Our goal is for all of our suppliers to transact with us electronically. We are working toward elimination of paper checks and invoices by December 2009. The following methods are available for requesting and receiving payments by our suppliers:

• Electronic Invoicing and Payment Status through iSupplier – coming in 2009
• Electronic invoice file submission – coming in 2009
• Traditional paper invoice submission via mail – available through 2009
• Automated Clearing House (ACH) — A secure electronic funds transfer program that electronically deposits payments to your company's bank account

Electronic Payments

Through the Automated Clearing House (ACH), Cox will be able to electronically deposit payments to the bank account you designate. To sign up, download and complete this form (PDF) and return to Cox via the form's instructions.

Electronic Invoicing

Citing the global recession as a major impact of their decision, our eInvoicing partner, American Express has decided to close their eInvoicing business unit and shelve the product we were set to use.  For our suppliers, this means we will no longer Go Live with our eInvoicing system on January 20, 2009, as previously planned.  However, while the news was extremely disappointing, we remain committed to electronic invoicing. 

We will still eliminate the receipt of paper invoices by the end of 2009.  Our standard for invoice receipt will be electronic, beginning as early as mid-2009.  Some of the benefits our suppliers can expect are listed below:

• Ability to receive electronic purchase orders and send electronic invoices
• Assured invoice delivery
• 24 hour access to the latest information, including purchase orders, delivery information, invoice status, and payment status
• Cycle time reduction
• Fewer disputes
• Ability to provide better customer service while working more efficiently
• Other self service requests

We will be inviting our suppliers to choose between two free and easy options to send invoices to Cox electronically:

iSupplier Portal -  This self-service tool gives suppliers the ability to access information and enter business transactions across Cox’s procure-to-pay life cycle. The secured web site will be available 24 hours/ 7 days a week. This tool is available to all suppliers who have access to the internet and a standard browser regardless of which electronic option you select.

Suppliers choosing to submit invoices via this option generally have a limited or no billing system or send us fewer than 20 invoices per month.

Electronic File – The electronic file option is available to all suppliers; however, suppliers choosing this option must have a billing system capable of sending a custom flat file, EDI or XML files and secure FTP capabilities. Generally, these suppliers send us at least 20 invoices per month.

Invoice Requirements

The following invoice requirements are effective July 01, 2008 for all invoices submitted to all Cox Communications, Travel Channel, and Cox Media locations:

• Either a valid Cox Purchase Order Number OR Routing ID (which should be provided in the Purchase Order Number field) is required on all invoices issued to Cox Communications
  • o Routing ID - This identifier allows the electronic invoicing system to determine to whom the non-purchase order invoice should be routed in order to begin the coding and approval process. When there is no formal purchase order number, the Cox employee placing the order will provide you with his/her Routing ID at the time the order is placed. If no Routing ID is provided on the invoice, invoice approval, and therefore, supplier payment will be delayed.
    
    The routing number should represent the email address of the Cox contact prior to the domain. For example:
    

    Cox Contact	Email address	Routing ID
    John Smith	John.Smith@cox.com	John.Smith
    John A. Smith	John.Smith2@cox.com	John.Smith2

• Supplier Name
• Remittance Address
• Invoice Date
• Invoice Number
• Invoice Amount
• Tax Amount (if applicable)
• Purchase description of each item
• Purchase order line number (if applicable)
• Ship to address with zip + 4
• Ship from address
• Item separation of charges for materials and labor

Please take a moment to ensure your invoices to Cox Communications, Inc. are complete with the information above. Supplier payments will otherwise be delayed. We thank you for your cooperation.