How can you ensure the accuracy of an invoice forecast?

To understand the invoicing process and how it affects the cash flow, I consider that first the purchase orders should be taken into account, in this way could be provisioned (if necessary) and have good "master data".... that could help to identifying the risks of delays payments or the opportunities ??

In my experience, in Mexico we have very particular tax configurations, CFDI 4.0, it is very imperative to be updated on this topic, it is also important to follow the processes of the customer portals that validate the tax invoices, based on this and the date of delivery of the product is that we will have the collection dates. Each customer requires a special addendum to correctly process the invoices. It is important to have a system that helps customize the addendums for each client.

From my experience, you need to understand the nature of invoicing. Some vendors are monthly and some are quarterly depending on the goods and services they provided and arrangement in place. A good way to have a more accurate forecast is to have someone in the business unit conduct a detail cash flow projection. This would give the best advice on actual vs budget and understand the variance at point in time.

As previs?es financeiras de faturamento é um dos pilares principais da proje??o de fluxo de caixa, tendo o conhecimento do fluxo de faturamento mensal juntamente com os períodos sazonais é possível realizar uma boa proje??o de receitas para apresentar a gest?o estratégica. N?o podemos esquecer que para uma completa proje??o de fluxo de caixa precisamos projetar TB o contas a pagar que é o outro pilar principal, com as premissas necessárias, usando o histórico mais períodos sazonais e procurar enxergar o máximo de situa??es que possam causar algum impacto nas contas a pagar. Com esses dois pilares bem estruturados temos sim uma boa previs?o de faturamento/receitas, contas a pagar e por consequência o fluxo de caixa.

Para entender o seu processo de faturamento é importante agrupar os seus clientes em níveis que indicam e alinham como ser?o tratadas as etapas para a entrega das faturas/NFe. Compreender e priorizar de maneira linear considerando o grau de tratativa e complexidade visando um controle efetivo do se fluxo de caixa, entre outras...

In my experience, to start in Mexico we have very particular tax configurations, CFDI 4.0, it is very imperative to be updated on this topic, it is also important to follow the processes of the customer portals that validate the tax invoices, based on this and the date of delivery of the product is that we will have the collection dates. Each customer requires a special addendum to correctly process the invoices. It is important to have a system that helps customize the addendums for each client.

O acompanhamento, revis?o e monitoramento s?o essenciais nesse processo pois eles ir?o garantir que as informa??es estejam atualizadas e de acordo com as normas vigentes tanto no ponto contábil como nas fiscaliza??es das prefeituras por exemplo. Isso deve fazer parte da rotina e praticada com naturalidade nos processos de faturamento.

En mi experiencia ejecutar planes de pagos y revisiones de clientes ha sido útil al momento de mantener un flujo de caja sin restricciones, también el tener un control detallado de los clientes y cupos de crédito permiten un adecuado cumplimento del efectivo en la compa?ía

Forecasting any financial data takes evolution of previous year to date sales on similar projects. Analyzing current sales, track/record expected expenditures and leave a small margin for any unexpected spending. By tracking and updating your data, you can avoid errors, inconsistencies, and gaps in your invoice forecast and ensure that it reflects your current and expected cash flow. Track & forecast, and update your data regularly. You need to have a system that allows you to record and monitor your invoices, payments, and outstanding balances. You also need to update your data whenever there is a change in your invoicing process, such as a new client, a new project, or a new payment term.

En mi experiencia, una de las principales debilidades de algunos clientes es que no invierten en un sistema ERP que les permita tener un control de sus clientes y cuentas por cobrar. Esto ocasiona, precisamente, un descontrol y se pierden oportunidades de brindar ofertas, beneficios de cliente frecuente u otro seguimiento de ventas. Además, fiscalmente es importante monitorear los regímenes de contribución a los que se encuentran inscritos los clientes ya que, de no hacerlo, la entidad podría incurrir en incumplimientos tributarios por no realizar una retención de impuestos o al contrario, que la entidad emisora de las facturas sea sujeta a algún tipo de retención y que el cliente no la entregue oportunamente.

In my experience in accounts receivable and invoicing, an ERP or software must be used that allows you to follow: register customers with the agreed commercial conditions (credit term, payment days, discounts), when making each accounting invoice you are also automatically have the Tax invoice, update the delivery dates in each invoice and have automatically the collection dates, and that this is taken to the cash flow in the income part to have a collection projection

Es muy interesante que la herramienta por excelencia para realizar previsiones o pronósticos sea la Inteligencia Artificial. Es en esto casos donde la IA brilla pues, con base en datos estadísticos, puede prever tendencias y pronósticos muy acertados. También considero que es en estos aspectos donde muchos profesionales tienen temor de ser "reemplazados" por una IA. Sin embargo, yo considero que lo realmente preocupante es que el tiempo sigue pasando y muchos profesionales no saben utilizar ni ChatGPT y se pierde, definitivamente, esa oportunidad de aprender a utilizar la IA como una valiosa herramienta y un indiscutible aliado profesionalmente.

If we undertake the second step, i.e., keeping updates and tracking, this process will be simplified, allowing us to represent the data in a more attractive and understandable manner, enabling us to assess the status and compare the parameters effectively

Para apoio nas analises e bases para estudos de previs?o temos entre outros os sistemas ERP que s?o d?o um suporte integrado pois centralizam diversas aplica??es que nos ajudam na tomada de decis?es e planejamento e estudos no fluxo de caixa.

Desde mi campo realizar protecciones desde el Erp de la compa?ía y desde herramientas ofimaticas me ha permitido desarrollar una mejor toma de decisiones en el manejo del efectivo y flujo de la compa?ía, esto desarrolla mayor credibilidad y análisis de las situaciones financieras de la empresa

Having a monthly review on your financials assist with adjusting forecasting accordingly. Best approach from a financial perspective is reviewing actual vs budget. Your Budget should be the cashflow forecast you would predicit at the beginning of the financial year. the more detail against the GL line the better it is to understand what has been processed and what hasn't. Sometimes its just timing of when an invoice is prepared/ processed. But if there has been a mistake/change in your prediction, this is ok as well. You will just need to amend the budget cashflow forecast to predict the spend in the correct month. This will allow a more accurate picture from a quantitative respective.

Having a weekly follow-up of projected vs. real income, it can be validated if the differences are due to an internal or external scope and prevent it for future projections

Revisar e ajustar as previs?es de recebimento é uma tarefa muito importante na tomada de decis?es, assim como estudar o percentual de pagamentos no efetivo vencimento das faturar e daqueles que fogem da data projetada gerando inadimplência.

The projection of income is very important for decision-making, to have an efficient cash flow, it is important to review with the areas of treasury and accounts payable in addition to accounts receivable to prevent that any incident in collection does not affect any important expenses for the operation

Communicating our procedures to the external audience will ensure our cash flow. Additionally, proper follow-up will encourage adherence to our system, simplifying our job.

Em minha opini?o, a comunica??o é muito importante em qualquer rela??o. E na vida corporativa essencialmente indispensável. Subentendendo que nenhum cliente desejaria estar inadimplente, disponibilizarmos a ouvi-lo para entender o motivo, mostra parceria e acolhimento. às vezes a implanta??o de um sistema por exemplo pode acarretar um certo atraso no processo do faturamento ou em épocas sazonais. é preciso apoio de todas as partes!

Something I have been reading a lot of at the moment is "Under promise, over deliver". Ensure you are confident in your projections before you submit to your stakeholders. This means taking the time to review and analysis your data. Come up with the best conclusion and sometimes even having a solution to the matter allows stakeholders to build reinsurance on your product you are delivering. If you require additional information about invoicing on a particular vendor, speak to the right people first. Dont assume because things can change in a busy work environment. Work environments now require to be agile.

Em uma empresa, nenhum setor trabalha independente, todos dependem um do outro. Neste exemplo, ter um or?amento com as metas de faturamento e ter uma boa base para seu fluxo de caixa, faz toda a diferen?a. Informa??es precisas e diariamente atualizadas, podem garantir uma boa aliada na tomada de decis?es, buscando gerar estratégias consolidadas e assertivas.

Tener una auditoría interna y externa en la revisión de las facturas facilita en la mejora de los procesos, también evita que se incurra en errores de la mera operativa o en algún riesgo que ponga en peligro la imagen o reputación de la empresas ante las diferentes entidades de control gubernamentales

The invoicing process, especially if automated, is the best way to automate your Revenue recognition process as well. When establishing the invoice process, you will want to decide if non-recurring charges like those for equipment, shipping fees, and early termination fees should go directly to Revenue. If your invoices includes fees that are likely to be either credited at a later date or not paid, then these fees should be booked again the Balance Sheet and not the P&L to keep from inaccurately impacting net income.

En mi experiencia el realizar una Provisión, dependerá de la forma en que se le paga al Proveedor es decir si sus servicios son a mes vencido o si es necesario realizar trabajos no contemplados en tu presupuesto. Por lo que tendrás que sacrificar algún rubro presupuestado para realizar el imprevisto

En lo personal se me ha facilitado tener archivos de pagos que me permitan tener un seguimiento y control a proveedores, de igual forma establecer de acuerdo a sus fechas de vencimiento de facturas realizar mi proyección de pagos realizando solo dos veces al mes estos pagos, pues de esta manera evitamos en incurrir en gastos financieros adivínales por cada operación, si no que solo se incurre en uno, siendo este un rubro de menor cuantía que al generará pagos de manera constante