Why ERP and Sales Tax Integration Projects Struggle (And It’s Usually Not the Tax Engine)

Having been a part of hundreds of ERP and sales tax integrations, I’ve seen projects that don’t fully meet expectations. In those situations, the software is often the first thing to get blamed. Most tax engines perform exactly as designed and the core of the issues stem from people, processes and data that support the implementation. These challenges are not unique to any one organization but are a natural part of bringing together the tax technology with real-world operations. Businesses that recognize this early are far more likely to achieve a successful outcome.

Common ChallengesMany tax integration projects naturally begin with a focus on technology while business requirements and workflows evolve in parallel and are not fully aligned until later in the project. There is often an...