ESMA’s European Single Electronic Format (ESEF) requires companies listed on regulated EEA markets to publish annual reports in XHTML, with IFRS filers also tagging statements in iXBRL. Effective from 2021, the mandate promotes transparency and comparability while challenging finance teams to adapt processes, people, and technology. Outsourcing tagging is possible but risky and costly, whereas specialist software automates XHTML and iXBRL, ensures audit trails, integrates with source systems, and rolls tags forward. Early adoption streamlines reporting beyond compliance, freeing teams for analysis and enabling faster, more accurate decision-making.

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