Peppol and Dolibarr: Mandatory e-invoicing — How to get ready
E-invoicing is becoming mandatory across Europe. Learn how Peppol works and how our EMPeppol module integrates this standard directly into Dolibarr.
What is Peppol?
Peppol (Pan-European Public Procurement On-Line) is a European standardized network that enables the exchange of commercial documents — especially e-invoices — between businesses and public administrations. Originally designed for public procurement, it has gradually become the reference standard for B2B and B2G e-invoicing across Europe.
The concept is straightforward: each participant has a unique identifier (Peppol ID) and can send or receive invoices through a certified access point, without worrying about the format used by the other party. The network handles the transformation and routing.
Why it's unavoidable
Several European countries have already made e-invoicing mandatory for public sector contracts: Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, France... The trend is accelerating with the EU e-invoicing directive and new fiscal obligations.
In Belgium, for example, all companies working with public authorities must issue their invoices in PEPPOL BIS Billing 3.0 format. And this obligation is gradually extending to B2B transactions.
Waiting is not an option — penalties for non-compliance can be significant, and setting up a compatible system takes time.
How EMPeppol integrates Peppol into Dolibarr
Our EMPeppol module is designed for Dolibarr users who need to send and/or receive Peppol invoices without going through a complex and expensive external tool.
What the module does in practice
- Automatic generation of invoices in UBL 2.1 format (PEPPOL BIS Billing 3.0) directly from an existing Dolibarr invoice
- Sending via the Peppol network from the Dolibarr interface — no manual export/import
- Receiving incoming invoices: documents received via Peppol are automatically integrated into Dolibarr
- Supplier management: store each third party's Peppol ID directly in the supplier record
- Archiving: every sent or received document is retained with its original XML content
The advantage over alternative solutions
Many Peppol solutions work as separate portals: you log into an external tool, upload your invoice, send it, then go back to Dolibarr. With EMPeppol, everything stays in Dolibarr. No double entry, no additional tool to maintain.
Who is this module for?
EMPeppol is particularly suitable for:
- Belgian, Dutch, Italian, or French SMEs working with public sector clients or suppliers
- Businesses that want to get ahead of mandatory B2B e-invoicing
- Dolibarr consultants or integrators configuring systems for their clients
How to get started
- Install the EMPeppol module from the Dolibarr module manager or from DoliStore
- Configure your Peppol access point (we offer an integrated service)
- Enter your Peppol ID in the module configuration
- Done — your existing invoices can now be sent via Peppol in one click
If you have questions about Peppol compliance or module installation, contact us — we regularly help businesses through this transition.
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