Two workflows working

Have you ever caught yourself performing the same tasks repeatedly in NetSuite? There’s a good chance that a NetSuite workflow could automate these actions for you.

What is a NetSuite Workflow?

A NetSuite workflow is a low-code/no-code process automation solution within the NetSuite platform. It allows users to customise and automate business processes, streamlining tasks, enforcing business rules, and guiding users through standard procedures. Workflows can range from simple to complex and can be modified as business processes evolve.

Even seemingly simple workflows might require advanced customisation to align with specific business needs. In such cases, consulting with trained NetSuite professionals is advisable.

Key capabilities of NetSuite Workflows

• Triggers and actions
  Workflows are initiated by specific events, such as creating or editing a record. Once triggered, they execute defined actions like changing a field value, sending an email, or creating a new record.
• Low-code/no-code customisations
  One of the main advantages of NetSuite workflows is the high level of customisation possible without complex coding. Using a drag-and-drop interface, non-technical users can create and modify workflows easily.
• State-based and conditional logic
  Workflows operate on state-based logic, where a record moves through different states based on triggers or actions. For instance, a sales order may transition through states like ‘Pending Approval,’ ‘Approved,’ and ‘Fulfilled.’ Conditions can be set to determine if an action should be executed, ensuring that the correct processes are followed.
• User interface customisation
  Workflows can be used to customise the NetSuite interface, including showing or hiding fields, changing field values, or adding custom messages based on specific criteria or user actions.
• Approval processes
  Workflows are commonly used to manage approval processes, requiring records to go through a series of approvals before being finalised.
• Integration
  They can integrate with other NetSuite features, such as Saved Searches and email templates, enhancing their functionality.
• Monitoring and reporting
  NetSuite provides tools to monitor and report on workflow processes, helping identify bottlenecks or areas for improvement.

NetSuite Workflow use cases

Here are some common ways to utilise NetSuite workflows:

• Sales order processing
  Automate sales order approvals based on criteria like order value, customer credit limit, or inventory availability.
• Purchase order approvals
  Streamline purchase order approvals, including multi-level approvals based on order size or budget constraints.
• Customer onboarding
  Automate the onboarding steps for new customers, such as credit checks, initial communications, and account setup.
• Employee onboarding and offboarding
  HR can automate processes for new hires, including setting up employee records and assigning tasks to departments, and manage offboarding procedures for departing employees.
• Lead scoring and assignment
  For sales-focused businesses, workflows can automatically score leads based on predefined criteria and route them to the appropriate sales representative or team.
• Case management
  Manage support cases by auto-assigning them to agents based on expertise or workload and escalating cases based on severity or response time.
• Expense approvals and reimbursements
  Streamline the processes for submitting, approving, and reimbursing employee expenses.
• Inventory management
  Automate inventory-related processes like reordering when stock levels fall below a threshold or transferring inventory between locations based on demand.
• Compliance monitoring
  Ensure compliance by using workflows to automate checks and balances, helping maintain adherence to regulations and internal policies.