Peppol stands for Pan-European Public Procurement On-Line and is a closed network for securely sending digital business documents such as invoices. Peppol was co-financed by the European Commission and 18 government agencies to simplify the purchase-to-pay process between government agencies and suppliers. Although the Peppol network was co-developed by the European Commission, it is an international network that is also used outside Europe and is well on its way to becoming the new standard for sending invoices.
Peppol is a network made up of certified Access Points via which you can send digital files such as invoices. You can connect to an Access Point through a service provider, either using invoicing software from the service provider or by linking your own software package with the Access Point. You'll need to register with a unique identifier through a one-time registration process. Many countries use company or VAT numbers for identification. Internationally, you'll be able to use the GLN number.
The Peppol network only lets you send digital invoices, also called e-invoices. Unlike PDF invoices, these are fully digital XML files (i.e. digital plain text files) created according to the UBL standard (Universal Business Language, an international standard for business documents). This will ensure that the files can be read correctly by invoicing software around the world and are processed mostly automatically.
Peppol is a secure and closed network, so you can safely exchange sensitive financial data. The identity of everyone affiliated with the network is verified, so you can be sure that your recipient's invoices are genuine, and avoid invoice fraud.
Peppol also lets you automate your invoicing process. The invoices you send through the network are completely digital, so you can process them automatically in your invoicing software. E-invoices in the UBL standard are automatically read correctly, eliminating the need to retype data. This prevents human error during processing. Linking to your bank account means that outgoing and incoming invoices are automatically matched and you get better insight into your company's financial situation. Peppol is fast, too: your recipient will receive your invoice within 10 minutes of sending it. Combined with automatic processing, this will save a lot of time.
More and more governments are making it mandatory to send e-invoices via Peppol as part of their efforts to combat invoice fraud. In many cases, the requirement to use Peppol to send invoices to and from government agencies is introduced first, and a similar requirement for B2B transactions follows later. The applicable rules vary in different countries, but all over the world governments are looking in to mandatory e-invoicing over the Peppol-network.
On this page you will find an overview of all countries using Peppol and/or other e-invoicing networks. Each page clarifies the current situation and regulations regarding e-invoicing in each country.
It’s very simple. Just create a Billit account, and we will do the rest. Once you create an account, we will register you on the Peppol network free of charge. You can use the platform entirely free of charge for the first 15 days. After 15 days, you will have to choose the appropriate pricing plan for the number of invoices you send and receive.
Under the Peppol First principle, Peppol is the first option in a software package for sending an invoice and a check is carried out as to whether a recipient is affiliated. Peppol First means everyone shifts up a gear and will increase the number of companies receiving and sending invoices via Peppol – a positive development for all companies using the Peppol network.
We apply the Peppol First principle at Billit. For example, when sending an invoice, you will always see whether a client is affiliated with the Peppol network, even when working via the API link. We also check with suppliers whether they are affiliated with the Peppol network and provide the option of asking, with a simple mouse click, whether affiliated suppliers want to send their invoices through Peppol.
Suppliers only need the identifier that you used to register with Peppol. You can easily find all identifiers and affiliated companies via the Peppol Directory.
However, Billit users don't have to worry about any of this. When you create a supplier and/or client, Billit will check whether the company is affiliated with the Peppol network. In Billit, you can recognise which of your clients can receive invoices via Peppol by the green Peppol button that appears when you want to send an invoice. You can also find out which suppliers are affiliated and ask them to start sending their invoices through Peppol with a simple click of a button.
Billit not only has digital receiving capabilities but also OCR technology to easily convert non-digital documents into digital ones, so you can enjoy the benefits of digital invoicing for all your bookkeeping activities.
Most countries use VAT or company numbers as identifiers. Internationally, you'll always be able to use the GLN number. A full list of all identifiers is available on Peppol's website in the Peppol Directory
Next to Peppol solutions Billit offers a complete Saas invoicing platform. Discover what Billit has to offer for your company.
