This article is a 5 step guide for having a successful NetSuite implementation. I will walk you through all the important things you should be doing to get your return on investment and have a successful Go-Live on NetSuite. 

NetSuite Implementation Process – A Customer Perspective (A checklist you should have handy)

In order to implement NetSuite, a well-established stage-wise process is followed. Planning, system design, configuration, data migration, evaluation/testing, and post-implementation support are all part of the NetSuite implementation process.

In this article, I will cover all the aspects which a customer should work with while the NetSuite implementation partner implements your business processes on the ERP system. 

1. Planning To Implement NetSuite ERP

Planning to implement NetSuite is the most important step in the entire implementation process. This is the foundation to have your NetSuite ERP implementation Successful. 

Below is a checklist that I recommend while you are in the Planning Process:

PLAN FOR CHANGE MANAGEMENT (CHECKLIST FOR CHANGE MANAGEMENT)

While you implement NetSuite, Planning for change management is very important. The impact of changing or implementing an ERP is huge on the lives of your employees. 

There is nothing worse than an unexpected, unwanted, or poorly managed change, which is why you should create a solid communication strategy and training plan before implementing your new ERP. Ultimately, this will ensure the process runs smoothly and increase user buy-in to the system. 

• Have clarity on what NetSuite services your implementation partner will provide.

You should expect the below NetSuite Implementation services from your Oracle NetSuite partner for your plan to work with:

• Project management services – To build an implementation plan and do the implementation on schedule.
• Customization Services – To customize any aspect of NetSuite to meet your business process.
• Integration Services – To integrate NetSuite software with other systems you use.
• Data migration Services – To migrate your legacy data
• Consultancy Services – To guide your implementation with the expertise of NetSuite consultant.
• Training Services – To ensure your users are well trained in the training phase and can use the system to its full potential.
• Post Go-Live Support – To ensure proper handholding and necessary optimizations in your system is done post the system is live.

The services you need should be identified and agreed upon with the partner before the implementation begins.

Generally, I recommend splitting the project into phases. In the initial implementation phase, I would recommend implementing standard NetSuite and having a second phase where the customization and integrations are done.

This ensures you realize a quicker return on investment and also helps in better gap analysis as the NetSuite implementation consultant’s are involved during the first phase and have a deeper understanding of your business.

• Create an ERP implementation budget by forecasting implementation costs.

In general below cost needs to be factored in while budgeting:

• Services provided by your selected NetSuite Implementation partner.
• Middleware requirement for Integration.
  • Consultancy services from third-party.
• Temporary staff during roll-out.
  • Operations
  • Administrative
• Employees working overtime during implementation.
• Storage of data backups of legacy and the current system.

• Define success metrics for ERP implementation.
• Determine a timeline to complete these steps:
  • Data migration
  • User training
  • User Acceptance Testing
  • go-live Date

PLAN FOR USER ENGAGEMENT

• Let employees know if daily activities may be disrupted following go-live.
• Provide ways for your employees to express questions or concerns about your new ERP.
• Publish a training schedule for your employees and let them know when they are scheduled in advance.

2. Establish A NetSuite Implementation Team Internally

NetSuite implementation requires an internal dedicated team of people who can manage the project efficiently. Ideally, you should have an implementation team that has the right mix of managerial and technical expertise, and that represents the needs of key stakeholders across your organization. It’s best to have a small group of people within your organization who are responsible for managing the project. 

BUILD YOUR INTERNAL ERP IMPLEMENTATION TEAM

• Identify who is needed on the project

It is important that the right mix of skills is deployed on the project. Identify what kind of resources you would need. In general below is a list of skills that are needed on the project.

• • A manager who can manage the NetSuite project implementation timeline and cost.
  • Technical and functional resources that can take a handover post-deployment of NetSuite solution is complete.
  • Project stakeholders who can make the necessary decisions.
• Provide incentives for participation in the implementation team and promote it throughout the company.
• Get the team ready:

It might quite be possible that you do not have resources matching the skills in-house. We recommend hiring people in contractual positions to cover the gap preferably someone who has worked on Oracle NetSuite earlier and someone who has NetSuite Certification. 

3. Be Prepared For Data Migration

While you implement NetSuite ERP it is important to plan how and to what extent you will migrate your legacy data and how you will plan the user training. Without a strategy for this, we are looking for a disaster while your users adapt to the new system.

If you are looking for a faster go-live we do not recommend migrating legacy data as this is a time-consuming and error-prone activity. 

I generally recommend starting the new system with closing balances and uploading only any open transactions and master data. 

GETTING YOUR DATA READY

Before your team can use the system it is important that the necessary data is migrated to NetSuite. I personally recommend migrating only open transactions and the master data such as customers, contacts, vendors, item master. 

While the masters are being migrated ensure that the inactive records are not migrated. For example, if you are importing vendor master ensure only active vendors are migrated else you would be simply loading the system with unwanted information. 

Below is a checklist you should have handy while you plan for data migration to NetSuite. 

CLEAN AND MIGRATE YOUR LEGACY ERP DATA – CHECKLIST

• Rectify and verify your legacy data
• Cleanse redundant data
• Map legacy data to new fields
• Transfer data to the new system
• Test and verify legacy data

4. Train Your NetSuite Users

Training your users on NetSuite is an important aspect for your NetSuite implementation to succeed. All your users must be well trained on NetSuite ERP so they can use the new ERP system and not fall back on the legacy system or follow a wrong process which later results in inaccurate reporting. 

User adoption is the most important factor for success. 

If people use NetSuite the right way, then is only when you can realize the full potential of the system. It is important to make their life easy by training them on the ERP System.

CREATE AN ERP TRAINING PLAN – CHECKLIST

• Find people in your team who can act as a superuser. Train them to assist other users with troubleshooting. 
• Identify functional groups who would use the system
• Create your training schedule 

5. The NetSuite Go-Live Process

Once the implementation partner has configured the system, your team has tested the system, your users have been trained on your business processes and the data is migrated, you are ready to announce a go-live. 

Here is a checklist that needs to be checked before you announce a go-live:

• Have all the processes been tested and signed off by the respective stakeholders?
• Does the processes configured confirm to the business requirement document?
• Is all the data migrated? Does it reconcile?
• are all your users well trained on NetSuite?

Frequently Asked Questions On NetSuite Implementation

How Long Does It Take To Implement NetSuite?

NetSuite implementation can go from 2 months to more than a year. Now if you are a 5 employee company and just want to use it for finance only it’s generally 2 months process, but if you are a large team with multiple subsidiaries and want to cover end-to-end operations on NetSuite, well it might take a year or more. I have discussed in detail the timelines to implement NetSuite in a separate article.

Do I Need A Partner To Implement NetSuite Or Can I Implement NetSuite Myself?

Well, NetSuite might be less complex than other ERP systems but your internal team needs special skills to deploy this piece of software. If you have the time and patience to learn the skills and then deploy the system, you can do a self-implementation. Personally, I would always recommend using a NetSuite partner for such an implementation project.

Where Can I Get NetSuite Implementation Training From?

NetSuite provides a learning center for anyone who would want to learn NetSuite(This comes at a cost, you can purchase this learning (LCS) passes to learn NetSuite and also to give certifications. There are also some private institutes that provide NetSuite training.

What Are The Benefits Of Working With A NetSuite Implementation Partner?

Implementing NetSuite is not an easy job considering the complexity of options available in the system. A NetSuite partner will come with a ton of experience with ERP projects and with the right project team, define an implementation strategy. NetSuite partners are also well equipped with NetSuite’s implementation methodology which reduces the time to implement ultimately reducing the implementation cost and leading to a successful implementation.

What Is The Cost To Implement NetSuite If I Engage an Implementation Partner?

A direct answer to this question is not possible as NetSuite implementation cost will depend on the complexity of the project.

I have tried my best to give you an idea of the total cost of ownership to implement NetSuite in my article where I describe the factors and costs involved while implementing NetSuite. You can access that article HERE.

Does NetSuite Need Customization?

NetSuite will need to be customized to meet your business processes. Now it depends on how complex the customization is. Some customizations can be done using the WYSWYG capabilities of NetSuite and some will need writing scripts.

A partner who provides you costomization services would guide you to understand which customizations would need scripting and which will not.

Can NetSuite Integrate With Other Systems?

Like any modern cloud-based software, NetSuite has the complete capability to integrate with other systems you use. NetSuite provides the necessary API’s to help you connect with an external system to exchange data. Having said that there are legacy systems that have limited capability to exchange data with other systems and in such a case integrating with NetSuite might be difficult.

NetSuite ERP integration with other systems needs specialized skills and we recommend closely working with a NetSuite ERP Partner who can provide professional services for Integration.

Why Do NetSuite Implementations Fail? What are the NetSuite implementation issues?

The reason for NetSuite implementation failures is not much different than other enterprise software deployment failures. The major reason for NetSuite implementation failure is budget overruns and time overrun. These challenges are common and can be addressed with proper project planning.

Working closely with a partner who can provide NetSuite implementation service, helps you reduce these risks.

In conclusion

Implementing NetSuite is not just the implementation partner’s responsibility but also your responsibility as the user of the system. The success of the ERP implementation is an inward exercise and your internal team plays a major role in it. It is important to identify a project leader in your company who can work closely with the assigned project manager and team leaders of the NetSuite implementation partner.

You should support the NetSuite partner to agree and adhere to the project management plan and your internal resources should be well trained so there is a higher adoption of the system in your company.