The Peppol network is an extremely popular network used for e-invoicing around the world. Over 40 countries currently use the network, with even more working on implementing the system. There are approximately 1.4 million participant organizations registered on the Peppol network.
Why is Peppol e-invoicing so popular? The network allows companies to securely and efficiently transmit electronic business documents internationally thanks to its set of document standards. By ensuring interoperability between businesses and reducing manual labor, Peppol helps organizations streamline invoicing, stay compliant with local tax laws, and more.
Read this article to discover what Peppol Access Points are, the role they play in the Peppol network, and why they are important. Plus, learn how to easily connect to Peppol.
Understanding the Role of a Peppol Access Point
Peppol Access Points play a vital role in the Peppol network. They are private companies that connect organizations to the Peppol open exchange framework, serving as a gateway to the network. Access points are governed by Peppol Authorities, which are official representatives appointed to oversee the network’s usage in a country.
So, how do access points work?
Access Points Connect Businesses to Peppol
Peppol uses a 4-corner model that connects e-invoice senders and receivers through access points. In this model, the Peppol Access Points are agents that enable companies to connect.
Access points assign businesses a unique identifier called a Peppol ID. Peppol IDs are similar to telephone numbers – they allow organizations to contact one another and transmit electronic business documents, giving them the opportunity to take advantage of the benefits of the Peppol open exchange framework.
You may have also heard of a Peppol 5-corner model. The only difference between the 4- and 5-corner models is the inclusion of a tax authority. Some countries mandate that e-invoices are reported to their tax authority. In these cases, the sender’s access point will typically submit the e-invoice to the tax authority for approval or validation.
Read more: Download our free Peppol Whitepaper
Peppol Access Point Requirements
To become a certified Peppol Access Point, organizations must follow a set of standards outlined by OpenPeppol. They include becoming an OpenPeppol member, ISO 27001 certification, supporting Peppol Business Interoperability Specifications (Peppol BIS) and the Peppol Serviced Metadata Publisher (SMP), and more. Peppol Authorities can add further requirements for service providers beyond those specified by OpenPeppol.
ISO 27001 is a set of standards that define best practices for data management. Certification indicates an organization follows these guidelines when handling sensitive data, ensuring its security protocols are robust. ISO 27001 certification verifies the company’s product or service is high quality, reliable, and safe.
Peppol BIS is a set of operating guidelines that dictate the structure of documents sent through Peppol. By keeping formatting consistent, the network can maximize efficiency while providing a reliable experience. A Peppol SMP is a registry that holds information about participants like their Peppol ID and which type of documents the participant supports. Support for both of these technologies is required for access points to properly function within the Peppol network.
Maintaining these requirements is crucial for access points to perform their duties. Keep reading to learn why they are so important.
Read more: Storecove is now ISO 27001 Certified
Why Peppol Access Points Are Important
Peppol Access Points are important because they act as the gateway to the Peppol network. Without access points, it would be extremely difficult to send e-invoices internationally.
Connecting to Peppol can benefit your business in many ways. A few key benefits include increased efficiency, stronger interoperability, and compliance with global e-invoicing mandates.
Increase Business Efficiency
Peppol Access Points improve business efficiency, leading to faster payment times and invoice processing. Because access points automate transactions and only use standardized documents, they make the invoicing transmission process much faster. Plus, using Peppol eliminates the chance for human error, meaning fewer problems you’ll have to correct.
Interoperability
Interoperability refers to an organization’s ability to work across different technologies, softwares, or platforms. It allows companies to easily integrate new tools and tech, fostering innovation and growth. Connecting to the Peppol network makes this possible through standardization and faster processing speeds.
Global Connectivity
Peppol Access Points give businesses access to the Peppol international framework. When connected, you can transmit e-invoices to any company on the network, even if located across borders. Peppol’s standardization enables true global trade.
Read more: Which Countries Use Peppol?
How Storecove Supports Connectivity
With Storecove as your e-invoicing provider, connecting to Peppol is simple. We take care of the hard parts of e-invoicing for you: no need to build the tech from scratch, spend hours researching local regulations, connecting to multiple e-invoicing frameworks, or troubleshooting your technology.
When you send e-invoices with our API, we take care of formatting, validation, and delivery. Our software can easily fit into your organization’s current invoicing flow, allowing you to integrate quickly and meet regulatory requirements without complex onboarding. All you need to do is create an invoice. We take care of the rest, including compliance.
We update our API to account for any e-invoicing regulation changes, helping your company stay compliant even as requirements shift. Keeping up with new mandates on your own is time-consuming and difficult. Our e-invoicing solution automatically updates whenever guidelines change, helping you stay globally compliant with none of the stress.
With our software, you can access both the Peppol network and the North American e-invoicing network; the Digital Business Networks Alliance (DBNAlliance) through a single connection and under the same subscription, allowing for full global connectivity.
Our highly skilled tech support team is dedicated to making sure our solution stays up and running. Members of our support team live across the world, so we can provide real-time help for all time zones.
We offer a free 30 day testing period, so you can see if our software is the right fit for your company. You’ll be able to experiment in a sandbox environment, giving you the chance to explore our intuitive interface and experience the benefits firsthand. Request a test account to begin.
We are prepared to support you while connecting to Peppol and beyond.
Read more: Why Technical Support is Important for Peppol Integrations
Connect to the Peppol Network
As a certified Peppol Access Point, Storecove can help your business transition to Peppol. Our global API makes connecting easy: just connect to our software once, and you’ll instantly be able to send and receive e-invoices across the world.
The Peppol network is constantly expanding, with new members joining daily and many mandates planned for the next few years. Get ahead of compliance issues by connecting to Peppol now.
To get started, book a demo with our team or request a free test account. If you have specific questions, feel free to contact us with any questions – we’re here to help.
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