How to Choose the Right NetSuite Partner

In our previous post, we mentioned that NetSuite, one of today’s most widely adopted, cloud-based ERP systems, can be deployed with the assistance and expertise of a NetSuite partner or with the NetSuite company itself. We, as a partner, offer to optimize the ERP system for certain industries, and NetSuite also offers something similar. So it makes sense that with that knowledge alone, clients often wonder why they should collaborate with partner like Sikich to implement NetSuite instead of directly working with the company. We covered the benefits as to why you should choose a NetSuite partner in that last post, but now we will cover the next most important step when it comes to selecting a partner: how to choose the right NetSuite partner for your business.

The following are all steps a good NetSuite partner will take to ensure a successful implementation.

Gets to Know Your Business

NetSuite uses an efficient, standardized approach that can work well if companies have been through an ERP implementation before and know what this entails. Sikich is more nurturing. We establish relationships with the business and IT stakeholders. We meet at their places of business, learning as much as we can about the goals and user scenarios that prompted them to choose NetSuite. In a next step, we may perform a business process assessment to help companies move from the current to the desired state of their operation.

We do some implementation consulting virtually, but most of the initial conversations, business process assessment, design, deployment, training, and follow-up happen onsite. In contrast, NetSuite typically performs entire implementations by guiding the customer remotely. We gather user and stakeholder feedback at every step, which allows us to glean important nuances that might not become clear in a virtual interaction. When we discuss processes or train users, we can in-person address questions and reservations that clients might not voice otherwise.

Some of our current clients were NetSuite direct customers who preferred the kind of connected, available, and accountable support Sikich can provide. We enjoy getting to know our clients well and helping them grow with their technology.

Helps Clients Assess Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and ROI

NetSuite typically provides clients with the costs they should expect for the first year of running the ERP system, but will not include expenses related to application integrations and data migrations. With additional integrations and data migrations, NetSuite will refer the client to a NetSuite partner to help, which adds even more costs up front. It’s possible to see cost fluctuations as high as $50,000.

At Sikich, we forecast the likely ROI, along with other critical success factors, at the very beginning of the engagement. It’s part of our design process to calculate how NetSuite can save clients money and time. In addition, we don’t require clients pay for the software licensing until the implementation starts and we have defined and scheduled all functionality for deployment.

Sikich also uses pricing and solution templates to reduce the complexities of pricing and configurations. We provide reliable TCO and budget numbers for your first five years on NetSuite, including the consecutive stages of a phased implementation.

Handles Customizations, Integrations, and Data Migrations

Data migrations and integrations with other business systems can have a huge impact on the success of your deployment, and there are many process and technical decisions involved. If these steps don’t align with your business requirements, your NetSuite functionality and user productivity might be hampered.

When we customize NetSuite for a client, we draw on existing code and expertise as much as we can. Like everything else we do, customizations, data migrations, and integrations are already scoped in the initial business process assessment, so they can be planned well in advance.

In fact, because we plan this at the outset, we can ensure that customizing your ERP system will not delay a deployment or make the NetSuite environment more complex. We know how to make sure that integrations and customizations don’t cause IT complexities and additional workloads down the road.

Trains Users

Businesses are often so happy about the completed implementation that they can’t wait for employees to start working with NetSuite. As such, they may be reluctant to invest in training. But it’s extremely important to deliver a comprehensive training and answer everybody’s questions, or many users will never fully adopt the solution.

When you organize a NetSuite training, eliminate distractions as much as you can, and invite everybody. You might need to offer redundant time slots so everybody can participate. Also, somebody has to be accountable for training materials and user documentation that reflect how the solution works in your business. This is a critical element of your long-term ERP success.

Verifies the Success of NetSuite Implementation

Sikich consultants will contrast the current with the desired state of the client’s business activities, and clearly describe the steps we need to take to  accomplish the client’s objectives with NetSuite. We identify and define critical success factors, including KPIs and metrics for a NetSuite deployment, very early in the sales process. We refine and revise them, and document our progress, during the business process assessment and throughout our collaboration with a client.

At the end of the project, clients sign off on what we achieved together, and then we help them define and pursue the objectives for the next stage of the solution’s lifecycle. The first stage of the NetSuite lifecycle is not complete until we ensure it was a complete success for the client.

Next Steps

If you’re ready to choose Sikich as your NetSuite partner, here are the next steps you can take:

• Get started with a Sikich business process assessment.
• Learn more about Sikich SuiteSuccess for NetSuite.
• Read the other blog posts in this series:
  • 5 Ways a NetSuite Partner Can Benefit Your Business
  • Why Work with a NetSuite Implementation Partner