Interview Soluz.io E-Invoicing Award winner 2024
Olivier Smekens is the CEO of Soluz.io, a frontrunner in data and e-invoicing solutions for Belgian midCaps, and the 2024 winner of the E-Invoicing Award. With a strong focus on practical, scalable innovation, Olivier and his team are co-shaping the digital finance landscape in Belgium and beyond. In this interview, we explore Soluz.io’s journey, their approach to compliance and collaboration, and Olivier’s perspective on the future of e-invoicing.
Winning the E-Invoicing Award 2024 is no small feat.
What do you believe sets Soluz.io apart from others in the field — and what did the recognition mean to you and your team?
At Soluz.io, our mission is clear: make e-invoicing work for Belgian SMEs. We’re driven by customer-focus, simplicity, interoperability, and real-world usability. The market is evolving fast — and we want to lead with solutions that are both compliant, hyper safe and practical for day-to-day use.
It was a huge honour and a recognition of the hard work and innovation we’ve poured into our solutions over the past 3 years. It validated our belief that user-focused design, innovative features, and real-world application are just as important as compliance. The award gave our team a real boost — and motivated us to go even further. But also to our customers, and shareholders, this is a sign of trust (especially as the award’s jury consisted of reputable organizations).
Belgium’s e-invoicing deadline is approaching fast.
What’s your view on how prepared businesses are, and what’s the biggest misconception you still see around compliance?
Don’t wait. The Royal Decree is official, and the fines — up to €5,000 — are real. But I prefer not to focus on the fines, on the ‘MUST implement in order to close the VAT gap. Please no. More importantly, digital invoicing is just a distraction towards a higher goal. And I mean that. It’s a unique opportunity to make your finance operations faster, cleaner, and more future-proof. E-invoicing is a key contributor to a data-driven strategy for the future. If every single business owner would follow that, you wanted E-invoicing to be implemented yesterday. We, solution providers and government, still have a huge amount of work in front of us. That’ won’t stop on 1 January 2026. It only starts there.
Soluz.io positions itself at the intersection of innovation and regulation.
How do you balance agility with the complex demands of national and international e-invoicing frameworks?
The biggest challenge is mindset. Many still think it’s a technical IT issue, and treat it as such. Actually, we don’t even want those companies as our customers. But it’s really a finance and operations issue. When teams see the full picture — better data, faster payments, fewer errors — they start to realise it’s a strategic move, not just a compliance one. A change project that will impact your future.
Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond…
Where do you see the biggest opportunities in digital invoicing, and how is Soluz.io preparing to lead the way?
We’re doubling down on smart automation, API integrations, and user education. And of course, the massive marriage we see with the world of finance. With mandates coming across Europe, we’re scaling fast — but always with a focus on keeping things simple and efficient. With the customer in mind at all times. And of course, we’re preparing for the future of real-time tax reporting, and many other fields, too. Again, we’re only at the start. But it starts with E-invoicing.
For participants still hesitating to attend — what’s your message?
Why should they attend the conference? What insights will they gain? How will this conference support their preparation for the mandate?
Closing thoughts
Olivier Smekens reminds us that compliance is just the beginning. With the right tools and mindset, e-invoicing can become a real driver of efficiency and growth. Soluz.io’s win at the E-Invoicing Award 2024 shows how innovation, clarity, and customer focus can make a lasting impact in a changing digital landscape.