Lack of NFS-e Standardization hinders the Market
Author: Vítor Peixoto
Source: Reseller Web - São Paulo / SP - BLOGS - 27/08/2010
We cannot deny that the NF-e (Electronic Invoice) Project is a success. With the exception of some adjustments still needed and the most important, already foreseen by the Government, the execution of the Project showed that there was planning and common sense. If the adhesion is not yet complete and if there are still thousands of companies that have not adapted, this is part of any new project that is implemented and that brings about as many modifications as this one.
Your younger brother, however, is giving you trouble. And, in my humble opinion, totally unnecessary work. The NFS-e project (electronic service invoice) is against the NF-e. It all starts with the fact that membership is voluntary. In other words: few city halls have so far implemented and many do not even talk about the subject. Second, each city is doing what it wants, without respecting a norm that, to my surprise, exists. Yes. I'm sure that a lot of people don't know anymore there is a file import standard created for NFS-e. However, there are city halls that simply refuse to accept it. It's just that: either do it my way or I don't want to. Pure tantrum.
Some software-houses aroused interest in this market and developed portals for receiving files. City halls hire these software-houses, which already have the entire structure ready and integrate with their management applications (when they have them, it is good to remember). With that, there are already groups of 20, 30, 40 city halls that use one or the other application.
However, this lack of standardization harms software-houses and developers of management systems too much. Let's take TOTVS as an example, which has customers spread over hundreds or thousands of different city halls. Imagine if she has to develop different layouts for all the prefectures where she has customers that issue Service Notes? It is not viable. And to provide maintenance then? What about ongoing updates and changes to legislation and the app?
This Tower of Babel promoted by the city halls throughout Brazil has to end and quickly. We know that the game of interests can benefit the adoption of an “x” or “y” model. However, the national standard must also be accepted. Anyone who has already invested to issue NF-e should take advantage of the investment to issue their NFS-e. It is smart to take advantage of the shell and core of something that has already proven to be successful and totally unnecessary to have a program for every situation.