Since January 1, 2025, the German accounting landscape has changed fundamentally. With the Growth Opportunities Act (Wachstumschancengesetz), receiving e-invoices (electronic invoices) has become mandatory for B2B transactions. Many companies are currently facing the challenge of processing complex XML files while trying not to jeopardize their daily operational workflows.
For users of Odoo 19, however, this legislative change is no cause for panic, but rather an opportunity for massive efficiency gains. In this detailed article, we explain why Odoo 19, combined with the Peppol network, represents arguably the most elegant solution for German SMEs and corporations.
1. The Status Quo in January 2026: PDF is Yesterday's News
There is still confusion about what an "e-invoice" actually is. To clarify: A simple PDF file sent via email no longer counts as an electronic invoice under the new standards for automated processing.
The legislator requires structured datasets that allow for machine reading. Two formats dominate in Germany:
- XRechnung: A pure XML format. Difficult for the human eye to read, but perfect for machines.
- ZUGFeRD: A hybrid format. It looks like a normal PDF but contains the XML dataset embedded within the "belly" of the file.
The Problem: Traditional ERP systems or legacy accounting software can often only read these formats via expensive third-party interfaces. The Odoo Solution: Odoo 19 has native support for these formats. This means: No plugins, no connectors, no hidden costs.
2. Peppol: The Digital Highway for Your Invoices
You may have heard the term Peppol (Pan-European Public Procurement On-Line). It is an international network for the secure exchange of documents.
Think of it this way:
- E-Mail: Is like a postcard. It can be intercepted, land in spam, or lose its attachment.
- Peppol: Is like registered mail with a return receipt and content verification.
In most ERP systems, you have to pay a so-called "Access Point Provider" to participate in this network. Not so with Odoo. With Odoo 19 Enterprise, you can register on the Peppol network for free. Odoo acts as the Access Point itself. You can send and receive invoices directly from the system to authorities and B2B customers—worldwide and GDPR-compliant.
3. "Touchless Accounting": How Odoo 19 Gets the Job Done
The true magic of Odoo 19 is revealed during invoice receipt. Here, our clients at Seker Digital Agency save up to 70% of their manual accounting time.
Here is what the workflow looks like in 2026:
- Receipt: A supplier sends you an XRechnung via Peppol or email.
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Automatic Capture: Odoo recognizes the file immediately. The Odoo 19 AI engine (powered by state-of-the-art OCR) extracts not just the total amount, but also:
- Individual product lines
- Tax codes (VAT)
- Payment terms (Discounts)
- Reference numbers
- Matching: The system automatically compares the invoice with the corresponding Purchase Order and the Goods Receipt.
- Validation: Do the amounts match? If yes, Odoo automatically creates the journal entry. Your accountant simply has to click "Confirm."
The result: No more typos, no lost invoices, and a drastic reduction in throughput times.
4. GoBD and Audit-Proof Archiving
A critical point for German companies is GoBD compliance. Tax offices check very carefully whether electronic invoices are archived in their original format and are unchangeable.
Odoo 19 offers the following for this:
- Audit Logs (Audit Trail): Every change to a document is logged. Who changed what, when, and why?
- Original Storage: When a ZUGFeRD file arrives, Odoo stores both the visual PDF and the XML dataset in an audit-proof manner.
- Procedural Documentation: As an Odoo Partner, we assist you in creating the necessary procedural documentation (Verfahrensdokumentation) for the tax office, describing how Odoo is used in your company.
5. Why Act Now?
Even though there are transitional periods for sending e-invoices until the end of 2026 (or 2027 for small companies), major market players are already demanding digital standards.
Switching to Odoo 19 is therefore not just an IT project, but a strategic investment in competitiveness.
- Cost Savings: No postage costs, less paper, less manual effort.
- Liquidity: Faster invoicing and dunning processes lead to faster incoming payments.
- Security: A modern system offers better protection against cyberattacks than outdated server solutions.
Conclusion: Your Partner for Digital Accounting in Stuttgart
Transitioning to E-Invoicing and Peppol sounds technically complex, but it is easy to manage with the right partner. At Seker Digital Agency in Fellbach, we have already successfully migrated numerous companies to Odoo and made them fit for the e-invoicing mandate.
Use Odoo 19 not just as a compliance exercise for the tax office, but as a tool to put your company on autopilot.
Do you have questions about Peppol registration in Odoo? Contact us for a non-binding consultation. We will check your current infrastructure and show you how to be ready to go in less than 4 weeks.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay extra for Peppol in Odoo? In the Odoo Enterprise version, the service to send and receive invoices via Peppol is included in the IAP (In-App Purchase) credits or is often free for standard volumes. There are no monthly base fees for external providers.
Can Odoo also read old ZUGFeRD 1.0 formats? Yes, Odoo constantly updates its libraries and supports all common versions of ZUGFeRD (2.x) and XRechnung (3.x) that are valid in Germany.
Is my data safe in the Odoo Cloud (GDPR)? Absolutely. Odoo.sh and Odoo Online host European customers on servers in Europe (often France or Belgium), which are subject to strict GDPR guidelines.
E-Invoicing Mandate 2026: The Ultimate Guide to Odoo 19, Peppol, and XRechnung