Electronic invoicing 2026: everything you need to know about NetSuite [Webinar Recap]

Mandatory electronic invoicing comes into effect in France from September 2026. For companies using NetSuite, compliance requires integration with a certified dematerialization platform. Novutech has developed a complete solution with Invopop, a platform approved by the French tax authorities.

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Two distinct obligations: e-invoicing and e-reporting

The French reform imposes two types of obligations often confused:

E-invoicing: B2B electronic invoicing

All B2B transactions between companies established in France must be issued and received as structured electronic invoices (XML format: Factur-X or UBL). A simple PDF by email is not sufficient: these are structured files transmitted through certified platforms.

E-reporting: transmission of tax data

Certain transactions must be reported to the DGFiP (French tax authority):

• Invoices issued to customers outside France (Europe and international)
• B2C sales (consumers)
• Payment data for transactions subject to cash-basis VAT

The majority of French companies are affected by both obligations.

Electronic invoicing calendar: 2026-2027 deadlines

September 1st, 2026: first major deadline

From September 1st, 2026, all French companies, regardless of size (large enterprises, mid-caps, SMEs, micro-enterprises, self-employed), must be able to receive electronic invoices.

On the same date, large companies (> 250 employees and > €50M turnover) and mid-caps must also be able to issue electronic invoices and generate mandatory reporting to the DGFiP.

September 1st, 2027: extension to SMEs and micro-enterprises

SMEs and micro-enterprises join the system on the issuance side. They must then issue their invoices in structured electronic form and generate mandatory reporting to the tax authorities.

Point of attention: With only 4 months before the first milestone and the summer period approaching, companies must initiate their project now to meet deadlines.

Technical architecture: PA, PPF, and PEPPOL network

The role of approved platforms (PA)

The French system relies on state-certified approved platforms (PA). These platforms act as mandatory intermediaries between your ERP and your business partners.

Electronic invoice flow:

1. Issuance from NetSuite
2. Transmission to your PA (Invopop)
3. Validation and formatting by the PA
4. Routing to recipient's PA via the PEPPOL network
5. Parallel transmission to the PPF (Public Invoicing Portal) for tax authorities

Invoice lifecycle

Electronic invoices become objects with a dynamic lifecycle and evolving statuses. On the issuer side, they go through statuses: generated, sent, accepted or rejected. On the recipient side: received, approved, disputed, suspended or paid. Your ERP must be able to track these statuses in real-time and adjust your processes accordingly.

The PEPPOL central directory

Each French company registers in a national directory based on its SIRET/SIREN identifier linked to its PA. When issuing an invoice, the system automatically queries this directory to identify the recipient's platform and correctly route the document.

Practical consequence: Your customer master data in NetSuite must absolutely contain SIRET/SIREN identifiers and electronic invoicing identifiers to guarantee deliverability.

Why Invopop as a partner platform?

Novutech selected Invopop as PA for several strategic reasons:

• Platform certified by French tax authorities
• International maturity: operational since 2020 in Latin America, already deployed in Belgium, Spain, Germany, Greece
• Multi-country approach: single data format, single platform to manage multiple European jurisdictions
• Guaranteed availability for September 2026
• Technical flexibility: configurable workflows, customizable templates

Existing alternative: Oracle NetSuite also offers a solution via Avalara. Novutech chose Invopop to ensure compliance with the 2026 timeline, offer more customization flexibility, and provide a consistent multi-country approach. However, if your context requires using the Avalara solution, our teams can also support you with this implementation.

The NetSuite e-invoicing solution: technical operation

Preparation: automatic customer data enrichment

The connector developed by Novutech integrates two automatic master data enrichment features.

French company search
By simply entering a company name, the system automatically queries the French API to pre-fill SIRET/SIREN fields, intra-community VAT number, and complete address.

PEPPOL identifier retrieval
A "Get PEPPOL Info" button queries the national directory to retrieve the customer's electronic invoicing identifier (unique alphanumeric identifier). The system assigns a confidence level based on data quality found but also and especially on the uniqueness or not of the information found. If the level is high, the "E-invoicing enabled" checkbox is automatically checked. Otherwise, manual validation is required.

Electronic invoice issuance: outbound flow

The process in NetSuite unfolds in several steps:

1. Creation of a standard invoice (Invoice) with an additional mandatory field: the "Billing Mode" required by French regulations (B2B, B2C, export, etc.)
   
2. Automatic generation of an e-Invoice record containing:
   
   • Dual status (NetSuite standard + specific e-invoicing status)
   • GOBL file in Invopop format (multi-country standard)
   • Invoice PDF (for user convenience)
   • Links to transaction and parties
3. Sending mode of choice:
   
   • Manual: "Send" button for unit validation
   • Automatic: scheduled script (recommendation: once daily at end of day)
4. Real-time status tracking: Generated → Processing → Sent → Accepted
   

Error handling: In case of rejection (missing field, incorrect format), the status changes to "Error" with detailed message. Simple correction and save regenerates a new e-invoice ready to be resent.

Supplier invoice reception: inbound flow

When an electronic invoice arrives via the PEPPOL network in a dedicated inbox, an automatic process (runs every 15 minutes) generates a Draft Bill: draft invoice without accounting impact. This buffer zone allows validating data before final recording.

Draft Bill content:

• All electronic invoice information
• PDF if provided by supplier
• Transmitted VAT amounts (only official amounts in tax authorities' eyes)

Validation process:

• Comparison between structured electronic invoice, PDF, and Draft Bill data
• Verification of tax code (NetSuite proposes a default code, adjustable if needed)
• Possible addition of purchase order numbers (P.O. matching, two-way and three-way matching supported)
• VAT amount equality check

Once validated, the Draft Bill transforms into a Vendor Bill with accounting impact. The user can also accept, refuse (with reason), or suspend the invoice on the supplier side.

Point of vigilance: VAT amounts transmitted in the electronic invoice are the legal reference. The NetSuite transaction must strictly match.

Payment notification: French specificity

French regulations require notifying tax authorities of actual invoice payment, particularly for cash-basis VAT.

The mechanism is fully automatic: as soon as an invoice goes to "Paid in Full" status in NetSuite, a script triggers a call to Invopop which updates the status in the PPF. Status "212 - Invoice paid" is recorded and an "E-invoice Paid" checkbox is automatically checked in NetSuite.

Request a personalized demonstration of the NetSuite e-invoicing solution

Complete features of the Novutech bundle

The NetSuite-Invopop connector covers all needs:

• Native NetSuite ↔ Invopop integration (no custom development required)
• Automatic field mapping (Invoice, Vendor Bill, Credit Memo)
• Automatic PEPPOL directory consultation
• Real-time invoice lifecycle traceability
• Draft Bill (validation without accounting impact)
• Automatic VAT comparison and control
• P.O. Matching (order/invoice reconciliation, 2-way and 3-way)
• Inter-company invoice management
• Self-billed invoices support
• PDF integration in structured invoices
• Automatic sending via scheduler
• Multi-country support (France, Belgium, Spain, Germany...)

The bundle benefits from monthly updates to integrate new features and optimizations.

Implementation timelines and methodology

How long to achieve compliance?

Overall estimate: 5 to 6 weeks between project launch and production deployment.

Project phases

Phase 1: Scoping & Architecture (approximately 5 days)
Audit of your scope (entities, volumes, flows), identification of customization needs, risk analysis, and roadmap validation.

Phase 2: Configuration & Prototyping (approximately 10 working days)
NetSuite bundle installation, Invopop configuration, data mapping, and initial sandbox testing.

Phase 3: User testing (variable duration)
Validation of real use cases, testing of different flows, adjustments, and end-user training.

Phase 4: Production deployment (approximately 1 week)
Go-live, intensive support (hypercare), and responsive assistance on initial flows.

Phase 5: Support & Optimization (ongoing)
Flow monitoring, regulatory change support, and additional customizations.

Novutech support

Discovery & scoping pack

Novutech offers a scoping pack including:

• Scope analysis (entities, volumes, flows)
• Multi-country vision for international groups
• Technical architecture (ERP, CRM, other system connections)
• Master data management and cleansing strategy
• Detailed roadmap and action plan

3-phase methodology

Discover: Understanding your situation, risk identification, strategy definition
Build: NetSuite configuration, Invopop integration and other partners if needed
Scale: Continuous optimization, long-term support, regulatory change support

Why Novutech for your e-invoicing project?

Key figures:

• 65+ consultants across Europe (Lyon, Paris, Brussels, Munich, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Copenhagen, London, Lisbon)
• 250+ clients supported since 2019
• 150+ NetSuite implementations completed
• 100+ technical and functional certifications

Field experience: Solution already operational in Belgium since January 2026, certification testing underway in France.

Local expertise: French teams who master regulatory specificities and local context. Physical presence in Lyon and Paris to support clients closely.

Free or paid electronic invoicing?

The pricing model combines the Invopop license (PA) with volume-based invoice pricing, and the Novutech bundle with an annual license plus initial implementation.

The Public Portal is indeed free but still requires technical integration. "Free electronic invoicing" solutions exist for very small volumes (micro-enterprises, self-employed) but without automated ERP integration. For companies using NetSuite, investing in an integrated solution guarantees automation, reliability, and sustainable compliance.

Next steps

Immediate checklist

☑️ Assess your scope (how many entities in France? B2B/B2C invoice volumes?)
☑️ Audit your customer master data (SIRET/SIREN filled in?)
☑️ Choose your PA according to your global needs
☑️ Plan your project (5-6 weeks minimum)
☑️ Launch before end of May 2026 to be ready in September

Ready to launch your project? Request a compliance audit

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