In easiest terms, NetSuite ERP is a software. But what’s so special? Well, not all ERP software is built as cohesively as NetSuite ERP.
Unlike traditional ERP systems, NetSuite Enterprise Resource Planning or ERP works as an unified platform integrating several business functionalities’ IT systems and applications into one single system to help mid-sized to large businesses succeed.
For small businesses, humble NetSuite partners like us, Omnilab Enterprise Solutions can help you select the right modules and implement NetSuite ERP in a way it fits your budget and business goals.
More than 65,000 businesses – from small to medium to large corporations rely on NetSuite to run their businesses. So no worries, you can also get NetSuite implemented for your businesses when you seek help from an official NetSuite partner who is kind enough to understand your needs.
Defining NetSuite ERP as just a software narrows down the scope and concept of Enterprise Resource Planning to potential prospects who tried SAP, Microsoft Dynamics etc although, it does bring opportunity to implementation experts. That’s because mid-range companies get scared when they hear “erp implementation from scratch.”
See, a lot of resources go when it comes to implementation rather than integration. We’ll get back to that later. For now, let’s get the facts straight on what NetSuite ERP is.
So the definition of NetSuite ERP is – it is an unified platform of the amenities / tools / modules for a business to operate and function better.
NetSuite is a single software platform on which all native modules are built upon.
See, the concept of ERP has changed significantly over the years. Starting from the basics, ERP has its roots in the 1960s Material Requirements Planning (MRP), which was targeted towards manufacturing and inventory control.
With the growth of business came a greater need for modern cross functional systems which included cloud, AI, and analytics to increase responsiveness and effectiveness of modern ERP systems such as NetSuite, SAP, and Microsoft Dynamics 365.
So examples of two leading ERP systems are Oracle NetSuite and SAP. Then there is ERP from Microsoft.
Lately and very strangely, Odoo has been calling themselves an ERP but it is not ERP though and we will get back to that some other time. We also have an ERP – OmniERP – that we implemented from scratch at Omnilab,
Amazingly, the most unheard and unrated ERP comes from open source platforms such as Frappe’s ERPNext and there are tons of negative reviews on that – most of them left by competitors!!!
Speaking of open source, it must be noted that several companies go to the extent of implementing their own ERP system from scratch. And some fall victim to Odoo’s trial offers.
Now, would you buy groceries from independent shops?
Or,
Would you rather shop from a supermarket from where you can get all your groceries under one roof?
Oracle NetSuite is the latter, which is why most go for it. Take a free NetSuite tour with us from here and check it out today.
In fact the majority of us would prefer shopping from the supermarket and there are several surveys done on that.
Quite surprisingly, many get scared when they think about ERP implementation. It is not scary though when it comes to modern ERP as NetSuite.
But yes it takes a lot of time, effort and human resources. So if you are planning about implementing an ERP system from scratch – think twice, think thrice and re-calculate because many ERP implementations have never seen the light.
Now I can go on and on regarding ‘why’s’ but let’s get back to basics.
See, you can rather understand what NetSuite ERP is when you learn Oracle NetSuite ERP systems in driving digital transformation.
Digital transformation or business digitalization has claimed its place as the era of leveraging technology. However, it also means optimizing an organization’s work processes towards being more productive, information driven and responsive to customers.
This change would not be possible without the ERP systems from market leaders such as Oracle NetSuite which serve as the pillar to all digital business functions.
You can learn the role of NetSuite ERP in business digitalization by understanding the following three ways how it is driving digital transformation:
The primary benefit of using ERP is the provision for automating business functions. Although several ERP systems promise that your business functionalities will be automated they hardly do so.
However, Oracle NetSuite ERP is built to automate your business. Guess what, NetSuite has ranked the first among the top 10 powerful ERP vendors by CIO, so choosing Oracle NetSuite ERP must give you the ultimate peace of mind that at least you went with the best!
Anything that used to be done manually, like payroll, inventory management and invoice processing, is now fully automated through NetSuite ERP software. NetSuite CRM also beats traditional ones. As a result, human mistakes get minimized, workflows become less labor intensive, and workers are able to divert their attention to tasks that need more focus.
Business is changing finally for the better and data is critical. Traditional systems used to save data in segregated locations. This made the analysis of business performance very challenging.
With NetSuite ERP software, all silos are removed since everything is stored in a single database. That means both executives and managers have instant access to information that allows them to make informed business decisions.
With the prior (legacy) ERP systems, the large costs of infrastructure posed a significant barrier both for the ERP providers to enter and also for ERP seekers.
However newer cloud based ERP systems such as NetSuite are able to offer flexibility, scale, and remote accessibility. With NetSuite ERP, it is now much simpler for businesses to respond to shifts within the market and changes to employee work locations.
However, the only true cloud is Oracle NetSuite till now. More explanations on “true cloud” are in upcoming sections.
Now I am going to explain the transition from legacy ERP to cloud-based and postmodern ERP models. See, the “Transition” from legacy to cloud-based and postmodern ERP models aka systems can be partly understood from the following table which shows ERP evolution comparison.
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7350388607750205442
But, for once – what is a postmodern ERP? The term “postmodern” was associated with ERP in the 2010s Guay’s postmodern ERP strategies. Other than that, the “postmodern ERP” is still not clear.
Marketers, strategists and researchers can surely seek postmodernism but this assignment cannot delve into this matter due to document and time limitations.
Whichever term you use, the very definition of ERPs stay the same. It is a core platform / unified platform architecture to leverage the tools and processes organizations use to excel or improve their internal processes.
Now the feature comparison between legacy ERP, cloud based ERP and postmodern ERP systems that will help you understand how modern cloud-based ERPs as NetSuite is so special and essential (perhaps for you too?)
Feature | Legacy ERP | Cloud-Based ERP | Postmodern ERP |
Deployment | On-premise, installed on local servers | Hosted on cloud, SaaS model | Hybrid, mix of cloud and on-premise |
Scalability | Limited, requires hardware upgrades | Highly scalable, easy expansion | Highly modular and flexible |
Customization | Difficult and costly | Moderate, depends on provider | Easier, best-of-breed approach |
Integration | Restricted, data silos | Seamless third-party integration | API-driven, connects various applications |
Cost Structure | High upfront costs, expensive maintenance | Subscription-based, lower upfront cost | Lower TCO, pay-per-use options |
Accessibility | Limited to office network | Accessible from anywhere with internet | Global accessibility with mobile-first approach |
Updates & Maintenance | Manual updates, requires IT intervention | Automatic, vendor-managed updates | Continuous, real-time updates |
Technology Adoption | Minimal, slow to adopt new tech | Fast adoption of AI, analytics, IoT | Advanced AI, predictive analytics, automation |
Well the above table just shows a bare comparison. If you are planning to transit from your legacy ERP system to true-cloud ERP, I recommend contacting certified Oracle experts and I will reach you to them.
Apparently, I am not an expert but what I can tell you is implementing an ERP is a battlefield and the only true-cloud ERP system till now is Oracle NetSuite and I have managed getting associated with good certified NetSuite experts from Bangladesh, Singapore, Dubai, and U.S.
What is a true cloud?
True Cloud is the world’s largest and longest established multi-tenant, mid market Cloud ERP solution.
Now let me get back to transition. What does transition mean? It means changing from one state (say, that state is a legacy ERP like SAP) to another state or condition (say, a true-cloud as Oracle ERP or NetSuite ERP powered with AI). These days, smart businesses are making the transition from Odoo to NetSuite as their businesses grow and the need for a scalable system arises.
We can explain this transition in other ways too and a couple of years back this used to take a lot of time; most of the time due to bottlenecks caused by various departments.
But a transition like that is possible these days within 90 days due to artificial intelligence and dedicated NetSuite partners as Omnilab Enterprise. Our clients are enjoying the omni-oracle partnership sharing amazing human resources augmented with Artificial Intelligence and we have implemented true-cloud ERP with AI-based modules within 45 – 90 days among companies. Such fast implementations weren’t possible a few years back.
A True Cloud ERP as Oracle NetSuite implemented / configured by Omnilab Enterprise Solutions comes with reduced IT costs and fewer hidden costs.
The modern world of business has become incredibly fast-paced, and this is partly why companies must have a way to manage their operations in a much more efficient manner. Well, this is exactly where Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems come into play.
NetSuite ERP works as a unified software platform that brings together a company’s key functions including finances, human resources, inventory management, supply chain, and even customer relationship management – all under one roof!
Instead of having to deal with various disjointed software programs, what NetSuite ERP system does is that it provides a singular platform through which communication can pass. This unified / singular platform of an ERP system increases the collaboration between departments, which in turn, improves data accuracy, and best of all, enhances overall organizational decision making of the organization.
Apparently, ERP systems provide real-time insights, thanks to the ERP implementation specialists and developers who configure and develop the platform to provide dashboards showing great insights – real time!
These real-time insights from ERP allows organizations to react quickly to market changes, customer demands, and operational obstacles.
A business is partly efficient when there isn’t any redundancy and wastage of time and neither is there any error. ERP eliminates manual tasks, also ensures no duplicate tasks and reduces error – by automating the processes.
The unified database of NetSuite ERP ensures accurate and up-to-date information and real-time across departments.
The unified system of ERPs also serves as a single source of truth so people across departments and teams cannot just make claims. Proof stays there in the ERP system.
Finance, sales, and operations access the same data, ensuring alignment.
ERP gives you scalability. You get to expand your business without system limitations. Like Oracle NetSuite is multilingual and supports over 130 multicurrencies and taxation so if you want to operate in Singapore or China, you won’t face any bottlenecks in your transaction.
As a good friend, I want to help you learn the challenges that you or your vendor or engineers might face when implementing any ERP including NetSuite.
So it is time to learn the key barriers to NetSuite ERP implementation, including cost, integration issues, and resistance to change so you stay prepared beforehand.
Well, as I mentioned – ERP gives you power. But implementing an ERP system is like winning a battle. Although, I being the Oracle NetSuite sales person have my battle cards, here are the key challenges everyone must be aware about –
Software licensing, purchasing infrastructure, and training employees can seriously limit your budget. These problems are compounded further with maintenance and customizations.
APIs do not cooperate, data silos exist, and legacy systems refuse to go quietly. Everything comes together to create an operational nightmare.
Employees have to deal with the disruption of their jobs, the fear of steep learning curves, and breaking long-held habits that slows down the entire process.
Customizing business ERP applications like sales and marketing to suit administrators is very difficult, over-customization adds maintenance problems, and under-customization reduces efficiency.
The challenge of losing, duplicating, or worse yet corrupting years of vital information, gives one the fear of transferring business data to the cloud; it is akin to walking a tightrope.
Operations are disrupted at various stages of implementation causing overdue commitments and ultimately revenue losses.
Cybersecurity risks associated with cloud ERP and compliance with regulations is another budding issue that needs to be resolved.
Choose an ERP that is capable of scaling in the future, otherwise you would face major problems in meeting the requirements of tomorrow’s business world.
Final Thoughts? Winning the ERP implementation battle requires patience, planning, and a willing team. It is powerful, but like facing a battlefield, appears daunting.
Bangladeshi Companies Effectively Using Oracle NetSuite in Conjunction With Omnilab Enterprise Solutions
Real-World Example 1: Paperware Ltd.
Challenges:
Solution:
With Omnilab’s assistance, Oracle NetSuite ERP was successfully implemented. Modules as Supply Chain Management, Sales and Financial were integrated.
Outcomes:
Full case study is available upon request.
The right provider enabling accurate implementation of ERP systems is key to the success of the other two companies. Omnilab Enterprise Solutions is the only partner of Oracle NetSuite in Bangladesh and has the most certified NetSuite experts in Bangladesh so clients will always have the smoothest transition from hybrid legacy systems to true-cloud ERP systems of Oracle NetSuite.
Marzia Zaman Khan Prova is the Junior Consultant (Digital Transformation) Omnilab Enterprise Solutions.
