PEPPOL: The Future of Efficient Electronic Invoicing

What is PEPPOL?

PEPPOL stands for Pan-European Public Procurement Online and is an international network designed for the electronic exchange of business documents. It functions as a standardized platform that facilitates communication between buyers and sellers by providing a common infrastructure and messaging standards.

What is E-invoicing?

Sending an invoice as a PDF file attached to an email is NOT electronic invoicing or e-invoicing. Instead, it should be understood as an automated way of sending and receiving invoices in a structured, electronic format.

In Denmark, e-invoicing must always be used when invoicing public authorities, while it is optional to use e-invoicing when invoicing private companies.

Why is PEPPOL important for your organization?

1. Efficiency and time savings: By integrating your organization's invoicing systems with the PEPPOL network, you can send and receive documents directly from your existing systems. This reduces the need for manual processes and saves valuable time.
   
   
2. Compliance and standards: As a European EDI standard, PEPPOL ensures that your organization complies with regulatory requirements, especially when it comes to invoicing public institutions.
   
   
3. Increased reliability: Sending e-documents often fails without the user being notified. With real-time monitoring and status, your organization can track the document's journey through the entire delivery process, minimizing the risk of errors and delays.

How does PEPPOL work?

The PEPPOL network is built around a technological infrastructure that includes common registers and standards. These elements make it easy for companies and organizations to find and reach each other across Europe. By being connected to PEPPOL operators, known as access points, companies can send and receive electronic documents, including invoices, credit notes, orders, and more.

What is a PEPPOL access point?

A PEPPOL access point is a connection to the PEPPOL network. It's often a service you purchase from a service provider through which your company can exchange electronic documents with other companies that are also connected to an Access Point.

There are many certified access points worldwide. Together, they form a secure global network that you can use to send and receive invoices and other electronic documents.

When an invoice is sent, an access point handles the process of transporting the invoice to the recipient's access point. The recipient's access point then forwards the invoice to the recipient.

Peppol720 for Microsoft Business Central

One way to maximize the benefits of the PEPPOL network is through user-friendly tools such as the Peppol720 app. This app is specifically developed for Microsoft Business Central, allowing users to avoid time-consuming stand-alone third-party applications for handling e-documents. Instead, users can send and receive documents directly from Business Central.

With process automation, pre-configured sending profiles, real-time status updates, support for OIOUBL format, XML file viewing, and easy configuration, Peppol720 is a valuable resource for auditors, accountants, and other financial staff and functions.

In short, Peppol720 is time-saving and streamlining for anyone working with invoicing in Microsoft Business Central. Moreover, Peppol720 can be set up in minutes and it's free to get started since this app, like all others from ON720.COM, begins with a free plan in a so-called Pay-As-You-Go license model.

You can read more about Peppol720 functionality on this link or delve into the Peppol720 documentation.

Peppol720 is available for all users of the cloud-based Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and can be found and installed for free via Microsoft AppSource.

Standards for E-invoicing

As mentioned, E-invoicing occurs in a structured, electronic format. This requires standards. In Denmark, 2 standards are possible to use.

1. OIOUBL
   Danish standard that can be used for electronic invoicing to the public sector (state, regions, municipalities, etc.), but also private companies that accept e-invoicing.
   
   For more information: Read about OIOUBL at Offentlig Information Online (In Danish).
   
   
2. PEPPOL
   Common European standard for electronic document exchange and trade primarily across the EU.
   
   For more information: Read about PEPPOL at Nemhandel (in Danish).

Summary

The PEPPOL network represents an innovative solution for electronic invoicing, bringing efficiency, reliability, and standardization to business document exchange. By working with PEPPOL, your organization can free up valuable time for other productive tasks and initiatives, which is crucial for success in a modern business landscape where digitalization plays an increasingly important role.