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PEPPOL

Pan-European public procurement network enabling cross-border exchange of business documents via a standardised 4-corner model.

PEPPOL (Pan-European Public Procurement On-Line) is an international network and set of specifications that enables businesses and governments to exchange electronic business documents such as invoices, orders, and despatch advices.

PEPPOL uses a 4-corner model: sender → sender's access point → receiver's access point → receiver. Each participant is identified by a PEPPOL ID in the Secure Messaging Layer (SMP).

The PEPPOL BIS Billing 3.0 profile is the dominant e-invoicing format in Nordic countries and is increasingly adopted in Switzerland for public procurement.

Key facts

  • Governed by OpenPEPPOL AISBL (Belgium)
  • Document format: UBL 2.1 or UN/CEFACT CII
  • Profile for invoicing: PEPPOL BIS Billing 3.0 (EN 16931 compliant)
  • Switzerland joined OpenPEPPOL as an authority member