What is Peppol: The Complete Guide to Peppol

Introduction 

E-invoicing is becoming mandatory in more and more countries. Governments are introducing requirements to ensure invoices are digital, standardised and often reported in real time. 

Among the different formats and networks available, Peppol is one of the fastest growing and most widely adopted. It offers a single connection that lets companies exchange invoices and other business documents with trading partners around the world. 

Peppol is not only about compliance. It is also about efficiency, interoperability and making cross-border trade easier for both public and private organisations. 

In this guide, you will learn what Peppol is and how it started, how the network works and why the 4-corner and 5-corner models matter, where Peppol is being used today and which countries are joining next, the benefits of Peppol, and what the future looks like for Peppol.

What is Peppol 

Peppol is both an organisation and a network. The organization Peppol is governed by OpenPeppol, a non-profit association responsible for managing the standards, technical specifications and overall governance model. 

The network itself is a secure environment where members can exchange electronic business documents using agreed specifications, ensuring full interoperability between all participants regardless of the software or service provider they use. 

Peppol is designed for both public sector bodies and private companies. 

PEPPOL in Numbers 

• 1,4 million members in the Peppol network 

• 20 countries with a Peppol Authority 

• 45 countries with OpenPeppol members 

• 567 total OpenPeppol members 

Once connected to the network, you can send and receive from all other members through a single connection. 

History and Purpose of PEPPOL 

Peppol began in 2008 as a project funded by the European Commission together with a group of consortium members. 

The main goal was to create a common, secure and standardised infrastructure for exchanging digital business documents across Europe. 

Before Peppol, organisations often had to set up individual integrations with each trading partner, which was costly and time-consuming. Peppol removed that barrier by creating a network where everyone follows the same rules for transport and document formats. 

Over time, the network expanded beyond Europe, and today it operates globally. 

As Peppol adoption grows, many companies are asking how it compares to traditional EDI. While both aim to make document exchange more efficient, the way they connect trading partners and handle standards is very different.

Key Peppol Terms 

When working with Peppol, you might come across many different terms. To help you get a better understanding, we have collected a list of the key concepts and terms you should know of in regards to Peppol.  

Term	Description
Peppol	A global digital infrastructure for the secure exchange of electronic business documents like invoices, orders, and credit notes.
OpenPeppol	The non-profit organization that manages the Peppol standards, technical specifications, and governance.
Peppol Access Point	An approved service provider that connects organizations to the Peppol network and handles the exchange of documents.
Peppol Authority	The local authority or organization responsible for approving and regulating Access Points within a country.
UBL (Universal Business Language)	A standardized XML format for electronic business documents, which Peppol is built upon.
BIS (Business Interoperability Specifications)	A set of standards mainly used in Europe that define how documents should be structured and validated in Peppol.
PINT (Peppol International)	A global standard based on UBL or CII, adapted for use outside Europe.
Peppol ID	A unique identifier assigned to each participant in the Peppol network, used to identify both organizations and their Access Points to ensure documents are sent correctly.
Service Metadata Publisher (SMP)	A digital directory where organizations’ Peppol IDs and their technical details for receiving documents are registered, helping route documents to the right recipient.
Service Metadata Locator (SML)	A central service that connects to multiple SMPs and helps find the correct SMP for a given Peppol ID.
CII (Cross Industry Invoice)	An international invoice format that can be used within Peppol as an alternative to UBL.

Peppol Access Points

To send and receive documents through Peppol, your organisation must connect via a Peppol Access Point. 

What is a Peppol Access Point?

• A service provider approved by the local Peppol Authority. 

• Responsible for ensuring documents follow the correct format and validation rules. 

• Handles the secure transport of documents into and out of the Peppol network. 

When you connect to one Access Point, you can reach all other participants in the network, regardless of who their Access Point provider is. 

Why choose TrueCommerce as your Peppol Access Point

As a certified Peppol Access Point, TrueCommerce offers reliable and secure connection to the Peppol network. We support companies not only across Europe but globally, ensuring smooth document exchange regardless of location. While Peppol is an important part of our services, our core expertise remains in EDI, allowing us to provide comprehensive integration solutions that cover all your digital trading needs. 

TrueCommerce is also an active member of industry groups such as Geena, where we contribute to shaping the future and ongoing development of digital document standards. With extensive experience working with Peppol standards, especially within the public sector, we understand the unique requirements and can help you navigate compliance with confidence. 

How Peppol Works 

When documents are sent through Peppol, they follow a specific flow from sender to receiver. The exact flow depends on the rules of the country where the transaction takes place. Most countries use the 4-Corner Model, while others require the 5-Corner Model with government involvement for real-time approval or reporting. 

The Peppol 4-Corner Model 

This is the most common model and is used in countries without real-time government approval of invoices. 

Sender (You) > Sender’s Access Point > Receiver’s Access Point > Receiver 

This model ensures both sender and receiver can work with their preferred provider, while still exchanging documents in a standardised way. 

The Peppol 5-Corner Model 

Some countries add a government platform in between for real-time approval or reporting. This is common in countries with Continuous Transaction Controls (CTC). 

Sender (You) > Sender’s Access Point > Government platform > Receiver’s Access Point > Receiver

Peppol formats and document standards 

Peppol, just like EDI, is built on agreed standards. These standards cover both the rules for how documents should be structured and the formats used to exchange them. That’s what makes it easy for different systems and companies to exchange documents.  

The most common standards in Peppol are BIS and PINT. 

• BIS is optimised for Europe and often includes requirements related to EU tax rules. It is based on the UBL format. 

• PINT is a newer, global standard designed so countries outside the EU can use a similar model while still meeting their own local requirements. PINT is based on UBL or CII. 

While other formats can also be exchanged through Peppol, the list below gives an overview of BIS and PINT document types: 

Standard	Document Types Supported
BIS	Invoice, Credit Note, Order, Despatch Advice, Catalogue
PINT	Invoice, Credit Note

Peppol in Different Countries 

While Peppol started in Europe, adoption has spread to other parts of the world.  

Global highlights:

• Over 1.2 million companies are registered in the Peppol network 

• 20 countries have their own Peppol Authority 

• Countries outside Europe such as Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and Japan have already joined 

Peppol is used in different ways depending on the country. In many countries it forms part of national e-invoicing mandates as the preferred network and format. In others, it is optional but widely used, especially for business-to-government (B2G) transactions. 

These national differences can include variations in document types, validation rules and whether Peppol is required for public sector or also for business-to-business (B2B) transactions.

Peppol Integration with ERP systems 

Peppol is designed to work smoothly with existing ERP systems, enabling businesses to automate the exchange of documents like invoices, orders, and credit notes directly within their own software. Typically, companies connect their ERP systems to an intermediary solution or service provider, also known as a Peppol Access Point, that manages the communication with the Peppol network. 

This setup helps reduce manual work, minimize errors, and speed up document processing. Many ERP systems either have built-in support for Peppol or can be connected to Peppol through add-ons or integration platforms, making it easier for businesses to join the network and start exchanging standardized documents quickly and securely. 

Benefits of Peppol 

Peppol is getting more popular, one of the reasons is that it brings a lot of benefits. Peppol offers significant benefits for both governments and companies. 

Peppol benefits for companies:

• Easy connection to many trading partners already in the network 

• No need to build multiple one-to-one integrations 

• Standardised formats and validation rules 

• Faster and more reliable document delivery 

• Reduced manual work and fewer errors through automation 

• Automated processing that speeds up order-to-cash cycles 

• Faster connection to trading partners, who are also part of the network 

Peppol benefits for governments: 

• Improved compliance with tax and reporting rules 

• A secure infrastructure that supports national and international trade 

• Ability to implement e-invoicing without creating isolated local systems 

Peppol and Cross-Border Transactions 

Most e-invoicing mandates focus on domestic trade, invoices between businesses registered for VAT in the same country. Cross-border trade is usually not included, although some countries, like Italy, have introduced requirements for certain international invoices. 

Because Peppol is a standard adopted by multiple countries, it can be used to send and receive documents across borders in a secure and consistent way, making it easier for companies trading internationally to meet requirements in different markets. 

Peppol and the ViDA Initiative 

The European Commission’s VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) initiative aims to modernise VAT reporting and e-invoicing across the EU. One part of the plan is to make cross-border trade more transparent and efficient. 

Peppol is among the standards being tested in ViDA’s pilot phase, where countries and providers trial how cross-border e-invoicing could work in practice. The results will help shape the EU’s future approach. 

Security in the Peppol Network 

The Peppol network is designed with security as a top priority. One key reason is that all Access Points must be approved by their local Peppol Authority before they can operate. This approval process ensures that only reliable and compliant service providers can connect to the network. 

Every organisation connected to Peppol is assigned a unique Peppol ID, which acts like a digital passport within the network. This ID helps verify the sender and receiver of each document, preventing fraud and ensuring that business documents are routed correctly and securely. 

Because Peppol uses standardized protocols and encrypted communication between Access Points, documents are protected against tampering or interception during transit. This makes Peppol a safe and efficient way to exchange sensitive business information across borders and sectors. 

Peppol in Different Industries 

Peppol is widely used in business-to-government (B2G) transactions. In many countries, it is mandatory when trading with public sector organisations, making it especially important in industries like healthcare for many years. 

Today, the benefits of Peppol, from secure delivery to broad network reach, mean it is increasingly used by businesses across a wide range of industries, not just in the public sector. 

The Future of Peppol

The network is expanding quickly. More countries are joining, more members are connecting, and the number of document types supported is increasing. 

Peppol trends to watch:

• More countries are making Peppol part of their mandatory e-invoicing frameworks 

• Growth in document types beyond invoices, such as orders, order confirmations, credit notes and catalogues 

• Integration with tax reporting systems to meet CTC requirements 

• Continued expansion outside Europe, especially in Asia-Pacific 

Peppol is well positioned to become the leading global framework for digital document exchange.

Final Thoughts on Peppol

Whether you are preparing for a national e-invoicing mandate or looking for a more efficient way to exchange documents with trading partners, Peppol offers a proven, scalable and secure solution. 

By connecting once to the network, you open the door to a vast global community of organisations using the same standards. 

If you want to explore how Peppol could work for your business, get in touch with us and let’s talk about the possibilities.