9 Top Mistakes to Avoid While Implementing the NetSuite System

9 Top Mistakes to Avoid While Implementing the NetSuite

NetSuite system streamlines all your business processes, generating effective results from all departments or functions. It automates your business processes, making them more productive and efficient. It helps you achieve your business goals in minimum time.

Implementing the new NetSuite system in your business is a significant investment for any entity. You have to spend money, time, and resources on it. You must plan the implementation perfectly to avoid making the most common mistakes.

It will be a big challenge since it will affect your day-to-day operations. But, the end result will benefit your business in a significant way. So, it’s better to be aware of the common mistakes and limit their chances of occurrence for better results.

This article focuses on the possible mistakes an entity makes in NetSuite implementation. You have to avoid these mistakes to save your money and time.

Absence of a NetSuite Implementation Strategy

Running any project without a sound strategy is the biggest mistake. Like a travel or study plan, even a system implementation needs a well-defined strategy. And strategy building for NetSuite implementation requires patience and a business requirements document.

So, study your business’s needs for NetSuite solutions. Ask the end-users (your employees) about their expectations. Find answers to questions such as:

What are the problems with the current system and processes?
What features of NetSuite do you want to have?
What processes and procedures do you want to improve?
Which business functions are in priority?
What are the benefits you are expecting from NetSuite?

Answers to these questions will give you a direction for NetSuite implementation. You will be able to scope out the project and do the relevant mapping. You can prepare business requirements document to understand all stakeholders’ expectations better.

Furthermore, study the features, functionalities, and benefits to gain knowledge of the NetSuite platform. Understand your existing IT infrastructure and what it lacks.

Based on this, you can plan the strategy with the steps and priority order of modules. The strategy will ensure that you don’t just replicate your current system onto the new one.

Ensure to move as per the strategy without rushing to get all your customizations and integrations at the same time. After implementation, you have the improvement stage to let the system’s features yield results. And based on the results, you can move ahead with customization or integration with other applications or tools.

Poor or Incomplete Budgeting

A reasonable budget is essential for any project. You cannot allocate a lot of money because it may result in less budget for other projects. You cannot hold back money because that might lead to a failed implementation.

For NetSuite implementation, you must know what steps need more budget and where less budget is enough. Make a list of the phases, allocated resources, and time taken. Now, allocate the budget to every phase of the project.

Your implementation partner can help you a great deal in budgeting. Understand the method they will adopt, the resources they need, and the money needed. Make a tentative budget plan and discuss it with your partner.

Also, consider the customizations you are looking for. Prioritize them as per your business requirements. Based on the budget, you can prioritize the important ones and get the others later.

Another essential part of budgeting is a backup plan. If you plan the NetSuite implementation and it fails mid-way, you must have a backup plan to avoid delays, as time lost means money lost.

Bad Quality and Unprepared Data Before NetSuite Implementation

One crucial part of NetSuite implementation is data migration. If not done correctly, you carry the same problems of the old system into the new one. You need to have proper data management and ensure its integrity for successful data import from the existing system to NetSuite.

Before importing data to NetSuite, clean it. Remove duplication, inaccuracies, and incompleteness. Get rid of old, irrelevant data that you don’t need. Archive outdated information. Sort data in the correct locations. Revamp the data structure to form new categories or formats.

Thus, the new NetSuite system gets uncluttered and organized data aligned with your needs. Each department has the data they need in an organized format. And such clean data ensures smooth operations of the NetSuite system with higher efficiency.

Lack of Training and Change Management Plan for Employees

The most significant change that NetSuite implementation brings is in your business operations. And who conducts these daily operations? Your employees, who are the actual users of the new system. Hence, it is essential to conduct training for them and manage the change to a new technology efficiently.

If not trained properly, you will not be able to harness the benefits that NetSuite can offer you. Also, you will lose your money, time, and effort. Thus, the engagement and interaction of employees with the system are essential for a smooth transition.

Keep your employees abreast of the process, chosen features, benefits, and changes to their daily work. You must motivate them to accept the change and learn the new system to harness maximum benefits. They must know the reasons for this change and how it benefits them.

Train them well to use the system. Allocate a suitable budget for it and prepare timelines in alignment with the NetSuite implementation phases. Have them interact with the system during the transition to learn it by the time implementation is complete.

Over-emphasis on Customization Rather Than Configuration

You can customize the NetSuite system as per your business needs. This is one of the many great features of the NetSuite solution that attracts buyers. But the more complex your requirements, the more difficult it is to achieve the expected results.

Over customization is possible, but it involves more risks and efforts. The programmer needs to modify the program and write new code to meet your personal specifications. It may require changing the core application. Also, it may not fit your budget or timelines, leading to dissatisfaction among users.

On the contrary, the configuration requires the programmer to work within the application. They just need to adapt the design to create a specific configuration. Since they use tools within the application, it is less risky and requires less effort.

NetSuite system is customizable, but too much of it may ruin the solution’s critical features. You might end up having the same old system with similar workflows and logic.

So, it’s better to go for configuration first and customize it later. Start with the native features first, and meanwhile, comprehend what customizations you actually need. In the improvement stage, start customizations when processes and workflows adjust to the new system.

Lack of Buy-in From all Crucial Parties

The NetSuite system will bring all your processes under one cloud. These processes will be integrated, run together, and share data. Project failure will happen if even one business function manager/head opposes the shift to NetSuite.

So, it is a must to have everyone on the same side of approval and involvement. Managers must know what improvements the NetSuite solution will bring and how their function can benefit. They must understand the implementation process and possible challenges to their functional side.

Functional heads must involve themselves in making relevant adjustments to get maximum benefits from the NetSuite system. Thus, acceptance to change and full involvement of all parties is necessary for NetSuite implementation success.

Too Many Expectations Too Soon

Before selecting the NetSuite system, you had some expectations from the solution. But if you think you will start seeing results as soon as you implement it, you are wrong. It is not an instant recipe; it takes time to align with your business needs.

With NetSuite, you get a guarantee of cross-process improvements. But the system will not yield results immediately after going live. You will start noticing these improvements a few months down the line.

Gradually, you will see changes in most of the business processes. They will become more streamlined, productive, and efficient. And the best part is that the NetSuite system grows as your business grows.

Failure to Form an Internal NetSuite Team

An implementation partner will help with the entire process of implementing the solution. But, you must have an internal team to maintain the solution. This team must know everything about the solution and keep it running without obstacles.

For a smaller business, you will need a NetSuite administrator who will focus on improving the use of the solution for the business. They will have full access to the solution and the power to grant accessibility to employees based on roles and responsibilities. This person will be your point of contact with the external NetSuite implementation partner.

For a bigger business, you need an entire team to manage permission access. The team will work to use the solution to its full potential for different business needs.

Overall, you must have a project manager to supervise the NetSuite implementation process. They will keep the show running and on track. Also, they must have an overview of all business functions affected by the solution.

An Ineffective and Inefficient NetSuite Implementation Partner

A NetSuite implementation partner helps you with integration, NetSuite customization, configuration, and implementation. But if any of these services goes wrong or is not of good quality, you may have to bear the damaging results.

Since it is a significant investment for any firm, you cannot go wrong with it. It is the biggest mistake a company shifting to NetSuite can commit. You must have an implementation partner with extensive knowledge and experience to handle your industry’s NetSuite implementation.

While looking for an implementation partner, you must check:

Expertise in your industry of operations
Experience of NetSuite implementation in a similar company (same size and industry)
Implementation framework, including methodology, process, controls, and capabilities
Timelines and costing
Maintenance, post-implementation, and support services
Knowledge of the NetSuite system, features, and functionalities
The proposed scope of involvement

Don’t fall for their claims; check thoroughly and ask your industry people. Ask their clients about their experience. Look for a partner that is just not mechanical work-driven but works to achieve client satisfaction.

One competent NetSuite implementation services provider that you can partner with is Cloudiotech. We are a top-notch provider of NetSuite solutions and services to clients in the UAE and the US. You get all the help with implementation, customization, integration, training, and support from Cloudiotech’s NetSuite consultants.

Conclusion

Our client-driven approach starts with understanding your requirements, IT infrastructure, and expectations from the NetSuite system. We listen to your needs and suggest what is best for you based on our understanding of your business. The aim will always be to solve your business problems that speed up your march to success.

Like the NetSuite solution that grows along with your business, Cloudiotech keeps adding to your growth. You benefit not only from our post-implementation support but also from answers to your questions and doubts. We find out what works best for you and ensure to make it possible for you.

You know the mistakes that can occur in a NetSuite implementation project. So, avoid these mistakes and plan your implementation adequately. Do not set idealistic expectations, and do not rush into the process. Take it gradually with a proper strategy and an honest list of expectations based on your capabilities and skills.

Grow your business to new heights with Cloudiotech’s NetSuite services.

Let’s discuss your business requirements.

9 Top Mistakes to Avoid While Implementing the NetSuite System