Want to improve your business with NetSuite? Customization is the key to unlocking the full potential of this cloud-based ERP system. In this guide, we’ll explore the world of NetSuite customization and its significance for businesses.
Whether you’re new to NetSuite or a seasoned user, understanding the benefits and options for customization will help you tailor the platform to your needs and gain a competitive edge. Learn more below!
What Is NetSuite Customization?
NetSuite customization refers to the process of adjusting the NetSuite system to fit your business’s unique needs. It includes changing and setting up different parts of NetSuite, like forms, fields, workflows, and reports, to match your specific processes.
What Does Customization Mean for NetSuite?
NetSuite is a powerful ERP system right out of the box, but customization takes it to the next level. It allows you to fine-tune NetSuite to fit your business needs and processes, creating a personalized experience for maximum productivity.
Customization enables you to align NetSuite with your unique workflows, capture and analyze data specific to your operations, integrate with third-party systems, and gain a competitive advantage in your industry.
Common NetSuite Customizations
Customizing NetSuite is straightforward, but it comes with inherent complexities. Whether it’s adding a custom field or building applications from scratch, common customizations include:
Custom Fields
One of the biggest customization options in NetSuite is the ability to create custom fields. These fields let you capture and store information relevant to your business, such as tracking customer preferences, recording industry-specific data, or collecting extra details for reporting.
Custom Records
NetSuite’s custom records feature lets businesses create and handle custom record types. This customization option helps you arrange and categorize data to match your business processes. Whether it’s employee, vendor, or customer records, custom records offer flexibility to save and manage information tailored to business.
Workflows
You can define and automate your unique business processes within NetSuite by creating custom workflows. This empowers you to optimize operations and eliminate manual tasks.
Reports and Dashboards
NetSuite offers robust reporting and analytics capabilities, but customization takes it a step further. Creating personalized dashboards, designing custom reports, or combining multiple data sources through customization gives you a deeper visibility into your business for data-driven decisions.
Benefits of Customizing NetSuite
Better User Experience
Simplifying navigation, adding relevant files, and automating repetitive tasks can improve user adoption and overall satisfaction with the NetSuite system. A personalized user experience boosts productivity and reduces the learning curve for new users.
Improved Reporting and Insights
Creating custom reports, dashboards, and key performance indicators (KPIs) allows businesses to gain valuable insights, make informed decisions, and identify trends.
Integration with Third-Party Systems
NetSuite customization allows seamless integration with important systems and applications. Whether it’s integrating with CRM systems, eCommerce platforms, or other business-critical applications, customization enables a unified and streamlined workflow across your organization.
Scalability and Future-Proofing
As your business grows and evolves, customization ensures that NetSuite adapts to your changing needs. It also future-proofs your NetSuite environment, providing long-term value and adaptability.
Competitive Advantage
Customization helps businesses stand out in the market. It enables you to distinguish yourself and deliver exceptional value to your customers.
11 Best Practices for NetSuite Customization
For a successful NetSuite customization project, we recommend following these key considerations and best practices:
1. Clearly Define Business Requirements
Before starting a customization project, clearly define your business requirements and pain points. Analyze workflows, processes, and desired outcomes to see if customization is best.
2. Assess Cost and ROI
Consider customization costs, including development, implementation, and ongoing maintenance. Evaluate the return on investment (ROI) compared to your business operations' potential benefits and improvements. Think about the long-term value and impact.
3. Consider NetSuite Upgrade Compatability
Understand how customization may impact future NetSuite upgrades and compatibility. Consider whether customizations might need extra work to adapt or become outdated with system updates. Balancing customization and the ability to use new features and enhancements in future NetSuite versions is crucial.
4. Assess Internal Expertise and Resources
Check if your team has the skills for NetSuite customization. Decide if you can handle it in-house or if it’s better to get help from NetSuite consultants or partners. Make sure to consider the time, effort, and training needed for successful customization implementation and maintenance.
Check if your team has the skills for NetSuite customization. Decide if you can handle it in-house or if it’s better to get help from NetSuite consultants or partners. Consider the time, effort, and training needed for successful customization implementation and maintenance.
5. Plan for Scalability and Flexibility
Think about your business’s future growth and scalability needs. Make sure the customization approach allows for future changes and expansions without causing disruptions or limitations.
6. Integration with Third-Party Systems
If your business uses other systems, check compatibility and integration needs. Consider if the customization can smoothly integrate with existing or future third-party systems for seamless data flow and process automation.
7. Test and QA Customizations
Test all customizations before deploying them in a live environment. Develop a testing plan that covers various scenarios, edge cases, and integration points. Perform quality assurance (QA) to make sure customizations work as intended, don’t affect existing functions, and deliver the desired results.
8. Involve Stakeholders and Obtain User Feedback
Involve relevant stakeholders, including end-users, in the customization process. Gather their feedback, include them in design and testing, and incorporate their input. This ensures customizations meet their needs, boosts user adoption, and enhances satisfaction. User feedback is invaluable in creating a customized NetSuite environment that truly supports your business operations.
9. Document Customizations and Processes
Keep detailed documentation of all customizations, including their purpose, functionality, and any related processes. Documenting customizations helps with knowledge transfer, troubleshooting, and future maintenance or enhancements.
10. Leverage NetSuite Community and Resources
Take advantage of the NetSuite community, user groups, and resources available. Participate in forums, attend webinars, and use documentation to learn from others’ experiences and stay updated on the latest customization trends and techniques. The NetSuite community is a valuable source of knowledge and support.
11. Consult Experienced NetSuite Consultants
If your organization lacks expertise or resources, think about partnering with experienced NetSuite consultants or implementation partners. They can provide valuable insights, guidance, and expertise throughout the customization process. NetSuite consultants bring industry expertise and best practices to the table, helping you make informed decisions and achieve your customization goals.
NetSuite Development That Fits Your Business Needs
Ready to customize NetSuite? As a top NetSuite solution provider, SCS Cloud’s team of developers and cloud experts are ready to collaborate with you.
We’ll chart the map to discover exactly what you need and where your company needs to go. Every customization starts somewhere, which is why you should contact us to find out where yours begins. Using NetSuite’s SuiteCloud developer tools, like SuiteScript, SuiteTalk, SuiteAnalytics, and SuiteBuilder, our developers can customize your NetSuite, redefining what’s possible.
Contact SCS Cloud Today for a Free Evaluation
