Integration · 7 min read
System Integrator vs Access Point Provider: What's the Difference?
Every invoice in the NRS system has to pass through an accredited provider. You will see two terms: System Integrator and Access Point Provider. They are not the same role, and knowing the difference helps you choose the right path to connect your business.
Why intermediaries exist at all
The NRS does not have every business connect to its core platform directly. Instead, accredited providers sit between businesses and the tax authority, handling the technical work of preparing, validating and transmitting invoices to an approved standard.
This keeps the platform secure and consistent, and it means businesses get a supported integration rather than having to build everything from scratch.
What a System Integrator does
A System Integrator connects business software, such as an ERP, accounting or point-of-sale system, to the e-invoicing process. The integrator's job is to take the invoice your system produces, shape it into the required structured format, and handle validation so the invoice comes back with its reference number and QR code.
If you already run business software and want it to issue compliant invoices, a System Integrator is usually the party that makes that software speak the NRS system's language.
What an Access Point Provider does
An Access Point Provider operates the accredited connection into the network used to transmit invoices between parties and the authority, often on PEPPOL-style standards. The APP role is focused on that secure transport and exchange layer.
Accreditation for both roles follows the relevant NITDA guidelines and data-security requirements, and accredited providers are published by the NRS.
Which one does your business need?
Most businesses do not choose between them in the abstract. They choose a solution that gets their invoices validated and recorded correctly. What matters is that the software you use is connected through accredited parties covering both the integration and the transmission.
The practical questions to ask any provider are: can you connect my existing system, can you validate invoices and return the IRN and QR code reliably, and how do you handle failures and retries?
- System Integrator: connects your ERP/POS/accounting system and handles validation.
- Access Point Provider: operates the accredited transmission and exchange layer.
- Both roles require accreditation under NITDA guidelines.
- Ask any provider how they connect your system and handle validation failures.
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