Peppol basics, explained
Short answers to the questions we hear most from teams new to e-invoicing.
What is the Peppol Network? +
The Peppol Network is a standardized e-delivery framework for exchanging business documents like invoices and orders.
Organizations connect through certified Access Points, so you can reach any other participant without building point-to-point integrations.
eCourier is a certified Peppol Access Point, so you can connect once and reach the whole network.
What is Peppol BIS? +
Peppol BIS stands for Business Interoperability Specifications. These are the document rules used in Peppol, such as BIS Billing 3.0 for invoices.
They build on international standards like UBL and add strict validation rules to keep data consistent and compliant.
What is a Peppol Access Point? +
An Access Point is a certified service provider that connects you to the Peppol Network.
You integrate once with an Access Point, and it handles secure delivery, certificates, and routing to all other participants.
eCourier is a certified Access Point and provides API integration for accounting software and ERP systems.
What is a Peppol Participant ID? +
It is your unique identifier on the network, written as a scheme plus an ID (for example GLN or a national business registry).
The Participant ID is registered so others can find and send documents to you.
How does the network find the recipient? +
Recipient discovery happens through a lookup system. The SMP (Service Metadata Publisher) lists a participant's capabilities and Access Point.
The SML (Service Metadata Locator) acts as the central directory that points to the right SMP.
What is an e-invoice? +
An e-invoice is a structured, machine-readable invoice (often XML or JSON) that business systems can process automatically.
It includes invoice lines, tax details, and identifiers so accounting software can post it without manual re-entry.
What is EDI? +
EDI stands for Electronic Data Interchange, the broader practice of exchanging standardized business documents between systems.
Peppol is a modern, governed EDI network with common rules and onboarding.
What are OIOUBL and OIOXML invoices? +
OIOUBL and OIOXML are Danish e-invoice formats. OIOUBL is based on the international UBL standard, while OIOXML is the older national XML format.
Many public-sector and B2B workflows still reference these formats, and service providers often convert them to and from Peppol BIS.
How do we integrate with the API? +
Our REST API supports XML or JSON and handles conversion to Peppol BIS or OIOUBL for you.
Start with the API docs: https://docs.ecourier.io/api-reference/v1
What is an EAN/GLN number? +
EAN stands for European Article Number, but the system was expanded globally and is now referred to as GLN (Global Location Number).
GLN is the correct, modern term and it identifies companies or locations in e-commerce and e-invoicing.
How is an e-invoice different from a PDF? +
A PDF is designed for humans to read; it usually cannot be processed automatically without data extraction.
An e-invoice is structured data that accounting systems can validate and import directly.
Is Peppol only for Europe or the public sector? +
Peppol started in Europe and is widely used for public procurement, but it is now used globally and in private B2B trade as well.
Adoption varies by country, so requirements depend on local rules.
Do I need to join Peppol directly? +
Most businesses connect through an Access Point or service provider rather than becoming a Peppol authority member.
Your provider handles onboarding, certificates, and compliance while you focus on your business systems.
With eCourier you can join via API without managing the network requirements yourself.