Invoices are like the bread and butter of the business world.
Whether you’re an independent freelancer working from home or an employee at a mega office corporation, sending and receiving invoices is something you’ll return to again and again when dealing with clients.
But just like with social media posts and hashtags, even invoice templates go through trends that influence the style, tone, and content of the document at hand.
In 2022, only a handful of people are still making their own invoices from scratch.
Nowadays, templates are much more popular for their organized, easy-to-use, and highly accessible nature.
If you’re looking for a new invoice template to spice up your list of workday tasks, keep your eyes peeled for the following trends.
E-Invoicing
With the help of software such as an NDIS invoicing system, experts predict that by the end of the year, electronic invoices will be mandatory. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that all digital invoices are electronic.
The difference is crucial.
Digital invoices are simply invoices created on a computer as opposed to the original paper copies people used in prior years.
E-invoices take things a step further.
Not only are they made using the speed and efficiency of a computer, but they also contain data from the supplier in a format that financial systems or clouds recognize automatically without requiring manual input.
This automated approach is something we’ve seen a lot of over the past few years as companies shift their attention to faster, more streamlined systems.
If you want to stay relevant in 2022 and beyond, following in the footsteps of e-invoicing is a must.
Social Media Links
This one is especially for freelancers or creative agencies that rely on social media to boost recognition and add value to their services.
If you’re an independent graphic artist or fashionable e-commerce company, adding your social media links to the bottom of an invoice can show suppliers, clients, and anyone else you’re in business with that you are relevant, trendy, and well-connected.
Finding an invoice template with social media link options is easy in this day and age. You can find one for everything from Instagram to Pinterest. Just remember to keep it looking professional.
Diversified Payment Options
We are long past the days of just cash or EFT. Cryptocurrency, Apple Wallet, PayPal, Google Pay and even QR codes (more on that one later) are replacing outdated methods of payment and allowing for a more diverse and streamlined B2B payment system.
Think about it.
The more options you give your clients or suppliers, the more likely they are to pay on time.
Late and even unpaid invoices were one of the many perils of 2020 and 2021, as companies struggled to make ends meet during trying financial times.
Don’t wait for people to make excuses or bide their time due to a lack of payment options. Beat them at their own game by providing everything they need to pay on time every time.
Personalization
Over the past few years, personalization has been a major theme across all sorts of business-to-consumer marketing strategies.
But did you know it can make sending invoices easier, too?
Studies show that more than 70% of people become frustrated when a shopping experience isn’t personalized, and 90% agree that personalization is highly appealing.
While your clients are not technically consumers, these stats indicate that the majority of people respond well to a personal touch.
Finding an invoice template that accommodates plenty of room for customization and curated details makes the document more attractive, prompting recipients to pay on time (maybe even with a smile).
Return of the QR code
QR codes were really popular when they came out in 2010. But since then they’ve gotten buried by a seemingly endless pile of other rapid payment options—and then Covid came along.
The QR code is already seeing a massive uptick in use and preference in 2022 due to its hands-free approach that reduces the risk of viral transmissions and completely removes the need for carrying cash or cards.
Even though the risk of infection is dropping, both companies and freelancers can use them as a swift yet reliable way to send payments and improve data processing.
In Conclusion
The age of digitalization is here, and it ain’t stopping for no one.
While it might be tricky to constantly feel on top of what’s new and needed, adopting an open mindset will help your invoices (and other aspects of business) flow much easier.