Sage 100

Yes. From what we were told recently, Vertex's connector only supports Sage 100 versions 2021 and lower. If you have a higher version, you have to sign a Source code agreement which is an additional agreement they require clients to sign who will not be using a Vertex supported connector and rather their source code for a particular integration. They told us this gives customer full flexibility from a coding perspective while protecting Vertex IP. 

Thomas Reuters/Onesource is working on a Sage 100 sales tax integration as well that sounds interesting. They work with developer Scott J. Billadeau from  DSTAX so I'm interested to see what that will bring to the table.

Thanks, Dana. Do you know if the signed release allows users to install the Vertex Connector to Sage 100 2023 as-is, or is it just a waiver? Then, the end-user has to take the existing connector and find a programmer to upgrade it to work with Sage 100 2023. 

Yes. From what we were told recently, Vertex's connector only supports Sage 100 versions 2021 and lower. If you have a higher version, you have to sign a Source code agreement which is an additional agreement they require clients to sign who will not be using a Vertex supported connector and rather their source code for a particular integration. They told us this gives customer full flexibility from a coding perspective while protecting Vertex IP. 

Thomas Reuters/Onesource is working on a Sage 100 sales tax integration as well that sounds interesting. They work with developer Scott J. Billadeau from  DSTAX so I'm interested to see what that will bring to the table.

Apologies for the delay on replying. I'm unsure if it's just a waiver or not and I'm waiting to hear back on some additional questions as well but this is also part of the original reply from Vertex:

This additional document is also in place so there is a clear understanding that Vertex will not be supporting your integration to Sage 100, we will however support you on any items related to Vertex Cloud functionality/configuration.

Thanks, Dana. Do you know if the signed release allows users to install the Vertex Connector to Sage 100 2023 as-is, or is it just a waiver? Then, the end-user has to take the existing connector and find a programmer to upgrade it to work with Sage 100 2023. 

Yes. From what we were told recently, Vertex's connector only supports Sage 100 versions 2021 and lower. If you have a higher version, you have to sign a Source code agreement which is an additional agreement they require clients to sign who will not be using a Vertex supported connector and rather their source code for a particular integration. They told us this gives customer full flexibility from a coding perspective while protecting Vertex IP. 

Thomas Reuters/Onesource is working on a Sage 100 sales tax integration as well that sounds interesting. They work with developer Scott J. Billadeau from  DSTAX so I'm interested to see what that will bring to the table.

The customer opened a case with Vertex on April 2, 2024, and has not heard back despite inquiring twice on the ticket (and companies wonder why customers hate submitting support tickets). 

This is just an update on our experience with going through Vertex's support to obtain something in writing. 

Vertex just replied that they have a partner (DSTAX) that has a connector to support higher versions of Sage 100. I've had conversations with DSTAX and I don't believe they have a connector yet but are working on it.

The customer opened a case with Vertex on April 2, 2024, and has not heard back despite inquiring twice on the ticket (and companies wonder why customers hate submitting support tickets). 

This is just an update on our experience with going through Vertex's support to obtain something in writing. 

Thanks, Dana. Vertex continues to ignore my customer's inquiries about the availability of a connector for Sage 100 v2023. Based on this, I'm putting Vertex on my "no-fly" list, as even if they do eventually come up with something, I can't recommend a solution that ignores customer inquiries against open support tickets.

Vertex just replied that they have a partner (DSTAX) that has a connector to support higher versions of Sage 100. I've had conversations with DSTAX and I don't believe they have a connector yet but are working on it.

The customer opened a case with Vertex on April 2, 2024, and has not heard back despite inquiring twice on the ticket (and companies wonder why customers hate submitting support tickets). 

This is just an update on our experience with going through Vertex's support to obtain something in writing. 

Vertex just replied that they have a partner (DSTAX) that has a connector to support higher versions of Sage 100. I've had conversations with DSTAX and I don't believe they have a connector yet but are working on it.

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Dana Halpin
Vrakas/Blum Computer Consulting, Inc.
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Hi @Dana Halpin have you heard anything about an updated Vertex connector?

My customer hasn't heard anything from DSTAX since May 2024.

I'm wondering whether to advise  them to rip the bandage off and look more closely at Avalara or whether there could possibly be some light at the end of the tunnel with a DSTAX created connector for Vertex sales tax to Sage 100? 

Ideally I'd like to have this customer go to Sage 100 2024.

Have you or perhaps anyone else in the group received any additional information about then status of a  Vertex connector upgrade that works with the current Sage 100 release? 

I sent a follow-up email to my contact over there this am but have not heard back yet. I haven't heard anything since May as well when they told me the had the Sage source code and development partner resources but needed a developer. Will update if I hear anything.

Hi @Dana Halpin have you heard anything about an updated Vertex connector?

My customer hasn't heard anything from DSTAX since May 2024.

I'm wondering whether to advise  them to rip the bandage off and look more closely at Avalara or whether there could possibly be some light at the end of the tunnel with a DSTAX created connector for Vertex sales tax to Sage 100? 

Ideally I'd like to have this customer go to Sage 100 2024.

Have you or perhaps anyone else in the group received any additional information about then status of a  Vertex connector upgrade that works with the current Sage 100 release? 

Hi @Dana Halpin have you heard anything about an updated Vertex connector?

My customer hasn't heard anything from DSTAX since May 2024.

I'm wondering whether to advise  them to rip the bandage off and look more closely at Avalara or whether there could possibly be some light at the end of the tunnel with a DSTAX created connector for Vertex sales tax to Sage 100? 

Ideally I'd like to have this customer go to Sage 100 2024.

Have you or perhaps anyone else in the group received any additional information about then status of a  Vertex connector upgrade that works with the current Sage 100 release? 

I just got off the phone with Avalara and a client that signed 1.5 years ago.  The rep said their 100% increase in cost is due to Avalara price raises, they were sold at 15k and now their yearly renewal is coming in at 30k.  About 2% of their transactions are actually taxable.......and in what subscription model is it okay to double someone's subscription cost in a year and a half....the Avalara rep just said it's above their pay grade when it comes to decisions on price increases....and they are not our first client to really complain about them.  Seems the market could use another tool for taxes.....now to start yelling up the chain of command.....

Hi @Dana Halpin have you heard anything about an updated Vertex connector?

My customer hasn't heard anything from DSTAX since May 2024.

I'm wondering whether to advise  them to rip the bandage off and look more closely at Avalara or whether there could possibly be some light at the end of the tunnel with a DSTAX created connector for Vertex sales tax to Sage 100? 

Ideally I'd like to have this customer go to Sage 100 2024.

Have you or perhaps anyone else in the group received any additional information about then status of a  Vertex connector upgrade that works with the current Sage 100 release? 

I had a customer with almost the same experience. They had to work at contacting someone at Avalara to review the invoices and their transactions went up in almost the same qty ( 15k to 30k ) and the customer had a very hard time understanding the increase in volume and Avalara had a problem fully explaining it. The customer eventually fired Avalara and decided to eliminate their taxable sales because it had become so costly to track the tax for the volume.

The biggest issues that I had with Avalara: 

• We were constantly ( constantly ) shuffled from one person to another for any type of support issue whether it was technical or billing related. And people would churn like crazy.
• In my opinion, Avalara works for a company with a very competent CFO/Controller plus a skilled accountant who manages the sales tax. I do not believe Avalara is suitable for novices with little sales tax and/or accounting skills because Avalara ( with the two customers I had using them ) did not offer a lot of lower level handholding on how to prepare or file the sales tax returns. This became an issue for one of my customers who wasn't very strong in accounting and purchased Avalara without my involvement. By the end of their time with Avalara I was charging them about $2,000 a month to assist with their sales tax preparation which was somewhat cumbersome because Avalara at the time did not have an elegant way to deal with marketplace sales.
• One of my customers got a big push to upsell to a higher level of support ( which they had already purchased ) and it was difficult to determine what extra the customer got for that higher fee
• Just the constant churn was something that made me want to figure some things out on my own versus opening a ticket and then the account rep would pass us off to someone else who in turn would pass us to another person.

Shortly after my customer bought the solution Avalara went private ( they had been publicly traded )  and I don't know if going private has allowed them to resolve any of the issues that I encountered.

And to top it off someone from 90 Minds called Jeff Roth (presumably sharing all the info I had shared about Avalara) who in turn called me. I spent a good amount of time talking to Jeff and in turn spoke with another person on a Zoom call who I candidly think I may have given nightmares when I spend about 30 minutes describing in more detail all of my notes from above.

I just got off the phone with Avalara and a client that signed 1.5 years ago.  The rep said their 100% increase in cost is due to Avalara price raises, they were sold at 15k and now their yearly renewal is coming in at 30k.  About 2% of their transactions are actually taxable.......and in what subscription model is it okay to double someone's subscription cost in a year and a half....the Avalara rep just said it's above their pay grade when it comes to decisions on price increases....and they are not our first client to really complain about them.  Seems the market could use another tool for taxes.....now to start yelling up the chain of command.....

Hi @Dana Halpin have you heard anything about an updated Vertex connector?

My customer hasn't heard anything from DSTAX since May 2024.

I'm wondering whether to advise  them to rip the bandage off and look more closely at Avalara or whether there could possibly be some light at the end of the tunnel with a DSTAX created connector for Vertex sales tax to Sage 100? 

Ideally I'd like to have this customer go to Sage 100 2024.

Have you or perhaps anyone else in the group received any additional information about then status of a  Vertex connector upgrade that works with the current Sage 100 release?