11 Hard Truths I Wish I Knew Before My NetSuite Implementation
Introduction: Lessons from the “Rescue” Squad
We don’t usually meet clients when things are going well. We meet them when the “Go-Live” button has been pushed, the invoices aren’t sending, the warehouse is gridlocked, and the CFO is asking why the ROI hasn’t materialized.
As experienced NetSuite Rescue Consultants, we have seen hundreds of implementations slide off the rails—not because of the software itself, but because of the human, process, and contractual decisions made in the first 90 days.
Who is this guide for? This is for CFOs, Project Managers, and IT Directors who are currently negotiating a NetSuite contract or are midway through the “Build” phase. It is not a brochure; it is a compilation of the “street smarts” and “gotchas” that sales teams gloss over.
If you want to avoid becoming a “Rescue Project,” here are the 11 things you need to know before you sign off.
Check out our full guide on NetSuite Implementations for more on this topic.
1. Do Not Underestimate Training (UAT is Not Training)
The biggest lie in implementation is that your team will learn the system during User Acceptance Testing (UAT).
The Trap: Clients use UAT to teach users “how” to enter an order.
The Reality: If you are teaching during UAT, you aren’t testing. UAT is for breaking the system, finding bugs, and validating logic.
The “Happy Path” Bias: Most teams only test the “Happy Path” (Standard Order Ship Invoice). They fail to test the messy reality: partial shipments, credit card declines, return authorizations, and voided checks.
The Fix: Conduct formal, role-based training before UAT begins. Give your testers “Fail Scripts” designed to break workflows.
2. Data Migration: The “Trash In, Trash Out” Rule
There is a temptation to treat NetSuite as a digital archive for your company’s entire history.
The Trap: “Let’s import 7 years of historical sales data so we can run year-over-year reports immediately.”
The Reality: Importing historical transactions is expensive, messy, and usually breaks due to missing fields. Furthermore, importing “Open Purchase Orders” (partial receipts) is a logistical nightmare.
The Fix:
Master Data Only: Focus on clean Customer, Vendor, and Item records.
Opening Balances: Bring in monthly trial balances for history, not individual invoices.
No Open POs: Force a hard “Close” in your old system. Re-key only the absolutely necessary open orders manually in NetSuite.
3. NetSuite Support is Not “Consulting”
New users often confuse “Gold Support” with having a dedicated advisor.
The Trap: “I don’t need a partner anymore; I’ll just open a ticket with NetSuite Support if I have a question.”
The Reality: NetSuite Support is designed for Break/Fix (e.g., “The system is generating an error code”). They are not there to explain why your accounting flows are confusing or how to optimize your supply chain.
The ACS Warning: Advanced Customer Support (ACS) is an upgrade, but be aware that it often relies on a rotating roster of junior consultants. You may not get the consistent, context-aware advice your specific business needs.
4. The “Accidental Admin” Will Burn Out
The Trap: “Our Controller is smart; let’s make them the NetSuite Admin, too.”
The Reality: A NetSuite Administrator is a full-time job. It involves managing security roles, troubleshooting workflows, building saved searches, and managing biannual system upgrades.
The Fix: If you add this role to an employee who already has a 40-hour workweek, two things will happen:
The system will be neglected and degrade.
Your Controller will burn out and quit within 6 months.
5. You Can’t Just “Delete” Things Like QuickBooks
If you are coming from QuickBooks or Xero, you are used to a certain level of fluidity. NetSuite is a rigid, GAAP-compliant ERP.
The Reality: You cannot simply highlight a transaction and hit “delete” without leaving a trail.
The Consequence: Transactions must be “Voided” or reversed with Journal Entries. If you mess up your configuration, you can’t just “wipe it and start over” easily.
The Fix: This reinforces the need for a Sandbox environment. Never “try” something in Production.
6. Integrations Determine Your Go-Live Date
The Trap: “We’ll configure NetSuite first, then plug in Shopify and our 3PL warehouse later.”
The Reality: Middleware (tools like Celigo, Boomi, or FarApp) are not plug-and-play. They require complex field mapping, error handling logic, and volume testing.
The Fix: Integration work must start on Day 1, running parallel to your NetSuite configuration. If you wait until month 3 to start integrations, you will miss your Go-Live date.
7. Your Project Manager is Not Your Architect
The Trap: Relying on the Partner’s Project Manager (PM) to make design decisions.
The Reality: A PM’s job is to manage the calendar and the budget. They are not necessarily technical experts.
The Fix: You need a Solution Architect (SA). The SA is the one who understands the downstream impact of a decision. When the PM says, “We can do that,” the SA is the one who says, “We shouldn’t do that because it will break your inventory costing.” Ensure you have access to an SA.
8. “Go/No-Go” Decision Needs a Scorecard
The Trap: Going Live because “We promised the Board,” “The license is expiring,” or “We are tired of implementation.”
The Reality: Emotional Go-Lives lead to operational paralysis.
The Fix: Build an Objective Scorecard weeks before the date. If you don’t meet the criteria, you don’t launch.
Example Criteria: Critical Bugs = 0; Bank Rec Balanced = Yes; User Logins Verified = 100%.
9. The “Blackout Period” Denial
The Trap: “We’ll close the old system on Friday and open NetSuite on Monday without stopping operations.”
The Reality: You cannot hit a moving target. If users are still entering POs in the old system while you are exporting data, your opening balances will be wrong on Day 1.
The Fix: Enforce a strict 3-5 Day “Pencils Down” Blackout.
No data entry in the legacy system.
No data entry in NetSuite.
Operations must run on paper or spreadsheets during this gap.
10. The Partner Matters (Choose Wisely)
The B-Team Switch: You might be sold by a Senior Architect, but once the contract is signed, the project is handed to a junior associate learning on your dime.
The Industry Fit: A partner who specializes in Software companies will not understand the nuances of Manufacturing “Work in Progress” (WIP).
The Contract: Understand Fixed Bid vs. Time & Materials. Fixed Bid offers budget safety but encourages the partner to say “No” to scope changes. T&M offers flexibility but requires strict management to prevent budget bloat.
11. The “SuiteSuccess” Trap: Speed vs. Flexibility
NetSuite’s “SuiteSuccess” methodology promises a “Zero to Cloud” launch in 100 days using pre-configured templates.
The Trap: These editions often come with hard-coded decisions—like pre-set Chart of Accounts or rigid segmentation—that you assume you can change later.
The Reality: Some “SuiteSuccess” elements are extremely difficult to unwind. You may find yourself locked into a “Service” item structure when you actually need “Inventory” items.
The Fix: Treat SuiteSuccess as a starting point, not a law. Don’t be afraid to break the template if it fundamentally disagrees with your business model.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How much time should I budget for UAT? A: Plan for at least 2–4 weeks of dedicated User Acceptance Testing. This should not be “an hour a day”; key “Super Users” should be pulled off their regular jobs for 50% of their time to test thoroughly.
Q: Can we self-implement NetSuite to save money? A: Technically, yes. Strategically, it is dangerous. Without an implementation partner or an experienced in-house Architect, you will likely make “irreversible” structural mistakes (like Subsidiary hierarchy or Multi-Book accounting) that cost 3x more to fix later.
Q: What is the most common cause of Go-Live failure? A: Dirty data. If you import bad addresses, duplicate vendors, or wrong inventory counts, the system will be untrustworthy from Day 1. Users will refuse to use it, and adoption will tank.
Conclusion: Preparation is Cheaper than Repair
The difference between a “successful” Go-Live and a “rescue project” usually isn’t the software—it’s the preparation. NetSuite is a powerful engine, but it requires a disciplined driver.
By acknowledging these 11 risks upfront, you can move from “hoping it works” to “knowing it will.”
