NetSuite ERP - The Right Scale for your Business
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
We moved from SAGE 100 v2017 to NetSuite ERP in 2019.
We had gotten to a point where scaling our manufacturing business and processes could no longer be completed in Sage 100. NetSuite ERP provided the scalability and automatic upgrades process that was much easier than trying to manually update the core Sage and 14 bolt-on's. NetSuite ERP provides a very strong core system and offers the bundles you need, ad hoc, instead of buying a core with a bunch of processes that you won't use but still have to pay for. When we want a new piece, it is clear where we can look and there is always support that understands.
Pros
- It is an accounting system first and foremost.
- We can add Manufacturing/Inventory features that we need for a manufacturing environment.
- System Information/System Notes - Tracking of changes to almost everything. This is incredibly helpful for audits and investigations.
- NetSuite ERP is integrating AI into their processes which will be super interesting!
Cons
- Full Physical Inventory Program - Currently is missing. Unable to freeze inventory, which makes the 'refresh' of the counts and location accuracy incredibly difficult. Had to utilize the Stock Count Process and work in a manual way to deal with if we found an item in a bin... how does it get noted as being added? If a bin shows that there is an item in a bin, but it is not there, how do we remove it?
- It appears NetSuite ERP is releasing a more automated version of Smart Count, so hopefully that will bring the Annual Physical Inventories into a less manual process.
- Financial Reporting is a bit lacking due to the way some data changes where it can be accessed after the close of a month/period/year.
- Uniformity of how certain functions behave for similar transactions. If an Invoice can be Printed or Emailed, so should a Credit Memo. It really dont make sense to not have the pint/email engine work for any transaction that could potentially need to go to a customer.
- Statement behavior to send statements to CHILD customers vs. a Statement Roll-up to the Parent. We currently have to use a customization to manage this and it seems to not work well.
Return on Investment
- Days to close reduced dramatically!
- Sales Order Entry Speed/Accuracy due to easy integration of EDI, Website and LetLucy programs allow our customer service team the time to focus on the customer experience and not feel overwhelmed with the number of orders they have to manually enter after they get off the phone.
Usability
Alternatives Considered
Sage 100
Other Software Used
RF-SMART WMS, Paylocity, Datapipe Cloud Analytics, sales-i, Profit.co, Celigo
