Prepare for Belgium's 2026 Peppol Mandate: Move from Zoho Invoice to Zoho Books

Navigating the Regulatory Shift: Why Your Move from Zoho Invoice to Zoho Books Is Strategic, Not Just Compliance

What if a regulatory mandate could actually become your competitive advantage? That's the reality facing Belgian companies in 2026, and your situation reveals a deeper truth about modern business software: sometimes compliance requirements force us to make upgrades we should have made anyway.

The Compliance Catalyst: Understanding Your 2026 Deadline

Starting January 1, 2026, Belgium's regulatory framework will require all companies to transmit invoices to professional customers using Peppol—an open standard for electronic invoicing that ensures interoperability across European business networks.[1] Zoho Invoice, while excellent for traditional invoicing workflows, doesn't support this standard. Zoho Books, however, does. This isn't a choice; it's an evolution your business must embrace.

But here's what makes this transition worth deeper consideration: this regulatory push is actually aligning your business systems with where the market is heading anyway. Peppol adoption represents a fundamental shift toward standardized, auditable, and integrated financial workflows—the very foundation of modern accounting software.

The Technical Reality: API Integration and Workflow Continuity

Your concern about API code modifications is well-founded, and it deserves a straightforward answer. The Zoho Books API operates on REST principles, similar to Zoho Invoice, but the endpoint structures and available parameters differ.[3] If you've built integrations through your Zoho Creator app to automate estimate and invoice creation, you'll need to refactor those API calls to work with Zoho Books' user management and transaction endpoints.[1]

However—and this is important—this isn't a complete rebuild. Your Creator app's foundational logic remains intact; you're essentially translating the API calls rather than reimagining your automation architecture. The migration path involves updating your endpoint URLs and parameter structures, but the underlying automation philosophy stays the same.

Custom Functions: Preservation Through Transformation

Here's encouraging news about your custom functions: Zoho Books supports custom functions through its Automation module, built on the same Deluge scripting language you're likely already using in Zoho Invoice.[2][6] This means your custom logic—whether it's updating related records, triggering workflows, or executing conditional business rules—can be recreated in Zoho Books with minimal conceptual rework.

The key distinction is that custom functions in Zoho Books operate within the Automation framework, where you can set up workflow rules with specific conditions to trigger your custom functions as immediate actions.[2] This architecture actually provides more granular control than many users realize. When conditions are met, your custom function executes, and it can even trigger additional workflows downstream—creating a cascading automation system that's more powerful than simple function execution.

Think of it this way: your custom functions won't "keep working" in their current form, but they will be reborn in a more sophisticated automation environment. You're not losing functionality; you're gaining architectural flexibility.

The Deeper Strategic Consideration

What often gets overlooked in migration discussions is that Zoho Books represents a more comprehensive accounting ecosystem than Zoho Invoice. While Invoice handles transactional invoicing, Books integrates estimates, invoices, expense management, and financial reporting into a unified platform. Your migration isn't just about compliance—it's an opportunity to consolidate your financial operations.

The module preferences in Zoho Books allow you to customize each component to match your business needs, and if you have fields or workflows unique to your current system, you can create custom fields to preserve that business logic.[4] This flexibility means your migration can be a genuine optimization, not just a lateral move.

The Experience Question: What Others Have Learned

While the search results don't contain specific testimonials from companies who've completed this migration, the technical infrastructure is solid. The Zoho Books API is production-ready, the custom function framework is mature, and the migration documentation provides clear pathways for data transfer and system configuration.[3] Organizations moving from one Zoho product to another typically report that the transition friction is minimal when approached systematically—especially when you have technical resources like your Creator app expertise to guide the process.

The real success factor isn't the software; it's the planning. Map your current workflows, identify which custom functions are business-critical, test your Creator app integrations in a Zoho Books sandbox environment, and sequence your migration around your business calendar rather than the January 1 deadline.

Your regulatory requirement has actually given you a gift: a clear deadline and a legitimate business case for modernizing your financial infrastructure. That's worth more than you might initially think.

Why do Belgian companies need to move from Zoho Invoice to Zoho Books by January 1, 2026?

Belgian regulation requires that invoices sent to professional customers use Peppol, an EU-wide e‑invoicing standard. Zoho Invoice does not support Peppol, while Zoho Books does, so the switch is mandatory to remain compliant and continue transacting with professional customers after the deadline.

Is this move only about compliance or are there strategic benefits to switching to Zoho Books?

Beyond compliance, Zoho Books is a fuller accounting ecosystem—integrating estimates, invoicing, expenses, reporting and bank feeds—so migrating is an opportunity to consolidate financial workflows, improve reporting and adopt more auditable, standardized processes that align with modern accounting practices.

How different is the Zoho Books API compared to Zoho Invoice—will I need to rewrite integrations?

Both APIs follow REST principles, but endpoint URLs, resource names and parameters differ. You typically refactor API calls and payloads rather than fully rewrite business logic. Expect endpoint/parameter updates, some mapping changes and retesting, but not a ground-up rebuild of your integrations. For complex scenarios, consider using Make.com to streamline the integration process.

Will my Zoho Creator automations and workflows keep working after the migration?

Your Creator app's core logic remains usable, but any code that calls Zoho Invoice endpoints must be updated for Zoho Books endpoints and authentication. Recreate and retest triggers in a Zoho Books sandbox; the automation philosophy stays the same, but API call translation and some workflow adjustments are required. Consider reviewing Deluge programming best practices during this transition.

Can custom Deluge functions be preserved when moving to Zoho Books?

Yes. Zoho Books supports custom functions using Deluge within its Automation module. You'll recreate your custom logic as workflow-triggered functions in Books. While they won't run in their original Invoice context, they can be rebuilt with greater control and chained workflows for more powerful automation. For advanced automation needs, Zoho Flow provides additional integration capabilities.

How should I plan and sequence the migration to minimize disruption?

Map current workflows and critical custom functions, export and clean data, set up a Zoho Books sandbox, refactor and test Creator integrations, recreate custom fields and workflows, run parallel tests, and schedule the cutover outside peak billing periods. Treat the deadline as a target but sequence work around your business calendar. Consider following proven migration methodologies to ensure smooth transitions.

How do I preserve custom fields and unique workflows from Zoho Invoice?

Zoho Books supports custom fields and module preferences. Identify the fields and workflows you rely on, create matching custom fields in Books, and recreate workflows using Books' Automation module. Document field mappings and test records to ensure behavior aligns with your previous setup. For complex workflow automation, Zoho Flow can bridge gaps between different systems.

What are the risks if I don't migrate to Zoho Books by the deadline?

Failing to migrate means you won't be able to send Peppol‑compliant invoices to professional customers, which can result in lost business, contractual issues and potential regulatory consequences. It may also disrupt automated workflows that depend on compliant document exchange. Understanding compliance fundamentals is crucial for avoiding these risks.

Who should handle the migration—my in‑house team or an external consultant?

If you have in‑house Zoho Creator, Deluge and integration experience, you can manage the migration with proper planning and sandbox testing. For complex integrations, heavy customizations, or limited internal bandwidth, engaging a Zoho consultant or implementation partner can speed the process and reduce risk. Consider leveraging freelance specialists for specific technical challenges.

What is Peppol and why is it important for my invoicing workflows?

Peppol is an open e‑invoicing standard and network that enables interoperable, machine‑readable invoice exchange across countries and systems. It ensures standardized, auditable document exchange—reducing manual processing, improving compliance and enabling smoother B2B transactions across Europe. This aligns with broader digital transformation and security practices in modern business operations.