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Deciding to adapt Netsuite as your Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is a big step for any business. It requires effective planning and understanding of the whole process. A reliable NetSuite Solution Provider can accomplish this with confidence. Understanding complex processes might be difficult that is why finding the right NetSuite Implementation Services can be the right step to take.
The complete approach to NetSuite implementation project plan includes planning and preparation, configuration and data migration, testing, and training.
A good NetSuite Implementation Consultant is essential for a successful ERP rollout. You should have a NetSuite Implementation partner in place before you begin any ERP deployment. The position of NetSuite implementation consultant might become a full-time job for someone depending on the size of your organization. You'll want to choose a team leader who is skilled at project management.
What is a NetSuite Implementation Consultant?
NetSuite Consultants are in charge of the cloud-based NetSuite software solution's administration and development. They examine business processes and assist businesses in using the NetSuite system to arrange different areas of the company model. Continue reading to learn more about what a NetSuite consultant does.
Responsibilities of a NetSuite Implementation Consultant
A NetSuite consultant is in charge of a company's NetSuite system's general administration. They handle many of the technical elements of a project by accepting and dealing with any disruptions that may occur.
They give ongoing training and support to ensure that the company and its employees get the most out of the NetSuite software. Consultants have an in-depth understanding of technological solutions.
A NetSuite Consultant's responsibilities include non-business analysis of corporate processes and systems. They can assess and give recommendations so systems and new technology can help with day-to-day tasks. To make sure the software is being used to its fullest, they test company objectives and assess if they are being met. After this, they can suggest improvements.
When is the Right Time to Look for NetSuite Implementation Partners?
Now is the time to improve your operations! You need improvements if your sales team doesn't have real-time inventory visibility and your marketing department can't send out fantastic CRM emails. It is high time for an upgrade if your finance team doesn't have multi-currency alternatives and audit trail accountability.
Learning the right system management of a business is more than half the fight of achieving every ounce of profit you can. Remember, to ask the right questions to your implementation partner.
Why Do You Need NetSuite Implementation Services?
If you want to build and extend your firm, you'll need the correct software for the task. Any expanding company may benefit from enterprise resource planning software. It can help you save time and money, which allows you to improve your enterprise.
Ensuring the success of your business requires hiring the best NetSuite Administrators to implement your plans. Even if you have an e-commerce technical background, a NetSuite administrator may save you resources. Whether you need an implementation completed in three months or have a longer timeframe, you'll need to set reasonable expectations for everyone involved.
A NetSuite setup can take anything from a few months to a few years. For most clients, a six-month implementation is a good estimate.
Successful NetSuite Implementation Checklist
1. Choose the right NetSuite partner.
Work with a NetSuite partner who is familiar with your company's objectives, budget, timeline for implementation, customization requirements, and present bandwidth. Check to determine whether your partner has an excellent track record with customers and a high Net Promoter Score. This, in turn, will indicate how effectively your consultants comprehend and care about a client's company and industry requirements. A great partner will also ask you the relevant questions and seamlessly lead you through the NetSuite setup process.
2. Cultivate an open environment.
Your consultants are experts in their field and spend their days working with NetSuite software. Make sure you're open-minded about alternative approaches to handle company procedures since they know how it functions in its most efficient form. What worked in your former system can be an antiquated approach in NetSuite.
3. Ensure that the implementation team is accountable for the project.
Make sure you follow up properly and are available if your NetSuite Administrator has any queries. It is preferable to ask questions throughout the procedure rather than afterward. Make a significant investment of your time in your ERP implementation.
4. Follow the ERP NetSuite Implementation Project Plan
For most clients, this is the most difficult phase. It's thrilling to obtain a new system that will help your business function more smoothly! Jumping ahead, on the other hand, will result in unanticipated problems later. Your NetSuite consultants should be trusted since they are well-versed in NetSuite best practices.
5. Prepare a list of questions to ask.
Don't be scared to ask questions. Pose some challenging questions to your NetSuite Administrator. What business operations are included and excluded from this project's scope? Will a system analysis be required? Any of your NetSuite implementation inquiries will not surprise an experienced NetSuite implementation services partner.
Benefits of ERP Implementation
NetSuite is an ERP system that keeps your needs in mind at all times. You can track customer service concerns, manage your inventory, and more. You can also keep track of your expenditures and purchase orders with NetSuite. Despite the fact that several ERP packages provide similar functionalities, NetSuite offers advantages that you won't find anyplace else.
This platform allows you to pick and choose the features you desire, allowing you to pay just for what you require. When you utilize NetSuite, you don't have to replace your present ERP system. If you don't want to change everything, NetSuite allows you to add its functionalities to your existing software platform.
NetSuite Implementation Guide: Phases and Methodology
A complete NetSuite implementation guide has a checklist of tasks as the project goes along, from pre-implementation to final execution. It is not unusual for various NetSuite implementation partners to follow their own NetSuite implementation guide. Let us dive into the most common best practices they have:
Step 1: Discovery
The more time you give into research and raising important questions the less likely you’ll have to redo it again. This step clarifies many important questions of how NetSuite works, such as: High-level goals, Possible integration systems, Data migration processes, and NetSuite gap analysis.
Step 2: Planning
This stage of the NetSuite Implementation guide involves establishing an ERP implementation timeline. The NetSuite Implementation consultant must identify key resources and responsibilities for the internal and external teams. There are a lot of scheduled work sessions during this phase, such as plotting various business scenarios and meeting with stakeholders.
The objective of this stage is to make a blueprint as you establish the timeline and responsibilities of team members. Your NetSuite implementation partners prepare user test cases and business requirement documents during this phase.
Step 3: Execution
This is the point of the NetSuite Implementation Guide wherein you get hands-on experience with NetSuite ERP. The activities covered at this stage include:
- Migration of data from the previous system (if needed)
- Configuring key processes and configuring NetSuite modules (as needed)
- Developing key customizations and integrations in accordance with BRD documents.
Step 4: Training
Training begins as soon as the NetSuite app is configured and may continue after the project goes live. It is important to provide key stakeholders with appropriate training so that they can maximize the benefits of the application. Users need proper training to get the most out of their investment in order to achieve desired results.
Step 5: Testing
Testing is an important process of implementation, just like training. Rigorous testing is vital for the confirmation of the business requirements outlined the BRD (business requirements document). Generally, there are two types of testing:
Use-Case Testing
This is done to verify that all the processes and customizations are configured correctly and working according to the requirements established in the BRD.
User Acceptance Testing
Users ensure that all processes and customizations have been set up according to the requirements given during the planning phases of the project.
Step 6: Go-Live
Once all testing is complete, the NetSuite Implementation guide process can start. You can achieve your goal if everything goes according to plan. When that happens, you can begin using NetSuite for actual business purposes. Your NetSuite ERP system can go live if all your data and tools/technologies are successfully integrated. This will make managing multiple applications systems much easier, save you money and time, and enhance your business operations.
Step 7: Post-Go-Live Support
It may take some time or even months for problems to arise after testing and go-live. Moreover, full ROI will not happen instantly. It requires extra customizations and upgrades from time to time to adapt to the business needs. Hence, you may need a Netsuite Implementation consultant to keep around even after the project launch.
This is a broad implementation guide with step-by-step instructions. Some businesses, for example, are fresh new and will not require data migration. Some firms may require a series of technological adaptations that would necessitate unique coding. Others may not require anything beyond what NetSuite has previously developed for a particular sector.
NetSuite has the advantage of running on the same version for all customers. Unlike other ERP software, you won't need to keep adding connectors over time. As a result, it's critical to plan ahead of time with your NetSuite installation partner. This is to ensure that they can contribute their expertise to make the process go as smoothly as possible. Adding more NetSuite features than originally intended can cause your go-live date to be pushed back.
4 Reasons for Failed Netsuite Implementations
These are the top 4 reasons why businesses don't have successful Netsuite Implementation. We included ways to make sure it doesn't happen to your business.
1. Unrealistic expectations and lack of executive inputs.
During an ERP implementation project, all key stakeholders must be active members at all times. If all members participate and adhere to basic standards you can be sure that the implementation project can be successful.
2. Implementation of an inefficient data migration strategy.
Inexperienced teams may not have the right expertise to implement multiple modules and add-on features. This process involves many technical considerations, such as data migration. Migrating data from an old system to a new system should be free of duplicates. You should take into account that all relevant data needs migration without omitting any important information.
In most cases, NetSuite partners will claim that they have provided solutions for successful implementation projects and worked on data migration challenges. You should verify this through references and reviews from previous clients.
3. Poor management of organizational change.
Deciding to implement a new system requires understanding your business processes. Your organization must be prepared to handle the radical change that a new system will demand. Issues arise in the absence of a commitment on the part of key members at the top of the hierarchy level. The implementation partner would find it hard to make a new system work. The process of managing organizational change should start right at the beginning of the planning stage. If it fails at the planning stage, it won't launch correctly and can lead to ineffective, or dead-end, methods.
4. Involvement of key stakeholders.
Despite the importance of the project, many executives are unable to grasp the key nuances. This is because they do not have time to digest what ERP needs in order to integrate the data of the organization. Participating key stakeholders is crucial to the success of the project. This ensures that the implementation team can align the functional and technical aspects of ERP with the organizational goals and vision. Ultimately, if ERP software does not result in the organization or its members meeting key goals, then the implementation is considered a failure.
If your organization or its members can avoid these pitfalls, you are on the right path to a successful NetSuite implementation.
