Customize to Optimize. Exploring the Anatomy of NetSuite Customizations

NetSuite is a cloud-based business management software that provides a comprehensive suite of tools and services for managing various aspects of a business, including financials, inventory management, order management, customer relationship management, and e-commerce. It is designed to be easy to use and can be customized to meet the specific needs of a business.

NetSuite is particularly useful for small and medium-sized businesses that require a flexible and scalable solution that can grow with their business.

NetSuite uses several custom elements that work together to provide a seamless user experience. These elements include

• records
• forms
• fields
• subtabs
• custom lists
• sublists
• scripts
• roles
• center tabs
  

Understanding these elements is crucial for effectively using NetSuite to manage a business.

NetSuite Records

A record in NetSuite is a single entry of information related to a single business concept, such as a customer, an order, or a transaction. Each record contains a variety of fields that can be used to store specific information, such as the customer's name or order details.

NetSuite Forms & Fields

A form is a page through which a user can enter records and transactions. Forms contain fields, which are placed on a record or transaction where information is entered. Fields can be customized to allow for different types of data, such as text, numbers, dates, or checkboxes.

NetSuite Subtabs

Subtabs are sections of a record or transaction that group similar fields. For example, the Address subtab in NetSuite is where shipping and billing addresses are entered on transactions and records.

Custom Lists & Sublists

Custom lists are lists of values that can be selected in a custom field. Sublists are the results of a saved search displayed on a custom or standard record. Sublists can also be generated through parent-child relationships.

Custom Scripts

Scripts are SuiteScript JavaScript files that run against a specific form or record type or that create a custom portlet. Scripts can also be scheduled to execute periodically.

Roles & Permissions

Roles are sets of permissions that can be assigned to a NetSuite user. These permissions determine what the user can view, edit, add, and delete.

Center Tabs

Center tabs are tabs that appear in the center of a form to display related information about a record or transaction. For example, when viewing an invoice in NetSuite, the related sales orders will appear on the Center tab.

Which one is most important to understand?

One of the most important elements in NetSuite is the form. Understanding forms is crucial for effectively using NetSuite to manage a business. Forms allow users to enter records and transactions, and customizing them allows for the capture of specific information and adaptation to specific roles in a company. Customizing forms can be done by adding custom fields, subtabs, or sublists, or through the removal of existing fields. This allows users to capture information that is not included in NetSuite by default. For example, custom sublists can be used to add lists of information to a form.

What if my desired record type doesn't exist?

Custom records can also be created to fill in the gaps left by NetSuite's standard records. Custom records can be designed to be associated with other custom records or with standard records. This includes instances where a simple lookup relationship is needed where one type of record refers to another, as well as a situation where a tighter parent-child relationship is needed.

Custom forms can be created specifically for user types to provide finer control on how different roles within a company interact with the records. When creating a form for a role, a user can choose which fields and subtabs appear on the form and which are hidden. Users also have the flexibility of setting a custom form as the preferred (default) form or to restrict the role to only use a specific form.

How Powerful is SuiteScript compared to traditional customization methods?

SuiteScript, a JavaScript-based API, can be used for more flexibility and automation in NetSuite. SuiteScript can be used to perform validations and calculations on forms, to access and update records when fields are changed or pages are submitted, or to automatically create or update records. This is hugely powerful when compared to the level of effort required to customize older on premise solutions.

In Summary

In conclusion, NetSuite provides a range of customizable features that allow users to tailor it to their specific business needs. NetSuite uses several custom elements that work together to provide a seamless user experience. Understanding forms is particularly important as they allow users to enter records and transactions, and customizing them allows for the capture of specific information and adaptation to specific roles in a company. Custom records can be created if needed, and scripts and roles & permissions can further customize the user experience.

Interested in Learning More About NetSuite Customization?

CEBA Solutions are NetSuite experts and have extensive experience in customizing NetSuite for a variety of needs. We have worked with businesses to align NetSuite to meet the unique needs of hundreds of businesses. With over 10 years in the business, we are confident that we can help you to get the most out of your NetSuite instance. Contact us today for a free consultation and find out how we can help.

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