# Step 6: Customer sync and ECMS certificate onboarding

Source: https://developer.avalara.com/ai-onboarding/ywx5698434879560/

# Step 6: Customer sync and ECMS certificate onboarding

Synchronize customer records and onboard exemption certificates using ECMS.

This step synchronizes customer records and onboards exemption certificates using the Exemption Certificate Management System (ECMS).

## When this step occurs

This step occurs after item classification and tax code assignment are complete and before onboarding is finalized.

## What the AI agent does

During this step, the AI agent analyzes customer data, synchronizes customer records, and facilitates exemption certificate onboarding.

1.  **Customer analysis**: The AI agent reads all customers from the ERP system, identifies tax-exempt customers, and provides a summary that includes:

    -   Total number of customers

    -   Number of tax-exempt customers

2.  **Customer sync**: After the user confirms customer synchronization, the system immediately creates customer records in AvaTax using: `[POST /api/v2/companies/{companyId}/customers](https://developer.avalara.com/api-reference/avatax/rest/v2/methods/Customers/CreateCustomers/)`

3.  **Certificate onboarding options**: The AI agent presents the following options for onboarding exemption certificates through ECMS:

    -   **Upload existing certificates**: The user provides existing certificate files. The AI agent uses OCR to extract certificate data and links certificates to customers using the `[LinkCertificatesToCustomer](https://developer.avalara.com/api-reference/avatax/rest/v2/methods/Customers/LinkCertificatesToCustomer/)` API.

        Certificate uploads are implemented immediately.

    -   **Send CertExpress invitations**: The AI agent generates unique invitation links and sends them to customers, allowing customers to upload certificates through CertExpress.

        Invitations are sent using the `[CreateCertExpressInvitation](https://developer.avalara.com/api-reference/avatax/rest/v2/methods/CertExpressInvites/CreateCertExpressInvitation/)` API and are implemented immediately.

    -   **Both**: The AI agent uploads available certificates and sends CertExpress invitations to remaining exempt customers.

        Both actions are implemented immediately and sequentially.

## Outcome of this step

After customer synchronization and certificate onboarding actions are confirmed, customer records and exemption certificate workflows are active and available for tax calculation and compliance processing.