April 22, 2025
Efficiency in document exchange is one of the key factors for competitiveness in today’s markets—especially in international contexts. In recent years, Peppol has emerged as the global reference network for the secure transmission of electronic invoices. In Italy, it can be accessed through certified access points such as A-Cube.
This article explores the strategic importance of Peppol and the potential offered by A-Cube’s solutions, designed to automate and secure document flows with international business partners.
What is Peppol?
Peppol, short for Pan-European Public Procurement On-Line, is a system that allows companies and public administrations across different countries to exchange documents, data, and electronic invoices through a certified and secure network.
Launched in 2008 as an OpenPeppol pilot project funded by the European Commission, its goal was to simplify cross-border trade and streamline e-procurement processes between EU countries. Over time, the network has been adopted globally for the exchange of business and administrative documents between companies from different nations as well as between these and public entities.
Today, Peppol covers the entire e-procurement process and is used by nearly 1.5 million organizations in 98 countries.
Peppol and E-Invoicing Worldwide
Peppol eliminates the need for complex system adaptations, enabling the exchange of invoices between countries with different e-invoicing frameworks. It is emerging as the global standard for both B2G (Business-to-Government) and B2B (Business-to-Business) invoicing, playing a central role in the transition from national, closed e-invoicing systems to a global, interoperable network.
In Europe, Directive 2014/55/EU made electronic invoicing mandatory in public procurement. Peppol was chosen as one of the main channels for B2G invoice exchange. In Italy, it is one of the official systems (alongside the NSO – Nodo Smistamento Ordini) used by public administrations to send electronic orders to suppliers.
Since February 1, 2020, electronic orders have been mandatory for purchases of goods by the National Health Service, and since January 1, 2021, for services as well.
Peppol Around the World
- Adopted as the national e-invoicing standard (with adoption incentives) in Japan, the UAE, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore
- Used as an international interoperability system in Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina
- Available as a private-sector option in the United States and Canada
- Under evaluation by several African countries as a potential national standard
How Peppol Works: Accredited Access Points
The standardized language used within the Peppol network allows companies and public entities worldwide to automate invoice and document transmission, reduce errors, and eliminate operational and bureaucratic complexity—resulting in significant savings in time and cost.
Organizations can choose their certified provider based on specific needs from a wide range of accredited access points.
At a national level, each Peppol network is governed by its Peppol Authority.
In Italy, this role is fulfilled by AgID (Agenzia per l’Italia Digitale), which accredits the various Peppol access point providers required to connect to the network.
A-Cube is one of these accredited Peppol access points—a true intermediary enabling entities to communicate over the network and providing them with their Peppol Participant ID, the company’s unique electronic address within the system.
This ID must be communicated to the Italian Sistema di Interscambio (SdI) and is then associated with any electronic orders received from public administrations.
Peppol operates under a four-corner model, consisting of four entities: the supplier, the buyer, and their respective access points, which enable communication even when they use different providers.
Document Exchange via Peppol
The standard format for all documents exchanged through Peppol is the Universal Business Language (UBL XML), also used for European e-invoicing.
When an electronic invoice is sent via Peppol, the sender’s access point identifies the recipient’s access point and verifies its ability to receive the document.
The transmission of international electronic orders also involves Italy’s SdI (Sistema di Interscambio), which translates and delivers electronic documents according to Peppol standards for Italian users.
All orders received through this system must include a document identifier, issue date, and the Endpoint ID (the sender’s unique Peppol ID).
A-Cube’s Peppol Platform
In addition to being an accredited access point, A-Cube is part of the Peppol eDelivery Network.
The A-Cube Peppol Platform:
- Works in real time, allowing documents to be sent and received instantly—without queues or delays
- Automatically handles all interactions with the company’s systems based on pre-set configurations
- Validates and manages compliance processes automatically
- Is fully scalable, adaptable to companies of any size or complexity
With the A-Cube Peppol API, users can manage multiple types of documents, including invoices, credit notes, purchase orders, order responses, and shipping notices.
Through the A-Cube API Monitoring Dashboard, users can:
- Track consumption and view total or VAT-aggregated usage statistics
- Manage incoming and outgoing document flows, with custom filters
- Use webhooks to define how the platform interacts with external systems
- Set custom configurations based on specific business needs
For troubleshooting, A-Cube provides fast-response email support and an active discussion forum.
Customized support plans are also available for clients with specific operational needs.
Peppol and the Future of Document Exchange
According to OpenPeppol, the system’s future applications will extend beyond invoicing—enabling the standardization of logistics and data exchange between public institutions, businesses, and citizens.
As more countries move toward mandatory e-invoicing regulations, Peppol is positioned to become the global standard for both B2B and B2G transactions.
An additional advantage not to be overlooked: Peppol allows tax authorities to monitor transactions in real time, significantly reducing the risk of fraud.
