Evaluating the many different ERPs is hard enough, but then understanding the many different editions, modules, users costs and more can be slightly dull. Luckily, NetSuite only offers 2 different editions of it's software, making it much easier to assess which one is right for your business. This blog post will describe the different editions and give you the tools to pick the best one for you.
The first NetSuite edition that has been around since it's conception is classed as the "Legacy Edition". NetSuite's legacy edition is broken down into 3 different categories, depending on the size of your business. The different categories are as follows:
- Starter Edition - This is for companies that do not require more than 10 full users (we will go on to discuss users a bit later), are only managing one legal entity, and don't have over 50 employees. This edition is therefore more suitable for small businesses.
- Mid-Market Edition - This is for companies that require more than 10 full users and are managing two or more legal entities. This edition is therefore suitable for small to medium size businesses.
- Enterprise Edition - This is for companies that require more than 1000 full users and are managing two or more legal entities, and therefore is more suitable for very large and established organisations.
Each of these editions comes with the standard out of the box CRM and ERP functionality, which include a range of different modules including sales force automation, partnership relationship management, accounts payable and order management.
SuiteSuccess is a methodology developed by NetSuite aimed at helping businesses implement their ERP system more efficiently and effectively. It's designed to facilitate faster deployment and ensure that customers can quickly benefit from NetSuite's capabilities. The core principles of SuiteSuccess focus on delivering an agile and phased approach to implementation, which is tailored to meet the specific needs of various industries and business sizes.
Like the legacy version, SuiteSuccess also offers different levels, which is again, mostly based on number of users. These include:
- Starter - For companies with less than 10 users and up to 50 employees.
- Standard - For companies that require ERP only (no CRM) functions, for more than 10 users and two or more legal entities.
- Premium - For companies requiring full ERP AND CRM capabilities, for more than 10 users and two or more legal entities.
Here’s a further breakdown of what SuiteSuccess offers...
SuiteSuccess is structured around industry-specific best practices. NetSuite has pre-configured the solution to address the common challenges and requirements of different industries, such as retail, manufacturing, software, services, nonprofit, and more. This means that the system comes with pre-built workflows, KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), reports, and dashboards that are relevant to each sector. The modules include:
The methodology includes pre-built configurations that reflect roles within a company, from CFOs to sales managers, providing users with a dashboard view most relevant to their job functions. This setup accelerates the deployment process as it reduces the amount of initial customisation required.
SuiteSuccess promotes a staged approach to ERP implementation:
Leveraging decades of accumulated experience across thousands of deployments, NetSuite with SuiteSuccess delivers industry-leading practices in business processes. These best practices guide businesses on the most effective ways to manage all aspects of their operations from financials to CRM to e-commerce.
Overall, SuiteSuccess is essentially a new and improved NetSuite, allowing you to implement faster and benefit quicker.
Choosing between the legacy NetSuite implementation and the SuiteSuccess edition involves considering several factors that align with a company’s specific needs, resources, and goals. Here’s how you might decide which path is best for you:
The main thing to consider when it comes to costs is your type of business. If your business is very simple, only operates in one entity, and does require extensive customisations, then you should definitely opt for the legacy editions. SuiteSuccess automatically comes with OneWorld (financial consolidation module), which is beneficial for companies operating across multiple entities, but is not required for single entity companies, thus making your license unnecessarily more expensive. For a much more in depth look at NetSuite pricing as a whole, check out our blog post. Or, fill in our NetSuite license calculator below!
Both editions offer full flexibility and scalability, so this shouldn't be a big factor to assess when choosing between them. SuiteSuccess may be slightly easier to add on different modules, but it's still possible with the legacy editions.
Ultimately, the decision between SuiteSuccess and legacy NetSuite implementations will depend on the specific business needs, industry requirements, resource availability, and the strategic priorities of the company. Engaging with NetSuite consultants or partners can also provide valuable insights and recommendations tailored to the company’s unique context. Threadgold Consulting have a wealth of knowledge and experience, and can offer you inside tips on how to reduce your overall NetSuite cost, for both the license and implementation. Get in touch today and we can schedule your FREE NetSuite demo!