WELCOME TO ELECTRONIC INVOICING FOR APPLE

Apple has partnered with Tungsten Network to provide a simpler way for suppliers to submit invoices

SUPPORTING YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY

Using over a decade’s worth of experience, we have drawn together an extensive set of frequently asked questions (FAQ) and documents to help you every step of the way

Registration Questions

    My customer has requested I use Tungsten Network to submit invoices. What should I do?

    Both the buyer and seller must be members of the Tungsten Network in order to send and receive electronic invoices through Tungsten.

    Many of your customers may already be members of the network. Within 24 hours of joining the Tungsten Network, you can be sending those customers e-invoices.

    Will electronic invoices be a requirement for new tenders and new suppliers?

    Yes. Apple is actively phasing out the processing of paper invoices to take advantage of the benefits that electronic invoicing provides to both us and our suppliers. Although this will not necessarily lead to an immediate disqualification, Apple strongly recommend transitioning immediately to avoid payment delays.

    Why should I use Tungsten to send my invoices?

    Shortly, this will be the primary way that Apple accepts delivery of supplier invoices.

    Is registering on the Tungsten portal equivalent to joining Tungsten Network?

    Yes, part of the registration process is that you have to accept required standard terms and conditions given. Once you do it, the expectation from Apple is that you will stop submitting paper invoices (rejected if still received) and submit all invoices via Tungsten.

    Will I need to sign an agreement with Tungsten?

    Depending on the solution selected, you will either sign a specific agreement with Tungsten or be required to accept the standard terms and conditions presented.

    Is invoicing via Tungsten a requirement for doing business with Apple?

    Yes. Apple is actively phasing out the processing of paper invoices to take advantage of the benefits that electronic invoicing provides to both us and our suppliers. Although this will not necessarily lead to an immediate disqualification, Apple strongly recommend transitioning immediately to avoid payment delays.

    Who is Tungsten?

    Tungsten Network provides electronic invoicing, analytics, and workflow solutions to companies around the globe. For more information about our products and services please visit our website.

    What do I have to do to send electronic invoices via the Tungsten Network?

    To start using the Tungsten Network, all you need to do is register now, using the Registration Key or TN Number given to you by your customer. Once registered, all suppliers using this option automatically receive 52 free transactions. At the end of your first anniversary (one year after registration), we will replenish your account, at no charge, back to 52 free invoices for you to use during the next 12 months.

    If you are registered in one of the countries below and intend to store your invoices for tax reclaim on the Tungsten invoice archive you will need to notify your local tax authority. Tungsten provides a standard wording you can use to provide this notification. A link to a copy of the notification template will be emailed to you.

    Do I need to install any software?

    No. Additional software or hardware is NOT required. You only need a connection to the internet to send e-Invoices via the Tungsten Network.

    What are the minimum system requirements for using Tungsten Network?

    The minimum operating system requirements are: Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition, Linux or Mac OS 9.2*.

    Minimum browser requirements are: Version 9 of Internet Explorer and the latest versions of Firefox, Chrome, Safari and Opera.

    Can I send invoice data directly from my billing system?

    You can send invoices directly from your billing system in any format you choose. To do this you will need to become an Integrated Solution Supplier on the Tungsten Network. Please contact Tungsten directly on +44 (0)870 165 7420 to do this. Tungsten also has local numbers in the following countries:

    Country Local Number
    Asia Pacific region +60 (3) 9207 7800
    Belgium +32 (0)24 031 011
    Denmark +45 808 858 18
    Finland +358 (0)800 118 871
    France +33 (0)1707 081 00
    Germany +49 (0)69 2222 20290
    Ireland +353 (0)1 247 7709
    Italy +39 02360 06340
    Netherlands +31 (0)207 121 385
    Norway +47 800 149 34
    Portugal +351 (0)800 860007
    Spain +34 914 141 472
    Sweden +46 (0)85 057 8418
    Switzerland +41 (0)44 580 1491
    United Kingdom +44 (0)870 165 7420
    United States +1 (770) 698 1420

    Can I send electronic invoices usings the Tungsten Network to all of my customers?

    Once you are subscribed to the network, Tungsten enables you to send electronic invoices to any other buyer customers that are members of the network without any additional charge. Click on Customer Connect in your supplier portal to easily locate other buyers.

General Questions

    What are my benefits from using Tungsten?

    • Secure and guaranteed invoice delivery, no more invoices getting lost in the post
    • It will take less time to process your invoices
    • No more delays due to missing information, landing on the wrong desk or manual intervention
    • ANY-TO-ANY DATA FORMATTING Technology – there is no need for additional software or hardware
    • Higher processing transparency and better cash flow management due to 24/7 access and reporting
    • VAT compliant, regardless of where invoices are sent or received from
    • Easy and cost efficient to send invoices – at any time

    Which Apple entitles are on Tungsten Network?

    Please click here for a list of Apple entities on Tungsten Network.

    Are there fees associated with this service?

    Tungsten Network provides two levels of electronic invoicing capability. Each of the solutions includes a free number of invoices each month.

    Why doesn't Apple pay the fees?

    Apple does not cover a Suppliers costs to produce your paper invoices and therefore will not be covering the cost to send electronically. However the electronic solution is more cost effective to most businesses. In addition to the financial savings you will also receive the advantages of immediate invoice submission, invoice delivery confirmation, and 24/7 invoice status and reporting capability.

    Will Apple make payments using Tungsten?

    Tungsten Network is not a payment platform. Apple will continue to use their current payment method.

    Do I need to install any software?

    The Tungsten Solutions do not require any software or hardware installations to submit invoices.

    How do I add an attachment to my invoice?

    • As Apple allows attachments, go to ‘Invoicing’ and select ‘Invoices pending attachments’
    • Find your invoice by adding the invoice number to the search field or sort the ‘Invoices awaiting attachments’ table by the various column headings
    • Check the allowed file types in the ‘Upload’ column
    • Click ‘Select’ to add the file(s) you want to attach on your computer
    • You can see your attachments in the ‘Attachment count’ column
    • You need to release your invoices with attachments to alert us that they are ready to be processed, tick the boxes by the relevant invoices and click the ‘Release’ button
    • You are limited to a maximum of 3 attachments per invoice and these must be in a tiff format
    • If you have an invoice pending attachments then you will have 24 hours to add the attachments before the invoice is automatically sent

    Once I have recieved RTT (Ready to Transact) notifcation from Tungsten can I still submit my paper invoices?

    No, the expectation from Apple is that once you receive this notification you should start submitting all invoices through Tungsten and no further paper invoices should be sent (rejected if still received). This is to prevent any possible duplication.

    Can I send two invoices with the same invoice number?

    No, this is to prevent duplicate invoices. The system itself does not allow entering the same number twice.

    Can I send an invoice with an earlier invoice date than today's date?

    Yes, just enter relevant date. However, a future date is not possible.

    When I enter multiple PO numbers at the header level of my invoices fail submission. So where should I enter this information?

    Please enter only one PO in “PO field” on invoice header. Please enter other POs in the body of the invoice – each PO on each related line, e.g.:

    • Line 1: first PO, description of the related delivery/service/goods
    • Line 2: second PO, description of the related delivery/service/goods
    • Line 3: third PO, description of the related delivery/service/goods

    Does the 'Accepted' status on Tungsten portal mean that my invoice has been accepted for payment by Apple?

    No, to get an accurate status of your submitted invoices you should view the Invoice Status updates on your Tungsten portal account.

    Who is in charge to provide a supplementary access Tungsten login details for other users?

    When a supplier or Buyer registers to the Tungsten portal they have to nominate an administrator, the details of the administrator can be located by clicking on “My Account” and then by clicking on “My Profile” the details will appear at the bottom of the screen.

    It is the administrator that can add new users and amend access rights.

    Why doesn't Tungsten accept my invoice number when creating an invoice?

    Tungsten remembers all invoice numbers sent by you to Apple. This protects both you and Apple from sending duplicates. Therefore your invoice should always have a unique number, for example 1/2013 and 1/2014 will be accepted.

    What countries require notifications?

    Belgium
    Canada
    Czech Republic
    Denmark
    France
    Hungary
    Ireland
    Italy
    Luxembourg
    New Zealand
    Norway
    South Africa
    Spain

    How much does it cost to send e-invoices?

    Please refer to the pricing model.

    How secure is sending invoices via the Web Form?

    Access to the Tungsten service, including the Web Form, requires three credential authorizations. In addition, each session is protected by industry standard 128 bit SSL encryption using Class 3 Server Certificates from Verisign. Once your invoice is created it is stored in the secure archive where it is protected by the latest security measures which are tested daily.

    This means only authorized users can connect to the site and that once connected, all communications are private and data is completely secure.

    Can Tungsten work with staff that speak other languages?

    The business between you and your customer will continue in the same language. You should continue to send invoices in them same language you normally use.

    If you require support, please call +44 (0) 870 165 7430. For assistance in Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish, please call one of the local numbers below:

    Belgium + 32 2403 1012
    France + 33 1707 08109
    Germany + 49 6922 2220 293
    Ireland + 35 3124 77710
    Italy + 39 0236 006 341
    Netherlands + 31 2071 21386
    Portugal + 35 1800 814 549
    Spain + 34 9141 41473
    UK + 44 8701 657 430

    Please note that these numbers are for Tungsten e-invoicing support queries only. Please continue to direct your payment queries to your existing customer contact.

Speak to one of our experts

You have unique challenges and requirements. Arrange a call to find out how we can help automate your specific processes.