> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.alvys.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Invoice your customer

> Generate and send a customer invoice by email, through a factoring integration, or via an online system or originals.

How an invoice leaves Alvys is set on the customer (and the company default): **Email**, **Factoring Company**, **Online System**, or **Originals**. Set the delivery method first, then generate the invoice. Use the recording that matches how you bill.

## Before you invoice

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Invoicing settings" icon="gear" href="/help/accounting-settlements/invoicing-settings">
    Company and customer defaults: delivery method, document requirements, invoice type, and AutoMerge.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Release a load to billing" icon="file-export" href="/help/loads-trips/how-to-release-a-load-to-billing">
    A load has to be released before you can generate an invoice.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Why a load will not invoice" icon="triangle-exclamation" href="/help/accounting-settlements/why-can-t-i-release-or-invoice-a-load-in-alvys-and-how-can-i-resolve-it">
    Missing documents, delivery-method mismatches, and other blocks.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Billing status definitions" icon="list" href="/help/accounting-settlements/billing-status-definitions">
    What each billing status on a load means.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Invoice by email

<Note>
  If a screen in the video looks different, follow the written steps on this page.
</Note>

<iframe width="100%" height="480" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oSrLCafX6VoqaxtnSl7LffOZscBh4XKR/preview" title="Invoicing your customer via email" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowFullScreen />

[Open the recording](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oSrLCafX6VoqaxtnSl7LffOZscBh4XKR/view)

If the email send fails, see [Email submit invoice fails](/help/accounting-settlements/email-submit-invoice-fails).

## Invoice through a factoring integration

Set the customer's delivery method to **Factoring Company** and turn on **AutoMerge** — factoring customers require it. Then connect the provider and submit batches.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Set up and use factoring" icon="building-columns" href="/help/integrations/how-to-set-up-and-use-factoring-in-alvys">
    Notice of Assignment, provider connection, invoice generation, and batch submission.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Note>
  This recording is the same as the email walkthrough. Use the factoring article for provider-specific steps.
</Note>

<iframe width="100%" height="480" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oSrLCafX6VoqaxtnSl7LffOZscBh4XKR/preview" title="Invoicing your customer via factoring" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowFullScreen />

[Open the recording](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oSrLCafX6VoqaxtnSl7LffOZscBh4XKR/view)

## Invoice via an online system or originals

Use this when the customer pulls invoices from a portal or still requires paper originals. Set the delivery method on the customer to **Online System** or **Originals**, then generate the invoice the same way.

<iframe width="100%" height="480" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GpA666pusFBUjgwgLJy_1bK94miaKvpb/preview" title="Invoicing your customer via online system or originals" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowFullScreen />

[Open the recording](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GpA666pusFBUjgwgLJy_1bK94miaKvpb/view)

## Related invoicing

* [Summary invoicing](/help/accounting-settlements/how-to-use-summary-invoicing) — one periodic invoice per customer
* [Batch invoicing](/help/accounting-settlements/batch-invoicing) — generate many invoices at once