When OpenPeppol's Secretary General André Hoddevik, paints a picture of the future of digital commerce, he combines synergy and growth. Hoddevik believes that, for data exchange to increase, formats and systems must be harmonized – and that the universal solution is called Peppol. In addition to being a technical standard, Peppol is also a framework comprising specifications, agreements, governance, and compliance monitoring. It provides the components necessary for a global digital arena.
“A Growing Network, Expanded Digital Trade.” That is the title of the keynote address André Hoddevik will deliver on the opening day of the Peppol Conference APAC 2026 in Singapore on November 17–18. The conference is organized by the member organization OpenPeppol and brings together an international group of representatives from governments, tax authorities, and service providers.
APAC stands for Asia-Pacific. According to the organizer, the gathering in the Asian island nation will focus on how Peppol is transforming e-invoicing and cross-border digital commerce in the Asia-Pacific region. Hoddevik’s presentation on the future of digital trade will be one of the highlights.
A potential global standard
André Hoddevik has served as Secretary General of OpenPeppol since its founding in 2012. Shortly thereafter, this non-profit association became the managing organization for Peppol. Prior to that, Peppol had been an EU-funded pilot project for public procurement.
OpenPeppol currently has members in 47 countries, and 26 of them have national Peppol authorities. Peppol’s four-corner model can be expanded to include a fifth corner where the tax authority receives the data in real time. In Europe, Slovakia is currently the closest to implementing such a Peppol-based real-time model. Belgium plans to make e-reporting mandatory using this system starting in January 2028.
Harmonization is the key
André Hoddevik has long described Peppol as a potential global standard. When the international specification for invoice formats, PINT, was adopted in 2023, he called it “a significant milestone” on the path toward true global interoperability, with e-invoicing as the first step.
In June of this year, the Norwegian opened the Peppol Conference Europe in Brussels. On that occasion as well, he spoke on the theme “Shaping the Future of Interoperable Digital Commerce.” Addressing participants from 37 countries, he emphasized that Peppol’s European invoice standard, the international PINT format, and the EU’s ViDA pilot for digital VAT reporting need to be harmonized to ensure reliable data exchange.
Fittingly, as Hoddevik delivered his message in Brussels, Belgium served as an example of the positive impact such collaboration can have. Since the e-invoicing requirement was introduced in January 2026, volumes have grown exceptionally. During the conference, it was reported that Belgium sent 140.7 million Peppol invoices in twelve months, ahead of Norway with 131.1 million and Sweden with 52.1 million.
Peppol meets all needs
Why Peppol, specifically? Hoddevik’s argument is that the network is much more than a technical standard. It is a complete framework that encompasses the elements paving the way for digital trade between businesses. The network is also useful for logistics and e-procurement. With a five-corner model, the same infrastructure can also carry tax reporting.
Looking ahead, Hoddevik lists international standards for e-invoicing and e-reporting, the coordination of domestic and cross-border tax reporting, and the inclusion of e-invoicing in digital trade agreements.
The last point is particularly relevant given Singapore’s role as the host country for the Peppol Conference APAC 2026. Singapore has promoted digital trade agreements as tools for commerce. In 2018, Singapore also became the first country outside Europe to establish its own Peppol authority. The country’s InvoiceNow system is based on the pentagonal model. By April 2031 at the latest, all VAT-registered companies in Singapore must submit invoice data via InvoiceNow.
FACT SHEET:
Peppol (Pan-European Public Procurement Online) is an international network and a standard for sending e-invoices and other business documents digitally between businesses and government agencies. A company that connects to a certified service provider can then reach everyone else in the network, regardless of which system or provider the recipient uses.
OpenPeppol is a non-profit international membership organization (registered in Belgium) that owns, manages, and further develops the global Peppol network and its technical standards.
PINT (Peppol International Invoice) is a global standard and specification for electronic invoices (e-invoices) within the international Peppol network.
InvoiceNow is Singapore’s national network for e-invoices. It is based on Peppol and was introduced in 2019 to enable businesses to easily send and receive invoices in a structured digital format. Since 2025, the network has also been used for VAT reporting.
About Inexchange
Inexchange is one of Europe’s leading providers of e-invoicing and business document exchange, helping businesses and software partners send and receive documents via European financial networks. Inexchange was formed as a new Nordic entity in 2026 by five companies with strong positions in fintech. The company is part of the Visma Group. Inexchange transforms regulatory and technical complexity into a business advantage for its customers.