CHANGING THE WAY THE WORLD TRADES
Peppol is all about fast, efficient, borderless trade.
Our network and document specifications integrate global business processes by standardising the way information is structured and exchanged.
We enable public and private organisations to send and receive standard format business documents in an open and secure network. And we deliver the governance to make it work, with a binding agreement structure that ensures compliance.
Peppol is not a portal, or a provider of exchange services. Peppol is an enabler. Any organisation can send and receive business documents across the Peppol Network via their chosen Peppol-accredited Service Provider.
No more closed networks. Connect using Peppol to do business with any Peppol-enabled organisation, anywhere in the world.
The Peppol Story
Peppol began in 2008 as a large-scale pilot financed by the European Commission and Consortium members.
The goal of the project was to enable frictionless trade between public and private sector bodies – and, ultimately, to increase efficiencies while promoting healthy competition.
To accomplish these goals, the Peppol Business Interoperability Specifications (Peppol BIS) were developed, standardising the exchange of common procurement documents such as eOrders and eInvoices. All exchanged on an open and secure network.
Quick Facts:
Peppol is the name of our Interoperability Framework. OpenPeppol is the name of our organisation.
Building an open network
At the heart of Peppol is the four-corner model, which enables buyers and suppliers to connect via any Peppol-accredited Service Provider.
Before Peppol, eProcurement networks were closed) or ‘three-corner’, requiring buyers and suppliers to connect through the same provider. This limitation is like being only able to call people on the same mobile phone network as you, with no standardisation across networks.
In 2012, the Peppol project was finalised, and its services and responsibilities were taken over by OpenPeppol, a non-profit international association established under Belgian law.
A democratic, member-led organisation
OpenPeppol consists of both public and private sector members and is responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of the Peppol specifications.
The governance process is democratic and fully transparent. Our member organisations set the agenda, elect representatives to lead the Managing Committee (responsible for strategic development) and the Coordinating Committee (responsible for technical development) and appoint volunteers from member organisations to contribute to the continuous improvement of OpenPeppol and the Peppol network and specifications.
The day-to-day business of OpenPeppol is supported by a small Operating Office, acting under the direction of the elected Secretary General.
Going global
Although originally conceived as a European project, Peppol has proven so successful that it is increasingly being used around the world.
Our interoperability framework is just as relevant for trade between private businesses (Business-to-Business, or B2B) as it is for trade between public and private sector bodies (Business-to-Government or B2G).
Peppol can be quickly adopted to handle eInvoicing and procurement-related business tasks and has the potential to support the exchange of any business document, between any organisation, anywhere in the world.
In short, we provide a versatile, shared digital language to do business in.