AT A GLANCE
With ERTechnologies, we see a lot of NetSuite customers that come looking for help in several areas. A common situation is that users never fully adopt the new software and have never felt comfortable in their NetSuite account. This generally leads to what we call a restart project. It is not a re-implementation but a clean up or restart of their NetSuite account to the point where they are stable. This article talks through the different areas that cause the most issues and how you can chart a path to correct the implementation.
This first part of a restart begins with data. This may be an oversimplification of NetSuite but there are two major areas of NetSuite: Records and Data. People enter information into a record that is stored as data. So, everything you do in NetSuite hits the database at some point. This leads to generally the biggest pain point that we address first, data integrity. It causes at least three major problems that are usually mis-diagnosed as NetSuite doesn’t work:
Users Don’t Trust NetSuite
One of the biggest reasons for struggles is having valid data that supports the business and processes. It causes people to start to distrust NetSuite or their setup. Good examples are duplicate customers with data split between those two customers. Teams start to question
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accuracy which leads to creating their own processes to track data outside of NetSuite. Which is a great example of going backwards on efficiency.
Another other area of distrust is financial information. There is nothing worse than having financials that no one trusts. It is imperative to get your baselines correct before you build any new information in your NetSuite account. Especially if you are merging multiple systems which is not uncommon with new NetSuite accounts.
Can’t Use New Functionality
Once data is incomplete or inaccurate, the next shoe to drop is the inability to use the new functionality. Let’s take Inventory Items as an example. If Items or counts are setup incorrectly, Demand Planning will not work as it should. As I mentioned above, NetSuite runs on data and if it is incorrect, it will give you incorrect output on your new desired functionality. It leads to users keeping new NetSuite functionality on the shelf as they don’t trust basic stuff, let alone advanced functionality.
It Takes Too Long to Do Stuff in NetSuite
The most frustrating thing for most companies struggling with NetSuite is the lack of efficiency that they expected to gain by moving to an ERP. Staff and customers really start to feel the effect of poor data. It starts with the sales process for the customer or incorrect item information. It slows down the sales process, processing of orders, fulfillments, invoicing and payment reconciliation. You can see the root cause of the problem tends to stem from incorrect data.
If you are fighting the above issues, you aren’t alone. Listed below are strategies our ERT team utilizes to assist customers to get back on the positive side of a NetSuite implementation.
Take A Step Back to move Forward!
The first base starts with your data at the time of go live. Does it match your previous system. It takes time to do an aggressive review of financial data at cutover. Is the Chart of Accounts setup correctly based on desired reporting moving forward? Was the old financial data mapped to the current Chart of Accounts accurately? Did the initial Bank Reconciliation get performed at go live? Does everything tie out? If not, that is where we start. This is your foundation going forward and until this gets corrected, you will always fight a nasty fight with your financials.
Correct Business Processes
Is your team keeping it in NetSuite? If the answer’s no, they may not trust their own knowledge and understanding of how to get things done in this system. Take journal entries into general ledgers – one wrong move here can have consequences! Get back on track by uncovering the root cause; was a step missed or something deleted that shouldn’t’ve been? Regardless of why you’re stuck, don’t panic…we’ll help map out exactly what needs doing so everything moves along seamlessly.
The how to fix it is generally training and review on natural NetSuite and best practices. It gives your team confidence in their system. Especially when data is clean, and they can see what they need to do in an efficient way. There may be a need to be some corrections in business process or scripting in NetSuite to clean up loose ends, but it is amazing what solid training can do for a team, their efficiency and increased adoption of NetSuite.
Validate Data & Processes
So, you have data cleaned up, staff trained on how to correctly use NetSuite. Now what? Time to validate your data and processes. Where do you look? What do you look for? How is it hitting the General Ledger? Are all the correct communications being sent to the customer? All questions that really bring it all together. Our team at ERT can help you know where to look for all these things and explain what they mean when it doesn’t make sense. At times we say that NetSuite is like learning a new language. This is where we help you interpret your NetSuite. The best output of this process is that it really helps you learn your NetSuite account and assists in your NetSuite independence.
Check Roles & Permissions
The last step that we recommend is a review of your Roles and Permissions. This is a crucial step that often gets missed after a go live. Typically, when companies go live, the emphasis is on taking orders and shipping orders. Incorrect permissions or roles have big impact on what people can do. People get assigned “power” roles or permissions that open up the door for mistakes and ability to do things some people shouldn’t do. At this point, we can assist and modify roles so that they fit the user role that is using them. This helps protect one of your biggest investments…your data!
I hope these four steps help you understand how to realize the full value of NetSuite. It is a powerhouse of an ERP and can completely revolutionize your business, but if it’s not set up correctly you may find yourself in a tangled web. Want to get back on the right track? Let us show you how we can help put your NetSuite account back in order – contact an ERT expert today!
About ERTechnologies as your Cloud Partner?
ERTechnologies is the leading Oracle NetSuite partner delivering The Oracle NetSuite Manufacturing Cloud for manufacturers. ERT has pioneered cloud solutions for the shop floor, connecting suppliers, machines, people, systems, and customers with capabilities that are easy to configure, deliver continuous innovation, and reduce IT costs. With insight that starts on the production floor, we help manufacturers see, understand and uncover the value hidden in their Oracle technology investments by capturing unexpected opportunities to fuel growth and profitability in every aspect of their business ecosystems, enabling them to lead in ever changing markets using Oracle NetSuite technologies.
Learn more at www.ER-Technologies.com | (949) 387 0250