Your Guide to Maximizing NetSuite Efficiency

For those unfamiliar, NetSuite boasts an extensive range of built-in features. In fact, most of what you encounter on the platform is its native functionality. While many businesses might not utilize every feature available, it’s undeniable that NetSuite offers a comprehensive and diverse product suite. This article provides a Guide to NetSuite efficiency.

In a recent panel discussion hosted by Velosio, NetSuite experts Jeff Andrews, and Melissa Lugo spotlight useful go-to-tools and highlight some of the latest additions to NetSuite’s offerings.

Diving into NetSuite Features

To start off, our presenters introduce you to some of NetSuite’s core platform features. While there’s a plethora to explore, Jeff and Melissa be narrow the focus to three primary functionalities. First, they delve into the intricacies of reporting and saved searches, then how to navigate through SuiteAnalytics, followed by an in-depth look at SuiteFlow and its advanced capabilities.

A piece of advice often shared with our clients is the beauty of NetSuite’s scalability. Given its vast array of features, there’s no pressure to utilize everything from day one. Instead, start with a foundational set and gradually expand your usage. As you become more familiar with the platform, you can optimize and deploy additional functionalities, ensuring that your experience with NetSuite evolves and grows over time.

One thing we always encourage is, when you start with NetSuite, because it has so much functionality, you don’t have to use it all on day one. You start with a set, and you can grow into the features as you can optimize and deploy more and more of the functionality over the first few months and years that you’re using NetSuite – Jeff Andrews, Practice Director, NetSuite

Power Tools and Features

Saved Searches (Advanced Features)​

NetSuite’s Saved Searches is a pivotal yet often overlooked feature. Essentially, it’s a dynamic querying tool with a user-friendly interface, negating the need for any coding. The principle is straightforward: if data exists in NetSuite, it’s searchable. Users can filter data based on parameters like keywords and dates, then integrate the results into dashboards.

Beyond basic searches, this feature offers advanced functionalities. Users can craft formulas for intricate data filtering, group and summarize data, and generate insightful reports that can be integrated into KPIs.

The Saved Searches feature is a goldmine waiting to be tapped. It’s a tool that, when maximized, can provide invaluable insights, and we’re excited to spotlight its capabilities in this session.

For instance, in a transaction search, one might focus on specific sales types within a date range. Using advanced features, data can be further refined based on locations or quantities, leading to comprehensive reports on inventory and sales figures.

Saved Searches is a potent tool in NetSuite, offering both basic and advanced data querying capabilities, and it’s a highlight of our session today.

SuiteFlow

SuiteFlow is another invaluable tool within NetSuite that sometimes goes unnoticed. In essence, SuiteFlow is all about workflows. It’s designed to create, execute, and automate many of the routine business processes that form the backbone of daily operations. The beauty of SuiteFlow lies in its user-friendly, point-and-click interface, eliminating the need for scripting or complex functions.

So, what are the advantages of using SuiteFlow? One of the primary benefits is process consistency. A common application of workflows is in the approval process. It ensures that transactions pass through all necessary checks and balances, getting the required eyes on them to ensure everything is in order.

Let’s think on a practical example. Imagine you’re setting up a workflow for an approval process. With SuiteFlow’s intuitive interface, you can easily set conditions, values, and define the path a sales order should take through various approvals. All these actions are defined without the need for scripting, relying solely on the user-friendly interface. Moreover, SuiteFlow offers flexibility in determining when the workflow should be triggered, be it every time a transaction is created or on a scheduled basis.

SuiteFlow is a robust tool in NetSuite, offering a streamlined approach to managing and automating business processes.

SuiteAnalytics Workbook

NetSuite offers over 300 standard reports, KPIs, and dashboards. While some companies wonder about needing an external reporting tool, NetSuite’s native platform provides comprehensive solutions. Beyond standard reports, users can utilize Saved Searches and the SuiteAnalytics Workbooks.

SuiteAnalytics, introduced a few years ago, serves as an integrated business intelligence tool. It simplifies data exploration with a drag-and-drop interface, eliminating the need for tedious spreadsheet tasks. Users can access all NetSuite data without the complexities of data importing or table joins.

The tool allows for easy data analysis, with options for table views, pivoting, and charting. Workbooks can be saved, shared, and exported, all within NetSuite, ensuring up-to-date data access every time.

Be sure to check out Jeff’s Demo on SuiteAnalytics.

What’s New in NetSuite

NetSuite’s Newest AP Automation Capabilities

NetSuite, known for its all-encompassing ERP capabilities, has always been at the helm of managing processes from purchase orders to vendor bill payments. The recent output of AP (Accounts Payable) automation further elevates these functionalities, promising streamlined operations, minimized manual data entry, and bolstered accuracy.

What Does AP Automation Bring to the Table?

Invoice Capture: Gone are the days of manually tracking every vendor bill. Whether it’s an email, a PDF, or a paper invoice, AP automation ensures every bill is captured seamlessly and accurately.

Matching & Approval Process: It’s not just about recording bills but ensuring they align with received services or inventory items. This feature facilitates a thorough matching of purchase orders with their respective bills and ensures that every bill undergoes a meticulous approval process.

Payments & Reconciliation: With AP automation, vendors can rest assured they’re paid the right amounts. It simplifies the task of reconciling these payments with the respective bills, ensuring transparency and accuracy in every transaction.

Visibility & Control: The overarching goal is to provide businesses with a clear overview of the entire procurement process. With AP automation, companies gain unparalleled control and visibility at every stage.

NetSuite’s AP automation is a game-changer, addressing the numerous challenges companies often grapple with in their procurement processes. It’s all about ensuring vendor invoice management is as efficient and precise as possible.

Workforce Management

NetSuite, with its comprehensive ERP suite, introduced SuitePeople years ago, offering a blend of HR and payroll functionalities. These modules encompass a wide range of HR tasks, from job management and onboarding to PTO and benefits. The latest enhancement in this suite is Workforce Management, designed to streamline scheduling, forecasting, and shift management.

Key Highlights:

1. Workforce Scheduling: Tailored for businesses with hourly employees or shift-based work, this tool enables accurate forecasting of personnel needs. It uses historical data and business requirements to predict staffing needs.
2. Real-time Monitoring: Employees can clock in/out instantly using their mobile devices, be it iPhone or Android. This real-time data allows businesses to monitor work hours seamlessly. Additionally, employees can request time-offs directly from their phones.
3. Shift Swapping: A standout feature, shift swapping empowers employees to exchange shifts without managerial intervention. This self-service approach ensures that shifts are always covered. If an employee can’t make a shift, they can find a colleague to cover for them, ensuring business continuity.

NetSuite’s Workforce Management is a game-changer for businesses with shift-based operations. It not only automates scheduling but also gives employees the autonomy to manage their shifts, leading to increased efficiency and satisfaction.

NetSuite is an ERP. We do have everything that has to do with processing purchase orders, receiving those processing vendor bills, and doing payments. –

Melissa Lugo, NetSuite Consultant

CPQ (Configure Price Quote)

CPQ, or Configure Price Quote, is a system designed to guide users through the process of customizing and purchasing products. If you’ve ever bought a laptop or a car online, you’ve likely interacted with a CPQ system. It presents you with various options and guides you through the selection process to ensure you get the product tailored to your preferences.

NetSuite’s CPQ Tool Features:

1. Guided Selling: NetSuite’s CPQ offers advanced features for guided selling, assisting the internal sales team in navigating the sales process efficiently.
2. Website Integration: Businesses can integrate the CPQ tool directly into their websites, allowing customers to customize and purchase products seamlessly online.
3. Proposal Generation: The tool can automatically generate proposals based on the configurations chosen by the customer. For instance, after customizing a car or selecting furniture components, the system can produce a detailed proposal for the customer to review.
4. Integration with Manufacturing: If a purchase requires specific components or assembly, NetSuite’s CPQ integrates directly with the manufacturing features of NetSuite. This ensures that the right Bill of Materials (BOM) is selected and the product is assembled as per the customer’s specifications.
5. Proposal Sharing: Once a proposal is generated, customers can easily share it with family, colleagues, or decision-makers, facilitating collaborative purchasing decisions.
6. Website Tying: The CPQ tool can be tied directly to a business’s website, enabling both the sales team and customers to benefit from guided selling.

NetSuite’s CPQ tool streamlines the product customization and purchasing process, ensuring customers get the right product tailored to their needs. If you’re interested in exploring more about NetSuite’s CPQ, feel free to reach out.

Final Thoughts

NetSuite offers a comprehensive set of reporting and business intelligence features tailored for modern businesses, arming end users with efficiency tools that streamline processes. A standout feature is the Warehouse solution, which provides an immediate, integrated data warehousing solution for those unfamiliar with the complexities of setting up a Data Lake. Its adaptability is evident in its ability to connect with various data sources, allowing businesses to visualize data across multiple platforms. Moreover, the competitive pricing of Suite Analytics Warehouse makes advanced data solutions more accessible. As businesses increasingly rely on data-driven insights, tools like Suite Analytics Warehouse become essential, showcasing NetSuite’s commitment to evolving business needs.

We hope you found something useful in the Power Tools segment or are excited about some of the newer features in 2023. There is so much to leverage within your business. For help with NetSuite features or getting the most from your NetSuite implementation, contact our NetSuite team today.