Implementing a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system is a major undertaking that requires careful planning and execution. As we move into 2025, more businesses are looking to cloud-based solutions like NetSuite to improve efficiency and visibility across their organizations.
However, failure to properly plan out an ERP implementation can lead to missed deadlines, cost overruns, and incomplete configurations – ultimately hampering user adoption and return on investment.
This comprehensive checklist outlines key steps to successfully roll out NetSuite in 2025 and beyond. It covers critical factors around planning, configuration, integration, testing, training, and go-live.
Building a Solid Foundation
The first phase of any NetSuite implementation focuses on laying the groundwork for success. This requires clearly defining goals, assembling project teams, understanding workflows, and evaluating integrations.
Key planning steps include:
• Define implementation goals and success metrics
• Assign a project manager and project sponsor
• Compose NetSuite implementation and executive steering teams
• Map out current business workflows, processes and reporting needs
• Perform integration evaluation with current software systems
• Develop implementation timeline and communicate to stakeholders
With the project framed out, organizations can then shift to configuring their NetSuite instance to support desired processes.
Configuring NetSuite for Peak Performance
The configuration stage involves setting up and tailoring the NetSuite environment based on the way your teams operate. This maximizes adoption and ensures the system meets current and future process requirements.
Typical configuration steps cover:
- Activate global accounting, reporting and management preferences
- Model entities, subsidiaries, departments, classes and locations
- Configure accounts, calendaring, settlements, payments and billings
- Create approval rules and workflow alerts
- Develop custom fields, records, KPIs, reminders and notifications
- Set up dashboards, reminders and notifications
- Build imported/exported data handling and interfaces
Careful accounting setup and mappings are critical to control financial reporting. HR/payroll components like benefits, deductions and time-off improve visibility into workforce costs. Tailored workflows standardize processes for everything from purchase requests and invoicing to customer support and case management.
With configuration complete, connecting NetSuite to peripheral systems takes center stage.
Integrating Surrounding Systems
Modern organizations use many SaaS and on-premise tools that must feed data to and from NetSuite. Finance teams rely on tight accounting package integrations. Sales and service groups depend on accurate synchronizations with CRM software.
Here are some best practices around integrations:
• Assess all required application and database integrations
• Inventory needed APIs, connectors and drivers
• Map integration touchpoints and data flows
• Configure outbound integration triggers like workflows and reminders
• Build real-time and batched inbound/outbound integrations
• Create comprehensive API connection protocols
• Develop custom integrations and external access where gaps exist
With open API and cloud connectivity, NetSuite integrates with hundreds of applications to drive efficiencies company-wide.
Confirming Everything Works through Testing
An iterative testing methodology helps validate configurations, workflows, reporting and integrations pre-launch. This identifies defects and gaps early so they can be fixed without business disruption.
Leading test activities include:
- Define NetSuite testing environment
- Perform individual component testing
- Validate lighting and custom configurations
- Execute end-to-end process testing across functions
- Confirm dashboard designs and data accuracy
- Review reports, financial statements and reconciliations
- Conduct integration testing across all touchpoints
- Identify gaps in capabilities or requirements
- Fix system defects throughout testing cycles
- Document resiliency/redundancy infrastructure needs
Testing is undoubtedly tedious but critical work that sets the stage for user training.
Getting Employees Ready with Training
The effectiveness of any ERP implementation relies on employee adoption and utilization. But this only occurs if users clearly understand NetSuite capabilities from their viewpoint.
Best-practice training initiatives:
- Perform training needs assessment
- Create role-based learning plans and materials
- Hold group hands-on training sessions by module
- Provide online learning licenses for self-service refreshers
- Ensure key users complete administrator certifications
- Budget for ongoing learning subscriptions as updates are released
Use training to generate excitement and reinforce change management communications.
Going Live and Preparing for Troubleshooting
Once configured, integrated, tested and familiarized through training, NetSuite goes live as the system of record across defined user groups. This milestone is not the end…but focused planning limits launch snags.
Prepare for go-live with:
- Back up all legacy system data to be migrated
- Finalize go-live weekend activities with timeline
- Schedule staff to provide extra implementation support
- Confirm help desk staff levels to field issues
- Test fail-over and disaster recovery procedures
- Identify shift staggering opportunities if major performance issues hit
- Create contingency plans accounting for various launch failure scenarios
- Budget reserves for unexpected post-go-live expenses
- Review success metrics at 30/60/90 intervals post-launch
Of course, hitting milestones alone does not guarantee ongoing value realization. We are now in the continuous improvement stream. Set aside resources to:
- Fix gaps discovered after going live
- Refine end-user training content
- Identify adopt automation opportunities
- Analyze usage data to target unoptimized processes
- Build additional customizations to boost productivity
- Continuously enhance complementing tools integrations
- Proactively push newly released capabilities to users
Choose SuiteRep as Your Implementation Partner
As this checklist demonstrates, NetSuite success requires strategic planning AND practical execution across a solution footprint reflecting how businesses operate today.
Most organizations lack specialized NetSuite expertise and resources to achieve security, scale, continuity, and strategic direction goals on their own. An implementation partner like SuiteRep delivers on all counts.
SuiteRep combines over 15 years of NetSuite experience with expert consultants across a range of industries. SuiteRep’s Elevate methodology blends software knowledge with real-life business acumen so you maximize value at every implementation stage.
From initial discovery and roadmap creation through training and ongoing enhancement, certified SuiteRep specialists help future-proof processes with built-in agility, security and compliance.
SuiteRep walks you through the nuances of building a tailored NetSuite presence with or without a system overhaul. The SuiteRep team handles the heavy lifting across planning, NetSuite integrations, customizations, analytics and training based on your unique needs.
Choose SuiteRep over niche partners or large conglomerates who lack hands-on guidance throughout your digital transformation. Contact SuiteRep today to schedule your free consultation and sample roadmap creation session!
Chuyên mục: Trending gossip