Peppol BIS (Business Interoperability Specifications) and Peppol PINT (Peppol Interoperability Network Transport) are both components of the Peppol framework, which facilitates the electronic exchange of business documents, particularly invoices, across borders and between different organizations. However, they serve distinct purposes within the Peppol framework:
Peppol BIS (Business Interoperability Specifications)
- Purpose:
- Peppol BIS is designed to facilitate electronic document exchange within the European Union. It ensures compliance with EU regulations and standards for e-invoicing.
- Peppol BIS defines the specifications for the content and structure of business documents exchanged within the Peppol network. It includes detailed guidelines on how to format and represent business documents, ensuring they can be understood and processed by different systems.
- Focus: The focus of Peppol BIS is on the semantic and syntactic aspects of documents. This includes defining the data elements, their relationships, and the rules for creating valid business documents (such as invoices, orders, etc.). It aims to ensure that documents are interoperable across different systems.
- Standards: Peppol BIS is based on European standards, such as EN 16931 for electronic invoicing. It provides a common framework that helps organizations ensure compliance with these standards when creating and exchanging documents.
Peppol PINT (Peppol Interoperability Network Transport)
- Purpose:
- Peppol PINT extends the Peppol BIS standard to support global electronic invoicing. It aims to facilitate the exchange of invoices across different countries, accommodating various local tax and regulatory requirements.
- Peppol PINT focuses on the transport layer of the Peppol network. It defines how documents are transmitted across the Peppol network, ensuring that the messages are securely and reliably delivered from one participant to another.
- Focus: The primary focus of PINT is on the technical aspects of document transport, including the protocols and methods used to send and receive messages. It ensures that the infrastructure supporting the Peppol network is robust and capable of handling the exchange of electronic documents.
- Protocols: PINT includes specifications for various transport protocols (such as AS2, AS4) that can be used to transmit documents. It ensures that the transport mechanisms are compatible and secure, allowing for seamless communication between different systems.
In summary,
- while Peppol BIS is concerned with the content, structure, and semantics of the business documents exchanged within the Peppol network,
- Peppol PINT deals with the technical transport mechanisms that facilitate the secure and reliable transmission of those documents.
- Together, they enable efficient electronic invoicing and document exchange across various organizations and jurisdictions.
Sources
- Peppol Official Website:
- The official Peppol website provides comprehensive information about the Peppol framework, including specifications, guidelines, and updates. You can find details about both Peppol BIS and PINT here.
- Website: Peppol
- OpenPeppol:
- OpenPeppol is the organization that manages the Peppol network and its specifications. Their site includes documentation on the various specifications, including Peppol BIS and PINT.
- European Committee for Standardization (CEN):
- CEN provides information on the European standards that underpin Peppol BIS, particularly EN 16931 for electronic invoicing, which outlines the semantic and syntactic requirements for electronic invoices.
- Website: CEN
- Peppol BIS Documentation:
- Direct documentation on Peppol BIS, including its specifications and guidelines for implementation, is available through the OpenPeppol website under the “Specifications” section.
- Example document: Peppol BIS Billing 3.0
- Peppol PINT Documentation:
- Similar to BIS, documentation regarding Peppol PINT can be found on the OpenPeppol website, detailing how the transport layer functions and the protocols involved.
- Example document: Peppol PINT
- ISO Standards:
- For broader context on electronic invoicing and interoperability, consider exploring ISO standards related to electronic business and e-invoicing, which may also reference Peppol specifications.
- Website: ISO
