High-growth companies share a common thread – they strategically build their financials around a robust Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system like NetSuite cloud ERP. This approach frees up valuable resources, accelerates operations, and keeps them steps ahead of the competition.
Organisations adopt dozens, sometimes even hundreds, of applications across various departments, and ensuring that all these applications have the right data at the right time becomes critical.
NetSuite, as a leading cloud-based ERP solution, comes with advanced capabilities for streamlining business operations including modules for financial management, customer relationship management, inventory control, and more. Integrations enhance NetSuite’s functionality by allowing different applications to communicate effectively, ensuring data consistency, and enabling automated workflows across the organisation.
What is a NetSuite integration?
A NetSuite integration is the process of connecting the NetSuite ERP system with other software applications, systems, or data sources. These connections allow for seamless communication and data exchange between NetSuite and external platforms such as customer relationship management (CRM) systems, eCommerce platforms, payment gateways, marketing automation tools, and more.
How to know if you need a NetSuite integration
If you’re using NetSuite alongside other platforms to handle different aspects of your business, chances are you could benefit from a NetSuite integration tool. Not entirely sure? No worries – you can always reach out to ask about our NetSuite consulting and integration services. One of our NetSuite experts can guide you on the specific integrations and associated options that will best support your business needs.
Purpose of integrating NetSuite with other systems
The primary purpose of integrating NetSuite with other systems is to create a unified and efficient technology ecosystem that enhances overall business operations.
Here’s how integrations serve this purpose:
Data consistency | An integration ensures that data entered in one system is automatically updated in others, maintaining consistency and reducing the risk of errors associated with manual data entry.
Automated workflows | By connecting NetSuite with other applications, businesses can automate a range of repetitive tasks such as order processing, invoicing, and inventory updates.
Real-time visibility | Integrations pull together real-time insights from across various aspects of the business, which equates to quicker decision-making and more responsive customer service.
Scalability | As businesses grow, integrations allow them to easily add new applications or scale existing ones without disrupting existing processes.
The benefits of integrating NetSuite with other systems
Integrating NetSuite with other systems offers businesses a multitude of benefits that can significantly raise a company’s efficiency and profitability:
Enhanced efficiency and productivity
Integrated systems streamline processes by reducing manual workloads, minimising errors, and accelerating operations. Automation, in particular, allows employees to spend less time on data entry and more on value-added tasks.
Improved data accuracy
Integration prevents data silos and ensures that information is consistent across all platforms, which means no more duplicate data. This leads to accurate reporting, which in turn provides reliable analytics and better business intelligence.
Better customer experiences
With access to unified customer data, businesses have the insight to respond quickly and provide personalised service, resulting in faster response times and higher customer satisfaction. For retailers and wholesale distributers, integrated systems will significantly reduce errors in order fulfilment.
Cost reduction
By decreasing the need for manual intervention, automation lowers operational costs and reduces labour expenses. With all this accurate data flowing through your systems, businesses are better positioned to prevent costly mistakes that could lead to financial loss, contributing to overall cost savings.
Scalable growth
Businesses can choose flexible integration options that fit their specific needs and scale them as they grow. Plus, an integrated system is better equipped to adapt to new technologies and market changes, effectively future-proofing the business.
Enhanced collaboration
When your team has unified communication, everyone across different departments can tap into the same data, making collaboration easier and keeping everyone on the same page. By connecting your systems, you integrate workflows, so cross-functional processes become smoother and more efficient too.
Competitive advantage
Integrated systems enable businesses to react swiftly to market trends and customer demands, providing agility in a competitive market. Having all your data in one place sparks innovation and helps you develop new strategies, giving you a real edge over your more disconnected competitors.
NetSuite integration options
NetSuite is a highly extensible platform so it’s no surprise it offers a versatile range of integration options to connect with other applications and systems. These integration methods can be categorised into three main types: built-in native integrations, third-party integrations, and custom integrations developed to meet unique business requirements.
Pre-built NetSuite native integrations
One of the most powerful integration tools available is the NetSuite Connector, which simplifies the integration process with pre-built integrations covering various eCommerce platforms, point-of-sale (POS) systems, online marketplaces, and third-party logistics providers.
In April 2021, Oracle acquired FarApp, a leading provider of eCommerce, logistics, retail, and hospitality connectors for NetSuite. This acquisition enabled NetSuite to transform FarApp into the advanced NetSuite Connector, significantly enhancing its integration capabilities.
Today, NetSuite Connector enables businesses to set up data mapping between NetSuite and other critical systems. It then automates the transfer of vital information – such as inventory levels, orders, fulfillment details, and returns – between NetSuite and external platforms.
You can browse NetSuite’s library of integration connectors in its online marketplace called SuiteApps.
Pros of NetSuite Connector
- Connects NetSuite with major eCommerce platforms, POS systems, and logistics providers.
- Businesses can tailor integrations to their specific needs.
- Bi-directional data flow ensures that updates in one system are automatically reflected in the other
- NetSuite offers extensive resources and support to assist users with integration issues and technical queries.
- Easily scales with business growth, allowing companies to add new modules and users as needed without disrupting existing processes.
Cons of NetSuite Connector
- Integration is tied to a multi-year NetSuite contract, limiting flexibility for businesses seeking shorter-term solutions.
- Often requires additional third-party support, increasing implementation and support hours and costs.
- Does not support certain integrations and lacks some B2B support
- Best suited for straightforward integrations.
- Configuring and managing the Connector typically requires skilled personnel or specialised training.
- Involves upfront licensing fees and ongoing maintenance expenses, potentially making it more expensive depending on the integration scope.
Third-party integrations with iPaaS
An integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) offers a versatile middle ground between custom integrations and pre-built connectors. Unlike a standard NetSuite connector, which might only link NetSuite with a single application like Salesforce, an iPaaS enables businesses to integrate multiple platforms such as Salesforce, Magento, and Amazon all within the same platform. This flexibility allows for streamlined management of various integrations without the need to hire NetSuite developers to manually code each connection.
With an iPaaS, users can follow a guided, step-by-step process to set up each integration, simplifying the setup compared to custom development. However, some intricate instructions still need to be followed, making this option more resource-intensive than using pre-built integrations but less so than fully custom solutions. While it’s possible to handle the integration process in-house, it requires having the necessary skills and resources. Note that iPaaS platforms are typically purchased on an annual basis, so it’s important to consider the long-term investment.
The three most popular third-party integration platforms (also known as iPaaS) include:
- Celigo Integrator.io | A powerful Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) that offers pre-built connectors and templates for applications like Shopify, Magento, Amazon Marketplace, and eBay. It enables automated data flows between NetSuite and eCommerce platforms, handling orders, inventory levels, customer data, and fulfillment processes. At Annexa, after completing a detailed platform evaluation process, we selected Celigo as our preferred integration platform. In fact, we were named Celigo Partner of the Year for Australia & NZ in 2024.
- Dell Boomi AtomSphere | An integration platform that connects NetSuite with various applications. It offers a visual interface for building integrations using drag-and-drop components, supporting complex data transformations and real-time synchronisation.
- MuleSoft Anypoint Platform | Provides tools for building application networks with APIs, allowing NetSuite to integrate with other enterprise systems such as CRM, HR, and legacy databases. MuleSoft supports both on-premise and cloud applications, facilitating hybrid integration scenarios.
Pros of third-party integrations with iPaaS
- Capable of handling complex data transformations and supporting real-time synchronisation, third-party iPaaS solutions are suitable for businesses experiencing growth.
- Third-party iPaaS platforms offer extensive pre-built connectors for numerous applications, supporting integration with popular eCommerce platforms, CRM systems, and more. This significantly speeds up the integration process, enabling faster deployment and quicker time-to-value.
- These platforms feature visual interfaces and drag-and-drop components, making it easier to create integrations without requiring deep technical expertise.
- Support for both cloud and on-premise applications allows businesses to integrate a diverse range of systems and adapt to evolving needs.
- Established iPaaS providers offer comprehensive support resources, including detailed documentation, customer service, and active community forums.
Cons of third-party integrations with iPaaS
- Third-party iPaaS solutions can cost more than other integration options, particularly for businesses requiring multiple connectors or handling large volumes of data.
- While pre-built connectors cover many standard use cases, highly customised or niche integrations may still require additional configuration or development.
- Relying on external platforms can lead to dependency issues, including potential vendor lock-in and dependence on the provider for updates and support.
- Ongoing maintenance is essential to ensure integrations remain functional as applications update or change, which can demand continual oversight and resources.
Custom integrations
For businesses with unique requirements that cannot be met by built-in or third-party solutions, developing custom integrations is a viable option.
Here’s how you can develop custom integrations, though you might want to find a NetSuite integration partner to help you out as things can get a little complex.
The NetSuite SuiteCloud Development Platform
NetSuite’s SuiteCloud Platform offers a comprehensive set of tools and technologies for building custom integrations:
SuiteTalk (Web Services and REST APIs)
SuiteTalk SOAP-based web services provide programmatic access to NetSuite data and business processes. Developers can use SOAP APIs to perform operations such as creating, retrieving, updating, and deleting records. This is suitable for integrations requiring robust and complex transactions.
For a simpler, lightweight alternative to SOAP, REST Web Services allow for CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations on NetSuite records using standard HTTP methods.
Then there’s Custom RESTful web services built using SuiteScript 2.0. RESTlets offer more flexibility and control over the request and response structures, allowing developers to create custom endpoints tailored to specific integration needs.
SuiteScript 2.0
This is a JavaScript-based scripting platform that enables the creation of custom business logic and scripts within NetSuite. Developers can write server-side scripts (User Event Scripts, Scheduled Scripts), client-side scripts, and Suitelets (custom NetSuite pages). SuiteScript allows for event-based triggers that execute scripts in response to specific actions within NetSuite, facilitating real-time integrations.
SuiteFlow
SuiteFlow provides a graphical interface to create and customise business workflows without coding. It can be used to automate approval processes, notifications, and record updates. Workflows can also be used to trigger actions such as sending HTTP requests to external systems, enabling integration through webhooks.
Pros of custom integrations
- Designed to meet specific business requirements that built-in or third-party solutions cannot address.
- Leveraging NetSuite’s SuiteCloud Development Platform gives businesses complete control over integration logic, data flow, and functionality, allowing for highly customised workflows.
- SuiteTalk APIs (both SOAP and REST) and SuiteScript 2.0 provide powerful tools for developers to create robust and complex integrations, supporting a wide range of operations such as creating, retrieving, updating, and deleting records.
- Custom integrations can be built to scale with business growth, accommodating increasing data volumes and expanding operational needs without being limited by prebuilt solutions.
- Developers can create custom endpoints and utilise SuiteFlow for workflow automation, enabling real-time integrations and advanced business logic.
- Custom integrations can connect NetSuite with industry-specific or niche applications that may not be supported by built-in or third-party connectors.
Cons of custom integrations
- Developing custom integrations requires skilled developers with in-depth knowledge of NetSuite’s SuiteCloud Platform, SuiteTalk APIs, SuiteScript, and SuiteFlow, which may not be readily available in-house.
- Custom integrations typically involve higher initial development costs compared to using built-in or third-party solutions, as they require dedicated development resources and time.
- Creating and testing custom integrations takes time, potentially delaying the benefits that integrations provide to business operations.
- Custom integrations require ongoing maintenance to ensure compatibility with NetSuite updates and to address any emerging issues.
- The complexity of custom integrations can lead to challenges in troubleshooting and ensuring data consistency, especially as business requirements evolve.
- Businesses may need to rely on experienced NetSuite integration partners to develop and manage custom integrations, adding to the overall cost and dependency.
What does NetSuite integrate with?
There are virtually endless possibilities when it comes to NetSuite integrations. Whether you need to synchronise sales data from Magento or Shopify, manage customer relationships with Salesforce CRM, or streamline logistics through Australia Post, there’s likely a solution or a developer ready to connect them.
eCommerce integrations
Without seamless data flow between your eCommerce platform and financial systems, data overlap leads to outdated inventory, missed orders, incorrect shipping, and pricing errors. NetSuite allows you to integrate these systems, synchronising data and enabling efficient, cohesive operations.
Shipping integrations
A third-party shipping integration links your ERP with shipping carriers, enabling you to print labels, calculate rates, and track shipments in one place. A robust ERP supports multiple carrier integrations, eliminating manual re-entry, reducing order processing errors, and cutting reconciliation costs.
Third-party logistics integrations
Integrating third-party logistics (3PL) with an ERP platform ensures seamless data transfer, allowing you to track shipments, inventory, and management processes from one place. This integration maintains a clear supply chain view, preventing disruptions and ensuring smooth operations.
Payment and banking integrations
Ensure seamless data flow from the bank to your ERP, keeping financial data synchronised. The ERP can automatically recognise payment status and cardholder data, pairing them with pending invoices. It supports integration with leading financial institutions like NAB, CBA, HSBC, ANZ, and Adyen.
CRM integrations
Connecting your CRM with NetSuite ensures that customer data remains consistent across sales, marketing, and support functions. Integrations like these streamline lead tracking, opportunity management, and customer communications, enabling a unified view of customer interactions and driving better sales insights and engagement.
Project management integrations
Integrating project management tools with NetSuite allows seamless tracking of project timelines, resources, and budgets. These types of integrations ensure that project data is linked to financials, making it easier to monitor costs, allocate resources, and keep projects on track, ultimately improving project delivery and profitability.
Data and analytics integrations
While NetSuite offers a number of analytics solutions, like SuiteAnalytics and NetSuite Analytics Warehouse (for third party data), you may want to consider integrating with platforms like Power BI or Tableau.
How long does it take to integrate NetSuite?
Integrating NetSuite can vary significantly in duration, ranging from a matter of minutes to several months. The time required largely depends on the integration approach you select. For example, using a pre-built connector could take just a few minutes if the integration is relatively simple. Conversely, developing a bespoke integration using APIs to connect NetSuite with a specialised CRM or a custom inventory management system might take several weeks or even months. The complexity and scope of the project, including the number of systems involved and the level of customisation needed, will influence the overall timeline. Engaging with experienced NetSuite integration partners can help streamline the process and ensure a smooth and timely implementation tailored to your business needs.
Steps for executing a NetSuite integration
- Assess your integration requirements
Start by identifying which systems need to be integrated with NetSuite. Determine the critical data flows, such as customer information, inventory levels, orders, and financial data
- Choose the right integration method
Decide whether to use built-in NetSuite connectors, third-party Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) solutions, or develop custom integrations. Your choice will depend on factors like the complexity of your requirements, budget, and available technical expertise.
- Map out your integration strategy
Develop a detailed integration plan outlining the scope, objectives, timelines, and resources. Include milestones and define the roles and responsibilities of your team members and any external partners involved.
- Prepare your data
To prevent issues during the integration process, ensure your data is clean and well-organised before the integration – standardise data formats, eliminate duplicates, and verify the accuracy of the information.
- Set up your integration
Implement the chosen integration method. If using a pre-built connector or iPaaS, follow the provider’s setup instructions. For custom integrations, collaborate with experienced developers to build and configure the necessary connections using NetSuite’s SuiteTalk APIs or SuiteScript.
- Test your integration
Conduct thorough testing in a NetSuite Sandbox environment to identify and resolve any issues. Perform unit tests, integration tests, and user acceptance testing to ensure that data flows correctly and that all functionalities work as intended.
- Deploy your integration
Once testing is successful, migrate the integration to your production environment. Monitor the initial deployment closely to ensure everything operates smoothly and address any unexpected issues promptly.
- Monitor and maintain
Continuously monitor the integration to ensure ongoing performance and data integrity. Schedule regular maintenance and updates to accommodate any changes in your systems or NetSuite’s platform.
Tips for ensuring a smooth integration experience
- Engage stakeholders early
Involve key stakeholders from different departments in the planning process to ensure that all requirements are considered and that there is buy-in across the organisation.
- Document everything
Keep detailed documentation of your integration processes, configurations, and any customisations. This will be invaluable for troubleshooting and future updates.
- Prioritise data security
Implement robust security measures to protect sensitive data during the integration. Use encryption, secure authentication methods, and adhere to relevant data protection regulations.
- Provide training
Train your team on how to use the integrated systems effectively. Proper training will reduce errors and increase the adoption rate of the new integrated processes.
- Partner with integration experts
If you’re unsure about any aspect of the integration, consider partnering with experienced NetSuite consultants or integration specialists. Their expertise can help navigate complex challenges and ensure a successful integration.
- Plan for scalability
Design your integration with future growth in mind. Ensure that the solution can handle increased data volumes and additional systems as your business expands.
Real world examples of successful integrations
Many Australian and New Zealand companies are leaning even further into their cloud digital strategy and focusing on building a true connected tech stack. In many ways they are getting back to the basics by making sure the business has the right technology foundation in place to support future growth.
Here’s just two of Annexa’s customers who have achieved a one-system approach with NetSuite at its core.
How The MILC Group delivers an unrivalled customer experience with NetSuite
The challenge | When fast-paced growth left their existing MYOB EXO platform struggling to keep pace with increased operational complexity, MILC Group sought a more flexible and scalable solution that would address their immediate needs and pave the way for future growth and innovation.
The results | Annexa implemented NetSuite as the core of MILC Group’s operations, integrating it seamlessly with Shopify, customer-owned eCommerce platforms, and a stock management system. This comprehensive integration, including a 3PL solution, streamlined their logistics and supply chain processes. As a result, MILC Group can now efficiently deliver customised packaging products – from stock purchase to final delivery. By moving away from legacy systems and embracing NetSuite, MILC Group has established itself as an innovative leader that prioritises the customer experience.
Annexa’s NetSuite implementation turns the tables to empower growth for Eco Outdoor
The challenge | With growth came difficulties too diverse for existing siloed systems. They turned to Annexa to deploy an integrated platform able to streamline and automate accounting, inventory management, sales orders, invoicing and purchasing.
The results | Today Eco Outdoor enjoy end-to-end business efficiency and strong rapid growth, including expansion into the American market. One centralised system includes inventory management, dynamic replenishment, production planning, warehouse, financial management and a seamless bi-directional integration between NetSuite and Salesforce.
Ready to integrate?
Integrating your best-of-breed third-party systems with NetSuite can elevate your efficiency to new heights while keeping your operations seamlessly connected. The Annexa team is here to guide you through the integration process, ensuring your systems work together smoothly to enhance productivity and support your growth. Contact us today to discover how our expert integration solutions can bring new value to your NetSuite ecosystem.
Even more integration resources
- How to select the right NetSuite integration partner
- A quick guide to NetSuite payment integrations
- NetSuite integration options for expense management systems
- A fast guide to the most popular NetSuite integrations for CRM
- The why and how of integrating NetSuite with 3PL and WMS systems
- A guide to integrating NetSuite with eCommerce platforms