NetSuite Integration Guide: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

November 15, 2023

NetSuite API Integration

Netsuite Integration

Imagine a business where data flows seamlessly, processes align effortlessly, and productivity soars. In the dynamic landscape of modern business, staying ahead requires more than just innovative solutions—it demands a harmonious collaboration of tools to synchronize your operations. 

NetSuite as a SaaS solution provides a robust architecture that adapts to the growth of businesses across various industries. Even while NetSuite is made to handle practically every area of a business, some B2B or B2C merchants might prefer to use external third-party systems to carry out certain tasks, such as a separate CRM system. Alternatively, businesses can develop their own proprietary software that they need to achieve interfaces more specific to their business needs.

In this article, we will focus primarily on NetSuite API integration to give you insights into the transformative realm of NetSuite system integration in connecting endpoints between NetSuite and other mission-critical applications for your business.

What Are NetSuite Integrations?

Integrations are essential for organizations that use NetSuite and other specialized software applications to ensure that data is consistent across different systems. By integrating NetSuite with other software, businesses can achieve greater efficiency.

People having a business meeting

The Benefits of NetSuite Integrations

Although NetSuite is typically utilized as a centralized system for finance, it is also employed in other departments including advertising, marketing, sales, and human resources among others. The benefits an integration brings can potentially encompass all of these departments.

Visibility

The main benefit of integrating NetSuite for a firm is real-time visibility. Making future-focused company decisions with more accuracy and at a faster pace.

Cost efficiency

The company may manage and reduce associated costs and further investments on numerous software programs with a flawless NetSuite integration. Integrations with NetSuite have been shown to lower operating expenses and enhance business operations in areas such as inventory management, customer relationship management, and financial management.

Scalable integrations

The use of NetSuite integration helps startups and SMEs grow and expand across various locations, sales channels, and number of locations. Upsell and cross-sell operations can be managed effectively by businesses. With good processes, they can also achieve improved growth.

NetSuite Integration Methods

In order for crucial information, such as NetSuite business data, to be transmitted between two applications more effectively, an application programming interface, or API, acts as an intermediate. NetSuite provides comprehensive solutions in accordance with the unique needs of diverse sectors through its well-known NetSuite ERP.

Customers can customize NetSuite in this way to suit their needs. NetSuite also offers a number of ways to link partners and developers through NetSuite integration.

This will guarantee security during data exchange, reduce the risk of data entry errors, integrate NetSuite CRM with other software, and even perform direct API integration.

In particular, SuiteScript and SuiteTalk are the two types of NetSuite API used for NetSuite integration. Let's examine both methods in more detail:

NetSuite Integration Tools

SuiteTalk

For integrating external systems with NetSuite, SuiteTalk integration platform is a common choice. It is a Web service integration tool. Through an API, a web service offers online access to data and capabilities. SuiteTalk transmits XML-based requests to and from NetSuite using a Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP)-based integration technique.

You can build your own unique application with SuiteTalk to extend NetSuite. Along with a toolkit for usage with PHP, it offers support for programming languages including C# and Java.

Through its established procedures, it can carry out all necessary types of tasks, enabling the application to deliver clear and consistent business process results to the native NetSuite user interface.

Customers and developers can easily perform NetSuite integration with a wide range of applications, including current on-premise investments and third-party cloud applications, as well as build website-to-NetSuite integrations or create simple custom mobile applications, thanks to SuiteTalk web services NetSuite integration.

SuiteScript

SuiteScript is a scripting language that helps you customize and expand the features of NetSuite. SuiteScript makes it possible to script at the application level with full functionality and support for complex procedural logic tp process data on both the client and server sides.

You have complete control over how you use NetSuite and all of the available data thanks to the built-in SuiteScript Debugger.

You can push and pull data from within NetSuite using the SuiteScript API for NetSuite. To integrate external APIs during NetSuite integration, the API enables basic, token-based, SSO authentication.

This degree of integration demands a significant understanding of SuiteScript API and the NetSuite application in general.

NetSuite Connectors

NetSuite Connectors (Third-Party Integration Platforms) allows you to automate data transfer between ecommerce marketplaces like Shopify, Amazon, eBay, and WooCommerce among others with NetSuite. The same is applicable for point of sale (POS) systems and third-party logistics (3PL) providers to eliminate issues caused by manual data entry and data exports.

Manual Coding

A hand-coded integration entails that a developer has manually coded the entire NetSuite from scratch. NetSuite created this integration option for business owners that require software with the ultimate customization capacity. Because engineers code every aspect, hand-coding your NetSuite integration is the most resource-intensive option.

Whether your company installs newly embedded tools or performs periodic upgrades, the continual maintenance required for this type of inclusion is a high price to pay. It's ideal for businesses who want a custom NetSuite application and have the capacity for development over time.

SuiteCloud Connect

If you're looking for NetSuite Integrations to CRM, then SuiteCloud Link is just the thing. It connects NetSuite with major CRM, ESP, and other corporate management tools. SuiteCloud Connect includes 3rd Party Tools like Salesforce, Shopify, and BigCommerce.

Although SuiteCloud Connect makes NetSuite integration easier, it does not support all third-party systems. SuiteCloud may or may not be a viable choice for your firm, depending on the technology it employs.

This tool is ideal for businesses that simply need SuiteCloud Connect to facilitate integration.

How can NetSuite Integration benefit my business?

1. NetSuite is an Intelligent Software

All corporate data can be consolidated into a single database, allowing for customizable and real-time dashboard access to key performance metrics. It helps with quick decision-making and data presentation.

2. NetSuite Features Multiple Integration Compatibility

It's a powerful and one-of-a-kind application. It connects the complete CRM-focused Customer and e-commerce capabilities with a back-office accounting/ERP system and a partner self-service portal. This allows businesses to link disparate data and automate end-to-end procedures.

3. NetSuite is Cost-Effective

NetSuite was able to launch all of the apps faster and for less money than traditional corporate solutions.

Here are 4 Best NetSuite Integrations

1. HubSpot NetSuite Integration

HubSpot is a software platform for marketing, sales, and customer care. Companies may use it to design and execute marketing campaigns. You can also use it to host landing sites and blogs. You can even convert, assign, and monitor leads, evaluate and track ROI, and create and track support cases.

HubSpot is one of the most popular marketing platforms on the market, and when it's combined with NetSuite, it's even better. It automatically produces new leads or contact entries in NetSuite and places key lead data in the hands of your sales team.

A HubSpot and NetSuite connection helps you keep your sales and marketing systems in sync. This allows you to access vital information like customer status, assigned sales rep, and other key data. You can use this for lead scoring, smart lists, workflows, and content customization.

2. Shopify NetSuite Integration

Shopify is a front-end e-commerce platform designed for fast-growing enterprises. It is a subscription software program that lets customers construct a website. This is used to sell, distribute, and manage their items using their shopping cart solution.

Users may log in to an admin panel to add products, process orders, and input shop information, allowing customers to simply purchase their goods.

To maximize Shopify, you have to connect it to your company's back-end system, such as Oracle NetSuite ERP, to map data flows across platforms.

3. SalesForce NetSuite Integration

Salesforce is well-known among sales organizations. It is a customer relationship management (CRM) system that serves as your company's command center in the form of a customer relationship platform.

Salesforce is a platform that many businesses use to handle their sales, marketing, and customer support information all in one place. Salesforce can provide you with information on your clients. This includes extensive perspectives of their businesses that can assist you in tracking sales activities.

Salesforce, although having a fully working CRM module, lacks NetSuite's ERP, accounting, and financial features. As a result, combining Salesforce with NetSuite is the ideal option.

With a Salesforce and NetSuite interface, you can access all of your sales, customer support, and marketing data directly from your NetSuite account. You can easily track sales from your NetSuite dashboard and assign leads while reviewing NetSuite financials. You can even automate the flow of Salesforce leads into NetSuite accounting.

Essentially, integrating NetSuite with your CRM will streamline your company's business processes and increase overall efficiency.

4. Magento NetSuite Integration

The benefits of integrating these critical retail systems are vast for both your clients. If you want to offer a better customer experience, the key is improving the efficiency of your procedures.

To automate the movement of data across your systems, such as Magento NetSuite integration, you must map data flows between them. Sellers may use their ERP to automate activities such as online order fulfillment, inventory count updates, pricing adjustments, financial reporting, and others. Sellers no longer need to rely on manual human data entry across systems thanks to automation. This minimizes data processing delays and expensive errors like wrongly entering a delivery address.

In summary, integrating your eCommerce and ERP platforms improves the efficiency of your operations. It also enables merchants to carry out more complex functions such as intelligent inventory procurement and shipping. You'll be able to provide more competitive delivery times as a result. Customers will put their faith in you to fulfill their orders on schedule and precisely every time.

You have more time and energy to focus on your main priority — your customers – when your backend procedures are working properly.

Integrating your Magento shop allows you to sync inventory levels in real-time, process orders faster, and deliver consistent product information. In many instances, this leads to a better consumer experience. Vendors can show exact inventory levels to avoid overselling online, ensure on-time shipments, send the correct items every time, and more. All of these efforts are critical in earning your consumers' loyalty and encouraging them to buy from you again and again.

Comparing the two API integration methods

Woman staring at man and holding documents

With SuiteTalk and SuiteScript, the question becomes which to go for as a solution to importing and exporting data during NetSuite integration.

Integrating NetSuite with SuiteTalk

The built-in integration tool for NetSuite is called SuiteTalk. NetSuite also supports additional integration strategies like RESTlets and Suitelets.

For both of these approaches, business logic must be written in code. Users simply need to use the SOAP web services APIs to send and receive requests to and from NetSuite while using SuiteTalk, which is code-free.

There is no wait time between the call and the records of business processes being delivered; SuiteTalk offers access to master data information and will quickly return information upon the request.

Additionally, it enables custom fields with automatic validation based on the field type and has extensive error handling to ensure dependable interactions.

Even when there is a difficult business requirement, SuiteTalk API enables developers to finish NetSuite connections with other apps. The NetSuite web services are exposed using the SuiteTalk API. As a result, integration should be created entirely on the side of the third-party program.

Integrating NetSuite with SuiteScript

On the other hand, one of the greatest advantages of SuiteScript is that it is based on JavaScript, a standard in the business, and can thus be customized with HTML and CSS.

As a result, your internal developers won't need to learn a completely new programming language in order to work with NetSuite.

Because it is based on JavaScript, it also supports fully functional application-level scripting in NetSuite, which contributes to the platform's performance and versatility.

Using SuiteScript has a variety of benefits. For instance, SuiteScript modules simply load the data that is required, rather than all of it, which saves load time and the amount of processing power required to carry out the functions.

Another improvement is the switch to the Javascript syntax, which flattens the learning curve and enables the usage of external APIs in your own NetSuite system.

A closer look at SuiteScript

SuiteScript has a number of features that are advantageous to companies that utilize NetSuite. A few SuiteScript components are listed below:

Suitelets

You have the ability to create a unique user experience that is hosted within the NetSuite framework thanks to SuiteScript extensions provided by Suitelets.

Portlet SuiteScript

Portlet enables simple definition and listing of bespoke content or the incorporation of external data sources via RSS, HTML, Flash, and other methods on NetSuite dashboards.

Client SuiteScript

This feature performs processing such as verifying user-entered data or executing business logic while operating within the user's browser.

RESTlet

When used internally or externally, RESTlet is a form of SuiteScript that may be used to get, add, and edit records within NetSuite. RESTlet can be viewed as an alternative to NetSuite's SOAP-based web services in terms of its capability.

Which should you use to integrate NetSuite?

When integrating your applications with NetSuite via SuiteTalk, there are a few things to keep in mind. You might want to think about using RESTlets if you're integrating a web or mobile app.

Compared to SuiteTalk, REST APIs can be more suited for mobile devices and give developers more control over the logic and business processes. Concurrency restrictions in SuiteTalk also restrict the number of queries a user can submit at once. When selecting an integration strategy for your application or website, keep this in mind.

It is also important to remember that an expert integration partner can make a huge difference between a failed or seamless integration. If you’re unsure about your company’s ability for in-house integration, don’t hesitate to get outside experts.

API NetSuite Connectors

To extract data from the NetSuite account database, connectors or Middlewares act as an integration middleware product to connect to the NetSuite API. Users have a wide range of options from there.

For instance, businesses can add more NetSuite connectors by creating regular business processes that are templated. Additionally, users can automate notifications for any prospective status changes and start integration processes as well as other replies.

The connection gives you the adaptability and agility you require to complete tasks in a way that maximizes the financial success of your business.

Below are some of the connectors available to perform NetSuite API integration:

  • NetSuite Magento integration
  • NetSuite Salesforce integration
  • NetSuite Shopify integration
  • NetSuite Hubspot integration

As mentioned, these are only some of the available connectors in the market. It is important to note that not all connectors are compatible or operate smoothly with NetSuite API integration.

There are third-party applications that do not meet integration requirements and thus would not be recommended for integration application.

What type of connector you use for API management will depend on the scale of your project, your current and future needs, and choice of on-premise applications or cloud native environments.

NetSuite Integration Examples

The NetSuite ERP software has an extensive integration cloud system with hundreds of third-party applications and services. Here’s a list of most popular NetSuite integrations:

E-commerce Integration

If you operate an online store and want to eliminate excel spreadsheets and streamline your order and inventory management, it is possible to integrate your eCommerce platform (e.g., Shopify, Magento) with NetSuite. 

CRM Integration

If your sales team uses an existing CRM system (e.g. Salesforce) to manage leads, contacts, and opportunities, you can connect this system with NetSuite to enable the synchronization of customer data across the organization.

Marketing Automation Integration

If you want to align marketing efforts with sales data and customer information, you can Integrate marketing automation platforms (e.g., Marketo, HubSpot) with NetSuite. This integration allows you to leverage customer data stored in NetSuite for targeted marketing campaigns.

Financial System Integration

If your business uses a specialized financial system for certain financial processes, you can connect your existing system with NetSuite to ensure that other data stored within NetSuite are synchronized.

NetSuite Integration Setup

Setting up an integration in NetSuite can vary depending on the specific integration requirements and system used. In this example, we will walk you through the steps in configuring a NetSuite connection with Celigo as it is among the most common NetSuite integrations.

Note: Ensure to establish your NetSuite connection prior to following below instructions. Learn more about establishing your NetSuite connection.

Step 1: Enable your NetSuite account with Token-Based Auth (TBA)

  1. Log into NetSuite as an Administrator.
  2. Go to Setup > Company > Enable Features.
  3. Click SuiteCloud subtab.
  4. Scroll down to Manage Authentication section.
  5. Check the Token-Based Authentication checkbox.
  6. Click Save.

Step 2: Create Custom Role

  1. Go to Setup > User/Roles > Manage Roles.
  2. Click Customize beside the Celigo eTail SmartConnectors role.
  3. Enter a name for the new role.
  4. Modify role settings and permissions.
  5. Click Save.

Step 3: Assign Role to Employee Record

  1. Go to Lists > Employees > Employees.
  2. Click Edit next to the employee you want to use.
  3. In the Subsidiary field, select the parent subsidiary.
  4. Click the Access subtab.
  5. In the Role column, select your custom role in Step 2.
  6. Click Add.
  7. Click Save. The Confirmation message appears.

Step 4: Generate NetSuite Access Tokens

  1. Go to Setup > Users/Roles > Access Tokens > New.
  2. In the Application Name, select eTail Connectors (Token-Based Auth).
  3. In the User, type in the NetSuite user that you designated user in Step 3.
  4. In the Role drop-down list box, select the role that was assigned to the user.
  5. The Token Name populates automatically. Modify the name as needed.
  6. Click Save.
  7. Token ID & Token Secret will be displayed.

Note: Token ID and Token Secret are only displayed once & cannot be retrieved again. Save the tokens in a secure location.

Final Thoughts For When You Integrate NetSuite

You must ensure that your ERP system will continue to benefit you in the future because you are investing a significant amount of money in it.

But in order to achieve the actual visibility and agility that your company needs, you must link your NetSuite order processes into the rest of your environment and business processes.

Seller Universe has the expertise and credibility to make sure that your integration goes smoothly and is future-proof. We offer only the most time efficient integration solution that works best for your business. Click here to know more about our services and find out why Seller Universe is the best choice for an integration partner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a list of NetSuite integrations?

How long does a NetSuite integration project take?

What integration options do I have for NetSuite integration solutions?

What accounting integrations are available for Oracle NetSuite?

What CRM integrations are available for NetSuite ERP?

What common integration problems are there?

What is an iPaaS?

Latest Articles