PintAE E-Invoicing Guide

Learn how to set up PintAE in QBM, understand every option on the E-Invoicing tab, generate invoice data, review validation messages, and either hand the XML to the customer's accredited provider or submit it through a provider connection that has been verified for QBM.

Module: Integrations Audience: End Users Applies To: Invoices, Receipts, Refunds

Overview

PintAE is the QBM e-invoicing workflow used to prepare customer documents in a structured electronic format. QBM generates the UAE e-invoice XML, can show a JSON preview for review, reports validation issues, and then helps you complete the next step agreed with the customer's provider.

Important: QBM can be used in two ways:
  • Manual handoff: Generate and save the XML, then upload it through the provider's approved process.
  • Direct submit: Generate the XML and click Submit only after the provider's URL, authentication, request, response, and status process have been confirmed for QBM.

PintAE setup is available here:

Options > Integrations > E-Invoicing

Where to find it

Path: Options > Integrations > E-Invoicing settings; saved customer document > E-Invoicing action.

Use this path from the main QBM window. If the command is not visible, confirm that the user has access to the related module and permission for that screen.

Before You Start

  • Make sure you have permission to change company options.
  • Confirm your company information is complete, especially legal name, address, and tax details if required by your provider.
  • Confirm your customer records and invoice information are complete before you try to generate e-invoice data.
  • Ask the provider for its approved XML submission or portal-upload instructions.
  • For direct submission, obtain the complete onboarding details. A URL by itself does not confirm that the connection is compatible.
Save the document first. PintAE works from saved customer documents. If the document has not been saved yet, complete the save first and then open the e-invoicing action.

Set Up PintAE

Options > Integrations > E-Invoicing
  1. Open Options and go to Integrations > E-Invoicing.
  2. Tick Enable to turn the feature on for the company.
  3. Select the Provider you want to use.
    • Choose QBM Test (No external submission) if you want to test the flow safely.
    • Choose General (Manual Entry) if your provider wants you to send the data manually.
    • Choose your live provider if you already have onboarding details from that provider.
  4. Review the provider details shown on the screen. QBM can display the provider website, contact email, and a note to help guide the setup.
  5. Keep XML selected for submission. JSON is available only as a QBM preview or manual reference.
  6. Enter the Submission URL only after your provider confirms that its complete connection contract is compatible with QBM. Otherwise, leave it blank and use the provider's approved portal process.
  7. Complete any provider identification or authentication fields such as Peppol Participant ID, API Key, Secret, and Token if your provider has supplied them.
  8. Save the options and test the process from a customer document.

QBM Test

Use this to test the QBM workflow without sending anything to an external service. It is the best first step when you want to confirm setup and user training.

General (Manual Entry)

Use this when your provider wants you to send the generated data yourself, usually by email or by uploading it into the provider portal.

Live Provider

Use this when your provider has already given you the correct credentials, required format, and a direct submission URL for your company.

Options Reference

The following options are available on the PintAE setup screen.

Option What It Does When To Use It
Enable Turns PintAE e-invoicing on for the company. Tick this when you are ready to use or test the e-invoicing workflow.
Provider Selects the e-invoicing service or setup method QBM will use. Choose QBM Test for safe testing, General for manual sending, or your live provider for real submission.
Submission URL The verified provider destination QBM uses when you click Submit. Enter it only with the provider's complete onboarding instructions. A URL alone is not enough.
Format Selects the XML submission view or the optional JSON preview. Use XML for submission. JSON is for preview or a separately agreed manual process.
Peppol Participant ID Stores the participant or routing identifier required by some providers. Enter this only if your provider or onboarding team has given it to you.
API Key Stores the provider value used to identify your company connection. Enter it when supplied by your provider.
Secret Stores the matching secure value for your provider connection. Enter it when supplied by your provider.
Token Stores the authorization value used by some providers. Enter it when supplied by your provider.
Website Displays the provider website for reference. Use it as a quick reference during setup or onboarding.
Email Displays the provider contact email for reference. Use it when you need onboarding help or provider confirmation.
Note Shows provider-specific guidance or special instructions. Always read this after you change the provider because it may explain whether the provider supports direct submit or manual handling.
Tip: When you change the provider or the format, QBM can refresh the provider-specific defaults for that selection. Always review the values after changing providers.

Where To Use It

PintAE is used from saved customer transaction screens.

Document Typical E-Invoicing Type How To Start
Sales Receipt Invoice Open the saved receipt and click EInvoicing.
Customer Invoice Invoice Open the saved invoice and click EInvoicing.
Customer Refund Credit Note Open the saved refund and click EInvoicing.
Customer Cash Refund Credit Note Open the saved refund and click EInvoicing.

How It Works

  1. Open a saved customer document and click EInvoicing.
  2. In the PintAE window, confirm the Type. For normal sales this is usually an invoice. For refund documents this is usually a credit note.
  3. Keep XML selected when you intend to submit.
  4. Click Load. QBM generates the e-invoice data and checks it for problems.
  5. Review the Data section and the Errors section.
  6. If your provider uses manual handling, save the generated XML and upload it using the provider's approved method.
  7. If the provider connection has been verified for QBM and its URL is configured, click Submit.
  8. Review the Results section. A received request remains pending until the provider reports exchange and UAE tax-reporting status.

Manual Send Or Direct Submit

Manual Send

Use this when your provider does not give you a direct submission URL, or when the provider wants you to send the generated file or data yourself.

  • Set up the provider using General (Manual Entry) or leave the submission URL blank if your provider instructions require manual handling.
  • Open the document and click EInvoicing.
  • Choose XML for the provider handoff.
  • Click Load.
  • Save the generated XML from the Data section.
  • Upload it to the provider portal or use another provider-approved process.

Direct Submit

Use this only when your provider has supplied the live URL and the complete connection, authentication, response, and status instructions have been verified for QBM.

  • Set up the live provider and complete the credentials in QBM.
  • Confirm the Submission URL is filled in correctly.
  • Open the document and click EInvoicing.
  • Click Load and review any validation messages.
  • Click Submit when the data is ready.
  • Review the Results section. Request receipt is not final exchange or tax-reporting acceptance.
If the submission URL is blank: you can still load and review the e-invoice data, but direct submission from QBM is not available. In that case, use the manual send method.

PintAE Window Guide

Window Item What It Means How To Use It
Type Selects the business document type such as invoice or credit note. Confirm it matches the document you opened before you continue.
Format Controls whether you are viewing submission XML or the optional JSON preview. Choose XML for submission.
Load Generates the PintAE data and runs validation. Click this first every time you open the window or change the format.
Data Shows the generated e-invoice content. Review it, and if you are using manual send, copy the content from this section.
Errors Shows validation issues or blocking problems. Review and correct the document or setup before you submit.
Submit Sends the validated XML through the configured provider connection. Use this only after the complete provider connection has been verified for QBM.
Results Shows the durable request and provider-status outcome known to QBM. Review it after submitting. Request receipt remains pending until exchange and tax-reporting results arrive.
Manual sending: The Data section is the place to copy the generated payload when you need to send it by email or by portal upload outside QBM.

Validation And Messages

QBM checks the generated e-invoice data before submission. If required information is missing, the issue is shown in the Errors section.

Common reasons for validation issues

  • The document has not been saved yet.
  • Customer or company information is incomplete.
  • The selected type does not match the document.
  • XML is not selected for submission.
  • The verified provider URL or required credentials have not been entered.

Common outcome messages

  • Load succeeds and no blocking errors appear: the XML passed QBM's pre-submission checks. Provider acceptance is a separate result.
  • Submission URL is empty: QBM cannot submit directly, so use the manual send method.
  • QBM Test mode: QBM completes a safe test without sending to an external provider.
Good practice: Use QBM Test (No external submission) first. Once that works, switch to your live provider and repeat the same process.

FAQ

Do I always need a submission URL?

No. A submission URL is only needed when you want QBM to send the e-invoice directly. If your provider wants manual handling, you can load the data, copy it, and send it outside QBM.

When should I use JSON and when should I use XML?

Use XML for QBM submission. JSON is a preview and is not sent by QBM as the UAE e-invoice.

What is the easiest way to test the process?

Turn on PintAE in Options > Integrations > E-Invoicing, choose QBM Test (No external submission), open a saved customer invoice or sales receipt, click EInvoicing, then click Load and Submit. This tests the QBM workflow without sending anything outside the company.

Can I email the e-invoice data manually?

Use only a handoff method approved by the accredited provider. Load the document, select XML, save the generated content, and upload or deliver it exactly as the provider instructs.

What should I do if Submit does not work?

Check that the document is saved, the provider is correct, XML is selected, the credentials are complete, and the verified submission URL is entered. If it still fails, stop direct submission and ask the provider to confirm its connection and status instructions before retrying.