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What is a Peppol ID? A guide to Peppol identification and e-invoicing
If you want to send or receive e-invoices through Peppol, your company needs to be identifiable in the network. That is where the Peppol ID comes in. It tells the network which company should receive an invoice, where documents should be routed, and how systems can find the right recipient without manual handling.
In short: A Peppol ID is your company’s digital address in the Peppol network. It allows companies, government agencies, and organizations to send and receive electronic documents in a secure, standardized way.
A Peppol ID is used primarily for electronic invoicing, but it can also be used for other types of business documents, such as orders, order confirmations, and dispatch advice.
In this article, we'll cover:
- What a Peppol ID is
- How a Peppol ID works
- How to find a Peppol ID
- The difference between a Peppol ID, a company registration number, and a GLN
- How a Peppol ID is used together with a Peppol Access Point
- Why identification matters for automated business communication
Useful Peppol resources:
Official Peppol website
Receive invoices through Peppol with Logiq
What is a Peppol ID in the Peppol network?
A Peppol ID, also known as a Peppol Participant Identifier, is a unique identifier used to locate an organization within the Peppol network.
When a company sends an electronic invoice, the recipient needs to be identifiable digitally. Unlike a regular PDF invoice sent by email, automated invoice processing requires systems to be able to find the correct recipient without manual handling.
A Peppol ID has two parts:
- An identification scheme that specifies which type of identifier is being used.
- The identifier itself, for example a company registration number.
A Swedish example could look like this:
0007:5561234567
· 0007 indicates that the identifier is based on a Swedish company registration number.
· 5561234567 identifies the organization itself.
A Norwegian example could look like this:
0192:123456789
A Danish example could look like this:
0184:12345678
This format allows companies in different countries to communicate with each other through the same standardized network.
How does a Peppol ID work in Peppol e-invoicing?
Peppol is built on a model where companies do not need to set up separate technical connections to every customer and supplier. Instead, they use the Peppol network. In simple terms, the Peppol ID identifies the recipient, while the Peppol Access Point handles the technical delivery.
When a company sends an electronic invoice, the following happens:
1. The invoice is created in the company’s business system.
2. The document is sent to the company’s Peppol Access Point.
3. The recipient’s Peppol ID is used to route the invoice to the right organization.
4. The Peppol network locates the recipient’s Access Point.
5. The invoice is delivered to the recipient’s system.
This means companies can send electronic documents to many different trading partners without having to build a unique integration for each relationship.
Read more about how Peppol works:
What is a Peppol Access Point?
Logiq network services
How to find a Peppol ID
The Peppol Directory
The Peppol Directory is a public search service where you can look up organizations connected to Peppol. It helps companies check whether a recipient has a Peppol ID, can receive electronic documents, and supports the relevant document types.
Useful resources:
Peppol Directory
SFTI information about Peppol lookup and the Peppol Directory
Logiq SMP Lookup Service
The company's invoicing information
Many companies list their Peppol ID on their website or in their supplier instructions. This is common among larger companies and organizations that receive high volumes of invoices.
Through a Peppol Access Point provider
A Peppol Access Point provider can help verify Peppol ID details, confirm whether the recipient can receive e-invoices, and ensure documents are routed correctly through the Peppol network.
Learn more about Logiq’s Peppol Access Point service
Is a Peppol ID the same as a company registration number?
No. A Peppol ID and a company registration number are two different things.
A company registration number is used to identify a company legally in Sweden. A Peppol ID is used to identify the company within a digital communication network.
In many cases, a Swedish Peppol ID is based on the company registration number, but it is supplemented with an identification scheme so that systems know how to interpret the information.
Example:
Company registration number: 556123-4567
Peppol ID: 0007:5561234567
This distinction is important because Peppol is used across countries, and each country may rely on different business identifiers.
Peppol ID vs. GLN – What's the difference?
Another common question in trade and logistics concerns the difference between a Peppol ID and a GLN. Both are used for identification, but they serve different purposes.
Peppol ID
Used to identify a party within the Peppol network, including for:
- e-invoicing
- electronic orders
- digital business communication
GLN
A GLN (Global Location Number) is used primarily in trade and logistics to identify things such as:
- companies
- warehouses
- stores
- delivery locations
A company can therefore have both a GLN and a Peppol ID, but they are used in different contexts.
Read more about GLN identifiers:
GS1 guide to Global Location Numbers
Why Peppol ID matters for businesses using Peppol
Peppol e-invoicing is not just about replacing paper or PDF files. The real benefit comes when invoices and other documents can be routed, received, and processed automatically using reliable Peppol ID information.
With standardized identification, companies can:
Reduce manual work: Invoices can be sent and received directly between systems without manual entry.
Reduce errors: Digital recipient identification lowers the risk of documents being sent to the wrong place.
Improve supplier collaboration: Companies can communicate with many trading partners through the same infrastructure.
Enable automation: Structured documents make it easier to automate more of the business process.
When does a company need a Peppol ID?
A company needs a Peppol ID when it wants to send or receive electronic documents through the Peppol network.
In practice, this is often required when customers, public-sector organizations, or larger trading partners ask suppliers to send invoices electronically via Peppol.
This is common in:
- the public sector
- the construction industry
- retail and trade
- manufacturing
- international business relationships
Learn more about sending invoices through Logiq
Peppol ID: the foundation of automated business communication in Peppol
A Peppol ID is a small but essential part of automated business communication. It makes it possible to route invoices, orders, and other business documents to the right recipient across companies, systems, and countries.
Together with a Peppol Access Point and standards such as Peppol BIS Billing 3.0, it helpsbusinesses build more efficient, secure, and scalable digital workflows.
Logiq helpscompanies simplify their electronic business communication through solutionsfor EDI, e-invoicing, and integration between business systems.
Read more about Logiq's solutions