Even if the trend is downward, the paper restaurant receipt remains the same. According to the National Food Voucher Commission (CNTR), they still represent 40% of the payments made together by the five million employees who benefit from them in France.
If large groups have taken a step towards dematerialization (with the use of cards by employees), many companies, often small and medium-sized companies, have not yet taken the step, often due to lack of time or resources.
Often announced, the government has implemented the complete digitization of this means of payment.
Among the companies that still use paper, we find quite a few VSEs and SMEs “that do it out of habit”, explains Ilan Ouanounou, general director of Edenred in France, “but this also affects a large part of the public service”, adds the person in charge.
Given the volume of payments still generated on paper, the challenge of dematerialization will be difficult. Olivia Grégoire did not detail the action plan aimed at companies that is still on paper, but large operators say they are willing to accelerate the movement and even achieve total change before 2026.
“We welcome the fact that a deadline has been announced. We would like it to come into force as soon as possible,” confirms Sodexo.
The objective will perhaps be more delicate in the administrations: “we must set a real deadline because the administrations operate through tenders, we need clarity and visibility,” says Ilan Ouanounou.
The rules of the game have changed
But this transition could be favored by two external factors. Firstly, an additional complication in the case of paper food vouchers, which prompts merchants to increasingly reject them. Now it would be 20 to 25% not accept them.
It must be said that the rules of the game have changed. Until then, managing food vouchers was relatively simple for merchants. They collected them and deposited them in a single batch in one of the 8,000 collection points of the CRT (Securities Settlement Center) that classified them, processed them and made the payment, explains UFC-Que Choisir.
But since last February, this service closed, the collection points disappeared and “merchants must send the titles on their own, by registered letter or by Chronopost. This procedure adds a new limitation and new costs, without forgetting the loss of risk” . or delay of the mail,” continues the consumer defense association.
In comparison, e-meal vouchers involve instant payment and require almost no management from the restaurant owner.
Commission survey
Another factor that advocates for an acceleration of dematerialization: commissions. Small traders have sometimes seen the level of commissions applied to paper securities increase with the closure of the Securities Settlement Center (CRT). Edenred thus evokes a significant difference of a commission point between the two supports.
On this point, Olivia Grégoire says that she is awaiting the results of an investigation by the Competition Authority, which will be known “in the coming days.” And she warns: “if there was a proven market dysfunction, I would not take the time to limit commissions.”
However, the issue is the subject of debate. Edenred thus mentions “very reasonable commissions” taking into account the additional business volume generated for restaurateurs, of around 15% according to the operators. Furthermore, dematerialization “will naturally reduce costs for restaurateurs, so it will not be necessary to regulate these commissions,” estimates Ilan Ouanounou.
Source: BFM TV
