Integration has become a staple in the modern world of business, and when it comes to NetSuite, this is doubly true. NetSuite’s robust API and reporting tools make it the perfect place to be your businesses “single source of truth” for answering questions about business performance. NetSuite administrators must become knowledgeable about NetSuite integration and be able to make crucial decisions relating to how, when, and why an integration solution is chosen and implemented.

Depending on your business size, thousands or even millions of dollars is at stake. This risk makes NetSuite integration something you want to get right. That is why we have created this guide to help NetSuite admins get up-t0-speed on the hows, whats, and whys of NetSuite integration.

What is a NetSuite Integration?

A NetSuite integration is an on-going flow of information between your NetSuite system and another application or database. For example, if your NetSuite ERP was “integrated” with your SalesForce CRM, you can send newly closed sales opportunities to NetSuite and update your books without an admin from sales or accounting ever touching a device. These information flows can be mono-directional or bi-directional, for example, if that same integration application then sent newly updated inventory prices back to SalesForce from NetSuite, that integration would be “bi-directional.”

The flow of information in an integration can be triggered from an event or record change; such as a sales opportunity being won, or triggered at certain time; such as every week morning at 6 AM create an inventory report with information from your eCommerce platform.

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What are some benefits to NetSuite Integration?

There are a number of reasons your business should consider NetSuite integrations:

• Improved efficiency: Integration allows for the automation of manual processes, resulting in more efficient and accurate data management.
• Enhanced data accuracy: By integrating NetSuite with other systems, you can eliminate the need for manual data entry and reduce the risk of errors.
• Better decision-making: With integrated systems, you can access real-time data from multiple sources, allowing you to make more informed business decisions.
• Increased productivity: Integration can free up time and resources that would otherwise be spent on manual tasks, allowing employees to focus on higher-value work.
• Enhanced customer experience: With integrated systems, you can provide a seamless experience for customers by having access to all relevant customer data in one place.
• Improved collaboration: Integration allows different teams and departments to access and share data in real-time, improving collaboration and communication.

How is a NetSuite Integration Possible?

NetSuite integrations are possible due to the robust NetSuite API. API stands for Application Programming interface, and it is a set of protocols that allow applications that were developed by different companies to communicate and share information. If you want to learn more about API’s you can check out our article “The Ultimate Guide to Understanding API Integration”

SuiteTalk Webservices is NetSuite’s API protocol. SuiteTalk is built on the SOAP method of communication. SOAP stands for Simple Object Access Protocol. What this means for users is the NetSuite API is secure and integrations can be built using any development language.

The SuiteTalk Webservices method also supports standard REST functions. REST is another protocol for messaging across the internet and is notable for being more flexible and easier to work with than the SOAP method. By supporting both of these protocols, the NetSuite API becomes robust and flexible, allowing for a wide variety of connections to be made in a number of ways.

Another thing that makes NetSuite integrations possible is the NetSuite language SuiteScript. SuiteScript is a proprietary development language, based off of Javascript, that NetSuite has created to allow the NetSuite platform to be customized by users and third-party developers. SuiteScript is what establishes the business logic that allows SuiteTalk to be used more effectively. SuiteScript will set the events or times that tell the SuiteTalk tool when to ask for data from another application. SuiteScript logic will then also tell NetSuite what to do with that data once it is inside of NetSuite.

Check out our article NetSuite API 101 to learn more about how to take advantage of the NetSuite API.

When Should you Consider NetSuite Integrations?

The best integration solutions are well-planned. The decision to get an integration is best dealt with at the same time you decide to purchase a new platform. The cost of integration should be considered with the cost of the platform and both can be set up at the same time reducing down time. Make sure to pay specific attention to the new business processes that will be created by the new platform and plan for them accordingly.

Even when you haven’t just purchased a new platform there still may be inefficient business processes that sprang up over time. Look to target processes that require a lot of back-and forth-emails between departments, create bottlenecks, or are sensitive to error.

What Are Some Common Challenges of NetSuite Integration?

Like all platforms NetSuite has its own quirks and nuances to integration. We have broken down some of these to help you get an idea of what to watch out for and where there are limitations.

NetSuite concurrency governance

NetSuite only allows a certain number of simultaneous connections per license. If you have a lot of integrations touching NetSuite in or around the same time, they may error out. Compensating for this would require delicate integration architecture or purchasing more licenses if no solution is possible. If you want to learn more about this topic, check out our guide on NetSuite Concurrency and Governance to learn more.

Relatively slow data transfer rates

If you are used to the data transfer rates of large scale databases, NetSuite’s transfer rate may disappoint you. What this means for admins is that processes that are big and require the movement of many records may take much longer than you would expect.

Large and complex API

Understanding NetSuites API and what it is capable is certainly not done overnight. As we mentioned before, the API allows for SOAP and REST functionality which opens up a lot of options and not all of them are the best-or even good. It will take some time or experience to identify the right steps to solve your problem in the best way possible.

NetSuite Integration Options

There are three ways to integrate NetSuite once you realize there is a need. How you go about an integration depends on your level of technical skill, the application you wish to connect to the NetSuite platform, and your budget.

Scratch Code

Creating an integration from scratch requires knowledge of the NetSuite API; particularly its calls and security protocols, familiarity with SuiteScript, knowledge of XML, and familiarity with the target applications API protocols.

If you have talented NetSuite architects and developers on-hand, then this may be the way you want to go. An integration from scratch will not require subscription costs down the road although it will need to be maintained through the years (more on this later). You can check out an example of a hand-written NetSuite integration below.

Find a “Connector”

You may find that a connector is the easiest way to solve your integration need. A connector is a pre-built integration application that is created to connect two popular SaaS applications or solve a common use-case.

You can find connectors at the SuiteApp store or by going through popular NetSuite partners. A quick google search will help you find more connectors but you should be aware that not all connectors available have been vetted by NetSuite and these carry more risk to your system.

Finding a connector can make your life much easier, however, they are usually only built for popular apps and use-cases as mentioned before and also come with pesky monthly or yearly SaaS fees.

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Purchase an Integration Platform (IPaaS)

An integration platform is a stand alone SaaS application that is designed to do one thing; build integration applications. Platforms are different from connectors because they can be used to build multiple integrations and are not tied to a single use-case or application. You can use them to connect every application in your IT portfolio and in doing s0 automate most, if not all, processes in your back-office. Integration platforms are also capable of EDI, allowing you to automate processes across partners and core B2B customers who are EDI compliant.

Integration platforms are becoming extremely popular among medium to large businesses right now as integration is taking off as a business all its own. A popular IPaas for the NetSuite ecosystem is Celigo.

Integration Platforms also reduce your need for technical skill by replacing the need to hard-code with graphical interfaces and wizard-step-by-step processes. Each of these platforms has their own learning curve, however. But in time, even complex integrations can be built with competent business analysts.

For more information on this topic, check out our guide on NetSuite Integration Options.

Top NetSuite Integration Apps for 2023

Celigo

Celigo, founded in 2010, began with a single NetSuite connector and has since added many more and released a dedicated integration platform, Integrator.io. Today, Integrator.io can connect many SaaS applications, with a focus on NetSuite connectors and pre-built functionality.

Mulesoft

Mulesoft is a top player in the integration industry with a complete range of services, documentation, support, and security. It is an enterprise-grade platform with functionality for application integration, EDI and B2B management, workflow development and deployment, and API management.

Jitterbit

Jitterbit is a 15-year-old integration platform with advanced capabilities, including API customization and EDI tools. Its “Harmony” platform is easy for developers and analysts with tech backgrounds to understand and can be used by non-technical analysts after training. Jitterbit is known for its excellent support and prioritization of user concerns.

To learn more about each of these applications and how they compare you can check out our guide, NetSuite Integrations Apps.

How Can You Maintain Your NetSuite Integrations?

Some quick and easy ways that you can make sure your integrations are always working as properly are as follow:

• Monitor your integrations: Regularly check to make sure that your integrations are working as intended and that data is flowing between systems as expected.
• Test your integrations: Periodically test your integrations to ensure that they are functioning correctly and that data is being transferred accurately.
• Stay up-to-date: Keep your NetSuite account and any integrated systems up-to-date with the latest software versions to ensure that your integrations continue to work smoothly.
• Monitor your data: Make sure that your data is being accurately transferred between systems and that it is consistent across all integrated systems.
• Review your integration strategy: Periodically review your integration strategy to ensure that it aligns with your business goals and needs. If your needs have changed, you may need to make adjustments to your integrations.
• Seek technical support: If you encounter any issues with your integrations, seek technical support from Netsuite or the vendor of the integrated system to resolve any problems.

How to Pick a NetSuite Integration Partner

After reading this article, you may find yourself in the market for a consultant or partner to help you set up your own NetSuite integrations. To help new users with this process we have put together a list of factors on which to judge potential partners.

• Determine Your Needs – First take a step back and try to think about your needs. Things like deadlines, specific app expertise, complexity. This will help you narrow down a list of partners who can meet them.
• Research Potential Partners – Start to research potential partners. Look at things like track record, services, communication and more.
• Evaluate Compatibility – Try to find a partner that will align with your culture. This will make a long term relationship more likely and fruitful.
• Consider Pricing – Make sure the partners prices are competitive and look for value over just finding the cheapest option.
• Review Their Processes – Asking about how they plan, execute, and test solutions and compare to other partners. Look for thorough, well thought-out, and time-testes processes.
• Test Their Responsiveness – Contact the partner with some concerns and see how quick they respond and evaluate quality of the response.

Check out our article on NetSuite Integration Partners for more information on how to choose one for yourself.

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Conclusion

Our hope for this guide was to explain everything a NetSuite administrator needs to know about NetSuite integration as well as provide real-world advice on how achieve integration success. If you felt that this guide has helped you in some way or you feel that it is missing something please leave a comment below to begin a conversation about it. We appreciate any and all feedback!

Also, if you have any NetSuite integration projects you need help with, you can learn more about our NetSuite Integration services. We have hundreds of NetSuite integration projects under our belt and would be happy to help in any way.