What are NetSuite Implementation Partners? And Why Do You Need One?

A NetSuite Cloud ERP can revolutionize your business if you implement it correctly. So, get the help you need to do it right.



A NetSuite Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is a powerful tool. It can integrate all your back-end systems into one platform, allowing you and your team to access accurate, streamlined data.

Yet, a system this vast gets complicated—quickly. In fact, ERPs are so complex that, according to research by Technology Evaluation Centers, nearly 50% of implementations fail the first time if performed without third-party or ERP partner involvement.

That’s why a NetSuite implementation partner is crucial for ERP success. This partner usually takes the form of a company specializing in NetSuite ERP manipulation. That business often employs a staff of experts who understand the system and its complexities and can modify it as needed.

SuiteDynamics is NetSuite implementation partner and a NetSuite Alliance Partner, meaning we work with NetSuite to customize and implement NetSuite ERP systems. Our implementers, consultants, and developers can examine your processes and devise NetSuite solutions that help your operation function better and faster.

Schedule a consultation with our team to learn more about our services and how our experts can help you level up your business with NetSuite.

Key Takeaways

1. Unlike a consultant, an implementation partner modifies and customizes NetSuite to meet a company’s specific needs, handling technical aspects like coding and configuration. The partner ensures the system functions according to business requirements.
2. A skilled implementation partner is critical for ensuring timely and cost-effective ERP deployment. Without expert guidance, businesses risk budget overruns and delays, which can potentially disrupt operations.
3. Companies can implement NetSuite in-house, use NetSuite’s support resources, or hire an implementation partner. Partnering with a NetSuite expert is often the most practical and efficient choice for mid-sized businesses.
4. A quality partner will guide businesses through planning, customization, implementation, go-live, and training phases to ensure the system meets business needs and operates smoothly.
5. The partnership often doesn’t end at go-live. Implementation firms can also assist with regular updates, customizations, and troubleshooting, ensuring businesses continue to benefit from new features and optimized operations.

What Is a NetSuite Implementation Partner?

A NetSuite implementation partner isn’t quite the same as a NetSuite consultant. A consultant evaluates your business and offers suggestions on how to build an ERP to suit your needs. An implementation partner (also called an implementation guide) is the tech expert or agency that modifies modules and adjusts coding so you get the system you need.

NetSuite implementation partners often come in the form of mid-sized companies that employ NetSuite consultants. These companies are also certified by Oracle NetSuite and participate in the NetSuite partner program. Alliance Partners are a special designation of implementation firms that have earned recognition for their work quality and collaborate directly with NetSuite to serve clients.

Implementation guides, of course, help configure and install ERP systems, but they can also customize the software to expand upon a platform’s native capabilities. That’s a critical skill because, according to a Panorama Consulting Solutions 2018 study, over a third of surveyed customized 26-50% of their ERP projects.

SuiteDynamics employs several experts who specialize in  NetSuite scripting and development and can expand upon the system’s native functions. During a free consultation, learn how well the system can adapt to your processes.

Why Is an Implementation Guide Essential?

As we said, a NetSuite ERP is complicated. It can revolutionize your business when it’s implemented correctly--or blow budgets and cause delays when it’s not.

In fact, a 2024 Panorama Consulting Solutions report says 32.6% of surveyed organizations ran over budget on their enterprise software projects that year. Of those companies, only a third reported using technology assessment services like NetSuite implementation guides. Additionally, 31.3% of surveyed organizations completed projects after their go-live deadlines had passed.

These high costs and delays hamper an ERP system’s success and get in the way of normal company operations, making it even more challenging to turn a profit. That’s why you want to get your ERP implementation right the first time, and there’s no better way to do so than with expert guidance.

What Kind of Implementation Guidance Can You Get?

Of course, you have a few options for implementing NetSuite. First, you can do it yourself with help from NetSuite’s resources. The company offers a virtual customer support desk called SuiteSupport and an educational database called SuiteAnswers. However, NetSuite is a large company, so SuiteSupport may take a while to answer your questions. Many users may also find SuiteAnswers challenging to navigate. 

Or you could employ a full-time NetSuite team to implement and maintain the ERP system in-house. Some larger companies might consider this their best option. Yet, it’s probably not practical for mid-sized businesses that can’t afford the extra staff. 

The best option for many organizations is to contract a NetSuite implementation partner. An implementation firm will have a team of NetSuite experts and consultants who can evaluate your business’s needs and advise which modules would benefit you the most. Then, the staff can modify the system, streamlining your business operations and helping your company flourish. 

Implementation partners are also smaller companies than ERP vendors, so they can provide thorough, responsive service that solves your issues in a reasonable amount of time.



What Can You Expect from a Quality Implementation Partner?

An experienced NetSuite implementation partner will work with your company from planning to implementation to go-live and beyond.

Once you hire a NetSuite guide, the company will collaborate with your company to determine the state of its current applications and internal operations. It will also compare your methods to industry standards, and it may send experts to observe your business in person.

Your partner will then examine your day-to-day processes (order-to-cash, procure-to-pay, supply chain management, and more) to decide which out-of-the-box functionalities work for your company and which areas of the NetSuite system need customization. This step is one of the most critical phases for implementation success, and partnerships that don’t invest enough time in planning pay dearly.

For example, TechTarget reports that MillerCoors hired an implementation firm without planning and architecture expertise and wound up suing that partner for $100 million after numerous system defects delayed the project. The beverage giant learned the hard way that you can’t jump into complex ERP implementations without laying proper groundwork first.

However, an experienced implementation firm will guide you through a comprehensive planning process so your system doesn’t buckle under the slightest pressure. That’s why you must choose your partner carefully.

The implementation process will begin once you and your NetSuite guide have established a well-conceived plan. A skilled team can implement NetSuite efficiently and precisely, offering suggestions about improving your operations and eliminating manual intervention.

Finally, you’ll move from your old system to the new one, and your NetSuite instance will go live. At this point, your ERP platform is active, so you can enjoy its full benefits. 

Your implementation partner might also train your team to operate the system, explaining what the modules do, how to use them, and how to get the most from your investment.

Training is crucial to ERP success, as Hershey learned in the 1990s. According to a Pemeco Consulting case study, the company lost 19% in quarterly profits and 8% in stock price due partly to a lack of end-user training. If the company had taught its employees to use the system properly, it would have been more capable of processing $100 million in candy orders during Hershey’s 1999 peak season.

At SuiteDynamics, we walk our clients through the entire NetSuite journey, developing robust systems that meet their unique needs. Schedule a free consultation to learn more about our implementation and post-go-live services and discover how our team can design the NetSuite solutions that propel your business forward.



What Happens After Go-Live?

As SuiteDynamics CEO Jake Kleiner says, “NetSuite implementations, for the most part, don’t end.” But don’t panic. The initial process does, in fact, conclude at some point. However, NetSuite releases more than 300 features every six months, so the right NetSuite partner can help you keep abreast of the updates. 

In fact, SuiteDynamics regularly tracks newly released features and communicates with our clients about which ones could benefit their businesses. Our Managed Service Plans also offer set amounts of monthly time for post-go-live support. Our team can operate as your experts on retainer, adding customizations and fixing issues.

Experience NetSuite Success

As a NetSuite user, you don’t want to skimp on the implementation process—the system is too powerful and full of potential to miss out on the benefits because you didn’t employ an implementation partner.

At SuiteDynamics, we know how important a system like this is to your company, and our experts are ready to help your team implement a NetSuite solution that turns your business into an industry powerhouse. We’ll ensure you get the right modules and custom features your staff needs to perform at their best.

Schedule a free consultation with us today and discover how well your company can run.



We pull information from NetSuite material, SuiteDynamics experts, and other reliable sources to compose our blog posts and educational pieces. We ensure they are as accurate as possible at the time of writing. However, software evolves quickly, and although we work to maintain these posts, some details may fall out of date. Contact SuiteDynamics experts for the latest information on NetSuite ERP systems.

Part of this text was generated using GPT-3, OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model. After generating the draft language, our team edited, revised, and fact-checked it to ensure readability and accuracy. SuiteDynamics is ultimately responsible for the content of this blog post.