Electronic invoicing has become a central component of modern regulatory frameworks, particularly within Europe. As governments expand digital reporting requirements and harmonise tax processes, organisations must ensure that their financial systems can generate, transmit, and receive invoices in the required structured formats. The upcoming mandates—Belgium’s obligation for B2B e-invoicing in 2026 and the broader EU-wide requirement anticipated by 2028—signal a significant shift in how finance functions will operate.

In this context, adopting a reliable and compliant e-invoicing solution is no longer optional. Odoo, with embedded support for Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and direct integration with the Peppol network, provides a foundation that helps organisations address these expectations consistently and efficiently.

This article outlines the regulatory landscape, explains how Odoo supports e-invoicing across jurisdictions, and details the steps required to configure compliant Peppol connectivity.

E-Invoicing Is Becoming a Regulatory Requirement Across the EU

European markets are moving toward a unified digital invoicing framework. Several countries already enforce structured invoicing for public procurement, and an increasing number are extending the mandate to B2B transactions. Belgium, for instance, will require digital B2B invoices from 2026, and other EU member states are expected to adopt similar measures as part of the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) initiative.

For organisations operating within or trading with the EU, the implications are clear:

• Invoices must be issued in approved structured formats, not PDFs or unstructured digital files.
• Transmission must follow regulated channels, often through certified networks like Peppol.
• Incorrect or incomplete invoices may be rejected, resulting in delayed payments or reconciliation issues.
• Non-compliance may limit access to public sector opportunities, where structured invoicing is already standard.

Given this environment, businesses require systems capable of supporting country-specific regulations as they evolve, while ensuring consistent internal financial operations.

Odoo’s Built-In Support for Country-Specific and EU-Standard E-Invoicing

Odoo provides a comprehensive e-invoicing framework aligned with national and regional requirements. Its architecture is based on EDI standards, enabling structured and machine-readable documents such as invoices, credit notes, and vendor bills.

The platform supports numerous local formats, including:

• Italy – FatturaPA
• Spain – Facturae
• Germany – XRechnung and ZUGFeRD
• Belgium, France, Poland, Netherlands, Nordic countries, and others

These localisations incorporate mandatory fields, XML structures, validation rules, and automated processing logic. As a result, organisations using Odoo can issue and receive invoices that meet both regulatory and technical specifications without relying on external tools.

More than 30 countries are currently supported, covering key European markets and several global jurisdictions. This positions Odoo as a practical choice for businesses with international operations or cross-border compliance obligations.

Defining Invoice Formats in Odoo Based on Local and Partner Requirements

Odoo allows finance teams to configure invoice formats at multiple levels, ensuring accuracy and reducing operational risk.

1. Customer-Level Format Selection

Within each customer record, organisations can specify the appropriate e-invoicing format.
While Odoo often determines the format automatically based on localisation, the finance team may modify or refine it under:

Customer → Accounting → Electronic Invoicing

This is particularly relevant for organisations dealing with public institutions or multinational clients that may enforce specific standards.

2. Journal-Level Format Configuration

In regions where all outgoing invoices must follow a singular format, Odoo enables configuration at the journal level:

Accounting → Configuration → Journals → Sales → Advanced Settings

By establishing formats at both the journal and customer level, organisations maintain consistency across transactions while accommodating individual partner requirements.

Understanding Odoo’s Peppol Integration

Peppol (Pan-European Public Procurement Online) has become a preferred network for exchanging electronic documents securely and reliably. It is widely used across the EU, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and other regulated markets.

Odoo’s integration allows the system to function as:

• A Peppol Access Point (AP) – enabling compliant transmission of structured documents.
• A Service Metadata Publisher (SMP) – supporting identity verification and routing information.

Through this connection, businesses can send and receive invoices, credit notes, and vendor bills without relying on email, manual uploads, or external intermediaries.

Configuring Peppol E-Invoicing in Odoo: A Step-By-Step Overview

The implementation process is designed to align with internal finance workflows while ensuring regulatory adherence.

1. Connect Odoo to the Peppol Network

Odoo supports formats such as BIS Billing 3.0, XRechnung, and NLCIUS, enabling cross-border exchange across the Peppol infrastructure.

Once the connection is established, the finance team can transmit invoices and credit notes and receive supplier documents directly into Odoo.

2. Register as a Peppol Sender or Receiver

Begin by installing the account_peppol module.
Navigate to:

Accounting → Configuration → Settings → Peppol

The system will prompt a registration form requiring details such as:

• EAS code (auto-generated based on country)
• Endpoint identifier, usually the VAT or business registration number
• Phone number with international code
• Email address for verification

Users can operate in:

• Live Mode – for production use
• Demo Mode – useful during testing phases
• Migration Mode – applicable when transitioning from another Peppol provider

A developer-level option is available for sandbox testing in the Peppol training environment.

3. Verify Recipient Peppol Details Before Transmission

A key compliance requirement is ensuring that the recipient is registered on the Peppol network.

Within the customer record:

Accounting → Electronic Invoicing

Users must provide the customer’s:

• Peppol EAS code
• Endpoint identifier

Clicking Verify prompts Odoo to confirm whether the customer can receive documents in the specified format.

Bulk verification is also available:

Actions → Verify Peppol

If a customer supports Peppol but not a specific format, Odoo flags the discrepancy to prevent failed transmissions.

4. Send Structured Invoices and Track Transmission Status

Once an invoice is validated, Odoo marks it as Peppol Ready.

Sending options include:

• Send & Print for individual invoices
• Bulk send from list view using Actions → Send & Print

The finance user selects:

• Send via Peppol
• The appropriate invoice format

Odoo manages the transmission and updates the status automatically:

• Processing – invoice sent but awaiting confirmation
• Done – successfully delivered to the recipient’s Access Point

A manual refresh is available through Fetch Peppol Invoice Status, enabling real-time monitoring when needed.

5. Receive Vendor Bills Through Peppol

Odoo automatically retrieves incoming documents based on the configured purchase journal. Vendor bills appear in draft mode and are matched to partners using Peppol identifiers.

Users can manually trigger retrieval by selecting:

Fetch from Peppol

This capability supports timely reconciliation, especially during monthly or quarterly closing activities.

Maintaining Compliance in an Evolving Regulatory Landscape

As governments continue adopting digital tax frameworks, finance teams need systems capable of supporting evolving mandates without extensive reconfiguration. Odoo’s native EDI engine, localisation packages, and Peppol integration collectively provide a structured approach to:

• Meeting cross-border invoicing obligations
• Reducing manual processing and error risks
• Supporting transparent audit trails
• Ensuring invoices meet both technical and legislative criteria

The combination of automation and compliance-by-design helps organisations manage regulatory expectations while maintaining operational continuity.

Conclusion

The transition to structured, regulated e-invoicing is accelerating across Europe and in several global regions. Organisations operating within these markets require systems that can consistently meet local and international standards. Odoo’s integrated e-invoicing and Peppol capabilities offer a cohesive approach to addressing these requirements, ensuring invoices are compliant, secure, and fully traceable.

By configuring the correct formats, validating customer data, and enabling automated document exchange, finance teams can prepare effectively for the upcoming EU-wide mandates and support efficient, compliant financial operations.

Preparing Your Organisation for EU E-Invoicing? Aarav Solutions Can Help

With e-invoicing deadlines approaching, choosing the right implementation partner is critical. Aarav Solutions helps organisations configure, optimise, and operationalise Odoo’s e-invoicing and Peppol capabilities with a focus on reliability, compliance, and seamless financial operations.

Whether you need:

• Support in meeting Peppol requirements
• Assistance implementing country-specific formats
• End-to-end invoice automation
• A compliant, scalable finance setup

Our experts can help you build the right solution within Odoo.

Get in touch with our team at cocreate@aaravsolutions.com and ensure your organisation is prepared for upcoming e-invoicing mandates.