Peppol…?

Peppol is a framework of agreements, created by the EU to make invoicing more efficient, secure, and accurate. It’s also the European network through which invoices are sent. And eventually, it’ll handle orders, delivery notes, and quotes too.

Why does the EU want this?

“There are two answers to that. First: Peppol ensures authentication and security, which is great in a time of increasing security risks. Second: it makes fraud incredibly difficult. That’s good news for companies that often receive fake invoices, but especially for the tax authorities in EU member states. In 2021 alone, they missed out on around €61 billion in VAT, and that number has likely grown since. With Peppol, it becomes much harder to make mistakes, whether intentional or not. In fact, in the near future, VAT on an invoice might go directly from the customer to the tax office, all without the supplier ever touching it.”

Just tell me how to create a Peppol account and I’ll get started. I probably don’t need August Bridge for that.

 “Invoices are sent via what are known as Access Points. These are service providers who, using smart software, can deliver invoices securely through the Peppol network. They’ve proven, through accreditation and certification, that they can do this safely. The bar is high: in the Netherlands, you can count the number of Access Points on two or three hands. August Bridge is one of them. And we hold a unique position among them: we’re the only Access Point that built an integration with Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O/F&SCM. That’s our niche.”

And that took you nearly two years?

“Absolutely. It requires knowledge of financial administration, IT, security, and regulations. Plus, you need to understand the rules of different member states. There’s a unified Peppol foundation for the EU, but individual countries can impose their own local rules. Belgium and the Netherlands have done just that. So yes, it takes time.”

“It all started for August Bridge when I visited a client. We were discussing document management software, which is the core of our business. The client was enthusiastic but wondered aloud if we could later handle integration with the electronic invoicing network. That question kept me up all night. I couldn’t tear myself away from my laptop and got sucked into the then brand-new world of Peppol.

And you think Peppol is going to be a revolution in IT?

“Or in accounting. Or both. Depends on how you look at it. But it’s definitely going to shake up the business world. One government after another is making invoicing via an Access Point mandatory. That’s a shock for many companies. Which wouldn’t have been necessary if governments had communicated more clearly about this development. Where’s the public awareness campaign?”

“It’s moving fast. Belgium is making Peppol invoicing mandatory from January 1, 2026 and it’s not just for invoices to the government, but also between businesses. I expect panic to hit in the coming months, because only one in three Belgian companies is ready. We’re going to be busy. Especially since we’re the only provider in the Benelux offering Peppol within Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O/F&SCM. And word is spreading beyond the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. One of our first requests came from New York, just hours after we were officially certified as an Access Point.”