The single European currency will spread through the supply chain more quickly than most managers will expect, as big companies force little companies to use it. That's the prognosis of Millennium consultants listening to corporate clients around the world.

For instance, some of Germany's biggest exporters plan to encourage their eastern European suppliers to price goods in euros when the single European currency launches in 11 European Union member states in January 1999. Some of Germany's largest manufacturers – including Hoechst, BMW, Deutsche Aerospace, and Mercedes, all plan to require invoicing details in euros – even from companies not part of the EU. This tracks with a survey from The Financial Times in its survey of the UK's biggest exporters.

According to The Financial Times, the following companies would like their suppliers to use the euro:

• British Petroleum
• ICI, the chemicals group
• GKN, the engineering group
• Rover, a subsidiary of BMW

As the first quarter of 1999 beckons, major enterprises are showing a definite preference for dealing with suppliers who are prepared to invoice in euros. Although most companies do not impose a mandate, terms such as "flexible invoice procedures" and "readiness to transact in euros to capitalise on opportunities" suggest that larger accounting departments want to standardise with the euro currency and enjoy an improved level of price transparency as a result.

The feedback shows that the euro is coming into play in countries and companies well outside the EU. This might create currency problems for merchants who receive much of their income in euros while most of their costs will remain in national currencies. This widespread practice of dealing in euro currency will create increasing support for the euro among a wider cross-section of businesses.

Many of Millennium's clients have major operations outside of the European Union. They are discovering that their internal accounting procedures are more easily managed with EM4, a comprehensive and well-tested program that brings Euro-functionality to the AS/400.

Failing to deal in euros will spell a decline in business for companies who are not euro-enabled in 1999.

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