What is PEPPOL?
PEPPOL (Pan-European Public Procurement OnLine) is an international network for the electronic exchange of business documents. Originally developed for public procurement in Europe, PEPPOL is now used worldwide by businesses and authorities.
How PEPPOL Works
PEPPOL functions like an email system for business documents. Instead of sending invoices via email, post, or fax, they are transmitted through the PEPPOL network – structured, secure, and machine-readable.
Each participant has a unique PEPPOL-ID that functions like an email address. Documents are sent via certified Access Points that handle the technical connection to the network.
Advantages of PEPPOL
Secure Transmission: Unlike email, documents are transmitted encrypted via certified Access Points. Delivery is documented.
International Reach: PEPPOL connects businesses in over 40 countries – from Europe to Australia and Singapore.
Legal Compliance: The network meets legal requirements for electronic invoices in many countries.
The PEPPOL-ID
Every participant in the PEPPOL network is identified by a unique identifier. This PEPPOL-ID consists of two parts:
:
Schema-ID: Prefix indicating the type of identifier.
Participant-ID: The actual identification number of the company.
PEPPOL in Practice
In many European countries, PEPPOL is already the standard for invoicing public sector clients. Belgium is introducing mandatory PEPPOL for B2B transactions from 2026.
To use PEPPOL, you need a certified Access Point. GrandTotal offers integration with e-invoice.be – a Belgian PEPPOL Access Point.
PEPPOL vs. PEPPOL BIS
PEPPOL refers to the network itself – the technical infrastructure with Access Points and identification system.
PEPPOL BIS (Business Interoperability Specifications) are the standardized business processes and document formats exchanged over PEPPOL. BIS 3.0 defines, for example, how an invoice must be structured in UBL format (Universal Business Language) – an XML standard for electronic business documents.
PEPPOL at a Glance
International Network
Over 40 countries worldwide connected
Unique Identification
Each participant has a PEPPOL-ID
Certified Access Points
Secure connection to the network
Structured Data
Machine-readable invoice formats
Automatic Processing
Direct integration into accounting systems
Legally Compliant
Meets national e-invoicing regulations