Since April 18th, 2020, all public sector authorities in the EU have been legally required to accept and process Peppol invoices. To facilitate the exchange of these electronic invoices, the Peppol network acts as a secure and robust electronic document transfer. The network can also exchange other electronic documents such as orders, shipping notifications, and order confirmations.
However, it is important to note that Peppol is not just a tool for public sector authorities, it also functions just as well for small and medium-sized businesses in the private sector. It offers numerous advantages for the user, including enhanced security, reduction in costs, greater interoperability, and a wider global reach.
So just how does the Peppol network facilitate the exchange of electronic documents?
Initially, the electronic invoice must meet specific criteria to be transmitted from the sender to the receiver on the network. The sender must ensure that the invoice meets these Peppol criteria to be delivered correctly to the intended recipient. But to help deliver the invoice over the network, the sender has to have a Peppol Access Point.
This Access Point not only acts as the gateway onto the Peppol network but also checks and verifies all the invoice data to ensure accuracy and compliance with the criteria. The sender’s invoice is converted into a standardised Peppol BIS 3.0 document that the receiving system can read and understand.
Essentially Peppol operates on a 4-corner model outlined as follows:
CORNER 1: The Sender – The sender creates and sends an electronic document
CORNER 2: The Sender’s Access Point – The electronic document is received from the Sender and is then forwarded to the Recipient’s Access Point.
CORNER 3: The Recipient’s Access Point – The electronic document is received from the Sender’s Access Point and is then forwarded to the Recipient.
CORNER 4: The Recipient – The electronic document is received by the Recipient
Celtrino is one such Access Point (AP) on the Peppol network and as an Access Point, offer a fast and simple way for a business to connect to the network. Once a business user is connected, they can seamlessly exchange business documents with any other Peppol network connected private business or public sector body. The Celtrino AP serves as a connecting bridge between the different business systems and software platforms that business users possess.
How to implement Peppol:
- Choose your Access Point Provider: Decide on an Access Point provider such as Celtrino that will help you connect to the Peppol network.
- Peppol ID registration: With your AP provider’s help you will need to register for a Peppol ID. This ID will be your unique identifier on the network and will allow you to be known in order to send and receive documents.
- Integration with your ERP System: Your own ERP system should be able to produce Peppol-compliant documents.
- Get ready to send and receive electronic documents: With the help of your Access Point, you are now able to manage your electronic document exchanges securely.
