Peppol (Pan-European Public Procurement Online) is an international network for exchanging business documents electronically, above all invoices. It is run by the non-profit OpenPeppol association based in Brussels. Peppol is three things in one: a standard data format (Peppol BIS), a network for transmission (the Peppol network), and a binding rulebook for participating Access Points.

Glossary · Updated June 2026

What is Peppol BIS 3.0: format, network, Access Points

Q: What is the difference between Peppol BIS and the Peppol network?

Peppol BIS is the data format, that is how an invoice has to be structured. The Peppol network is the transport layer, that is how the file gets from sender to recipient. They are separate. You can send Peppol BIS XML by email without using the network, but to use the network you need a certified Access Point provider.

Q: What is a Peppol Access Point?

An Access Point is a certified service provider that connects you to the Peppol network. Instead of implementing the transport logic yourself, you hand your Peppol BIS invoice to the Access Point, which routes it over the network to the recipient. Known providers include Basware, Tradeshift, Storecove and ecosio.

Q: When do I actually need Peppol?

Mostly when a customer or a country requires network delivery. Several EU countries (Belgium from 2026, and others) require Peppol network exchange for B2B or B2G. For German public-sector invoices Peppol is one option among several. If nobody requires network delivery, the Peppol BIS format alone is often enough.

Q: Is Vera a Peppol Access Point?

No. Vera produces Peppol BIS 3.0 compliant XML in the browser, which you then send by email or through your own Access Point provider. Vera is not a certified Access Point and does not claim to be one.

"Peppol-compatible" sits on every second e-invoicing tool, and what it means is usually left vague. Peppol is three different things at once: a data format, a transport network, and a contractual organisation. Most businesses need only the first today, some need all three.

TL;DR

Peppol (Pan-European Public Procurement Online) has three layers. Layer 1: Peppol BIS 3.0, the data format (UBL XML, EN 16931 based). Layer 2: the Peppol network, the transport infrastructure via Access Points. Layer 3: OpenPeppol membership, the legal participation. "Peppol-compatible" usually means only layer 1, the format. Vera produces Peppol BIS XML; network delivery needs an Access Point provider. Vera is not an Access Point.

What Peppol actually is

Peppol stands for Pan-European Public Procurement Online, originally an EU research project from 2008 to standardise cross-border public procurement. Today it is no longer an EU project but an international network run by the non-profit association OpenPeppol, based in Brussels. Peppol does one thing: move structured business documents reliably between companies and public bodies, above all invoices. The confusion starts because "Peppol" can mean three things at once.

The three layers of Peppol

Layer 1

Peppol BIS 3.0 (format)

The data format. Peppol BIS 3.0 Billing is a CIUS of the European norm EN 16931. An invoice is structured as UBL XML with defined business fields, units and tax categories. Producing "Peppol-compatible invoices" usually means this format. A Peppol BIS file can also travel by email, the format works independently of the network.

Layer 2

Peppol network (transport)

The transport infrastructure. You send your invoice to your Access Point, which routes it over the network to the recipient's Access Point and on to their system. Benefits: delivery confirmation, secured authenticity, unambiguous recipient identification via the Peppol ID. The cost: you need a certified Access Point provider.

Layer 3

OpenPeppol membership (rulebook)

The legal participation. Access Points must be members of OpenPeppol, pay annual fees and run certified software. End customers (you as the invoice issuer) are not direct members, you use the network through your Access Point, which holds the membership.

The network and Access Points

The Peppol network works on a four-corner model: sender, sender's Access Point, recipient's Access Point, recipient. The recipient is identified by a Peppol ID, an identifier with an issuer code (for example a VAT or company-number scheme) and the value itself. A central directory tells your Access Point whether a Peppol ID is registered and which Access Point receives for it. Only registered recipients can receive Peppol messages.

Note: Vera produces Peppol BIS 3.0 compliant XML from your invoice data. Delivery over the Peppol network is a separate layer and needs an Access Point provider. Vera is not itself an Access Point.

When you actually need Peppol

Most B2B and B2G issuers can work without a Peppol network connection. You need network delivery mainly when a customer or a country requires it.

Situation	Peppol network needed?
German B2G invoices	No. XRechnung by email or via the federal portals is enough, Peppol is optional.
German B2B from 2027	No. XRechnung, ZUGFeRD or Peppol BIS by email is enough.
Belgian B2B from 2026	Yes, in practice. Belgium requires Peppol network exchange.
Invoices to large EU groups on Peppol	Often yes. They request network delivery as a condition for fast payment.
Smaller cross-border EU B2B	Optional. Email with Peppol BIS XML is often enough.

In short: if your customers do not explicitly require network delivery, you do not need it today. ViDA from 2030 makes EU-wide near real-time reporting mandatory over standardised interfaces, which raises the value of Peppol-like transport, but it is not an explicit Peppol mandate.

FAQ

What is Peppol?

Peppol (Pan-European Public Procurement Online) is an international network for exchanging business documents electronically, run by the OpenPeppol association in Brussels. It is three things: a format (Peppol BIS), a network, and a rulebook for Access Points.

What is the difference between Peppol BIS and the Peppol network?

Peppol BIS is the data format, the Peppol network is the transport layer. You can send Peppol BIS XML by email without the network, but using the network needs a certified Access Point.

What is a Peppol Access Point?

A certified service provider that connects you to the Peppol network. You hand it your Peppol BIS invoice and it routes the file to the recipient. Known providers include Basware, Tradeshift, Storecove and ecosio.

When do I actually need Peppol?

Mainly when a customer or a country requires network delivery (for example Belgium from 2026). If nobody requires it, the Peppol BIS format alone is often enough.

Is Vera a Peppol Access Point?

No. Vera produces Peppol BIS 3.0 compliant XML, which you send by email or through your own Access Point provider. Vera is not a certified Access Point.

Peppol BIS XML from the browser

Vera produces Peppol BIS 3.0 compliant XML for 27 EU countries, validated before download. Send it by email or hand it to your Access Point.

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