How to choose the best PDP for French E- Invoicing in 2025?

The e-invoicing reform in France marks a major turning point for businesses. It requires a progressive transition to comply with new regulatory and technological obligations. This structural change directly impacts how invoices are processed, particularly with the distinction between the Public Invoicing Portal (PPF) and Partner Dematerialisation Platforms (PDPs).

Why Choose a PDP?

Selecting a PDP is essential to ensure smooth transactions, compliance with tax regulations, and the optimisation of accounting and financial processes. In this article, we outline the key criteria for choosing the best PDP and successfully transitioning to e-invoicing.

1. E-Invoicing Reform: Understanding the Challenges and Obligations

The reform aims to modernise and secure invoice exchanges by establishing a strict framework regulated by the French government and the European Union. It is based on three main objectives:

• Enhancing financial transparency by ensuring automated transaction tracking.
• Reducing VAT fraud through real-time data transmission to tax authorities.
• Harmonising invoicing processes across Europe in line with the ViDA directive (VAT in the Digital Age).

1.1. Implementation Timeline and Regulatory Requirements

The transition to e-invoicing is being rolled out progressively, according to a predefined schedule:

September 2026:

• All businesses must be able to receive e-invoices.
• Large enterprises and mid-sized companies (ETIs) must start issuing e-invoices.

September 2027:

• Full e-invoicing obligation for all businesses, including SMEs and micro-enterprises.

At the same time, this reform aligns with Europe’s digitalisation strategy under the ViDA directive, which aims to streamline commercial and tax exchanges across the EU.

1.2. PDP vs PPF: What’s the Difference?

Under the reform, businesses are required to use certified platforms to manage e-invoices. There are two types of platforms:

• Public Invoicing Portal (PPF): A centralised platform managed by the government, responsible only for transmitting invoices to tax authorities. It does not facilitate B2B exchanges or process automation.
• Partner Dematerialisation Platforms (PDPs): Certified private providers that offer advanced invoicing services, such as invoice processing automation, conversion into required formats (UBL, CII, FacturX), and seamless integration with ERP and accounting systems.

A PDP provides a smoother and more optimised e-invoicing experience by automating exchanges and ensuring full compliance.

2. How to Choose the Best PDP for Your Business?

Selecting a certified PDP is a strategic decision that should be tailored to your company’s specific needs. To ensure a smooth transition, several criteria should be considered.

2.1. Functional Criteria: Ensuring Efficient Invoice Management

A PDP should enable seamless and automated e-invoice processing while ensuring legal compliance. Key features to prioritise include:

• Compatibility with regulated formats (UBL, CII, FacturX) to guarantee interoperability between systems.
• Smooth integration with ERP and accounting tools to automate e-invoice management and prevent processing errors.
• Automated tax reporting and e-invoice submission to authorities for simplified compliance.

2.2. Technical Criteria: Security and Performance at the Core

Beyond functionality, a PDP’s technical robustness is a crucial factor. A reliable solution should:

• Ensure transaction security in compliance with ISO 27001 and GDPR to protect sensitive data.
• Offer advanced API connectivity to facilitate seamless integration with existing tools and optimise data exchange.
• Handle high transaction volumes efficiently, especially for companies processing large numbers of e-invoices daily.

2.3. Organisational Criteria: Tailored Support and Long-Term Adaptability

Integrating a PDP represents a major organisational change. It is therefore essential to choose a provider that offers:

• Implementation support, including staff training and responsive technical assistance.
• High-quality customer service, capable of addressing incidents in real-time.
• Adaptability to future regulatory changes, ensuring the platform remains compliant without requiring frequent system overhauls.

Conclusion: Make the Right Choice for a Successful Transition

Adopting a reliable and high-performing PDP is a crucial step in ensuring a successful transition to e-invoicing. By considering functional, technical, and organisational criteria, businesses can achieve optimal compliance while simplifying and automating financial management.

Plan your transition now and choose a PDP that meets your company’s needs.

Simplify E-Invoicing with Flowie

Are you looking for a certified and high-performance PDP? Flowie is a finance and procurement orchestration solution designed to streamline and automate your e-invoicing.

✅ Fully automated processes
✅ Guaranteed compliance with tax and legal regulations
✅ Seamless integration with your ERP and accounting tools

Discover how Flowie can help you successfully transition to e-invoicing!

👉 Book a free demo of Flowie today.