Business Intelligence and the Value of the Business Applications Suite

addition, information is typically stored in NetSuite over many years, providing a depth of information and naturally organizing the information needed for a BI project.

NetSuite includes several features to better organize data for a major BI project, without the need for special projects or additional visualization tools. It provides role-based access, presenting only the information an employee needs, instead of volumes of disparate metrics. In addition, information is available in real time, and is actionable, providing drill-down access to source data.  

Easy comparisons are also available, with visibility into current metrics, the same figures from previous periods and variance. NetSuite can produce several visual elements, such as dashboards, gauges and bar charts to illustrate key business and operational metrics. In addition, the saved search query tool provides self-service BI for end users.

Some organizations might choose to leverage supplemental tools to perform BI, but NetSuite can still aid in significantly streamlining the process. Organizations might want more sophisticated graphics and analysis than NetSuite inherently provides, such as scatter graphs or geospatial charting. In those situations, NetSuite can still serve as the data repository and provide organized and accurate information.

Many organizations seek to streamline the ETL process, and evaluate tools to help accomplish that goal. However, as mentioned earlier, NetSuite inherently brings a considerable amount of efficiency to those key BI functions. For example, the extract and load processes may not be necessary within NetSuite, as the key data sources of the business are housed within the system, and different views of key data can be written and presented directly in the platform.  

However, if necessary, NetSuite eases the extract process with natural syntax queries and information organized with categories in plain English, instead of obscure database IDs. If you need to load data into an external repository, you can leverage NetSuite’s Web services and ODBC APIs.

The transformation process is where NetSuite provides the most value, with several potential efficiencies. Because all ERP, CRM and e-commerce information is located within NetSuite, the same nomenclature and identifiers are used from vendor transactions to customer interactions and e-commerce purchases. A significant amount of BI effort is spent converting information to a common taxonomy and relating data in multiple data sets. Those issues are solved in NetSuite, as information is related with common attributes from the start.

With data relationship keys clearly defined within NetSuite, you know how much of a product was sold, who it was sold to and the sales activities that led to the sale. The key relationships you need to report on are already defined.  

One of the greatest BI challenges often arises when systems do not accommodate unique business needs. In that scenario, essential business data is stored outside core systems, commonly in Excel or Access databases. However, with NetSuite’s customization capabilities, you can create fields, forms and workflows to capture unique processes with common attributes and relationships. You don’t need separate spreadsheets; instead, information is captured in NetSuite in a way that is already related to other records to support reporting.

At RSM, we understand that BI is an imperative process for competitive organizations. And while there are a number of business applications suites available to support your efforts, NetSuite provides several inherent advantages, organizing key data in a queryable format to accelerate projects. Many organizations can solve BI needs within NetSuite and without outside applications and the effort involved with extracting and loading data. However, even if a larger BI initiative is necessary, NetSuite can provide a head start, because of how it organizes and relates data.