anybill: A rocket-like launch from start-up to established EuroCIS exhibitor

Simply 'in the right place at the right time'? At least that seems to be one of the many factors behind anybill's success. The start-up from Regensburg launched at the end of 2019 with a solution for issuing digital receipts and established itself within the retail industry over just a few years.

Lea Frank, Co-Founder & CEO at anybill, takes us back to the beginning. She tells us what role the Start-up hub played in the company's development, why their digital receipt arrived at exactly the right time and what potential it offers retailers.

Lea, what memories do you have of anybill's first appearance at the Start-up hub?

Lea Frank: Our first appearance at the Start-up hub in 2020 was an exciting moment for us. We didn't have a logo at the time, but the retail trade show offered us the ideal platform to get to know the industry. We were able to make our first valuable contacts and validate our idea and MVP. The feedback from relevant stakeholders was extremely valuable for us and gave us important insights.

What role did the Start-up hub play in your success story?

Frank: Our presence at the Start-up hub was a decisive factor in helping us to position ourselves as a provider of legally compliant digital receipts. It was just at the right time, as the event was characterised by the obligation to issue receipts. We were able to convince initial POS software partners such as ETRON of our solution and establish valuable contacts with partners that we specifically approached during the Covid crisis.

In addition, the discounted start-up price gave us the opportunity to present ourselves alongside large companies and exchange ideas with other start-ups. This not only provided us with industry expertise, but also significantly expanded our network.

How has anybill developed since 2020? What milestones have you reached?

Frank: We have made significant progress since 2020. Our team has grown and we now issue digital receipts in nine European countries. Large and well-known retailers rely on our solution. We have successfully completed several rounds of financing and evolved from a ‘digital receipt app’ to an end-to-end enabler that provides infrastructure and relevant marketing tools – a true B2B SaaS company with a strong partner network. Today, our network includes over 350 retail partners, including more than 60 POS software and payment infrastructure partners as well as major marketing service partners in nine countries. Our customers include almost the entire petrol station SME sector and the renowned furniture discounter POCO, as well as other major customers such as Deutsche Tamoil GmbH – HEM, Westfalen AG and GLOBUS Markthallen.

Why is the digital receipt so much more than a paper receipt? How can retailers use the digital receipt?

Frank: The digital receipt offers retailers far more opportunities than the traditional paper receipt. It opens up new marketing potential through digital touchpoints and measurable content areas on the receipt. It is a valuable component of the omnichannel strategy of many retail companies, as it enables valuable data points to be analysed. It also helps to reduce costs and position a company sustainably. Overall, it offers a flexible and future-proof alternative to paper receipts.

What's your assessment: How far along is the retail sector in digitising receipts as well as touchpoints in general?

Frank: The digitalisation of retail is at different stages in different countries. Scandinavian countries are leading the way here. In Germany, however, cooperation with retailers is always positive for us and a lot is happening in the area of digital receipts, as the studies also show – this topic has been one of the top 3 trending topics in retail for several years. Nevertheless, there is still a need for further interfaces and partnership-based cooperation in order to further accelerate progress.