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How does Peppol work

Peppol is a secure network that connects businesses, public administrations, and billing software to enable the automatic exchange of electronic invoices that comply with the European standard. Each connected participant communicates through a certified Access Point, which guarantees the security, compliance, and traceability of every invoice sent or received.

The principle is simple: Peppol allows all billing systems, regardless of their format or country, to communicate and exchange information without technical complications. Thanks to this interconnection, businesses can send, receive, and process their invoices smoothly and securely throughout the European Union.

1. An interconnected network between businesses and administrations

Peppol acts like a major highway for electronic invoicing. Instead of sending invoices by email or through client-specific portals, companies transmit their documents directly through the network.

Each participant registers with a certified Access Point, which serves as a gateway between their billing system and the Peppol network. This approach guarantees that:

  • All businesses use a common format (EN 16931),
  • Invoices circulate within a network recognized by European authorities,
  • Exchanges are interoperable, regardless of the software used.

This architecture greatly simplifies communication between public and private entities and reduces costs related to specific connections or multiple formats.

2. The role of Access Points

Access Points are at the heart of the Peppol network. They are certified service providers that ensure secure connections between companies and their recipients.

Their mission is to:

  • Authenticate users and verify their identity on the network,
  • Convert and transmit invoices in the standard format,
  • Guarantee the traceability of each transmission,
  • Apply the necessary technical and regulatory updates.

Thanks to them, companies do not need to handle the technical complexity of the network. They simply connect to their Access Point through their billing software, which takes care of everything else.

3. A secure and traceable exchange of invoices

Security is a key pillar of Peppol’s operation. Each invoice is encrypted and transmitted through a certified channel, protecting the confidentiality and integrity of the data.

Access Points ensure that:

  • The sender and recipient are both registered on the network,
  • The invoice complies with the EN 16931 standard,
  • Sending and receiving are properly validated.

This traceability strengthens trust between companies and allows them to track the status of each invoice at every stage of the process.

4. A simple and standardized process

The functioning of the network follows a clear pattern:

  • The company issues its invoice in its billing software,
  • The invoice is transmitted to its Access Point,
  • The network identifies the recipient through their Peppol ID,
  • The invoice is delivered securely, in compliance, and with full traceability.

Everything happens automatically, without manual intervention or format conversion. Peppol guarantees that the invoice will always arrive in a readable and valid format for the recipient’s system.

Concrete example

An SME in Belgium sends an invoice to a public administration in France. Without Peppol, it would have to verify each country’s invoicing rules, convert the file to the correct format, and ensure that it is accepted by the administration’s portal. With Peppol, it simply sends the invoice from its usual software: the Access Point handles the conversion, verification, and transmission. The invoice is automatically received and validated without error.

5. Billova and Peppol certification

Our solution, Billova, is designed to work directly with the Peppol network. It has been developed according to the technical specifications of the European standard and will be fully operational once the certification process is complete.

Once certified, Billova will allow its users to:

  • Send and receive invoices via Peppol without additional configuration,
  • Ensure automatic compliance with the EN 16931 standard,
  • Benefit from secure and traceable exchanges recognized throughout Europe.

Users will thus be able to connect to the network as soon as official validation is obtained, without technical adjustments or risk of non-compliance.

 

Peppol is not just a transmission tool, it is a European infrastructure that makes electronic invoicing universal, secure, and interoperable. By adopting a solution like Billova, your company positions itself today within tomorrow’s standard, achieving smooth, compliant, and borderless invoicing.