VIESConnect - Setup
VIESConnect automatically verifies the validity of customer and vendor VAT numbers through the EU VIES service — either manually from the setup page or automatically through the job queue.
All verifications are logged, and a summary report can be displayed on-screen or sent by email.
Purpose
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To ensure continuous validation of VAT numbers for customers and vendors.
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To provide clear visibility of valid and invalid VAT numbers.
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To notify responsible users whenever invalid or expired numbers are detected.
Prerequisites
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Internet access from Business Central (VIES is an online service).
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User permissions to run job queues and access VIESConnect pages.
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Valid email setup in Business Central if email notifications are enabled.
Opsætning
Open VIESConnect Setup.
The page is divided into the Customer, Vendor, and Notification sections, along with several actions in the top menu.
Actions:
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Run verification – Starts a manual verification (see Manual Verification).
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Validation log – Opens the log containing all verification results.
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Communication log – Displays sent notifications and technical messages.
Customer Section
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Active – Enables or disables customer VAT verification. Must be active for the process to run.
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Customer filter – Define which customers to include (e.g., by posting group, salesperson, country, etc.). The link shows how many customers match the filter.
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Valid for period – Specifies how long a verification remains valid before it is rechecked. Use Business Central duration format (e.g., 1D, 1W, 1M).
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Update verification log – When enabled, the system records or updates verification data in the log for each customer.
Vendor Section
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Active – Enables or disables vendor VAT verification.
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Vendor filter – Define which vendors to include.
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Valid for period – Specifies the validity period for vendor verifications.
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Update verification log – When enabled, vendor verification results are logged or updated for each check.
Notification Section
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Active – Defines how notifications are delivered.
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Download – Results are shown in Business Central and can be downloaded.
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(If email is desired, select an email-enabled option in your version.)
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Mail recipients – One or more email addresses to receive notifications. Separate multiple addresses with a semicolon ;.
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Notification template – HTML template for the email message. You can include your company branding or text (advanced users can edit the <html>…</html> code directly).
Tip: Start with a validity period such as 1M (one month) and adjust as needed. Shorter intervals provide more frequent updates but increase the number of lookups.
Manual Verification
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Open VIESConnect Setup.
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Click Run verification.
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The system will check all customers and vendors matching your filters whose verification has expired based on the Valid for period value.
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Results will appear in the Validation log. If notifications are enabled, they are sent according to your setup.
Automatic Verification via Job Queue
To automate verification at regular intervals:
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Go to Job Queue Entries in Business Central.
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Create a new entry using the codeunit/report related to VIESConnect.
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Set a suitable recurrence interval (e.g., nightly).
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Enable the job queue.
The system will then perform verifications automatically and send notifications based on your Notification settings.
Logs and Reports
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Validation Log
Displays each verification, including date/time, record (customer/vendor), VAT number, and result (valid/invalid/error). Use this log for compliance documentation and follow-up. -
Communication Log
Lists sent emails and system messages, including any delivery errors. Useful for troubleshooting missing notifications.
Notifications
When the system finds invalid or expired verifications, a notification can be generated:
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On-screen / Download: A summary report can be viewed and saved directly in Business Central.
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Email: Sent to the configured Mail recipients with details on which records require attention.
The content is defined by the Notification template (HTML). You can highlight invalid VAT numbers, include direct links to customer/vendor cards, or add your company’s contact information.
Error Handling & Best Practices
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VIES unavailable: The EU VIES service may experience downtime. Try again later or schedule job queue runs outside peak hours.
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Incorrect VAT formats: Ensure country codes and VAT formats are correct on your customer and vendor records.
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Repeated verification errors: Adjust your Valid for period setting and filters to avoid unnecessary checks.
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No emails received: Review the Communication log, email setup in Business Central, and recipient addresses.