-to-Cash (HO2C) format based on the international EDIFACT/EANCOM standards. For decades now, companies active in these sectors have been able to exchange orders, despatch notes and invoices using a structured and automatically processable format. Validation of these messages has until now been largely based on interpretation of written manuals (so-called "Message Implementation Guides" (MIG)). As a result, the system lost some of its interoperability, as each party began to interpret the manual in its own way. To meet the sector's demands, GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg has developed a new validation tool that leaves little room for "misinterpretation". On 1 January 2023, this new functionality will become available to all GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg members and partners.
This is certainly necessary if this sectoral format is to be converted to Peppol and therefore all mandatory elements must be present to create valid messages (according to the European Standard on e-Invoicing (EN 16931)). The completion of this new tool is the culmination of the 2-way strategy that the GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg Board of Directors has been recommending for the past few years: on the one hand, to focus on the own sectoral format for communication within the own sector, but on the other hand, to also keep an eye out for cross-sector and cross-border formats that will soon become compulsory for governments (Peppol).
This is part of GS1's long-term programme to raise data quality (also for transactional data) to a higher level. Since the European Commission and the Belgian governments are further promoting electronic invoicing with built-in controls (schematrons), it is important that sectoral formats also comply with the predefined specifications. This is certainly necessary if this sectoral format is to be converted to Peppol and therefore all mandatory elements must be present to create valid messages (according to the European Standard on e-Invoicing (EN 16931)). The completion of this new tool is the culmination of the 2-way strategy that the GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg Board of Directors has been recommending for the past few years: on the one hand, to focus on the own sectoral format for communication within the own sector, but on the other hand, to also keep an eye out for cross-sector and cross-border formats that will soon become compulsory for governments (Peppol).
In addition to the validation part, the new tool contains numerous other functionalities. The existing manual for version 3.0 (active since 1/6/2019) can be consulted in the new tool via different possibilities (HTML, PDF, etc.). In case of error messages, you are even taken directly to the relevant section of the manual, where additional explanations are available. In addition, for each message type, several examples are available according to the scenario used. Another useful functionality is the ability to consult local code lists (e.g. EBL001, RTI list, fishing areas, Comeos meat sector codes, etc.). And finally, there is also the possibility to provide feedback so that the tool can be further perfected.
Are you affiliated with GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg and are you already interested in getting started with this new development? Then surf to the following link and request your free account via "Create New Account". We will activate your account as soon as possible and you can start right away to have your HO2C messages screened by an objective and user-friendly tool.
Good luck!
