Peppol network, 4-corner model, BIS Billing 3.0, Access Points: everything you need to understand the technical infrastructure underpinning B2G — and soon B2B — e-invoicing across the EU.
Start my free diagnosticPeppol (Pan-European Public Procurement OnLine) is a reliable electronic document exchange network (invoices, purchase orders, despatch advices) between buyers and suppliers. Run by OpenPeppol AISBL from Brussels, it relies on open technical specs and certified Access Points. Today mandatory for public procurement in most EU countries and massively adopted in B2B (France, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Nordics, Singapore, Australia, Japan).
EN 16931 is the European standard defining the semantic model of structured e-invoices. Adopted in 2017 by CEN at the European Commission's request (mandate M/528), it is imposed by Directive 2014/55/EU for public procurement and forms the common foundation for all national formats: Factur-X, ZUGFeRD, FatturaPA, Peppol BIS, FA(2). Two main syntaxes: UBL 2.1 (Universal Business Language) and UN/CEFACT CII.
How an invoice flows between you and your customer through the Peppol network.
You create the invoice in your software and send it to your Peppol Access Point.
Your AP validates the invoice (EN 16931 format, XSD schema), signs it and routes it to the right recipient via SML/SMP.
The recipient's AP receives the invoice, validates again and delivers it into the customer's accounting system.
Your customer receives the structured invoice directly in their ERP/accounting, ready for automated processing.
Open standard with no membership fee (use a commercial AP)
Unique identifier per business (Peppol ID)
ViDA 2030 compatible — future-proof network
Security and traceability (e-signature, acknowledgements)
Three steps to be able to send and receive Peppol invoices.
Pick a certified OpenPeppol AP among ~150 European providers (integrated accounting software, SaaS, EDI platforms). Cost: from €0 (open source) to a few hundred €/month depending on volume.
Your AP registers your business in your country's SMP (Service Metadata Publisher) under your national ID (SIRET, USt-IdNr, P.IVA…) or a GLN/EORI.
Your software produces Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 (UBL or CII) and sends it via your AP. Error returns (Message Level Response) inform you in real time.
Free 5-minute diagnostic: your recommended Access Point by country/volume, suitable technical format, deployment calendar.
Start my free diagnosticFor public procurement: Peppol is not the only channel but the most used in Europe. Directive 2014/55/EU imposes EN 16931 at the semantic level, and Peppol is the reference transport infrastructure. For B2B: it becomes near-mandatory in interoperability countries (France, Belgium 2026, Spain, Germany) and is mandatory for France via PDPs.
EN 16931 is the semantic standard (which fields, what they mean). Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 is a CIUS (Core Invoice Usage Specification) that specialises EN 16931 with extra business rules for the Peppol network (e.g. mandatory Peppol code). Every Peppol BIS 3.0 invoice is EN 16931-compliant, but not the reverse.
Small businesses: from €0 with open-source solutions (Mustang, Phase4) or integrated into free software. SMEs: €20-100/month with a commercial AP depending on volume. Large accounts: per-volume pricing (cents/invoice). No membership fee to OpenPeppol for end users.
Yes. Singapore (national B2B mandatory), Australia (national mandatory for B2G), New Zealand, Japan, USA (in DBNAlliance pilot) and soon Canada. Peppol International extends the network beyond Europe with shared governance. EU ↔ Singapore flows have worked since 2019.
Three options: (1) email them a human-readable PDF with the EN 16931 XML attached (Factur-X); (2) use a web portal where they download the invoice (loses the automation); (3) suggest they join Peppol — most APs offer free reception. From 2030 (ViDA), all intra-EU B2B must be structured.