Preparing for the European Business Wallet: practical steps for businesses
Preparing for the European Business Wallet does not start once the regulation enters into force, it starts now. Although formal adoption is not expected until the first half of 2027 and participation will remain voluntary for businesses, the technical standards and large-scale pilots through the WE BUILD Consortium are already underway. Businesses that lay the right groundwork now will benefit fastest once the European Business Wallet becomes operational.
Why preparation should start now
The European Business Wallet builds on the same technical architecture as the EU Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet for citizens, established under eIDAS 2.0. While the legislative procedure is still ongoing, the European Commission and member states are developing the technical standards in parallel, and the WE BUILD Consortium is testing practical implementation across 30 countries with more than 190 participating organisations, including national business registers, banks, wallet providers, and technology companies. Businesses that wait until the regulation is fully adopted risk falling behind competitors who are preparing their processes and systems today.
Step 1: track the regulation and implementation deadlines
Follow the progress of the regulation, in particular the expected political agreement between the Council and the European Parliament and the subsequent 24-month implementation period for public administrations. There is no legal deadline for your own business, but public administrations and large trading partners you work with will have one. Know when your key public and private relationships will be required to accept the European Business Wallet.
Step 2: map your digital identity processes
Identify which processes in your business still rely on repeated identity verification, paper documents, or manual exchange of permits and certificates: onboarding customers and suppliers, tender procedures, permit applications, and compliance checks such as AML procedures. These are exactly the processes where the European Business Wallet can deliver the most time savings.
Step 3: make sure your e-invoicing is already in order
The European Business Wallet does not replace existing routing networks such as Peppol. The wallet functions as an identity and addressing layer that may eventually sit upstream of networks like Peppol. E-invoicing through OpenPeppol is already an explicit use case within the WE BUILD Consortium. Businesses that are already well connected to a Peppol Service Provider will be better positioned once identity solutions such as the EBW are eventually linked to e-invoicing addressing.
Step 4: choose providers and software with interoperability in mind
When selecting new software, ERP systems, or service providers, pay attention to compatibility with digital identity standards. Providers of a European Business Wallet must meet strict requirements: establishment in the EU, security-by-design, and guarantees for confidentiality, integrity, and interoperability. Ask your current and future providers how they are preparing for this development.
Step 5: involve the right people across your organisation
Preparing for the European Business Wallet is not just an IT question. Legal and compliance teams need to understand which mandates and powers of attorney can soon be granted digitally through the wallet, and finance teams need to understand the impact on invoicing and payment processes.
Checklist: preparing for the European Business Wallet
- Track legislative progress and implementation deadlines for public administrations and trading partners.
- Map processes with heavy paperwork or repeated identity checks.
- Secure your e-invoicing through a certified Peppol Service Provider.
- Evaluate new software and providers for interoperability with digital identity standards.
- Involve legal, compliance, and finance teams in your preparation.
What this means for your business
Preparing for the European Business Wallet does not require major investment today, but it does require awareness and a solid foundation. By getting your e-invoicing process in order now and choosing interoperable systems, you will be able to connect faster once the wallet becomes available. A good starting point is putting your e-invoicing through Peppol in order. Read more about how the European Business Wallet relates to e-invoicing in European Business Wallet e-invoicing: the architectural solution.
Compare Peppol Service Providers on Peppol.now and lay the foundation today for tomorrow’s European Business Wallet.
Sources
- European Commission, “European Business Wallets”, Shaping Europe’s digital future
- WE BUILD Consortium
- Council of the European Union, press release “European business wallets: Council adopts negotiating position”, 9 June 2026
- Proposal for a regulation on the establishment of European Business Wallets, COM(2025) 838
