Updated mission opens new chapter

The international organization of e-invoice operators, GENA (Global Exchange
Network Association) held its annual general meeting in Vienna on Thursday.
The consensus of the meeting was that GENA must maintain and, where possible, strengthen its role as an active player in the digital evolution we see in the coming years.
"This is a critical time for all of us to shape the future of business networking," writes Ken Clark in a commentary from the gathering.

GENA's Annual General Meeting, held in the Austrian capital Vienna, was organized this time in a new and more dynamic format. More precisely, external participants were invited to follow the panel discussion that opened the session, which started in the morning and lasted until lunchtime. The discussion highlighted key market trends, GENA's main activities and the topics covered by the organization's various working groups.

Strong focus on the future

The afternoon session was reserved exclusively for GENA members. Alongside formal elections and decisions, there was a strong focus on future prospects. Regarding the latter, an official update of the association's mission statement was carried out.
Ken Clark, who was reappointed to the Executive Committee during the Vienna meeting, notes in a Linkedin post that this step is extremely important for GENA's role as a key player and advisor.
"This is a powerful development in two dimensions. We are moving from a regional European-centric perspective to becoming a truly global body. We are also moving from being entirely invoice-focused to seeing the invoice as one of many tools within the context of digital commerce," he writes, emphasizing:
"This is a whole new chapter for GENA!"

Mission with four legs

The Secretary-General, Marcus Laube, took the opportunity to link to GENA's mission in a detailed presentation. It consists of four parts:
Advocate for global interconnection
Facilitate seamless digital transactions through standardized and secure solutions built on reliable networks and global standards.
Supporting market implementations
Inform and educate businesses, governments and other stakeholders to realize the benefits of implementing digital transaction solutions.
Networking and collaboration
Providing a platform for solution providers to the industry to collaborate, share knowledge and shape the future of digital transaction processes.
Driving innovation
Support the development and adoption of breakthrough technologies that increase the efficiency, security and sustainability of digital business transactions.

"The evolution of the organization is in full swing," says Ken Clark, arguing that the update endorsed by the AGM will result in a stronger positioning for GENA and a clearer function.
"The new mission reflects our responsibility to serve three key stakeholder groups: service providers, end users and regulators" he states.


Photo caption:
GENA Secretary General Marcus Laube during the Annual General Meeting in Vienna. Photo: KEN CLARK