Adopting a cloud-based ERP solution like NetSuite to grow your business is a strategic initiative that will contribute to your bottom line for years to come. However, ERP implementations are no easy task and are the type of project that you want done once and done right.
You’ll likely need a team of skilled and well-versed NetSuite implementation experts who can dedicate significant chunks of time to the project in order to maximize your ROI. Implementation success is much more likely when performed by a team highly experienced with NetSuite, its powerful features, customization capabilities, and best practices. In fact, the Gartner Group reports that 75% of ERP projects fail, and one of the prime causes is that companies don’t have the necessary internal talent to implement the software. Yet they still try to wrangle the project themselves or cut corners by hiring a “discount” implementation partner who lacks sufficient experience.
The best way to ensure NetSuite implementation success is by partnering with a leading NetSuite implementation partner with a proven track record.
NetSuite implementation partners are third-party consultants who specialize in helping companies implement and optimize the world’s leading cloud-based ERP system. Like every other business decision, choosing a NetSuite implementation partner can be challenging. With so many partners to choose from, it's difficult to know how to narrow down your options.
This guide helps business owners and decision-makers understand why NetSuite consulting partners are valuable and how to choose the best NetSuite partner for their needs.
This is perhaps the most essential criteria when looking for the right NetSuite ERP implementation partners. Experienced NetSuite consultants bring industry expertise, delivery experience, and knowledge of best practices to your business. With their extensive experience, they should have a firm understanding of what to expect throughout the process, potential roadblocks to overcome, challenges specific to your industry or operating environment, and more.
An implementation partner not only has a general understanding of NetSuite functionality but can also ensure that your new ERP system integrates seamlessly with your current software systems and business processes. If custom connections or integration work is needed, an implementation partner can carry it out for you.
You can assess a NetSuite partner's technical expertise by reviewing their certifications, awards, recommendations, and reputation. For example:
Successful NetSuite implementations require both parties, your business and the NetSuite implementation provider, to remain in regular and consistent contact. The flow of information between the two parties is essential to project success. When vetting a NetSuite implementation partner, make sure you’re receiving regular, accurate, friendly, and responsive communication.
Keep in mind, communication is a two-way street. Your team will need to be equally accessible and responsive in order to ensure implementation success. In fact, one of the leading causes of failed implementations is a lack of communication or end-user buy-in. Being accessible to provide your implementation partner with data, logins, and reasoning behind existing processes and more is essential to success. Not only will this communication help the project, but it will also help you remain informed on project status, milestones, budgets, timelines, and more.
When dealing with large-scale projects like ERP implementations, it’s important to have a partner who knows what they’re doing, communicates efficiently and effectively, and keeps everybody cool, calm, and collected.
Your NetSuite implementation's success depends heavily on user adoption and acceptance. Getting employees to accept and utilize the new platform will require them to know their way around it, particularly in their role-specific tasks. A proper NetSuite implementation partner will get your staff prepared for a seamless transition to the new system so your business and its people don’t skip a beat.
It is highly recommended to seek implementation partners with a track record of successfully implementing Oracle NetSuite.
If your potential implementation partner doesn’t list any NetSuite certifications on their website or marketing materials, be sure to inquire. Certifications such as the NetSuite Solution Provider designation showcase a provider's capabilities and know-how around NetSuite implementations and optimization.
Apart from company-wide certifications like the NetSuite Solution Provider designation, there are individual certifications held by each consultant, such as:
Top providers like ScaleNorth boast staff members spanning every NetSuite certification type, so you have access to a Subject Matter Expert regardless of the task at hand.
NetSuite has a broad customer base that spans countless industries and micro-verticals. Each of these industries has its own pain points, challenges, rules & regulations, and operational strategies. You’ll want a NetSuite partner with industry experience, so they can advise on ERP configuration best practices that align with your specific operations. The NetSuite instance of a $10M wholesale distributor will look vastly different from that of a $100M software company. Be sure to ask your potential implementation partner about their experience in your industry.
Another important component of your ERP migration is post-implementation support. Once you go live on your new ERP system, you might uncover desired functionalities that were not identified in the existing scope. Your business might also grow and require new features that were not needed at the time of your implementation. Hence, most NetSuite customers utilize some form of NetSuite consulting support to keep their operations as streamlined and efficient as possible. Be sure to select a NetSuite implementation partner that offers post-go-live support packages. ScaleNorth, for example, offers NetSuite consulting and support, including ad hoc services for one-off projects and managed support packages.
When implementing NetSuite, it’s essential to find the right NetSuite implementation partner for your business. These complex and vast projects are not something you want to take on in-house, unless you have a dedicated team of certified NetSuite experts on your payroll. However, not all NetSuite consultants are alike. There are the industry-leading experts, and there are the “budget” shops that lack experience. Considering that a NetSuite implementation will affect every corner of your business for years to come, it’s not something you want to trust in the hands of an inexperienced consultant.
By following the recommendations in this article and doing your due diligence on the provider, you’ll be able to mitigate project risk and increase the chances of a successful implementation.
ScaleNorth’s expert NetSuite implementation consultants have a collective 1,000+ years of experience on the NetSuite platform. We lead white-glove implementations and have a phenomenal track record of getting our clients where they need to be to thrive.
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