Key Questions to Ask When Hiring a NetSuite Development Partner

Author

mirketa

January 8, 2025

In today’s competitive business environment, selecting the right NetSuite development partner can make all the difference in the success of your ERP implementation and customization. Oracle NetSuite is a powerful cloud-based ERP solution that can streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and drive business growth. However, to fully unlock its potential, you need a reliable partner who can align NetSuite’s capabilities with your business needs.

Choosing the right partner is not just about technical expertise; it’s about understanding your business goals, offering scalable solutions, and ensuring smooth implementation. Before signing on the dotted line, ask these key questions to ensure you make the right decision.

What is Your Experience with NetSuite Implementations and Customizations?

The foundation of a strong partnership lies in proven experience. A good NetSuite development partner should have an extensive track record of successful implementations and customizations across industries.
Why it matters: Every business is unique, and generic solutions won’t cut it. You need a partner who has tackled complex projects and understands how to tailor NetSuite to your industry and workflows.
Follow-up question: Can you share case studies or references of businesses similar to ours?

Do You Have Certified NetSuite Developers and Consultants?

Certifications indicate a partner’s commitment to keeping their team updated with NetSuite’s latest features and best practices.
Why it matters: Certified professionals have demonstrated their proficiency in using and implementing NetSuite effectively. This ensures fewer errors, reduced timelines, and a smoother process.
Follow-up question: How often do your team members undergo training and certification updates?

How Do You Handle Client Communication and Project Management?

A structured and transparent approach to project management is critical for success.
Why it matters: A clear methodology keeps the project on track, reduces risks, and ensures accountability. Effective communication & managing expectations are key factors to understand progress, face challenges, and achieve milestones.
Follow-up question: What tools and processes do you use to manage timelines and collaborate with clients?

How Will You Handle Custom Development Requirements?

Many businesses require custom workflows, integrations, or modules to meet their specific needs.
Why it’s important: Your procedures might not always be compatible with off-the-shelf solutions. A partner skilled in SuiteScript, SuiteFlow, and SuiteTalk can develop tailored solutions.
Follow-up question: Can you share examples of customizations or integrations you have delivered successfully?

What is Your Expertise in NetSuite Integrations with Third-Party Applications?

Why it matters: Smooth integrations are essential for a connected ecosystem. A reliable partner should have hands-on experience integrating NetSuite with third-party systems.
Follow-up question: What tools, APIs, or middleware do you commonly use for integrations?
Integrating NetSuite with other platforms like CRM systems, e-commerce tools, or payment gateways is often necessary.

How Do You Ensure Data Security and Compliance During the Project?

One of your most important resources is data, so protecting it should be your first concern.
Why it matters: A partner who prioritizes data security will ensure that your sensitive business data is protected during and after the implementation.
Follow-up inquiry: Do you adhere to data laws like HIPAA, CCPA, and GDPR?

What is Your Post-Implementation Support and Maintenance Process?

Why it matters: Smooth integrations are essential for a connected ecosystem. A reliable partner should have hands-on experience integrating NetSuite with third-party systems.
Follow-up question: What tools, APIs, or middleware do you commonly use for integrations?
Integrating NetSuite with other platforms like CRM systems, e-commerce tools, or payment gateways is often necessary.

How Do You Ensure Scalability for Future Business Needs?

One of your most important resources is data, so protecting it should be your first concern.
Why it matters: A partner who prioritizes data security will ensure that your sensitive business data is protected during and after the implementation.
Follow-up inquiry: Do you adhere to data laws like HIPAA, CCPA, and GDPR?

Do You Have Any Hidden Fees and What is Your Pricing Model?

Understanding the cost structure is crucial for budgeting and avoiding surprises.
Why it matters: A transparent pricing model will help you evaluate costs accurately. Ensure you understand the pricing for implementation, customizations, support, and licenses.
Follow-up question: What happens if the project exceeds the initially estimated timeline or budget?

How Do You Measure Project Success?

A reliable partner will define clear KPIs and metrics for success.
Why it matters: Setting measurable goals ensures that both you and your partner are aligned on what success looks like.
Follow-up question: How do you gather feedback, and what steps do you take to improve based on it?

Conclusion

Selecting the right NetSuite development partner is an investment in the future of your business. By asking these key questions, you ensure that the partner you choose has the expertise, approach, and commitment needed to help you maximize your NetSuite investment.

The ideal partner will not only help you implement NetSuite but will also act as a trusted advisor for ongoing improvements, ensuring your business operations are efficient, integrated, and scalable.

Take the time to evaluate your options, ask the right questions, and choose a partner who aligns with your business vision. This will set you on the path to a successful NetSuite implementation that drives growth and innovation.

Pranshu Goyal, Director of Products at Mirekta, states: “We envision DSM to be used by every small to a medium-sized organization dealing with bad data and want to get rid of duplicates easily with no cost. We have faced issues dealing with duplicates in our organization. That inspired us to make a solution that is not only simple to use but can be used widely to make the organization’s data clean to make them more efficient and productive. We want DSM to be a solution for every organization looking for duplicate management capability better than the Salesforce out-of-the-box solution with no additional cost.”