Is using a Peppol Access Point secure?

Yes. Certified Peppol Access Points use encryption, digital certificates, and secure protocols such as AS4 for data exchange. The network is designed for trusted, authenticated document exchange between businesses.

What document types can be exchanged via Peppol?

Peppol supports invoices, credit notes, orders, order responses, dispatch advice, catalogs, and other business documents. E-invoicing is the most common use case, but the network is used for broader B2B document exchange.

Is Peppol only for e-invoicing?

No. Peppol was originally developed for public procurement but now supports a range of business documents including e-orders and shipping notices. E-invoicing is the dominant use case in many countries adopting Peppol (e.g. Belgium, Australia, Singapore).

Do I need the same Access Point as my trading partners?

No. Interoperability is a core benefit of Peppol. You can use one certified Access Point and exchange documents with any other business on the network, regardless of which AP they use. The network connects all certified APs.

What Is Peppol? Peppol Access Point Explained for E-Invoicing

Understanding Peppol and E-Invoicing

Peppol (Pan-European Public Procurement Online) is not software—it is a set of standards and a network that enables the structured exchange of electronic documents such as e-invoices. Countries including Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and others use or are adopting Peppol for B2B and B2G e-invoicing. At the centre of this model is the Peppol Access Point (AP), a certified gateway that businesses use to send and receive structured invoices.

A Peppol Access Point acts like a secure postal service for e-documents: just as you need an email provider to send messages, you need an AP to send Peppol-compliant invoices. The system ensures invoices are exchanged efficiently and securely between trading partners, regardless of which AP they use. For a full list of country mandates, see our e-invoicing regulations directory.

The Peppol 4-Corner Model

The Peppol network follows a 4-corner model:

Sender — the business sending the invoice
Sender's Access Point — your certified AP
Receiver's Access Point — the recipient's AP
Receiver — the customer receiving the invoice

Each business connects to the network via an Access Point. APs communicate using standardized protocols (e.g. AS4), so you do not need to build custom integrations with every trading partner—as long as both parties use Peppol-certified APs, the system works across borders and providers.

What Is a Peppol Access Point?

A Peppol Access Point is a certified service provider that connects your business to the Peppol e-invoicing network. It sends and receives electronic documents (e.g. e-invoices) on your behalf. Your AP handles format validation (Peppol BIS, UBL, EN 16931), looks up recipient metadata via the SMP (Service Metadata Publisher), and routes documents securely to the recipient's AP.

Key aspects of an Access Point:

Certified and trusted — APs are vetted by OpenPeppol and local authorities.
Interoperable — You can send invoices to any business on the Peppol network, regardless of their AP.
Transparent — APs abstract technical details so you can focus on business processes.

How a Peppol Access Point Works

Invoice submission — You create the invoice in your ERP or accounting software (or via a web portal) connected to your Access Point.
Peppol ID lookup — The AP identifies the recipient by Peppol ID and checks the SMP to find their AP and accepted document types.
Document packaging and routing — Your AP wraps the invoice in a secure envelope (typically AS4) and routes it to the recipient's AP.
Authentication and handover — The two APs authenticate using digital certificates; the invoice is handed over securely.
Final delivery — The recipient's AP delivers the invoice to their system (ERP, inbox, or portal).
Acknowledgment — A delivery status (success or failure) is sent back so you have visibility on outcome.

Benefits of Using a Peppol Access Point

Interoperability — Exchange e-invoices with any business on the network without per-partner technical setup.
Regulatory compliance — AP providers keep up with Peppol and national rules (e.g. Belgium's 2026 mandate).
Security — Encrypted, authenticated exchange instead of email attachments.
Delivery confirmation — Real-time status so you know if an invoice was delivered or rejected.
Faster processing — Invoices flow into ERPs and speed up approval and payment cycles.
Scalability — Same infrastructure whether you send tens or thousands of invoices.

How to Choose a Peppol Access Point

When selecting an AP, consider:

Integration — Does it connect easily with your ERP or accounting software (e.g. SAP, QuickBooks)?
Certification — Choose only OpenPeppol-certified Access Point providers.
Features — Format conversion, archiving, audit trails, dashboards, and support for other Peppol document types (e.g. orders).
Support and locality — Responsive support in your language and time zone.
Pricing — Per-document, monthly, or volume-based; clarity on onboarding and support costs.

Official information on the network and standards: peppol.org.

Related Resources

E-Invoicing Regulations— Country-by-country e-invoicing mandates Belgium E-Invoicing— Belgium Peppol mandate and Mercurius Open Accounting— APIs and integrations for accounting

Frequently Asked Questions

An Access Point sends and receives documents on your behalf over the Peppol network. An SMP (Service Metadata Publisher) is a directory that stores recipient capabilities and endpoints—your AP uses the SMP to look up where to deliver each invoice. You connect to an AP; the AP uses SMPs to route documents.

What Is Peppol?

Peppol Access Points and the standards-based e-invoicing network explained. How the 4-corner model works and how to stay compliant.