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Implementing business systems like NetSuite promises improved efficiency, insight and growth. But over customized, complex tech stacks can quickly become an anchor dragging companies down instead of providing lift.
How can organizations implement NetSuite in a smart, sustainable way setting up long-term success? Follow these guidelines for crafting a durable tech foundation able to scale without collapsing under its own weight down the road.
Start with Business Strategy, Not Software
Rather than letting available software capabilities dictate strategy, clearly define business goals and required outcomes first. What key pain points need solving? What future capabilities align to growth plans? Paint this target picture first before evaluating technology options.
By anchoring firmly on business strategy, you can objectively assess platforms like NetSuite on their ability to enable strategic goals rather than allowing shiny features to distract from core needs.
Model Essential Business Processes First
Next, map existing processes to optimize first before attempting automation. Clearly diagram current workflows around operations, order management, inventory, procurement and so on.
Identify pain points where wasted time or errors occur. Redesign streamlined future-state processes applying Lean principles removing non-value steps.
This business process optimization exercise accomplishes two things:
1. Surfaces the true business requirements to improve and automate as criteria for choosing and configuring systems
2. Highlights processes not needing change while calling out areas ripe for innovation – don’t digitize broken processes!
Implementing elegant, optimized processes in technology from the start prevents accumulation of clutter slowing users down over time.
Configure Before Customizing
With a streamlined target picture of essential business processes and requirements defined, now productively shift into configuring application software capabilities.
Take time really understanding platform strengths meeting defined needs OUT-OF-THE-BOX before considering customizations. The 80/20 rule applies here:
Often 80% of needs can be solved with standard functionality while only 20% require custom code for unique requirements delivering strategic advantage and market differentiation.
Layering excessive customizations onto configurable platforms like NetSuite leads to brittle, complex systems requiring heavy ongoing IT care and feeding. Minimize custom code for maximum ROI.
Avoid Integrating Every Data Source
Finally, show restraint integrating every possible internal and external data source into your platforms just because you can.
Clearly define essential use cases needing unified data views in core systems vs nice-to-have integrations providing marginal value at best.
Don’t overwhelm business systems managing an explosion of apps, cloud services, IoT streams and more when a fraction of connections cover 80% of real integration value.
The Cost of Complexity Adds Up
What many growing companies fail to consider is the exponential total cost of ownership behind a complex, integrated tech stack over time beyond initial implementation costs. Consider that:
- Adding custom applications and their underlying infrastructure greatly multiplies hosting fees quicky
- Integrating new data sources requires ongoing coding and monitoring effort
- Scaling complex systems slows performance, productivity and agility
- Future upgrade breaks and fixes burden IT with spiraling maintenance costs
By judiciously sculpting a purpose-built tech portfolio centered firmly on strategic business priorities first, you build an adaptive foundation for innovating at scale without collapse or bloat holding progress back.
Why Choose SuiteRep for Building Your NetSuite Tech Stack?
Through experience crafting hundreds of durable, high-performing NetSuite ecosystems for global enterprises, SuiteRep delivers unique perspective into how to implement stable, lean application portfolios.
Our team of experts provides:
- Proven reference models and leading practices tailored for your industry building on real customer successes and pitfalls
- OCM and change management guidance increasing user adoption and ROI
- Staff augmentation flexing project team skills and bandwidth
- Strategic platform guidance planning for future extensibility, performance and scale
Break free of business systems dragging you down and empower your organization to execute and adapt to opportunities faster. Contact SuiteRep today for a free personalized demo or consultation on planning/building a sustainable NetSuite portfolio tailored to your needs.
