Document management, customer communications and electronic invoicing come with a growing collection of terminology, standards and acronyms.
Some describe technologies and deployment models, while others relate to document accessibility, regulatory compliance, enterprise systems or the Lasernet Platform itself.
To make these terms easier to understand, we have created an updated glossary covering the language you are likely to encounter when working with Lasernet Group.
An audit trail is a chronological record of events, changes and actions within a system.
It can record when a document was created, accessed, modified, downloaded, shared or deleted, along with information about the user responsible for the activity.
Audit trails support accountability, security and regulatory compliance by giving organisations greater visibility over how documents and information are being managed.
Lasernet Keep provides configurable audit trails that help organisations monitor document activity throughout the archive and retrieval process.
Banking cores are the central technology platforms that banks and financial institutions use to manage products, accounts, transactions, customers and other essential banking operations.
Lasernet Group uses the term banking cores to describe the banking platforms with which Lasernet can integrate natively. These include, but are not limited to, Temenos, Thought Machine, Mambu, Tuum and SaaScada.
By integrating Lasernet with a banking core, financial institutions can use live banking data to generate, distribute, archive and retrieve customer communications and other business-critical documents.
Batch processing is the automated handling of multiple documents, jobs or transactions as a group rather than processing each item individually.
For example, an organisation may need to generate and distribute thousands of invoices, statements, payslips, labels or customer letters during a scheduled processing window.
Lasernet’s batch-processing capabilities enable large quantities of documents to be generated and distributed automatically. Different documents within the same batch can still be personalised, formatted and routed according to the relevant customer, business or regulatory requirements.
A broker network or access point is an approved service that validates, routes and exchanges electronic invoices and other structured business documents between organisations.
Rather than connecting directly to every customer, supplier or government platform, businesses can use an access point to send documents through networks such as Peppol or country-specific systems such as France’s Partner Dematerialisation Platforms and Poland’s KSeF gateways.
The access point may check that documents use the correct format, validate required data, identify the recipient and return delivery or rejection messages.
Lasernet connects document creation in an ERP system with the appropriate broker network or access point, helping organisations manage compliant delivery, validation, tracking and exception handling without creating separate point-to-point integrations for every destination.
Customer Communications Management, commonly shortened to CCM, describes the processes and technology used by organisations to create, personalise, distribute and manage communications with customers.
These communications can include statements, invoices, letters, contracts, policies, notices and onboarding documents across channels such as email, print, web portals and digital archives.
Lasernet supports customer communications management by combining live business data with controlled document templates, distribution rules and automated workflows.
Digitisation is the process of converting physical information or manual processes into digital formats.
This can include scanning paper records, replacing physical filing systems with electronic archives or moving document-based workflows into cloud and business applications.
Digitisation can make information faster to search, retrieve, share and process while reducing reliance on paper and manual administration.
Lasernet and Lasernet Keep help organisations digitise document processes across creation, distribution, archiving and retrieval.
A document archive is a secure repository used to preserve final documents and other business records for future access.
Unlike standard file storage, a document archive typically applies metadata, access controls, retention policies, version management and audit trails so that information remains organised, protected and easy to locate.
Lasernet Keep provides the archiving capability within the Lasernet Platform. It enables organisations to securely archive documents generated by Lasernet as well as files received from other business systems and sources.
Archived documents can be indexed using relevant metadata, making them easier to search, govern and retrieve throughout their required retention period.
Document composition is the process of combining data, content, formatting and business rules to create a finished document or communication.
It includes determining the document’s layout, branding, language, content, images, tables and output format. It may also involve personalising the document according to the recipient, transaction, product or location.
Lasernet enables users to compose documents such as invoices, statements, letters, contracts, labels and reports using data from ERP systems, banking cores and other enterprise applications.
Document management is the controlled creation, generation, distribution, storage, governance and retrieval of business documents throughout their lifecycle.
The term can cover everything from designing an invoice and delivering it to a customer to archiving the final version and retrieving it years later.
Document management is increasingly used as a broad term encompassing processes that were traditionally separated into categories such as input management and output management.
The Lasernet Platform supports the complete document lifecycle by allowing organisations to design, generate, distribute, archive and retrieve business-critical documents and customer communications.
Document retention describes how long an organisation stores particular documents and what happens to them once that period expires.
Retention periods may be determined by legal obligations, industry regulations, contractual requirements or internal company policies.
An effective document retention process helps organisations preserve required information without retaining documents unnecessarily or inconsistently.
Lasernet Keep can automate retention policies to support controlled document storage, deletion and regulatory compliance.
Document retrieval is the process of locating and accessing a document that has previously been stored or archived.
Effective retrieval allows employees, business systems and authorised customers to find the correct document quickly without searching across folders, applications or physical records.
Lasernet Keep enables documents to be retrieved directly from connected ERP systems, banking platforms and other business applications. Documents can also be made available through customer or employee portals, allowing authorised users to access archived documents instantly.
This means users can retrieve the information they need without leaving their usual business processes or requiring manual assistance from another team.
Microsoft Dynamics 365, often shortened to Dynamics or D365, is a collection of Microsoft business applications covering enterprise resource planning, finance, supply chain, sales, service and customer relationship management.
Lasernet integrates seamlessly with three key areas of the Dynamics 365 ecosystem:
These integrations allow users to design, generate and distribute documents using Dynamics 365 data while continuing to work within familiar business processes.
Electronic invoicing, or e-invoicing, is the structured digital exchange of invoice data between a supplier and a buyer.
A true e-invoice is more than a PDF sent by email. It normally contains structured, machine-readable data that can be processed automatically by the recipient’s finance or ERP system.
E-invoicing requirements vary between countries and may specify particular formats, networks, validation rules, tax authority platforms or reporting models.
Lasernet helps organisations transform ERP data into the required e-invoice format and route it through the appropriate delivery network or service provider.
Electronic Reporting, commonly shortened to ER, is Microsoft’s configurable framework for generating electronic documents and regulatory reports from Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations.
Microsoft provides country-specific ER configurations and localisation packages for certain legal formats and reporting requirements. Organisations can also configure their own formats and mappings where necessary.
Electronic Reporting is often used to generate structured outputs such as electronic invoices, payment files, Intrastat reports and EU Sales Lists.
Lasernet’s ER/FO Connector links Microsoft Electronic Reporting with the wider Lasernet process. This allows organisations to reuse standard ER outputs while adding document enrichment, attachments, routing, validation, distribution, tracking, archiving and fallback logic.
Rather than replacing Electronic Reporting, Lasernet complements it by managing the complete process surrounding the document after it has been generated.
Enterprise Content Management, commonly known as ECM, is a broad term for the technologies, processes and strategies used to capture, manage, store, preserve and deliver organisational content.
ECM can include document management, records management, workflow automation, information governance, collaboration and regulatory controls.
The Lasernet Platform supports the document-focused elements of ECM by managing business documents and customer communications throughout their lifecycle.
Enterprise Resource Planning systems, or ERP systems, help organisations manage core business activities through a connected technology platform.
These activities can include finance, accounting, procurement, manufacturing, supply chain management, inventory, projects and customer operations.
Lasernet Group uses the term ERP systems to describe the enterprise platforms with which Lasernet integrates, particularly solutions from IFS, SAP and Infor. Microsoft Dynamics 365 is generally referenced separately because of Lasernet’s extensive dedicated integrations across Finance & Operations, Business Central and Customer Engagement.
Lasernet uses data from these systems to create and distribute accurate, controlled and personalised business documents.
ESG stands for Environmental, Social and Governance.
It is a framework used to understand and assess how an organisation approaches sustainability, its impact on people and society, and the way it governs its operations.
Digitising document processes can contribute to ESG objectives by reducing paper consumption, physical storage, unnecessary printing and document transportation. Automated workflows can also strengthen governance through controlled templates, audit trails and consistent retention policies.
Factur-X is a hybrid electronic invoice format used primarily in France and Germany.
It combines a human-readable PDF/A-3 document with an embedded structured XML invoice. This allows the same invoice to be read visually by a person and processed automatically by compatible finance or ERP systems.
Factur-X is aligned with the European semantic standard for electronic invoicing and is technically equivalent to Germany’s ZUGFeRD format.
Lasernet can produce documents that combine the required visual presentation with structured invoice data for compliant electronic delivery.
The General Data Protection Regulation, commonly known as GDPR, is the European Union’s data protection framework.
It establishes rules for collecting, processing, storing and protecting personal data and gives individuals rights over how their information is used.
Document management processes may need to support GDPR requirements through access controls, retention policies, auditability, secure storage and the ability to locate or remove information when legally required.
Technology can support GDPR compliance, although compliance ultimately depends on an organisation’s wider policies, legal basis, processes and use of the technology.
Input management traditionally describes the capture, extraction, validation and processing of incoming documents and data.
This might include collecting files from email accounts or monitored folders, extracting information through Optical Character Recognition and transferring validated data into another business system.
The term is now used less frequently as a standalone category, with many organisations instead using document management as a broader description covering both incoming and outgoing document processes.
Although Lasernet can support automated input workflows, its primary role is the design, generation and distribution of documents and customer communications.
ISO/IEC 27001 is an internationally recognised standard for establishing, operating and continually improving an Information Security Management System.
The standard provides a structured approach to managing information-security risks and protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information.
Lasernet Group is ISO 27001 certified, reflecting its commitment to maintaining controlled information-security policies, processes and safeguards across its operations.
Lasernet is the core document and customer communications product within the Lasernet Platform.
It enables organisations to design, generate and distribute business-critical documents using data from ERP systems, banking cores and other enterprise applications.
Documents can be personalised and generated in formats such as PDF, Word, Excel, XML and HTML before being delivered through print, email, portals, archives, electronic invoicing networks or other digital channels.
Lasernet Cloud is the way Lasernet Group provides Lasernet as a hosted cloud solution rather than deploying it within the customer’s own on-premise environment.
Lasernet Group manages the underlying hosting environment, infrastructure, availability, maintenance and related operational requirements. This reduces the need for customers to maintain their own Lasernet infrastructure while providing a scalable way to access the platform.
Lasernet Cloud should not be confused with Lasernet itself: Lasernet is the document management product, while Lasernet Cloud is a deployment and hosting option for that product.
Lasernet Embedded is the version of Lasernet designed specifically for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations.
It embeds Lasernet functionality directly within the Dynamics 365 F&O environment, allowing users to design, generate, preview and distribute business documents through familiar Dynamics workflows.
Lasernet Embedded is available through three packages:
Each package provides progressively broader document design, automation and distribution capabilities.
Lasernet Enterprise is the fourth package and combines the embedded Dynamics 365 experience with an external Lasernet server. This provides greater flexibility, processing power and adaptability for organisations with more advanced document, integration and distribution requirements.
Lasernet Essentials is the free entry-level version of Lasernet Embedded available to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations users.
It provides organisations with a risk-free way to experience Lasernet’s document design and generation capabilities without any commitment to purchase a paid package.
Users can begin creating and testing selected documents directly within Dynamics 365 F&O before deciding whether they require the additional features available through Lasernet Professional, Advanced or Enterprise.
Lasernet Essentials lowers the barrier to adopting Lasernet and allows organisations to assess its suitability using their own Dynamics 365 environment and business documents.
Lasernet Keep is the archiving and retrieval product within the Lasernet Platform.
It complements and integrates seamlessly with Lasernet, giving organisations a secure location in which to store final documents and other files.
Users can index, search, retrieve, view and share archived documents using associated metadata. Documents can also be accessed through integrations with ERP systems, banking applications, portals and other business platforms.
Because documents can be stored outside the underlying ERP environment, Lasernet Keep can also help organisations avoid consuming expensive ERP storage and reduce the performance impact associated with retaining large document volumes inside core business systems.
The Lasernet Platform combines Lasernet and Lasernet Keep into one unified document and customer communications platform.
Together, the products enable organisations to:
Lasernet manages document design, generation and distribution, while Lasernet Keep provides archiving and retrieval. Together, they support the complete document lifecycle from data to delivery and long-term access.
On-premise software is installed and operated within an organisation’s own infrastructure rather than hosted by the software provider.
The organisation is typically responsible for the servers, environment, upgrades, availability, security configuration and ongoing maintenance.
An on-premise deployment can offer organisations direct control over their infrastructure and data environment, although it normally requires more internal technical resources than a fully hosted service.
Lasernet can be deployed on-premise or provided as a hosted solution through Lasernet Cloud.
Optical Character Recognition, commonly shortened to OCR, is technology that identifies text contained within images or scanned documents and converts it into machine-readable data.
OCR can be used to extract information from documents that would otherwise require manual data entry.
The accuracy of OCR can vary depending on factors such as scan quality, handwriting, fonts, document layout and the condition of the original document.
Within an automated document workflow, extracted information can be validated, transformed and transferred into an ERP system or another business application.
Output management traditionally describes how documents and other system-generated outputs are formatted, processed and delivered to their intended destination.
It can include document design, data transformation, printing, email delivery, digital distribution, archiving and the management of different output formats.
Like input management, output management is now a somewhat dated standalone term. Organisations increasingly use document management to describe the complete process of creating, delivering, storing and governing business documents.
Lasernet’s core capabilities cover the areas historically associated with output management, particularly document design, generation, personalisation, transformation and multichannel distribution.
PDF/UA stands for PDF Universal Accessibility and is the common name for the ISO 14289 family of standards.
It defines how PDF documents should be structured so that their content can be accessed and interpreted by assistive technologies such as screen readers.
A PDF/UA document may require features including semantic tagging, a logical reading order, meaningful alternative text, correctly structured headings and tables, and accessible navigation.
PDF/UA does not determine how a document should look. Instead, it ensures that the underlying document structure communicates the correct meaning and reading sequence to people using assistive technology.
Peppol is an interoperability framework for exchanging structured electronic business documents between organisations.
It combines a secure network, standardised document specifications and a governed set of agreements. Organisations connect through accredited Peppol service providers rather than building a separate connection with every individual trading partner.
Peppol is commonly used to exchange electronic invoices and procurement documents between businesses and public-sector organisations.
Peppol is not itself an invoice format, portal or individual service provider. It provides the network and framework through which compatible business documents can be exchanged.
Software as a Service, usually shortened to SaaS, is a delivery model in which software is hosted and maintained by a provider and made available to customers as an ongoing service.
The provider typically manages the underlying infrastructure, updates, maintenance and availability, reducing the customer’s need to operate the software locally.
SaaS can offer benefits such as scalability, predictable operational costs and reduced infrastructure management. However, the exact division of responsibilities will depend on the service and contractual arrangement.
Lasernet and Lasernet Keep can be provided through cloud-hosted and service-based deployment models.
A system integrator, or SI, is an organisation that brings together different applications, technologies and processes to create a connected business solution.
System integrators may help customers select software, design integrations, configure business processes, migrate data and implement new platforms.
Lasernet Group works directly with customers and alongside a global network of implementation and technology partners to integrate Lasernet into ERP, banking and enterprise environments.
The Test & Performance Suite is a Lasernet solution for automating, testing and optimising document processing within Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations.
It helps organisations automate the distribution of documents and manage processes where all the required information may not be available when a transaction is initially posted. The Test & Performance Suite can support workflows involving QR barcodes, delayed document processing and unprocessed documents that need to be completed once additional information becomes available.
Within an e-invoicing process, the Test & Performance Suite helps ensure documents are processed and distributed at the correct point, even when the required data or response is received after the original posting event.
Throughput describes the amount of work a system can process during a particular period.
Within document management, it may be measured in documents, pages, transactions or jobs processed per second, minute or hour.
Document volume refers to the total quantity of documents an organisation needs to process, whether during a single batch, throughout a working day or across an entire year.
Lasernet is designed to support high-volume document processing and can run multiple jobs and workflows concurrently. Actual throughput depends on factors such as document complexity, available infrastructure, data sources, output formats, distribution methods and integration performance.
For this reason, throughput should be assessed against the customer’s specific documents, environment and peak-volume requirements rather than represented by one universal documents-per-second figure.
Total Cost of Ownership, commonly abbreviated to TCO, is an assessment of the complete cost of purchasing, implementing, operating and maintaining a technology solution over its lifetime.
TCO goes beyond the initial licence or subscription price. It can include infrastructure, implementation, integrations, upgrades, internal administration, support, training, maintenance, downtime and the cost of manual processes.
For document management, organisations may also need to consider the cost of maintaining multiple reporting tools, custom-coded templates, separate archives, individual delivery services and duplicated processes across different systems.
Consolidating document creation, distribution and archiving within the Lasernet Platform can help reduce this complexity and make long-term costs more predictable.
XRechnung is a structured electronic invoice standard developed for invoicing public-sector organisations in Germany.
It is based on the European semantic standard for electronic invoicing and can be represented using approved structured XML syntaxes.
Unlike a conventional PDF invoice, an XRechnung invoice is designed primarily for automated machine processing. It must meet defined rules covering mandatory information, data structure and validation.
Lasernet can transform ERP invoice data into the required structured output and support its delivery through the appropriate e-invoicing process.
ZUGFeRD is a hybrid electronic invoice format used primarily in Germany. It combines a visually readable PDF/A-3 invoice with an embedded structured XML file. This allows the same invoice to be viewed by a person while also being processed automatically by compatible finance, accounting or ERP systems.
ZUGFeRD supports different profiles for varying levels of structured data and business requirements. More detailed profiles can support compliance with the European semantic standard for electronic invoicing.
ZUGFeRD is technically aligned with Factur-X, the corresponding hybrid invoice format used in France. The two formats share the same underlying approach and technical standard. Lasernet can generate the visual PDF, structured XML and embedded document required for a ZUGFeRD invoice, while also managing validation, distribution, tracking and archiving.
Document management and electronic invoicing terminology continue to evolve as new technologies, accessibility requirements and regulatory standards emerge.
Contact Lasernet Group if you have a question about any of the terminology covered here or would like to learn how the Lasernet Platform can support your document and customer communication processes.