NetSuite is one of the most comprehensive ERP system options available. It offers fantastic benefits for SMEs and large organisations alike, allowing almost unlimited levels of personalisation and tailoring. However, that customisation comes at a cost: complexity. For this reason, many businesses find their NetSuite deployment doesn’t quite hit the mark.

Are you one of those business owners? Have you found NetSuite to fall short of your initial expectations or plans? Are you now worried about what to do with NetSuite, even? How can such an in-depth platform be optimised for your enterprise?

If that’s you, don’t worry. You’re not alone. All sorts of businesses encounter these sorts of challenges. It’s all part of the journey as you aim to maximise the benefits of your NetSuite implementation. With the right strategies and careful attention to detail, you’ll quickly turn things around and unlock this fantastic software’s full potential.

In this guide, we’ll delve into six detailed tips to help you fix your NetSuite deployment and ensure it operates at peak efficiency for your organisation.

Conduct a thorough process assessment

As dull as it might sound, planning and strategising are imperative to all computer-based work. With technology changing and evolving so quickly, thinking ahead is vital.

When it comes to assessing your processes, we’re really talking about focusing on specific areas to avoid scope creep. Scope creep is the natural human tendency to advance beyond the ‘scope’ of a project. In the case of NetSuite, you might end up developing processes that appear fun and engaging but don’t really benefit your business.

The answer is a thorough NetSuite process assessment. In this document, you’ll comprehensively assess how you currently use NetSuite – your ‘current processes’. Take the time to identify pain points, bottlenecks, inefficiencies and anywhere else that NetSuite isn’t meeting your key business needs. On the flip side, it’s well worth noting what people enjoy about your current setup. You can retain that with your new installation.

Gather this data from key stakeholders, such as employees and contractors. Compile it in your assessment to decide what to keep and what to replace.

Explore NetSuite’s native functionality

While customisations can address specific requirements, they often come with added complexity. As a result, you and your organisation might risk increasing your maintenance overhead.

Before resorting to customisation, explore NetSuite’s native functionality to see if it can meet your needs. NetSuite offers a plethora of built-in features and modules. These ‘template’ setups could be all you need to streamline processes and enhance productivity without needing any custom development at all.

Before deciding whether NetSuite’s native functionality is for you, complete your process assessment (discussed above). This will prevent you from spending time and money implementing a new system, only to find you face similar issues to before.

Invest in user training and support

You might have the best software in the world, but even then, it’s only as good as its users. Ensure your team receives in-depth training on the most effective ways to use NetSuite. You could go a step further and sign certain team members up for specific training sessions tailored to their job or department. For instance, someone in the sales department may benefit from a detailed tutorial on effectively managing a NetSuite CRM.

Another point to note in this section is the importance of an ongoing support system. It would help if you established this early on. It allows staff members and other key stakeholders to report issues and bugs and potentially find answers to problems they encounter.

Finally, remember that all change comes with resistance. Your employees and other key stakeholders might be familiar with the old setup, even if it isn’t working optimally. People like what they know, so pushing them outside their comfort zone might come with some pushback. Counter this by assessing their needs and tailoring your new implementation to meet them.

Implement robust data governance policies

The first assumed step in this point is putting emphasis on data-driven decisions and becoming a data-driven company. When you use facts and figures to decide on your status and future objectives, you’re much more likely to see them succeed.

With that in place, a critical consideration is the data quality. Data integrity is paramount for making informed business decisions. Establish clear policies and procedures for the following:

·       Data entry

·       Data validation

·       Data maintenance

·       Data updates

·       Data deletion

Within NetSuite, you can define roles and permissions to ensure that data access is restricted only to those who need to see or use it (‘authorised users’). And finally, establish key dates for when somebody will audit your data to identify and rectify inconsistencies or inaccuracies. The sooner you notice any problems with your data, the better.

Regular review and optimisation

NetSuite is cloud-based. It’s a dynamic platform that changes and evolves. Your organisation might also need to change as you grow and expand similarly.

This means that changes and adjustments will always be necessary. Schedule regular reviews of your NetSuite configuration, workflows and automations. These reviews help you identify areas for improvement and even allow you to foresee where bottlenecks and inefficiencies might arise as your business grows. Look for ways to streamline processes, cut out redundancies and incorporate new features if they align with your evolving business objectives.

In short, be open to constant tweaking and rolling with your company’s and market’s needs.

Stay informed and engage with the community

NetSuite regularly releases updates and enhancements. They’re always adjusting things behind the scenes, doing their best to optimise the program for everyone. These updates often introduce new features and functionalities. We strongly recommend staying informed about these updates before they’re released, assessing whether they’ll benefit your business and, if so, how.

Engage with the NetSuite community through online forums, user groups, dedicated blogs and online and in-person events. These interactions allow you to exchange ideas, learn best practices, stay abreast of industry trends, and develop new ideas to streamline your workflows further.

SuiteSparkle can fix your NetSuite deployment for you

And there we have it. Six tips to fix your NetSuite deployment. NetSuite is a fantastic piece of software for any business with more than 50 employees, bringing flexibility and bespoke solutions for all.

Please don’t worry too much if you’re struggling to optimise your NetSuite implementation. You’re far from alone. Such a complex operation demands specialist skills. If you’re open to chatting with us, we’d love to offer a hand. Our dedicated team of NetSuite experts know the platform inside and out. We’ll become your strategic partner, sitting down with you to understand your business objectives and creating a comprehensive strategy for achieving them through NetSuite.

Interested in learning more? Why not reach out for a free, no-obligation chat? One of our friendly team members will answer the phone or email you back as soon as possible.