mastering netsuite saved search dashboards reports

Mastering NetSuite: Saved Searches, Dashboards and Reports

Picture a busy command center where analysts, managers and other stakeholders strain to decipher the pulse of the business or use data to support good decision-making. Unfortunately, many companies struggle to extract meaningful insights from their data, leaving them in constant search of the right answers and information. With its powerful array of saved searches, dashboards and reports, NetSuite cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP) software transforms this chaotic scene into a streamlined, data-driven enterprise.

NetSuite’s saved searches, dashboards and reports empower businesses to move beyond reactive analysis and embrace proactive strategy. There’s no reason to reinvent the wheel every time a new search takes place, dashboard is developed or report is generated. The ERP serves as a dynamic control panel, guiding users to the information they need quickly and efficiently.

This article explores these three powerful NetSuite capabilities, explains their value and highlights some of the top use cases for NetSuite saved searches, NetSuite dashboards and NetSuite reports.

NetSuite Saved Searches: From Chaos to Clarity

NetSuite saved search is a popular NetSuite feature because they help users extract precisely the information they need from the system's vast database without any additional coding or customization. “Searching in an ERP involves more than just typing in a query and scrolling through results,NetSuite explains. “It also requires choosing specific and relevant search filters to display results that fit key criteria. The specific filters to choose from are established when the organization designs its NetSuite ERP system and are highly customizable.

With NetSuite saved searches, you can also fine-tune results by combining different factors, such as order type, customer location, purchase size or any other category that a business has established to label and sort its data. For example, a sales representative who wants to track sales for a specific date range can choose to filter a search over a specific period, such as “January 1 to December 31, 2025,” or a rolling period, such as “last year to date,” which will automatically update each time it’s run to include the latest portion of the prior year.

NetSuite saved search provides real-time insights and can be customized with formulas, calculations, and summaries. They can also be scheduled to send automatic email alerts when specific conditions are met. Some other key features of NetSuite’s saved search functionality include:

  • Customizable filters and criteria
  • Real-time data retrieval
  • Exportable to CSV or Excel
  • Scheduled email notifications
  • Drill-down capability for granular details

There are many different ways to use NetSuite saved searches. Here are a few popular use cases:

  • Cash flow analysis. You can create a NetSuite saved search that filters transactions based on payment due dates, customer payment history and overdue invoices.
  • Accounts payable aging. Develop a search that identifies outstanding vendor invoices and categorizes them by aging buckets (e.g., 30, 60, 90+ days). This can help speed up the payment process and help you foster improved vendor relationships.
  • Inventory management. Filtering for inventory items with stock levels below a certain threshold.
  • Sales lead management. With NetSuite saved search, you can easily track leads that have converted to customers within a specific timeframe or from a certain campaign.

These are just a few of the many ways that NetSuite’s saved searches transform raw data into actionable intelligence and helps companies use targeted, real-time data to improve operational efficiency and decision-making.

NetSuite Dashboards: Data Right at Your Fingertips

In NetSuite, dashboards provide a high-level visual representation of business performance through customizable widgets, charts, key performance indicators (KPIs) and portlets. These visual workspaces help users monitor critical metrics at a glance and interact with real-time data. NetSuite dashboards can be customized for each team or individual user.

For example, a warehouse manager’s Oracle NetSuite dashboard may include:

  • An inventory levels widget displaying a list of 10 stockkeeping units (SKUs) with “stock below” reorder points.
  • A “shipments today” graph displaying number of completed shipments compared to the daily average.
  • An average pick/pack time value showing a 10% increase compared to last week.

Some of the key features of NetSuite’s dashboards include:

  • Customizable widgets for different user roles
  • Real-time KPI monitoring
  • Graphs and charts for visual representation
  • Personalized layout for different departments
  • Drill-down capabilities to access detailed reports

Here are more ways you can use NetSuite dashboards for specific job roles:

  • A NetSuite CFO dashboard with real-time KPIs on revenue, profit margins, cash flow and outstanding receivables.
  • A NetSuite dashboard with total payables, total receivables, and net working capital that helps the CFO and accounting team keep close tabs on these important metrics.
  • A sales manager’s NetSuite dashboard to show sales lead conversion rates and pipeline health.

NetSuite dashboards support proactive management and informed decision-making across various departments. This, in turn, helps to enhance efficiency and enables faster response to evolving business conditions. They’re a must-have for today’s uncertain and unpredictable business environment.

NetSuite Reports: Real-Time Insights for Optimal Performance

Business leaders and managers need accurate, timely reports that provide clear and updated pictures of their organizations’ performance. These reports have become table stakes in a constantly-shifting business environment, where the next competitor is always just one screen tap or mouse click away.

Reliable reporting also eliminates guesswork. When data is reliable and consistent, organizations can make informed choices about resource allocation, product development, emerging trends and potential roadblocks. If the information is stored on spreadsheets or disparate systems, it can lead to missed opportunities, costly errors and major oversights.

NetSuite's reporting capabilities are both comprehensive and highly customizable. Users can generate NetSuite reports across all business functions with real-time data accuracy—from NetSuite financial reporting and NetSuite inventory reports to NetSuite sales reports and customer service. “NetSuite SuiteAnalytics reporting capabilities provide real-time visibility into company operational and financial performance across all business functions,” the company says. “Prebuilt and easily customizable, these reports and analyses make it easy to get the data you need, while role-based dashboards and KPIs help you keep an eye on business performance.

NetSuite reporting provides structured, formatted data presentations that are typically used for compliance, auditing, and periodic financial reporting. They aggregate historical data and allow users to generate financial statements, inventory reports, and more.

Some of the other features of NetSuite’s reporting tools include:

  • Pre-built and customizable templates
  • Data aggregation over time
  • Printable and exportable to PDF/Excel
  • Financial compliance reporting
  • Grouped data summaries for business insights

The use cases for NetSuite reporting are virtually limitless, but some of the ways you can use them include:

  • Generating a current, accurate cash flow statement.
  • Creating an audit trail report for compliance and internal auditing
  • Creating an inventory valuation report, summarizing stock levels, costs, and valuation methods (FIFO, LIFO, Average Cost).
  • Generating a marketing campaign effectiveness report

Wrapping Up

Collectively, NetSuite saved searches, NetSuite dashboards, and NetSuite reports provide a robust framework for data-driven decision-making in the modern business world. By enabling users to efficiently access, visualize and analyze critical information, these tools help organizations optimize their operations, plan strategically and maintain a competitive edge.

If your business is struggling to obtain the level of visibility it needs to thrive, contact ScaleNorth today. Our team of NetSuite consultants is standing by to help configure the NetSuite saved searches, dashboards, and reports you need to thrive.

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