PEPPOL

What is Peppol?

Peppol (Pan-European Public Procurement Online) is an international network and a set of specifications for the secure exchange of electronic business documents across borders. Originally an EU project to simplify public procurement, it has grown into a global network with participants in over 40 countries. Peppol defines both the document format (Peppol BIS) and the infrastructure for secure delivery through certified Access Points. It allows businesses to communicate with any other participant in the network, regardless of their internal IT systems.

How Peppol works

Peppol operates as a "four-corner model" involving certified Access Points to ensure reliable delivery. When a company sends an invoice, it is converted into the Peppol BIS format and sent to the sender's Access Point. From there, the system looks up the recipient's address in the Peppol Directory, and the document is delivered to the recipient's Access Point, which forwards it to their internal system. The entire process is encrypted, and technical receipts are generated to document delivery—so both parties know exactly when the invoice arrived.

Benefits of Peppol

Global Reach: One single connection gives you access to all registered participants worldwide, eliminating the need for individual agreements with every partner. Automatic Processing: Standardized formats ensure the recipient's system can read and process the data without manual entry. High Security: Encrypted delivery and full traceability via technical receipts minimize the risk of fraud and lost documents. Cost Efficiency: Peppol significantly reduces the costs of document exchange compared to paper, email, or legacy EDI solutions.

How to get started

To use Peppol, your business must connect via a certified Access Point. This can be your ERP provider, an invoicing partner, or a dedicated Peppol service provider like Inexchange. Connection typically takes only a few days. Once connected, you can send and receive invoices, credit notes, and other business documents to any partner in the network without further technical setup.