> This page is for Documentation, version Integration guides (default).
> For other versions, use one of these documentation indexes:
> - Integration guides (default): https://avalara.ferndocs.com/docs/integration-guides/llms.txt
> - Refactor guides: https://avalara.ferndocs.com/docs/refactor-guides/llms.txt
> - Get certified: https://avalara.ferndocs.com/docs/get-certified/llms.txt
> - Agent to Agent (A2A): https://avalara.ferndocs.com/docs/agent-to-agent-a2a/llms.txt
> - AI use cases: https://avalara.ferndocs.com/docs/ai-use-cases/llms.txt
> - API versioning: https://avalara.ferndocs.com/docs/api-versioning/llms.txt

> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://avalara.ferndocs.com/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://avalara.ferndocs.com/_mcp/server.

# Planning your integration

This section provides an overview of requirements that exist for both AvaTax and Document Management in order to become a certified partner.

Administration and utilities

This section describes the requirements for the Settings window of your integration.

Requirement

Use Case

Endpoints

Required/Conditional/Suggested

[Configuration window](https://developer.avalara.com/avatax-dm-combined-erp/common-setup/design-the-user-experience/admin/avatax-dm-configuration-window)

Merchants/users need to be able to access a URL that points to AvaTax and Document Management. From this URL, users must be able to log in using either their username/password or their account number/license key. They also need to be able to perform a company code lookup.

N/A

Required

[Test connection button](https://developer.avalara.com/avatax-dm-combined-erp/common-setup/design-the-user-experience/admin/avatax-test-connect-button)

Merchants/users need to be able to test the connection to the AvaTax and Document Management services and verify their credentials.

[Ping](https://developer.avalara.com/api-reference/avatax/rest/v2/methods/Utilities/Ping/), [QueryCompanies](https://developer.avalara.com/api-reference/avatax/rest/v2/methods/Companies/QueryCompanies/)

Required

[Client-side logging](https://developer.avalara.com/avatax-dm-combined-erp/common-setup/design-the-user-experience/admin/enable-client-side-logging)

Merchants/users must have the option to retrieve detailed logging within the application.

N/A

Required

[User guide](https://developer.avalara.com/avatax-dm-combined-erp/common-setup/design-the-user-experience/admin/user-guide)

Merchants/users must have a way to access a User Guide. This guide should contain screenshots and information allowing the end user to configure AvaTax and Document Management as well as information on the functionality of the integration.

N/A

Required

[Request timeout definition](https://developer.avalara.com/avatax-dm-combined-erp/common-setup/design-the-user-experience/admin/request-timeout-definition)

Merchants/users should define a timeout length on their backend service for AvaTax and Document Management requests.

N/A

Suggested

[Previous](https://developer.avalara.com/avatax-dm-combined-erp/about-this-guide)

[Next](https://developer.avalara.com/avatax-dm-combined-erp/about-this-guide/sales-use-tax-requirements)

> **Note**
>
> Part of the **AvaTax and ECM** integration guide. [Open the full "Planning your integration" milestone on Avalara](https://developer.avalara.com/avatax-dm-combined-erp/about-this-guide/) to see every page in this section.