With this step-by-step plan you can safely migrate to Peppol invoicing via Peppol Commerce
When switching to Peppol invoicing with Peppol Commerce, you usually replace an existing invoicing plugin and change part of your financial workflow. In this article, we’ll walk you through a practical migration approach for WooCommerce webshops in Belgium, where Peppol invoicing has been mandatory for B2B transactions since 2026.
Why migrating to Peppol Commerce?
Since 2026, Belgian VAT-registered businesses must be able to send and receive structured electronic invoices via Peppol (Peppol BIS 3.0). Many online stores still use traditional PDF invoicing plugins that don’t comply with these new requirements.
Peppol Commerce offers a solution by converting WooCommerce orders directly into structured e-invoices and automatically sending them via Peppol. Because the plugin supports both B2B and B2C invoicing in a single flow, a separate invoicing plugin is no longer necessary.
However, as with any migration, you, as the administrator, should check a few things to ensure a smooth transition to Peppol Commerce. Here are some steps you can follow:
Step 1: Inventory of current billing plugins
Before installing or removing anything, first take inventory of everything related to billing today. Consider:
Note down exactly what each plugin does, and whether that functionality can be included in Peppol Commerce later. This way, you avoid duplicate invoices, duplicate emails, or confusion in your accounting.
Step 2: Map existing invoicing workflows
Invoicing plugins rarely do just one thing. They often trigger multiple workflows when an order is created or completed. Key questions:
Write these steps out as a simple flow: “Order paid → invoice generated → UBL to accounting → email to customer.” This way, you can clearly see where Peppol Commerce will replace it and where other steps should remain.
Step 3: Determine which plugins can be disabled
If Peppol Commerce takes over all invoicing, you’ll want to disable the old invoicing functionality as soon as the new flow is active. It’s best to keep the following in mind:
Plan the shutdown in phases: first on a test or staging environment, then perhaps just for one type of order (e.g. only new B2B orders), and only at the end completely for all orders.
Example: what stays and what can go?
| Type plugin | Example scenario | Action after migration to Peppol Commerce |
|---|---|---|
| PDF invoice plugin | Generates only PDF, no Peppol | Disable once Peppol Commerce is active |
| External Peppol‑connector | Sends orders to external platform via API | Disable once Peppol Commerce is active |
| Accounting link | Sends booking data to accounting | Mostly keep, but review flow |
| Additional checkout fields for invoicing | Add VAT number | Replaced by Peppol Commerce fields |
Step 4: Review checkout process and VAT fields
Peppol Commerce provides specific fields important for B2B invoicing, such as a field for the VAT number and, if applicable, Peppol-related identification. Therefore, please check:
A good test is a full round of tests with at least three scenarios: a private customer in Belgium, a Belgian VAT customer, and a foreign B2B customer. For each scenario, check the order, invoice, and e-invoice.
Step 5: Historical invoices and archives
Before you disable or delete your old invoicing plugin, you need to decide what to do with historical invoices. In Belgium, invoices must be retained for several years, so you don’t want to lose anything.
Check per plugin:
Often the best approach is to export all existing invoices and store them securely in your accounting or DMS, and then use Peppol Commerce for all new orders from a clear cut-off date.
Step 6: Compatibility with subscriptions and other plugins
If you work with subscriptions (WooCommerce Subscriptions or an alternative), this deserves extra attention. Subscriptions often generate invoices automatically at each renewal, and multiple plugins can connect to this simultaneously.
Please note the following points:
Sometimes a gradual migration is recommended: old subscriptions continue to follow their existing billing flow, while new subscriptions run entirely through Peppol Commerce.
Step 7: Review WooCommerce configuration and VAT rules
Correct Peppol invoicing starts with a correct WooCommerce configuration. Therefore, check your basic settings:
Peppol invoices are structured and contain detailed information about lines, VAT rates, and amounts, revealing any inconsistencies in your webshop settings. A quick audit of your VAT configuration prevents many subsequent support questions.
Conclusion
With these steps, you’ll make switching to Peppol Commerce not a purely technical undertaking, but a well-thought-out migration of your entire invoicing process. This way, you’ll be ready for the Belgian Peppol requirement and create a single, consistent flow for B2C and B2B invoicing in WooCommerce.
