Integrations & Standards
DICO SALES005 XML Explained for Installation Companies
DICO SALES005 is the Dutch standard for electronic order and invoice exchange between installation companies and their suppliers and housing associations. Understanding it is the first step to removing manual data entry from your purchasing workflow.
6 min read
What DICO SALES005 is and why it matters
DICO SALES005 is a Dutch industry standard for structured XML data exchange between installation companies, their suppliers and large clients such as housing associations. It defines the format for purchase orders, order confirmations, delivery notes, invoices and credit notes — so that data can be exchanged electronically without manual retyping. Companies that implement DICO can process significantly more transactions with the same team.
Where manual work is replaced by DICO integration
DICO integration replaces manual steps in these specific parts of the purchasing and invoicing workflow.
- Manual entry of purchase orders into supplier systems
- Re-entering delivery information from paper packing slips
- Matching delivery notes to invoices by hand
- Typing invoice data from PDF into accounting software
- Reconciling supplier invoices against original orders manually
What you need to implement DICO SALES005
Implementing DICO requires these technical and process components.
- Software that can generate valid DICO SALES005 XML output
- A connection to the supplier or housing association that accepts DICO messages
- A mapping of your internal product codes to supplier article codes
- A process for handling rejected or corrected messages
- Testing with your primary supplier before going live
When EasyQ fits and where to start
EasyQ can generate DICO SALES005 XML output for purchase orders and invoices, connecting your job and quote data to supplier systems and housing association platforms. The result is fewer manual steps, faster order processing and cleaner invoice matching. Start by identifying which supplier or housing association you have the highest transaction volume with and verify whether they accept DICO messages.
- List your top 3 suppliers by transaction volume
- Check whether they accept DICO SALES005 XML format
- Map your most common materials to their supplier article codes
- Run a test order exchange before going live with production data
Frequently asked questions
Is DICO SALES005 mandatory for installation companies in the Netherlands?
Not universally mandatory, but many housing associations and large clients require it for electronic invoicing. For companies working with these clients, DICO compliance is effectively required.
What is the difference between DICO and e-invoicing?
DICO is a construction and installation sector standard that covers the full order-to-invoice cycle. General e-invoicing standards like UBL or Peppol focus specifically on invoice exchange. DICO covers more of the procurement workflow.
Can EasyQ generate DICO XML from an accepted quote?
Yes. EasyQ can generate the DICO SALES005 XML format for purchase orders and invoices directly from accepted quote data, mapping line items to the required article code format.
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