We take a car to the garage when it develops a faulty engine. We ask them what’s wrong and then work out a solution based on their advice. We’re all capable of driving, but sometimes, we need an expert mechanic’s insight.
Running your NetSuite ERP is surprisingly similar. If it’s underperforming, such as slow-loading dashboards or laggy search functions, you’ll be frustrated and might have to pay out in time and money. Plus, these are just the symptoms; they signal deeper problems that, if left unchecked, could be seriously hindering your ERP’s efficiency.
Here’s how to spot the issues before they impact your bottom line…
The silent impact of system performance
Slow NetSuite performance can affect your whole business. For example, if your sales team can’t access their sales reports or dashboards quickly, their productivity and morale drop. What seems like a minor delay in loading data might affect dozens of people hundreds of times per week, and when you add all this up, you might find that each short delay in your NetSuite ERP adds up to hours of wasted time each week. Such calculations reveal the extent of potential errors and missed opportunities, especially for businesses relying on quick, data-driven decision-making.
In most cases, performance problems start subtly. It could be as simple as a couple of extra seconds for a report to load or a search that takes longer than you’d expect. However, as these delays compound, your system begins to feel like it’s grinding to a halt.
The root causes of poor performance
If your NetSuite ERP is underperforming, understandably, you’ll want to jump straight into fixing it. However, a slow system is usually the result of several issues combining, so before you delve into another new project, identify what might be at the core of your NetSuite performance issues. We’ve compiled some of the most common problems below:
Excessive customisations
NetSuite’s vast customisation options are its beauty and USP. However, this flexibility can backfire. Customisations are brilliant for tailoring your system to your organisation’s unique needs. However, if your IT department doesn’t build your ERP to align with your business objectives, they create unnecessary inefficiencies. Overcomplicated custom scripts or unnecessary features introduce processing bottlenecks that drag down the system. These might seem like harmless tweaks at first, but when stacked on top of one another, they start to add up.
Suboptimal data management
Any business large enough to benefit from NetSuite will have an extraordinary amount of data to store. How you manage that plays a major role in system performance. Improper record archiving can clutter your system, slowing it down. Saved searches are another major culprit. If these aren’t carefully thought through and adjusted when necessary, they’ll pull vast quantities of unnecessary data, causing slowdowns. SuiteSparkle suggests introducing proper data management policies and practices so your system works with only the data it needs at any given moment.
Inefficient workflows and approval processes
Bottlenecks arising from inefficient workflows are the bane of many modern business systems, including NetSuite. If they’re overly complex (such as including unnecessary approval processes or checks from other departments), every step takes longer, and the system has more to do. The inevitable result is that it starts to feel sluggish. We recommend looking closely at how your tasks are routed and approved, before dedicating some time to simplifying them by removing unnecessary steps.
Browser-side issues
It’s also worth mentioning that some issues don’t come directly from NetSuite but from your browser. Or, more specifically, how NetSuite interacts with your browser. Browser extensions, cached data or even outdated browser versions can all impact performance. It’s easy to assume that NetSuite is the issue when it could be something much more straightforward to address. We suggest streamlining your browser settings and setup, implementing policies similar to those you’re using for NetSuite. If you’re not sure how to do this, we can help.
Conducting a performance audit
Now that you understand the typical culprits behind performance problems, it’s time to take a closer look at your system. Run a performance audit to identify where things are going wrong.
Here’s a simple tick list for your NetSuite administrators to follow:
- Monitor dashboard performance – if your dashboard lags, review the customisations and saved searches loading within it. Streamline these to reduce unnecessary data pulls.
- Assess report generation speed – if reports generate slowly, check if they’re pulling too much data or if you can simplify them. Look for opportunities to use more specific filters and reduce unnecessary columns.
- Check search function latency – if searches take a long time to return results, review the saved searches. Ensure they pull only the necessary data. Consider limiting the number of results returned or breaking down extensive searches into smaller ones.
- Evaluate custom scripts – are any of your implemented scripts outdated or overly complex? Simplify scripts wherever possible and remove unnecessary customisations. If certain customisations are no longer needed, consider removing them altogether.
- Examine workflows – if your workflows involve too many steps, eliminate redundant approvals or actions that you could automate instead. Aim for simplicity in every process to reduce delays.
- Review data management practices – if your old records haven’t been appropriately archived, they’ll contribute to system bloat and slowdowns. Data management should be part of your ongoing maintenance processes.
- Consider browser settings – check if the issue could be browser-related. Clear your cache, disable unnecessary extensions and ensure your browser is up to date. Perform tests in different browsers to see if performance improves.
Once you’ve gone through the tick list, take action. Apply any recommendations within your control, such as addressing potential browser issues, simplifying workflows, removing redundant customisations or archiving data. If you find larger problems that require technical expertise, it’s time to reach out for support.
Boosting performance for a smoother experience
Optimising your NetSuite instance requires ongoing attention and regular audits to keep everything running smoothly. If you’ve gone through the audit and made changes, monitor the system closely for improvements. Use performance monitoring tools (like SuiteAnalytics and System Notes) to track how your system is performing over time so you can spot new issues before they become major problems.
A well-maintained NetSuite setup ensures your team can work efficiently, make quick decisions and stay productive. If you’re unsure where to start or need help implementing these changes, SuiteSparkle is here and ready to help. Our team of experts works with businesses like yours to optimise their NetSuite deployments for peak performance. Let’s start the conversation and get your NetSuite running as smoothly as your business needs it to.