The Complete Guide to Peppol
Everything you need to know about the Pan-European Public Procurement Online network — from basics to technical specifications.
What is Peppol?
Peppol (Pan-European Public Procurement Online) is a global network that enables businesses and government organisations to exchange electronic documents — such as invoices, orders, and credit notes — in a standardised, secure, and legally compliant way.
Think of it like email for business documents
Just as email lets anyone send messages to anyone else regardless of their email provider, Peppol lets any business send invoices to any other business on the network — regardless of what accounting software they use.
Key Facts
Who Governs Peppol?
Peppol is governed by OpenPeppol, a non-profit international association based in Belgium. OpenPeppol maintains the standards, certifies Access Points, and ensures interoperability across the network. National Peppol Authorities in each country oversee local compliance and adoption.
How Peppol Works
Peppol uses a "4-corner model" where senders and receivers connect through certified Access Points, similar to how email works with mail servers.
The 4-Corner Model
Key Components
Access Point (AP)
A certified service provider that connects businesses to the Peppol network. Think of it as your gateway to Peppol.
Service Metadata Publisher (SMP)
A registry that tells the network what document types a participant can receive and which Access Point to use.
Service Metadata Locator (SML)
The master directory that helps locate any participant's SMP record on the network.
Peppol ID
A unique identifier for each participant on the network, typically based on your VAT number or company registration.
Benefits of Peppol
Adopting Peppol delivers significant advantages for businesses of all sizes, from cost savings to improved compliance.
Cost Reduction
Eliminate paper, postage, and manual data entry. Studies show e-invoicing saves €6-10 per invoice.
Faster Payments
Invoices arrive instantly and are processed automatically, reducing payment cycles by days or weeks.
Improved Accuracy
Structured data eliminates transcription errors. What you send is exactly what they receive.
Regulatory Compliance
Meet government e-invoicing mandates in the UK, EU, and beyond. Future-proof your business.
Global Reach
Connect once, trade with anyone on the network. 39+ countries and growing.
Security & Trust
All Access Points are certified. Documents are encrypted and tamper-evident.
Document Types
Peppol supports a variety of business documents through its BIS (Business Interoperability Specifications) standards. Here are the most commonly used:
| Document | BIS Spec | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice | BIS Billing 3.0 | Standard invoice for goods or services |
| Credit Note | BIS Billing 3.0 | Correction or refund document |
| Purchase Order | BIS Ordering 3.0 | Order request from buyer to seller |
| Order Response | BIS Ordering 3.0 | Seller's confirmation of order |
| Despatch Advice | BIS Despatch 3.0 | Shipping notification with details |
| Invoice Response | BIS IMR 3.0 | Buyer's acknowledgment of invoice |
| Catalogue | BIS Catalogue 3.0 | Product/service catalogue exchange |
| Punch Out | BIS Punch Out 3.0 | E-procurement integration |
Most Businesses Start with Invoicing
The vast majority of Peppol traffic is invoices and credit notes. You can start with just e-invoicing and add other document types as your needs grow.
Technical Specifications
For developers and technical teams, here are the core specifications that power the Peppol network.
Document Format: UBL 2.1
Peppol documents are formatted in Universal Business Language (UBL) 2.1, an OASIS standard XML format. UBL provides a library of standard electronic XML business documents such as purchase orders, invoices, and transport documents.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Invoice xmlns="urn:oasis:names:specification:ubl:schema:xsd:Invoice-2"
xmlns:cac="urn:oasis:names:specification:ubl:schema:xsd:CommonAggregateComponents-2"
xmlns:cbc="urn:oasis:names:specification:ubl:schema:xsd:CommonBasicComponents-2">
<cbc:CustomizationID>urn:cen.eu:en16931:2017#compliant#urn:fdc:peppol.eu:2017:poacc:billing:3.0</cbc:CustomizationID>
<cbc:ProfileID>urn:fdc:peppol.eu:2017:poacc:billing:01:1.0</cbc:ProfileID>
<cbc:ID>INV-2024-001</cbc:ID>
<cbc:IssueDate>2024-01-15</cbc:IssueDate>
<!-- ... -->
</Invoice>Transport Protocol: AS4
Documents are transported between Access Points using AS4 (Applicability Statement 4), a secure messaging protocol built on web services. AS4 provides:
- End-to-end encryption
- Digital signatures for authenticity
- Reliable messaging with receipts
- Non-repudiation of origin and receipt
Peppol ID Schemes
Each participant is identified by a Peppol ID consisting of a scheme and identifier:
| Scheme | Country | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 0088 | Global (GLN) | 0088:1234567890123 |
| 0184 | Denmark (CVR) | 0184:12345678 |
| 0007 | Sweden (Org Nr) | 0007:1234567890 |
| 0106 | Netherlands (KvK) | 0106:12345678 |
| 9925 | Belgium (KBO) | 9925:0123456789 |
| 0190 | UK (Company No) | 0190:12345678 |
| 9932 | UK (VAT) | 9932:GB123456789 |
Validation Rules
Documents must pass multiple validation layers:
- Schema validation — XML must conform to UBL 2.1 schema
- Schematron rules — Business rules (EN 16931 + Peppol CIUS)
- Country-specific rules — Local requirements (e.g., UK MTD)
Getting Started with Peppol
Ready to join the Peppol network? Here's your step-by-step guide.
Assess Your Needs
Determine which documents you need to send/receive and your monthly volume. This helps choose the right service level.
Take our free readiness checkChoose an Access Point
Select a certified Peppol Access Point provider. Consider pricing, support, and integration options with your existing systems.
View our pricingGet Your Peppol ID
Register for a Peppol ID (usually based on your VAT or company number). Your Access Point will handle the registration.
Configure Your System
Connect your accounting software or ERP to your Access Point. Options range from web portals to full API integration.
Test & Go Live
Send test documents, verify receipt, then switch to production. Start with a few trading partners before rolling out widely.
Compliance & Mandates
E-invoicing mandates are rolling out globally. Here's where Peppol is required or recommended.
United Kingdom
The UK government accepts Peppol invoices for all central government departments. While not yet mandatory for B2B, adoption is growing rapidly as businesses see the efficiency benefits. The NHS and many local authorities now prefer or require Peppol for supplier invoicing.
European Union
EU Directive 2014/55/EU mandates that all public sector bodies must accept e-invoices in the EN 16931 format (which Peppol uses). Many EU countries have extended this to B2B:
- Italy — Mandatory B2B/B2G e-invoicing since 2019
- France — B2B mandate rolling out 2024-2026
- Germany — B2B mandate from 2025
- Poland — KSeF system mandatory from 2024
- Belgium — B2B mandate expected 2026
Rest of World
Peppol is expanding beyond Europe:
- Australia — Active Peppol authority, government adoption
- New Zealand — Government e-invoicing via Peppol
- Singapore — InvoiceNow network uses Peppol
- Japan — Digital Agency promoting Peppol adoption
Don't Wait for Mandates
Even where not legally required, many large buyers now prefer or require suppliers to use e-invoicing. Getting Peppol-ready now means you're prepared when mandates arrive and can win business from e-invoice-only buyers.
Glossary
Quick reference for common Peppol terminology.
Ready to Get Started?
Take our free 2-minute readiness check to see what you need to connect to Peppol.