How does Peppol work?

Peppol enables buyers and sellers to easily reach each other in business transactions. The most common document type is the e-invoice, but Peppol also handles other types of business documents, such as credit invoices, orders and price lists.

Peppol consists of three parts – a network, a format and legislation:

1) A network that allows business partners to send and receive business documents completely electronically over the Internet. Most common are e-invoices, but Peppol can also handle other types of documents.

2) A format standard for electronic documents, such as e-invoices.

3) EU legislation setting out the obligations of Member States and how Peppol should be governed and administered.

The format standard within the Peppol network is called Peppol BIS Billing 3.0. However, it is possible to distribute other types of electronic formats, such as Svefaktura, Finvoice and others.

The documents are sent directly between each party’s ERP system, accounting or invoice management software.

Typically, an e-invoice operator acts as an access point to Peppol. Companies and organisations can however apply to become access points.

The transfer takes place in any of the following XML formats:

• UBL, Universal Business Language
• CII, Cross Industry Invoice

UBL is the most common XML format. Suppliers may choose any of these two formats for their customer invoices but public entities must be able to handle both.

Need to find your customer’s Peppol ID? Go to our Peppol ID search.