Seat's Award-Winning Electronic Invoicing System

MARTORELL, Spain – November 27, 2008: Seat’s electronic invoicing system has received a prize as the best project in the use of an electronic signature in the private sector, awarded by the Catalan Certification Agency (CATCert). The jury praised the substantial improvements this system has brought to the Spanish car manufacturer in terms of accounting expediency, quality and respect for the environment.

Josep Maria Nadal, the person with overall responsibility for Production Supplies in Seat’s Current Accounts Department, received the award from Enric Aloy, the Catalan Government’s (Generalitat) Secretary General of the Department of Innovation, University and Business, during the 5th Meeting of Electronic Signatures, presided over by Jordi Ausās, Minister for Governing and Public Administration.

The electronic mailing of invoices facilitates communication between customers and company, since it enables the creation, management and exchange of invoices, guaranteeing proper reception of the document. Likewise, messenger costs, as well as paper and printing costs, are reduced, entailing less impact on the environment.

Its implementation in June 2006 has replaced the physical printing on paper of 800,000 invoices, involving savings of three million sheets of paper – the equivalent of 600 trees not cut down, or a reduction of 10 million tonnes in CO2 emissions.

The electronic invoicing system has been warmly welcomed by Seat customers and suppliers. Proof of this is the fact that 1,000 partners already use this tool with a very high degree of satisfaction.

Seat is thus a full three years ahead of the forthcoming regulation that will stipulate mandatory invoicing between Government and companies from August 2009 onwards.