In this article, we’ll review the five most common NetSuite integration pitfalls to avoid:
1. Not Having a Clear Integration Strategy
The most serious mistake is attempting to integrate NetSuite without a well-defined integration strategy tied to business objectives. This often happens when companies implement NetSuite first, then simply try hooking it up to other systems without much planning.
The result is point-to-point integrations rigged to work for a single specific purpose, using the flexibility of NetSuite and duct tape. This leads to fragility, rigidity, and difficulty supporting new use cases.
The Solution
Develop an integration strategy before your first integration project. Outline the major systems to integrate, high level approaches, and the order of integrations. Connect them to measurable business goals so success is defined. Planning integration in the context of business priorities keeps the focus on long term flexibility.
2. Customizing Before Integrating
Many organizations immediately dive into heavy NetSuite customization to bend it to mirror current business processes. This custom code then has to be rewritten when integrating other systems.
It is almost always faster, cheaper, and more flexible to integrate first before customizing. NetSuite then remains in a near out-of-the-box state that is easier to upgrade and support.
The Solution
Map existing vs desired processes to find where digitization / automation opportunities exist through integration. Sequence integration ahead of customization efforts whenever possible.
3. Using Multiple Point Integrations
Connecting NetSuite to multiple endpoints like databases, FTP sites, APIs, files, etc leads to a tangled mess that is difficult to manage. Every integration is essentially custom built, with its own method and tools.
This complexity slows development, makes testing difficult, and prevents reuse. It also introduces risks of reliability issues and security vulnerabilities.
The Solution
Implement an integration platform like Celigo or Jitterbit. This enables connecting to the various endpoints needed while reusing components and patterns.
Point-to-point integrations only make sense when data volumes are extremely low. An integration platform brings structure, standards, and tools specialized for the challenges of systems integration.
4. Neglecting Change Management
The business changes enabled by new integrations often don’t have clear owners and upgrade processes. When conditions that affect an integration change such as updated software, data structure revisions, or new business rules, integrations can suddenly break.
Reacting to these breaks strains IT resources trying to fight urgent fires. No one has accountability for the health of integrations or capacity to improve them. Thus their stability erodes over time.
The Solution
Assign each major integration project a business owner empowered to continuously refine the integration implementation. Create automation to monitor for breaks or degradations. Build time for improvements into schedules – integration will never be “done”.
5. Lacking DevOps for Integrations
Most organizations view integration as a one-time project distinct from application development. Thus they lack maturity in applying development best practices.
Integrations end up developed in isolation by individual contractors or consultants. Often documentation is sparse, testing isn’t automated, dependencies aren’t managed, and knowledge transfer fails when staff turns over.
The result is that enhancements take longer, mean time to repair goes up, and improvements stalls as the complexity proves daunting to navigate. Reliability suffers without rigorous process.
The Solution
Treat integration development projects with the same standards and tooling as custom application dev projects. Use source control, code reviews, TDD, modular architectures, automated deployments and more from the DevOps playbook.
This builds institutional knowledge and lets integration capability grow in flexibility and resilience over time thanks to collaboration and shared ownership.
Why Choose Anchor Group for NetSuite Implementation?
With deep expertise across nearly every corner of the SuiteCloud platform and 500+ successful NetSuite deployments, Anchor Group offers comprehensive guidance tailored to the objectives of your organization.
What truly sets us above other NetSuite partners is our thoughtful approach and commitment to customer success long after go-live. Key advantages of engaging Anchor Group as your NetSuite Implementation partner include:
Proven Full Life Cycle Methodology
Our refined NetSuite implementation process balances standardization for efficiency with customization for strategic objectives. We shepherd each engagement through five major phases:
- Design – Detailed requirements gathering culminating in a Solution Design Document outlining configurations, customizations, integrations, and data migration
- Build – Iterative development sprints to systematically deliver functionality
- Test – Comprehensive testing protocols and quality gates to catch defects early
- Train – End user training curriculum tailored to the various users and their new processes
- Go Live – Low risk go live orchestration with onsite support and immediate issue resolution
Smooth progression through each phase is facilitated using our proprietary REGIS rapid project management software. This detailed visual dashboard offers real time tracking of milestones, deliverables, issues and hours.
Deep Bench of Certified Consultants
With 30+ NSCPs on staff spanning admins, developers, architects and project managers, our team brings an unmatched breadth and depth of NetSuite expertise. We assign small, balanced project teams including both senior leadership and junior contributors to ensure quality output while controlling costs.
Proven Scalability
Whatever the size of your deployment, we have the resources and methodology to deliver. We’ve seamlessly implemented NetSuite across organizations ranging from 5 to 50,000 employees. Our sweet spot is rapid implementation of NetSuite for enterprises managing complex global business processes.
Read also: From Leak to Luxury: Zilker Roofing’s Solutions Turn Problems Into Peace of Mind
Unmatched Investment in Innovation
With a full time team dedicated to R&D plus an innovation lab for POCs, we stay on cutting edge of both NetSuite product updates and industry best practices. Developing accelerators and utilities leveraging next generation technologies like AI and RPA to solve common business problems.
By avoiding these five common integration mistakes and choosing the right implementation partner, you can sidestep unnecessary headaches and fully realize NetSuite’s incredible potential to transform your business.
What ERP / CRM systems are you looking to integrate? Let’s connect to explore the possibilities!
