Opening keynote

1:05pm | (40 minutes)

This past year has been one like no other. The way we live, work and play has changed forever. For many businesses, this has meant rapid operating changes, with many rethinking their international commerce strategies altogether. Yet there are many reasons to be optimistic and there's never been a better time to look further afield. 

In this keynote session, we will be diving into the opportunities for businesses looking to break into new markets, understanding which have the most potential and how to use technology to build a strategy for success.

Fireside chat

Breakout area 1: Borderless commerce

2:30pm | (35 minutes)

Over the past year, we’ve witnessed unprecedented growth in online sales as the pandemic and lockdowns accelerated the shift to online. This has resulted in retailers having to review their business and operating models overnight. 

But what comes next? Within the last year, 84% of European internet users have participated in online shopping, contributing to an ecommerce market spend of 716 billion Euros*.  

In this session we’ll take a look at the key opportunities and buying trends for ecommerce businesses selling into and across Europe.

*(Source: RetaliX Europe Report 2021)

Panel session

1:45pm | (40 minutes)

There has been an acceleration in the adoption of cloud and commerce, prompting even further change in consumer behaviour and business operations. This major upheaval in the economy has forced companies to re-evaluate their business processes and growth strategy. 

Join our panel discussion to find out how businesses should evaluate and enter new markets. We will be joined by key brands offering insights into the compliance challenges they’ve faced when growing into new geographies and industries, and how leveraging technology and automation made this easier.

Panel session

Breakout area 1: Borderless commerce

3:05pm | (35 minutes)

In the current economic climate, the ability to grow your business outside of your domestic market is vital to ensure survival. Expanding globally means facing brand, marketing, legal and technology issues. However, many companies begun to focus just on the tech aspects.

In this session we will discuss some of the strategies, requirements, constraints and ideas to help expand your ecommerce markets. We have assembled a panel of experts to help bring you practical guidance when moving into new markets.

Fireside chat

Breakout 2: Future of indirect tax compliance

3:05pm | (30 minutes)

Businesses around the world face a host of new regulatory requirements aimed at increasing tax transparency. These government mandates are increasingly requiring finance departments to implement new data management systems and supporting technologies.

With the increase in tax technology requirements, in this session we’ll look at the technical skills tax departments must acquire to keep pace with these changes, and how its led to the rise of the ‘Tax Technologist’

Panel session

Breakout area 2: Future of indirect tax compliance

2:30pm | (40 minutes)

As covered on day 1, businesses grow in a number of different ways and no business is exactly alike – from the products or services it sells, to the countries it trades into. 

In the session we will be exploring the latest trends in indirect tax strategy. We’ll also be looking at the drivers for change and how businesses are evolving the typical ‘Inhouse or Outsourced’ model in favour of a hybrid approach, and how technology can help get the balance right.

Fireside chat

3:55pm | (30 minutes)

We’re entering a perfect storm of legislative requirements, working habits and technological advancements. In this session we will be discussing the benefits of migrating your tax and finance systems to the cloud and what businesses need to consider.

We’ll be discussing the different paths businesses can take to ensuring a future ready finance suite. From complete rebuilds of your business and technology architecture, to ‘plugging in’ new innovative applications we’ll cover the benefits of each approach, and the questions you should be asking before you get started.

Opening keynote

1:05pm | (40 minutes)

In 1998, following another disappointing Rowing World Championships, Ben Hunt-Davis (MBE) and the rest of his GB Eight rowing team realised that if they carried on doing what they were doing, they would keep getting what they’d been getting – which was a lot of 7th place finishes!

So instead, they decided to approach things differently, critically, asking the same simple question with every single conversation, decision and action they took: ‘Will it make the boat go faster?

Panel session

1:45pm | (40 minutes)

The days of the finance department just paying or chasing invoices are gone. As businesses look holistically at their growth strategy, both domestically and internationally, the role of the finance director and department is evolving from controller to transformation enabler.

In this session we’ll be joined by CFO’s and senior finance directors as they unpick how their roles have evolved, how they influence change and their biggest priorities for the next 2-5 years. We’ll be covering; how finance can escape the back office and help drive growth; how automation can deliver process efficiency and continuity; and the steps you can take to ensure the finance department is a key part of any transformation project.

Presentation

Breakout area 1: International Tax Update

2:30pm | (20 minutes)

With governments introducing VAT rate changes to fuel growth through COVID-19, the impact of Brexit on businesses trading between the Europe and the UK, plus the introduction of UK & EU ecommerce reforms - this year has been one like no other.

This session will look back at the impact of some of the year's biggest indirect tax changes, plus look ahead to the upcoming VAT measures that will be coming into place in the next few years. 

The session is especially useful for companies with VAT compliance obligations across Europe.

Presentation

Breakout area 2: International Tax Update

2:50pm | (30 minutes)

From the UK's Making Tax Digital, to SAF-T, e-invoice reporting and Chinese special fapiao invoices, tax authorities around the world are looking to technology to help them efficiently track tax due and reduce significant tax avoidance and evasion.

The number of countries implementing, or planning, the move to live transactional reporting is growing. This session will cover both the current and planned regimes. We’ll look at not only the implications for tax compliance, but the technical and implementation challenges they present for businesses.

Fireside chat

Breakout area 2: Breaking down barriers to international ecommerce

2:30pm | (30 minutes)

In 2021 government tensions re-emerged around taxing digital services being sold from offshore. As more countries look to enhance VAT collection on digital services, plus the rise of DST, understanding where your services are being bought, and consumed is vital. 

In this session we’ll look at the digital tax measures that have already been implemented, as well as the new regimes that are being proposed. We’ll also review the risks this brings to businesses selling internationally and what they can do to meet their compliance obligations.

Fireside chat

Breakout area 2: Breaking down barriers to international ecommerce

3:00pm | (25 minutes)

Cross-border commerce is becoming more and more complex. The ability to buy products from around the world means shoppers often have different experiences and can end up being caught by extra costs, unaware that tax and duties haven't been paid at checkout.

With more than 9 in 10 customers saying that a final landed price is important to them, this can have a massive impact on customer satisfaction. We’ll be discussing how not showing the full price at checkout can lead to an increase in basket abandonment, impacting customer retention and even damage brand reputations through poor reviews and high return rates.

Fireside chat

Breakout area 2: Breaking down barriers to international ecommerce

3:25pm | (25 minutes)

Taking a holistic view across the entire buying cycle, we look at the top 5 challenges businesses face when trading across border and how to overcome them.

From attracting customers through to checkout and delivery, this practical session will give you everything you need to accelerate and succeed in a borderless world.

Fireside chat

Breakout area 1: International Tax Update

3:20pm | (30 minutes)

As the Brexit dust begins to settle and the impact becomes apparent, businesses are starting to look to other markets and audiences. With a spotlight on the US we’ll be exploring the potential opportunities for businesses and what you need to know before entering the market.

We'll also show you how remote sellers can stay ahead of U.S. sales tax through automation – and as result improve your overall customer experience by avoiding any doorstep tax charges.