What is Peppol?
Peppol is a standard that has established itself as an international communications network, whose success lies in its effectiveness in harmonizing communications between entities and companies in different countries.
Peppol is a standard that has established itself as an international communications network, whose success lies in its effectiveness in harmonizing communications between entities and companies in different countries.
Originally, Peppol was defined as a set of specifications to facilitate public procurement between companies and administrations, making this process interoperable in a European context, precisely to facilitate transactions between suppliers and public administrations throughout Europe. Not surprisingly, the acronym for the system stood for “Pan European Public Procurement On Line.”
Originally developed by the European Commission, PEPPOL has become a global network connecting companies and public administrations in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East. Its objective is to facilitate the secure electronic exchange of commercial documents, promoting the digitization of international trade and ensuring compliance with local tax regulations.
Today, its scope transcends the B2G sphere, consolidating itself as an interoperable and cross-cutting infrastructure in B2B environments as well. Thanks to its standardized model, PEPPOL allows for the integration and automation of electronic transactions between partners around the world, promoting efficient, secure, and globally connected communication.
What is openPeppol?
OpenPeppol is an international non-profit organization responsible for the development and maintenance of the Peppol specifications.
It has public and private members with the idea of ensuring interoperability in public procurement and B2B environments, with the goal of contributing to the development of a global digital marketplace.
What objectives does PEPPOL have?
To solve the problem of interoperability in electronic procurement and promote transparency.
To automate business processes in both the public and private sectors.
To help companies, especially SMEs, become more competitive globally.
To achieve a single digital market.
Evolution of the Peppol model: from the 4-Corner to the 5-Corner CTC scheme
To adapt to the different regulatory frameworks of different countries, Peppol has evolved its original architecture. The traditional model known as 4-Corner (sender → sender Access Point → receiver Access Point → receiver) has been the basis for decentralized interoperability between businesses and public bodies.
However, with the advancement of Continuous Transaction Control (CTC) models promoted by many governments (in which tax authorities require real-time receipt or validation of transactions), the 5-Corner Peppol CTC model has emerged. This model introduces a fifth entity: the tax authority, which intervenes directly in the process of validating or authorizing the document before it is delivered to the recipient.
This new scheme seeks to maintain the benefits of Peppol's interoperability and standardization, while also integrating the specific tax control requirements of each country. Thus, Peppol becomes a more versatile solution that is aligned with global regulatory trends in electronic invoicing and digital taxation.
Peppol Infrastructure
Peppol is built on three essential pillars:
It is an infrastructure with multiple interconnected nodes that enable public and private procurement processes worldwide. These are the components of the Peppol infrastructure:
Access Points (APs): Access points must be certified by OpenPeppol. Specific protocols and defined standards are used to conform the electronic documents. Any transaction issued from an AP must be received by another AP, so that communication through this infrastructure can only be done via Access Points.
Service Metadata Publisher (SMP): It is a decentralized registry that provides information about the access points and types of messages that a Peppol recipient can receive. These services contain the addresses and available metadata of users connected to the Peppol network.
Service Metadata Locator (SML): Central register that defines the SMP containing the information of each partner in an electronic data interchange. Each partner has a unique identifier in the form of a URL through which the Access Points locate the SMP and the access point to the receiver of the transaction.
Peppol Interoperability Specifications (BIS - Business Interoperability Agreements)
The standard adopted by the Peppol Network is known as Peppol-UBL, which is a variant of the "Universal Business Language" developed in XML.
Peppol has developed a series of interoperability specifications between companies to standardize the exchange of documents: electronic catalogs, purchase orders, shipping notices and electronic invoices. These requirements are set out in the Peppol-BIS (Business Interoperability Specifications) document, based on the analysis of the CEN BII (CEN Workshop on Business Interoperability Interfaces).
Agreements and Legal Frameworks (Peppol Transport Infrastructure Agreements)
These are agreements between the parties involved in the infrastructure to implement the Peppol specifications. The agreements will ensure that the parties involved in the network act responsibly and transparently in the interest of the community. The SMLs and SMPs are designed to provide users with all the information they need to complete the exchange processes correctly.
What should be taken into account when contracting a Peppol Access Point?
Certifications
In addition to accreditation as an Access Point to operate with other Peppol access points, EDICOM is part of the framework agreement of the Crown Commercial Service (CCS), the British government's trade agency. This gives us the ability to work with any British public sector agency.
SMP Server (Service Metadata Publisher)
SMP servers contain the addresses and available metadata of users connected to the Peppol network. All those who are part of this network must be registered in an SMP. EDICOM has SMP (Service Metadata Publisher) server certification, which enables it to manage its own identifier infrastructure in the PEPPOL network connected to the SML (Service Metadata Locator).
Server with AS connections
EDICOM has its own AS server, accessible to all customers who need to connect with their interlocutors through this protocol.
EDICOM has certified its AS.x server (EAS Server) and is approved to use the AS4 protocol with customers who wish or require it in communications with their interlocutors.
EDI Experience
EDICOM specializes in the development of international projects. Its certifications as Access Point for the Peppol network, and its broad portfolio of EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) technology services and solutions are a guarantee for tackling electronic data interchange projects based on this network or any other communications model in an international context.
Scalability of Solutions
Choose a partner that offers a scalable solution to other regions of the world, with the capacity to integrate models adjusted to customer and regulatory requirements in any country. EDICOM offers you a comprehensive solution with different EDI, e-invoicing and VAT compliance capabilities globally. Our clients have access to different services and can apply them to their management according to their business needs.
Centralization and Interoperability
When faced with complex projects, companies may tend to break them down into smaller parts and assign each area to a different vendor. A centralized provider has many advantages, provided it can offer a comprehensive, flexible, and scalable solution. One of the benefits of having a global provider such as EDICOM is the ability to centralize all electronic communications, even if the company operates in several countries.
Thus, an Italian company operating in Spain, France or any other country can centralize its compliance communications solution in a single provider such as EDICOM, delegating to it all the technical complexity associated with format translation, message routing or acknowledgment integration according to the logic defined in each B2B and B2G project.
Benefits of Peppol
Reduces Economic Costs
Reduce economic costs
With the use of Peppol, there is no need for different solutions to adapt to the technological specifications of the partners, which represents an economic saving.
Connects to any partner in the Peppol network
Interconnections and document exchange are possible with any company or public body. In addition, data security is guaranteed.
Simplifies, streamlines and automates business processes
Peppol and EDI are an open door to automation. Sales and administration departments reduce their workload and can focus on tasks that add value to the company.
Increases the global competitiveness of businesses
On the one hand, companies using Peppol can exchange data with partners in different countries without difficulty. On the other hand, Peppol adoption is just the tip of the iceberg. Once businesses make the technological leap, they continue to move towards other paperless processes.
EDICOM is a certified Peppol Access Point
EDICOM’s Access Point accreditation qualifies us as an access point to the Peppol platform and the rest of the network's Access Points. Through this platform, private companies and member public entities can exchange electronic documents of any kind (invoices, purchase orders, shipping notices, price catalogs, etc.). These business processes are carried out in a standardized or interoperable manner.
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