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If you haven’t already heard the terms ‘Peppol’ and ‘eInvoicing’, you’ll be hearing a lot more about them in coming months. 

 

The Australian Government has adopted the Peppol (Pan-European Public Procurement Online) framework for eInvoicing and mandated that all Commonwealth agencies adopt eInvoicing by 1 July 2022.  

 

The government first flagged its intentions to adopt Peppol in 2019 and has been working with the New Zealand Government on a joint approach. Peppol has since become a central pillar of the Australian Government’s digital business plan designed to transform the nation into a leading digital economy by 2030. 

 

Other government jurisdictions and the private sector are expected to follow as part of a wholesale shift to eInvoicing for B2B transactions. 

 
Peppol logo

 

What is Peppol? 


Peppol, often referred to as the Peppol network, is a globally recognized framework established initially as an EU standard to simplify the secure exchange of electronic documents, including electronic invoices, among various entities across the world.

It serves as an essential infrastructure for businesses, government agencies, and public authorities alike, streamlining the exchange of critical business documents and bolstering efficiency in cross-border trade.

One of Peppol's key components is the Peppol directory, a centralized resource that helps businesses and service providers connect seamlessly within the network.

Peppol service providers play a crucial role in facilitating the exchange of electronic documents and ensuring that participants adhere to the technical standards, such as Peppol BIS (Business Interoperability Specifications), governing the network.

Through recipient's access points, participants in different systems can effortlessly send and receive not only electronic invoices but also other documents that are vital for their business processes.

This approach to e-invoicing and document exchange enhances interoperability and simplifies transactions, ultimately making Peppol a preferred choice for businesses engaged in international trade and e-procurement.

Why Choose the Peppol Network for Your Electronic Procurement Needs?


 

The Peppol framework is not new. It’s been widely used in public procurement in Europe since 2011 when it was first piloted. Its aim was to simplify electronic procurement across borders by developing common technology standards that would increase efficiencies and reduce costs. 

 

Seventeen European countries were involved in the 2011 Peppol pilot but it was the Norwegian Government that was first to mandate that all suppliers selling to it from 1 July 2012 must send their invoices electronically through Peppol.  

 

Other governments have quickly followed and it is now an accepted eInvoicing platform for more than 30 countries including Germany, Ireland and Italy. Outside Europe, Japan is considering Peppol as the nationwide eInvoicing standard and Singapore’s national eInvoicing initiative is based on Peppol. The US and Canada have also foreshadowed the development of Peppol-based eInvoicing. 

 

In Australia, the Australian Taxation Office is the Peppol Authority with responsibility for overseeing Australia’s eInvoicing framework but the ATO notes that “eInvoices do not go through or are viewed by the ATO”. 

 
 

What is a PEPPOL Authority?

A PEPPOL Authority is a regulatory entity responsible for overseeing the implementation and adherence to eInvoicing and other document exchange standards within a specified region or country.

Peppol authority ensures that companies and clients comply with the PEPPOL BIS (Business Interoperability Specifications), which define the technical specifications for eInvoices and other documents.

It plays a crucial role in governing the exchange of invoices and ensuring that companies adhere to standardized formats and practices when sending and receiving documents within its jurisdiction.

What’s the difference between eInvoicing and digital invoicing? 

The difference between e invoicing and digital invoicing lies in how invoices are transmitted and processed. In the world of digital invoicing, invoices are typically sent via email.

While this approach represents a step toward digitization, it still relies on email as the medium of exchange.

On the other hand, eInvoices take a more advanced and efficient route. They involve a direct transaction between the accounting systems of both purchasers and suppliers, employing a standardized and harmonized format.

This format ensures that the invoice data seamlessly aligns with the recipient's accounting system, eliminating the need for manual data entry and reducing the risk of errors.

This streamlined process is further facilitated through the use of recipient's access points, which act as intermediaries ensuring that eInvoices conform to agreed-upon standards.

Service providers like Peppol play a crucial role, helping businesses send and receive documents, including eInvoices, while adhering to industry standards and regulations.

 

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The benefits of eInvoicing through Peppol 

 

Being able to exchange invoice information between accounting systems offers a range of benefits to both purchasers and suppliers. These include: 

  • Faster and more efficient payments 

  • 100% accuracy

  • Greater security 

  • Less paper 

  • More reliable and timely data 

  • Removes late payment penalties

The Australian Government also expects that there will be downstream benefits from introducing Peppol, including greater productivity in the economy and increased tax transparency and compliance as well as the ability for businesses of all different sizes to get paid quickly. 

 

How does Peppol work? 

 

In simple terms, Peppol operates as a software platform designed for the seamless transfer of electronic documents, including electronic invoices, between suppliers and purchasers.

To gain access to the Peppol network, individuals or businesses must first complete a registration process to get a unique Peppol ID number, a step that comes at no cost.

Once registered, when you transmit an invoice via the Peppol platform, the recipient can effortlessly identify your company through your Peppol ID.

 
In summary the basic process for CBS customers using our Access Point involves:
  1. The supplier generates an invoice in their accounts receivabale system and sends it electronically to their Certified Peppol Access Point.
  2. The supplier's Peppol Access Point validates the invoice to make sure that it can be sent via the Peppol network.
  3. The supplier is validated and the CBS Access Point is found and the supplier sends the invoice to it electronically. 
  4. The CBS Access Point receives the validated invoice where the raw invoice data is consumed into our systems.
  5. We will verify the invoice information by comparing it against reference data from the customer's purchase order inlcuding the line items.
  6. We then take all the invoice data and generate an output file based on the requirements defined, if not per the Peppol format. 
  7. Invoice data will be transacted via the customer's ERP for processing or payment.

 

Canon Business Services ANZ: connecting you with Peppol

 

It's important to know that you can't directly sign up for an ID with Peppol. Instead, you need to register through a Peppol access point.

 

These access point providers have the job of making sure your documents follow Peppol's rules and standards, and they make sure your documents reach the right people.

 

Canon Business Services ANZ (CBS), as an accredited Access Point provider and an adopter of Peppol in Australia, can assist you in the Peppol registration process.

With CBS, you get a complete service for handling invoices from start to finish. They take care of collecting the right invoice formats, extracting and checking the data, and sending it to your ERP system.
 
When you partner with CBS to get your finance team ready for eInvoicing, you can expect:
  1. No need for upfront purchases. You don't have to buy or manage any hardware or software. They include all the technology you need from day one.
  2. Their solution handles all types of invoices, whether they are paper-based, sent via email, or electronic (like Peppol). It's all part of the same system.
  3. CBS's solution is designed to reduce manual work, making your processes more efficient and allowing your team to focus on more important tasks.
  4. Faster processing of incoming invoices means you can improve how quickly you pay and manage your finances.
  5. CBS takes security seriously and and is accredited with ISO 27001.  and ensuring your data is kept safe.

CBS is your trusted partner for navigating the Peppol network and simplifying the exchange of electronic documents, especially invoices, with public authorities, companies, and customers in various countries.

 

Level up your automated accounts payable with Peppol-Electronic Invoices

CBS's Automated Accounts Payable (AAP) solution has already been designed to handle both paper and digital invoices effectively. Now, it has added Peppol eInvoice readiness to its capabilities. This means that regardless of the invoice format, our AAP solution seamlessly incorporates your business rules and directs invoices through the appropriate workflows.

This process significantly reduces processing delays, eliminates the high costs associated with invoice handling, and ensures that you meet all your compliance obligations within the Peppol network.

By incorporating Peppol eInvoice support into our AAP solution, we streamline the billing and document management process for your department or agency.

This streamlined approach enhances efficiency, particularly when dealing with various document formats, and helps optimize the utilization of limited resources. Our solution empowers your department to create, support, and manage billing and other documents while remaining compliant with Peppol standards and authorities.

For Peppol-ready Automated Accounts Payable, contact us today.

Frequently asked questions

What is Peppol used for?

Peppol is primarily utilised for simplifying the exchange of electronic documents, particularly invoices, among businesses, government agencies, and customers across different countries. It acts as a secure network where companies can send and receive critical documents, streamlining invoicing and other business processes. Peppol service providers and access points play a pivotal role in ensuring these electronic documents adhere to Peppol standards and reach the intended recipients correctly.

What is the meaning of Peppol?

Peppol stands for Pan-European Public Procurement Online. It's a standardised framework developed to facilitate seamless electronic document exchange among businesses and public authorities. Essentially, Peppol serves as a network infrastructure connecting companies and organisations in various countries, allowing them to efficiently exchange invoices and other documents, similar to a digital "Yellow Pages" or Peppol directory for businesses involved in electronic invoicing.

What is the Peppol standard for invoices?

The Peppol standard for invoices, often referred to as Peppol BIS (Business Interoperability Specifications), defines the technical standards and regulations governing the format and content of electronic invoices within the Peppol network. This standard ensures that invoices transmitted through Peppol adhere to a common format and structure, enabling seamless exchange and processing of invoices among different businesses and countries. It simplifies electronic invoicing processes, making them consistent and interoperable.

How does the Peppol work?

Peppol operates as a network that connects businesses, government authorities, and customers in different countries. To use it, you need to register through a Peppol access point, which is a service provider responsible for ensuring your documents meet Peppol's protocols and standards. Once registered, you receive a unique Peppol ID. When you send an electronic document, like an invoice, the recipient identifies you by your Peppol ID. The Peppol network streamlines the process, making it easy to send and receive electronic documents, particularly invoices, enhancing efficiency in business processes and cross-border transactions.

What is Peppol Directory?

Peppol Directory is a network of access points and service providers that connect companies and recipients' access points to facilitate e-invoicing and document exchange according to specific specifications. It serves as an authority for organisations to create, access, and receive documents within the Peppol e-invoicing ecosystem.

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