Peppol Access Point: choose a send-and-receive provider
What a Peppol Access Point does for Belgian B2B e-invoicing, and how SMEs choose a certified provider that both sends and receives.
Updated
The gateway you actually need
A Peppol Access Point is the certified service that connects your business to Peppol. You do not join Peppol by emailing PDFs or exporting a random XML file. You send and receive through a provider that is allowed on the network.
Belgian SMEs need this when they must exchange structured B2B invoices with other Belgian VAT businesses. Network basics: What is Peppol?. Getting listed: Peppol registration in Belgium.
What it does for you day to day
Think of it as the mail service for structured invoices.
| Job | In practice |
|---|---|
| Put you on the network | Publishes your Peppol ID so suppliers and customers can find you |
| Send | Delivers your outbound invoice to the buyer’s Access Point |
| Receive | Lands inbound invoices in your inbox, accounting tool, or ERP |
| Catch bad files early | Surfaces clear validation and delivery errors |
Many Access Points sit inside invoicing or accounting software. Others connect your existing ERP. Either way, the product must do real Peppol send and receive, not PDF-only email.
- Access Point
A certified Peppol provider that registers your organisation and sends and receives structured invoices for you.
Choose send and receive, not “outbound only”
Under Belgian B2B rules you will both issue and receive structured invoices. Buying a tool that only sends leaves suppliers unable to reach you cleanly.
Prefer:
- One product that invoices and runs Peppol - Best for most freelancers and small companies.
- A connectivity service into software you already use - Fits if you keep a separate ERP and add a gateway.
You almost never need to run your own Access Point. Pick a certified provider and focus on registration, inbox, and support.
Decision checklist (Belgian SME)
- Can I send and receive Peppol invoices?
- Do inbound invoices land where finance actually works?
- Is the provider certified (or clearly using a certified Access Point)?
- Who handles registration if I change tools later? (Switching Access Point)
- On failure: clear error text and a support path?
Test a real send and a real inbound receive before go-live.
What an Access Point is not
- Not your accountant (it does not approve VAT or commercial terms)
- Not the invoice content standard (EN 16931 / UBL define the document; the Access Point delivers it)
- Not a custom EDI link negotiated per customer