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[Step by Step] How Do I Choose the Right Technology Partners? (Feat. Michael Bernard, VP of Tax Content & Operations and Chief Tax Officer at Vertex)

Future Commerce
Future Commerce
Episode • Aug 30, 2022 • 40m

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A Blendification of Brands

  • State and local governments have continued to rely on sales tax as it is one of the three pillars that governments rely on for income.
  • Retail invoices have a lot of key components because SKU, price, and tax all have to be correct. Recently, Michael is witnessing more retailers demanding more and more precision.
  • Believe it or not, over the last 30 years, the sales tax base has actually shrunk. State legislatures have written bills to minimize what can be taxed. In turn, governments can only raise tax rates on discretionary income.
  • “You always want to select a vendor that will grow with you and can actually meet your needs.” - Michael
  • The biggest challenge that brands face is selecting the right vendor and not having the right systems to troubleshoot in the wake of a crisis.
  • Retailers of all sizes come to the table with different billing systems. Pick a partner who can move smoothly between systems.
  • Services overlooked when choosing a vendor are self-service ability and flexibility, so you can have the option to move your dollars around easily.
  • “The voice of the customer should be the customer.” - Brian
  • If brands want to differentiate themselves they need to find software that allows them to be a part of the process.

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Future Commerce Podcast: eCommerce, DTC and Retail Strategy • [Step by Step] How Do I Choose the Right Technology Partners? (Feat. Michael Bernard, VP of Tax Content & Operations and Chief Tax Officer at Vertex) • Listen on Fountain