Open ECX gains PEPPOL nod as UK eyes e-invoicing law

Open ECX has been accredited as an access point for the PEPPOL e-invoicing framework, expanding how its customers can exchange invoices and other business documents across borders using standard formats.

PEPPOL-short for Pan-European Public Procurement On-Line-sets common technical and process standards for the secure exchange of electronic invoices, purchase orders and related documents. The framework began in Europe and has since expanded, with adoption across parts of Europe, Asia and Australasia.

Access points act as gateways into the PEPPOL network. Once connected through an accredited provider, organisations can exchange documents with other participants without setting up separate point-to-point integrations for each trading relationship.

The accreditation strengthens Open ECX's support for customers that trade internationally. The company links the move to governments' shift towards tighter controls on invoicing data, including near real-time reporting and mandatory e-invoicing.

"This is becoming increasingly critical as governments move towards near real-time reporting and mandatory electronic invoicing," said Nathan Ollier, chief executive of Open ECX.

Regulatory momentum

Mandates for electronic invoicing have expanded in recent years, often starting with public sector procurement and then moving into the private sector. Belgium has recently made electronic exchange mandatory for both business-to-business and business-to-government invoices, reflecting a broader pattern of policymakers using standardised digital invoicing to support tax reporting and compliance.

In the UK, officials have discussed the direction of travel for digital tax reporting across several initiatives. Open ECX expects the UK to introduce mandatory e-invoicing later in the decade.

"PEPPOL provides a trusted, global framework for exchanging business documents at scale. We already help organisations automate document exchange, streamline reporting and share data securely with trading partners and authorities," Ollier said.

How it works

Companies using PEPPOL exchange documents in standardised formats. Supporters argue this reduces variation when invoice and order data is shared between finance systems. Standardisation can also reduce errors from manual handling and rekeying.

As a PEPPOL-certified access point, Open ECX enables customers to connect with any trading partner on the network worldwide. The company says this reduces the need for bespoke integrations, which can slow onboarding across a supply chain.

The accreditation also includes recognition as a PEPPOL Service Metadata Publisher. An SMP publishes the information trading partners need to find each other on the network and route documents correctly. The metadata supports end-to-end exchange across the framework, including technical identifiers and supported document types.

Market positioning

Open ECX sells SaaS business transaction software focused on invoicing, ordering and reconciliation. It operates across multiple verticals, including construction, energy, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverage.

Private equity firm MonacoSol backs the business.

PEPPOL accreditation places Open ECX among providers that compete on compliance coverage, network reach and the ability to manage connections across different national e-invoicing regimes. Many countries align their domestic models with PEPPOL specifications or use them as a baseline, which can lower the cost of cross-border exchange for multinational businesses.

For organisations with complex supplier and customer networks, a key operational issue is how quickly they can onboard trading partners and keep up with evolving requirements. These can include structured data fields, validation rules and the reporting processes that sit around invoice exchange.

Open ECX advises businesses to act early where future mandates look likely, particularly those trading internationally and managing multiple local invoicing standards. "Becoming PEPPOL-certified is a natural extension of that work and represents a milestone in our mission," Ollier said.

"By enabling compliant cross-border transactions today, the platform ensures businesses are well prepared for regulatory change in the future without disruption.

"PEPPOL readiness reduces manual intervention, accelerates invoicing and payment cycles, and allows businesses to focus on growth rather than administrative burden.

"As the UK government moves towards mandatory e-invoicing, expected by 2029, organisations that prepare now will be best placed to remain compliant and competitive," Ollier said.