AFAS Software announced in June 2026 the release of Profit 8, its major platform update, alongside certification as a Peppol Service Provider (AFAS Roadmap). For IT and finance directors running Profit in Belgium, the implication is straightforward: sending and receiving electronic invoices over the Peppol network now happens natively inside Profit — no third-party connector, no middleware layer.
Context: B2B Mandate in Force, Grace Period Over
The regulatory timeline is unambiguous. Since 1 January 2026, all Belgian VAT-liable businesses must issue and receive structured invoices via the Peppol network for domestic B2B transactions (AFAS Belgium). The transitional grace period granted by the FPS Finance expired on 31 March 2026. Since 1 April, penalties are enforceable: €1,500 per non-compliant invoice for a first offence, rising to €5,000 for repeat violations.
Against this backdrop, AFAS had already enabled Peppol support in Profit 7 (November 2025). Profit 8 goes a step further: rather than routing through a third-party Access Point, AFAS itself becomes a certified Peppol Service Provider. This simplifies the architecture and removes a friction layer for its customers.
What Profit 8 Delivers in Practice
Beyond the Peppol Service Provider status, Profit 8 (June 2026) introduces several notable capabilities (AFAS Roadmap):
- Jonas AI in workflows: automatic extraction of information from documents (CVs, meeting notes), transcription of recorded meetings, and action-point identification. AI-populated fields remain editable before confirmation.
- New ReportGenerator: a functionally complete redesign of the built-in reporting tool.
- mTLS for connectors: mutual TLS authentication support on API connections, adding a security layer for integrations with third-party systems.
- Standard Stamkaarten (standardised master cards): a rationalisation of reference data structures.
Customer migration to Profit 8 is scheduled to begin from summer 2026 according to the AFAS deployment calendar.
AFAS Open Belgium: 16–18 June in Kontich
AFAS is hosting a customer event around these updates. AFAS Open 2026 takes place on 16 and 18 June at the AFAS Clubhouse in Kontich (same programme on both days; attendees choose one). Sessions cover the processing and matching of incoming Peppol e-invoices in Profit 8, Jonas AI features, and inventory management (AFAS Open Belgium 2026).
Registration is free but required.
What This Means for Belgian IT and Finance Directors on Profit
AFAS becoming a Peppol Service Provider changes the equation for Belgian customers on three fronts:
1. One fewer intermediary. Until now, sending and receiving Peppol invoices from Profit required routing through a third-party Access Point (eConnect, Arco, etc.), with the associated costs and administrative overhead. With AFAS certified in its own right, that layer disappears.
2. Improved automatic reconciliation. Profit 8 enhances matching between incoming Peppol invoices and payment obligations — a direct productivity gain for accounting teams processing significant supplier invoice volumes.
3. Compliance without an integration project. For Belgian businesses already on Profit, meeting the e-invoicing obligation does not require a separate integration initiative. Compliance is included in the upgrade to Profit 8.
What to Watch
Two milestones worth tracking:
In the Netherlands — where AFAS holds a dominant market position — the European Commission and the Dutch government are developing a similar B2B e-invoicing mandate, expected around 2030 under the ViDA regulation (VAT in the Digital Age). AFAS is already positioned: the Peppol Service Provider status earned for Belgium will serve as the foundation for the Dutch rollout.
In Belgium, the next regulatory step is e-reporting — near-real-time transmission of invoicing data to the tax authority — expected around 2028, modelled on Spain’s SII system. The existing Peppol infrastructure will serve as the base: businesses with a clean integration today will be better placed when that requirement arrives.
For a deeper look at the regulatory landscape, see our complete guide to mandatory Peppol e-invoicing in Belgium and our analysis of the Netherlands B2B e-invoicing mandate under ViDA.
