Why is it important?
Some governments have implemented quickly approaching deadlines that require businesses to use a Peppol access point for their electronic invoices.
Belgian businesses are required to use Peppol for their electronic invoices as of: 1 January 2026
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What is Peppol?
Peppol, the Pan-European Public Procurement On-Line network, is a secure platform for exchanging digital business documents like invoices. It was founded to simplify the purchase-to-pay process between government agencies and suppliers. Peppol, initially co-developed by the European commission, has crossed regional boundaries to become a globally recognized standard for electronic invoicing. Its adoption is rapidly growing beyond Europe, positioning it as the future of digital document exchange.
What is a Peppol access point?
As the name suggests, a Peppol access point allows businesses to access Peppol to send and receive their electronic documents. Rather than communicating with Peppol directly, businesses use an access point, such as Odoo, to send their electronic documents. The access point then passes the documents to the receiver's access point, who in turn passes them to the receiver.
Am I required to use Peppol?
Belgium has officially adopted mandatory domestic B2B e-invoicing, with implementation set for January 1, 2026. This follows parliamentary approval on February 1, 2024, and subsequent publication in the Belgian Official Journal on February 20. This legislation aligns with the EU's broader push for digitalization, specifically the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) proposal, which mandates e-invoicing and e-reporting for cross-border transactions. Other countries have passed similar legislation. (More information available here)
How much does Peppol cost?
Since businesses use Peppol access points to send and receive electronic documents, the real question is how much do Peppol access points cost. While this varies among different Peppol access points, many use a credit system or charge per document sent or received. With some businesses sending thousands of documents each year, the costs can add up quickly. That's why Partena has partnered with Odoo, the free Peppol access point.
What is Odoo?
Odoo provides an all-in-one business software solution that encompasses a comprehensive range of integrated, scalable, and user-friendly applications. Odoo's modular and customizable nature empowers businesses to choose and configure specific applications according to their unique requirements. These applications include accounting, sales, inventory, human resources, manufacturing, and more. This flexibility makes it suitable for companies of all sizes and industries, from small startups to large enterprises.