The standard language (UBL/XML)
Clear rules and a fixed format ensure every file contains all legally required tax data like the total amount, VAT, and invoice date.
Your quick guide to the international standard for effortless e-invoicing
Peppol & e-invoicing explained
Paper and PDF invoices are fast becoming a thing of the past. Across Europe and worldwide, structured e-invoicing is rapidly establishing itself as the standard for B2B and B2G transactions. To enable seamless cross-border document exchanges, Peppol serves as the global network connecting local frameworks, from Belgium’s mandatory B2B e-invoicing law to France’s PDP ecosystem and Germany’s XRechnung. Different national rules, one universal network.
Discover how Peppol works and see how Banqup can help keep your business compliant.
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What is Peppol?
Peppol (originally an acronym for Pan-European Public Procurement OnLine) is an international network that enables companies, freelancers, and public authorities to exchange electronic business documents in a standardised, secure, and fully automated way.
In the past, you might have printed an invoice or emailed a PDF, requiring the recipient to manually type the details into their system. Peppol eliminates all of that. Instead of visual pictures or unstructured files, structured data (an XML file) flows directly from your billing or ERP software straight into your customer’s accounting system.
What makes the Peppol framework work
A secure international network
An encrypted ‘digital highway’ connecting verified participants across borders. Only verified businesses can send and receive files.
The gateways (certified access points)
Official gateways (such as Banqup) that securely connect your business to the network.
Addressing & metadata services
Built-in lookup tools (like the Peppol Directory) that route documents to the correct recipient automatically.
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Peppol behind the scenes
Peppol operates on a decentralised network model. This means you don't need direct technical connections with every separate customer or supplier, nor do you both need to use the same software. You simply connect once to a certified provider like Banqup, and the network seamlessly bridges the gap between your system and theirs.
Who is Peppol for and why is it here?
Peppol was created to streamline cross-border trade. With Peppol, businesses don't need a different system for every country or customer they work with. Today, it is used in over 38 countries worldwide, including EU nations, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Japan.
Preparing your organisation? Read: E-invoicing is coming: Practical tips for a smooth start.
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Governments are making e-invoicing mandatory to speed up payments and close the VAT gap. In countries like Belgium, for instance, B2B e-invoicing via Peppol is already legally required.
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Belgium
Peppol, the official B2B standard in Belgium
In Belgium, e-invoicing via Peppol is legally mandatory for all B2B transactions. Banqup can act as your certified Access Point to meet Belgian tax requirements effortlessly. Want to deep dive into specific Belgian regulations? Read ‘Belgium's B2B e-invoicing mandate & grace period explained’.
What are the key benefits for your business?
Moving to Peppol isn't just about following government rules, it actively improves your daily operations.
Handling suppliers who aren't ready yet? Read: What to do when you receive a non-e-invoice.
Faster payments
Because invoices land directly in your customer’s accounting software ready for approval, invoice processing times drop drastically.
Zero invoice fraud
Invoices travel over a secure, verified network. There is no risk of email interception, ghost invoices, or fake bank account numbers.
No manual errors
Computer-to-computer data transfer means no typos, missing VAT numbers, or lost email attachments.
Paperless & automated
You save time on manual admin, eliminate printing and postage costs, and keep a clean digital archive automatically.
Key Peppol terminology explained
When reading about e-invoicing, you will run into a few technical terms.
Here is what they actually mean.
Term | What it means |
E-invoice | Not a PDF, but a machine-readable data file (XML) that software processes automatically. |
Peppol ID | Your business’s unique digital address on the network (e.g., based on your Belgian CBE or VAT number). |
Access Point (AP) | Your certified gateway to the network. Banqup is a certified Access Point. |
UBL / XML | The universal computer language used to structure the invoice details. |
BIS Billing 3.0 | The official Peppol format based on the European EN 16931 standard, ensuring your electronic invoice automatically meets all European tax and legal requirements. |
Want to know more?
Read our blog: E-invoicing terms explained.
Learn how digital addresses work: Peppol ID explained: identifiers and registration.
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Peppol with Banqup
How Banqup keeps you 100% compliant (without the effort)
Connecting to Peppol on your own is technical and complicated. Banqup can acts as your certified Peppol Access Point, handling the backend technicalities, security, and document translation automatically. Banqup handles the heavy lifting, while you can focus on your business.
Instant setup & fraud protection: We register your business on the Peppol network and assign your Peppol ID in just a few clicks. Strict Know Your Customer (KYC) identity checks, using official eID or itsme®, ensure only authorised representatives can access your account, protecting your business against identity theft and invoice fraud.
Smart conversion & multi-channel delivery: Create invoices as you normally do. Banqup automatically converts them into compliant Peppol XML files. If a business partner isn't connected to Peppol yet, Banqup automatically sends a traditional PDF via email instead, ensuring your daily workflow never stops.
Compatibility with your existing tools: You don't need to replace your current software. Banqup connects seamlessly with your existing billing packages, CRM, ERP, or accounting software, eliminating manual double data entry completely.
Automated accountant collaboration: Incoming and outgoing Peppol invoices flow directly into a secure digital archive that shares in real time with your accountant’s software.
Integrated payments & matching: Link your existing bank accounts or use Banqup’s built-in payment features to reconcile incoming transactions against open Peppol e-invoices automatically.
Advanced workflows (Peppol Self-Billing): Fully compliant with the latest Peppol Self-Billing standards, allowing buyers to automatically issue compliant invoices on behalf of suppliers with dedicated, auditable numbering sequences.
Automating buyer-issued invoices? Read: Self-billing via Peppol: process and Banqup support.
Peppol insights
Looking for a deepdive into Peppol? We’ve got you covered!
Ready to get started with Peppol (and Banqup)?
Activating your Peppol connection via Banqup takes just a few minutes. Turn digital compliance into an administrative advantage and join thousands of businesses already connected to Peppol.