Customizing NetSuite: How to Mold This ERP to Suit Your Business

One of the biggest questions your company will face when implementing NetSuite is whether to modify the system to better fit your business and how to do so. For the record, we highly recommend customizing NetSuite. 

The ERP has many helpful out-of-the-box features, but easy customization is one of its biggest assets. Let’s discuss why and what additions and adjustments you can/should make. 

Why should you consider customizing NetSuite?

Your business is like no other. It has unique processes and a specific way of serving customers or clients. So, a system that works for another company probably won’t help yours quite as much. You need personalized software.

NetSuite customizations take an out-of-the-box system and incorporate specific features and modules that your business needs. Fortunately, many consulting firms specialize in customizing NetSuite. 

For example, SuiteDynamics developers recently created a business profitability and margin customization that allows stakeholders and investors to easily compare individual subsidiary revenue.

For another client, our developers integrated NetSuite payment records with a financial institution. This modification streamlined approval workflows, ensuring only approved payments made it to the bank and reducing manual labor.

We also regularly build custom frameworks for reporting traceability. These frameworks are, generally, segments or fields that automatically source related records from the origin source. 

You don’t have to worry about NetSuite upgrades ruining your custom system as long as you use leading practices.

Teams like ours are constantly customizing NetSuite because our clients have recognized the value of personalized ERPs.

Popular Customizations

Custom Forms

You use a form to enter information into the NetSuite database, so it’s a basic part of the system. Fortunately, it’s also customizable, so you can mold even data entry to suit your needs.   

Custom Fields

You can add new fields to records and transactions so your business can record all its necessary information.

SuiteScript

This programming language is based on JavaScript and used for automating and customizing NetSuite. In addition, developers use it to create new applications and workflows and to streamline the system. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you can use SuiteScript to create responsive business logic. 

SuiteTalk

SuiteTalk integrates your NetSuite ERP with third-party applications and legacy systems. You can also use it to create mobile applications, perform saved searches, manage records, handle login credentials, and more. 

SuiteBuilder

SuiteBuilder is a tool commonly used for configuring and customizing NetSuite. Its graphical user interface offers point-and-click ease so you can edit the following.

• Forms
• Layouts
• Color Themes
• Form Layouts
• Transaction Types
• Records
• Objects
• Lists 
• Roles
• Centers
• Tabs
• Sub-Tabs
• Record Re-Naming

You can also use SiteBuilder to create high-quality websites and apps that manage data. 

SuiteAnalytics

Tailored reporting allows your company to accurately assess its progress. SuiteAnalytics offers real-time insights into custom applications. You can use the tool to create KPIs and build dashboards with real-time data, giving you all the necessary information to make decisions quickly.

Plan your NetSuite ERP implementation carefully and decide what customizations you need before it starts.

Personalized Roles

Typically, multiple employees need to access a NetSuite ERP, and each fills a unique role in a company. So, the system must cater to each individual and their job description. Therefore, NetSuite users can personalize their dashboards and reports to feature items like KPIs, reminders, and task lists that contain role-specific information. For example, an administrator may include a KPI meter for new leads on their dashboard. Meanwhile, a warehouse manager may have a portlet for monthly inventory trends.

SuiteApps

SuiteApps are applications designed for further customizing NetSuite. For example, you can find SuiteApps that assist with transactional tax compliance, integrate NetSuite with various applications, facilitate shipping services, automate supply chains, and more. 

Your NetSuite system may already have several of these tools installed. To find out, navigate to Customization > SuiteBundler > Search & Install Bundles.

You can also find hundreds of them in the SuiteApp Marketplace. Or you can contract a NetSuite consulting firm like SuiteDynamics to build a custom SuiteApp. 

SuiteBundles

A SuiteBundle is a coding package that provides your ERP with more features. However, it doesn’t offer as much functionality as a SuiteApp. SuiteDynamics has built several SuiteBundles, such as our Mass Delete Script. 

Will upgrades ruin my NetSuite customizations?

It’s true that some ERP users wait to upgrade their systems because they’re afraid the process will break their customizations. Consequently, their software falls more and more out of date. 

Over time, your system might acquire several modifications built by various developers.

However, you don’t have to worry about NetSuite upgrades ruining your custom system as long as you use leading practices. The software automatically updates twice yearly, integrating new features seamlessly into your ERP. So not only do you receive updates without fuss, but you can also rest assured that your NetSuite customizations will carry forward into the new version. The system is designed for flexibility. 

Customization Tips

Just like implementation, NetSuite customizations can take quite a bit of work to perfect. So, it’s best to follow a few guidelines during the process. 

Customize during implementation.

Plan your NetSuite ERP implementation carefully and decide what customizations you need before it starts. Then, you can incorporate those adjustments and added features during the ERP setup. 

Customizing NetSuite from the start allows your employees to acclimate to the ERP all at once, instead of re-learning the system every time you add a feature. It also preserves your data’s integrity since you can test customizations with dummy info before go-live and import the real data after. Plus, modifying, debugging, and testing can slow a system down, so if you do all that before launch, you won’t interrupt your staff’s workday. 

Buy a NetSuite Sandbox.

A Sandbox is a replication of your NetSuite account that includes your data. So, it’s the perfect test environment. 

Developers like to use a Sandbox to try out NetSuite customizations and catch bugs before go-live. So, it’s worth a purchase to fix glitches before they snowball into significant problems. 

Document your customizations.

Over time, your system might acquire several modifications built by various developers. That’s why it’s important to document all adjustments and additions when customizing NetSuite. Record each improvement’s goal and how the developer building it will achieve that goal. Then, future developers can use those records to better understand the system. 

You generally need three types of documentation.

Technical Requirements Document

A Technical Requirements Document (TRD) is a contract between users and developers detailing the required customizations. A TRD is necessary because it facilitates communication between you and your developers, so you get the results you need. 

And, as you create this document, remember to include “test cases.” These cases replicate the conditions that NetSuite customizations need to succeed in a production run. 

Descriptions/Help Fields

The NetSuite system includes description fields and help boxes, which developers can use to answer users’ questions about customizations. You can find description fields in custom records, scripts, and fields. 

Code-Level Comments/Syntax

One of the best ways to document NetSuite customizations exists in the code itself. Ask your developers to take their time with each project, creating neat, precise coding that future developers can understand. Make sure they also attach comments directly to the programming language, providing context and explaining how to use and assess the code when customizing NetSuite in the future.