How to Comply with the B2B E-Invoicing Directive via Peppol: A Step-by-Step Guide

As a company issuing B2B invoices in the European Union, you will soon face the requirement for B2B e-invoicing via Peppol according to the EU directive. On this page, we explain what the EU Directive entails and how deadlines differ per country.

Are You Ready for Mandatory B2B E-Invoicing with Your International Trading Partners?

You may have already heard about it: moving forward, the EU is requiring B2B parties to use Peppol for e-invoicing. With varying deadlines for implementation across different countries, you might think there is no need to worry just yet. However, the sense of urgency is greater than you might realize. As some local authorities have recently adopted the Peppol requirement or are planning to do so in the near future (e.g., Belgium as of 1 January 2026), any company doing business with local players will need to comply with e-invoicing via Peppol.

What Does It Mean in Practice?

It is time to start planning the transition. Your financial department should be aware of the upcoming e-invoicing requirement. It is crucial to map out how to comply with the European Commission's e-invoicing regulation for each trading relationship.

• Has your finance officer made a plan for the transition?

• Do you have any planning in place?

• Have you enlisted outside help and possibly hired an expert?

As daunting as the transition may seem at first, let us walk you through the necessary steps to prepare for it stress-free. Descartes is here to support you in every instance.

Steps to Ensure Compliance

1. Understand the B2B e-invoicing requirements

2. Choose an access point provider

3. Integrate systems

4. Register on the Peppol network

5. Format invoices correctly

6. Test the system

7. Train your staff

8. Monitor Peppol compliance

By following these steps, Descartes assists companies, such as yours, to smoothly transition to compliant B2B e-invoicing via the Peppol network. Don’t miss the deadline and start preparing today!

Join the numerous companies that have partnered with us to meet the various B2B e-invoicing requirements. Reach out to us via the button below for additional questions or detailed guidance.