Peppol is an international network for the standardized exchange of electronic invoices and other business documents. It enables secure, structured transmission between companies and public sector clients.
Straightforward e-invoicing in SAP
From 2027, companies in Germany will be required to issue invoices in a structured electronic format such as XRechnung or ZUGFeRD. If you use S/4HANA or SAP ERP, we have the right extension for your outgoing invoices.
Overview
Everything you need for e-invoicing.
With itp.eInvoice, we have developed an SAP add-on for creating electronic invoices. It can be flexibly adapted to your existing structures and processes. The integrated customizing engine allows content and mappings to be tailored to your SAP data, while standardized templates provide a reliable basis for processing your invoices.
Standards and transmission channels
E-invoicing:
An overview of the key standards and transmission channels
E-invoicing relies on various standards and transmission channels. XRechnung and ZUGFeRD define how invoice data is structured, while Peppol enables the standardized electronic exchange of invoices and other business documents.
XRechnung
XRechnung is a purely structured XML format for exchanging invoices electronically. Its content is machine-readable and can be processed directly. XRechnung is based on the European standard EN 16931.
ZUGFeRD
ZUGFeRD is a hybrid invoice format that combines a PDF/A-3 file with an embedded XML file. This means the invoice can be read by people and processed electronically at the same time.
Peppol
ZUGFeRD is a hybrid invoice format that combines a PDF/A-3 file with an embedded XML file. This means the invoice can be read by people and processed electronically at the same time.
How we work
From analysis to compliant operations
Setting up itp.eInvoice
Our SAP add-on itp.eInvoice is integrated directly into your existing SAP environment. We set up the add-on together with you and familiarize your team with its capabilities, enabling your employees to handle adjustments and ongoing maintenance themselves later on.
Compliant operations
After setup, we continue to support you in day-to-day operations. With regular updates, we keep your system up to date and ensure that your invoicing remains compliant and reliable over the long term.
Download
Free white paper:
“Implementing e-invoicing requirements in SAP on time: Which deadlines apply to whom?”
Download white paper
“Implementing e-invoicing requirements in SAP on time: Which deadlines apply to whom?”
Additional services
Additional services for e-invoicing
Beyond project implementation, we offer our own SAP add-on as well as practical webinars on e-invoicing.
Your Contact
Implement e-invoicing requirements on time.
We show you how to set up your outgoing invoicing process in SAP securely and in compliance with regulations using itp.eInvoice.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
The requirement is being introduced in stages. Since January 1, 2025, all businesses in Germany must be able to receive B2B e-invoices. From January 1, 2027, companies with a previous-year turnover of more than €800,000 must issue e-invoices, and from January 1, 2028, the obligation to issue e-invoices applies to all domestic B2B transactions. The legal basis is the German Growth Opportunities Act (Wachstumschancengesetz). This does not constitute tax advice; please consult a tax advisor regarding your specific situation.
Not in this form. In Switzerland, B2B e-invoicing is voluntary; the QR-bill is widely used, and eBill is common for private customers. E-invoicing for invoices to the federal administration has been mandatory there since 2016 for amounts of CHF 5,000 or more. For exporters, this is important: Swiss companies invoicing German B2B customers must still be able to meet the German requirements under EN 16931, for example via Peppol.
Companies that cannot receive or issue compliant e-invoices by the relevant deadlines risk problems with input tax deduction and possible penalties. Preparing the technical setup early is therefore also a compliance issue.
Since processes, master data, interfaces and testing are all affected, implementation should not be postponed until shortly before a deadline. itprocess assesses your current situation and sets up both outgoing and incoming invoicing so that current requirements as well as those coming into force in 2027 and 2028 are covered.
Permanent exemptions include, among others, small-value invoices of up to €250, travel tickets, certain transactions by small businesses and B2C invoices.
itprocess supports existing SAP customers in implementing e-invoicing compliantly within their current landscape. This includes an analysis of the current situation, setting up outgoing and incoming invoicing via SAP DRC and integrating it into ongoing processes. The starting point is always the business process, not a single tool.
In SAP, e-invoicing is usually implemented via SAP Document and Reporting Compliance (SAP DRC), which covers the creation, validation, sending and receiving of legally compliant e-invoices as well as tax reporting. The key is to integrate both outgoing and incoming invoicing end to end into existing SAP processes, with archiving that complies with GoBD, the German requirements for proper digital bookkeeping.
Digital incoming invoice processing should automatically capture and validate invoices and trigger the approval and posting process without manual handoffs between systems wherever possible. Clean master data, reliable verification and approval logic and audit-proof archiving are essential.
An e-invoice is a structured electronic invoice based on the EN 16931 standard. XRechnung is a purely XML-based format that is widely used for invoicing public authorities. ZUGFeRD is a hybrid format that combines a readable PDF/A-3 file with embedded XML data. Both are permitted formats. In practice, ZUGFeRD is often the more practical choice, as the same file can be read by both people and systems.
Peppol is an international network and set of rules for the secure, standardized exchange of electronic business documents. It serves as a transmission channel through which e-invoices can be reliably exchanged between companies.
EN 16931 is the European standard that defines the semantic data model for e-invoices. Only formats that comply with this standard, such as XRechnung or a compatible version of ZUGFeRD, are considered legally compliant e-invoices.
SAP Document and Reporting Compliance (DRC) is SAP’s solution for legally compliant electronic documents and tax reporting. It creates and transmits e-invoices in the required formats and covers country-specific requirements centrally.
No. Only a structured electronic format that complies with EN 16931, such as XRechnung or ZUGFeRD, qualifies as an e-invoice. A simple PDF or a scanned document is not an e-invoice under the law.