Integrating NetSuite and Salesforce can significantly boost efficiency, enhance data accuracy, and improve coordination between sales and finance teams.
Are you:
- Struggling to synchronize financial and customer information between NetSuite and Salesforce?
- Frustrated by the manual data entry between your CRM and ERP, leading to errors and delays?
- Searching for a way to integrate NetSuite and Salesforce to streamline your processes?
Selecting the right integration method is crucial for aligning your company’s technical requirements and operational workflows. Here, we’ll look at three key methods for integrating these platforms and help you determine which one is best for your business.
3 NetSuite Salesforce Integration Options
1 – Built-In NetSuite Salesforce Connectors
Built-in connectors are pre-designed solutions specifically created to link NetSuite and Salesforce, allowing businesses to easily share data between these two major platforms. These connectors provide a direct bridge between NetSuite’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools and Salesforce’s customer relationship management (CRM) platform, facilitating smooth data flow without the need for complicated manual processes. One of the most recognized examples of this type of connector is Breadwinner.
Seamless Data Synchronization
Using a built-in connector like Breadwinner enables teams to synchronize critical data, such as customer orders, invoices, payments, and financial reports, between the two systems in real-time. This eliminates the need for employees to jump back and forth between platforms, saving time and reducing the risk of errors due to manual data entry.
Breadwinner, in particular, stands out for its ability to automatically sync important financial data from NetSuite directly into Salesforce. Sales teams, for example, can view the financial status of a customer, such as outstanding invoices, order history, or payment status, all within Salesforce. This access to up-to-date financial information in the CRM empowers sales teams to make more informed decisions during customer interactions, fostering better communication and improving the overall sales process.
Improved Collaboration Between Teams
Using a native connector like Breadwinner can improve collaboration between sales and finance departments. Since both teams have access to the same set of accurate, real-time data, there’s less miscommunication and fewer delays. Finance teams can process orders and payments more efficiently, while sales teams can provide quicker responses to customer inquiries, improving the customer experience and overall business performance.
Simple Setup & Minimal Technical Expertise Required
The setup process for built-in connectors is often straightforward, requiring minimal technical expertise. Unlike more complex integration options, a native connector can be configured relatively quickly, making it ideal for businesses that want a fast and hassle-free solution. Additionally, Breadwinner and similar tools are often equipped with robust support services to assist companies during both the implementation and ongoing use of the product, ensuring smooth operation.
Reliable & Low-Maintenance Solution
Built-in connectors are also highly reliable, offering seamless data flow without the need for extensive customization or ongoing maintenance. They automatically ensure data synchronization, reducing the risk of discrepancies between the two systems. This is particularly important for businesses where data accuracy and consistency are critical to daily operations.
2 – iPaaS Solutions (Integration Platform as a Service)
iPaaS platforms provide a cloud-based solution for connecting NetSuite and Salesforce, giving businesses more flexibility in how they manage data flows between the two systems. These platforms allow companies to automate data synchronization between NetSuite and Salesforce while offering the flexibility to connect multiple other applications at the same time.
One of the primary benefits of iPaaS platforms is their adaptability. They enable businesses to create automated workflows triggered by specific business events, such as new sales orders or customer updates, to ensure data consistency across platforms. This level of automation can save time, reduce the chance of errors, and provide better visibility into your organization’s data.
However, this flexibility can come with certain challenges. Setting up an iPaaS integration often requires a higher level of technical expertise. If your IT team lacks the necessary skills, the initial configuration might be difficult, and maintaining the integration over time may require additional support. iPaaS platforms are designed to connect a wide range of applications, which can make them more complex to manage than native connectors.
While iPaaS solutions offer a powerful way to integrate systems, they may not provide the same simplicity and directness as a built-in connector. Businesses that only need to link NetSuite and Salesforce may find iPaaS platforms more complex than necessary. Still, for organizations with broader integration needs, iPaaS offers an excellent, scalable solution.
3 – Custom Development
For businesses with specific needs that off-the-shelf solutions cannot address, custom development offers a tailored approach to integrating NetSuite and Salesforce. This method allows you to create a highly customized integration that fits your organization’s unique processes, workflows, and data requirements.
The biggest advantage of custom development is its ability to cater to any complex business scenario. Whether you need to link NetSuite and Salesforce with other internal systems or build specialized automation processes, custom development provides the flexibility to design a solution that meets all your needs.
However, custom development comes with significant costs and resource requirements. Developing an integration from scratch requires a skilled team of developers who can design, build, and maintain the integration over time. This makes custom development the most resource-intensive option, both in terms of initial setup and ongoing maintenance. Businesses without a strong internal IT team or the budget to hire external developers may struggle to support this type of integration in the long run.
Custom-built solutions require ongoing attention. As your systems evolve and grow, your integration may need to be updated and maintained regularly to ensure compatibility with new software versions or additional business requirements. This adds to the total cost of ownership and should be considered when evaluating this option.
Custom development is ideal for companies with very specific, complex needs that cannot be met by other integration methods. However, it’s important to weigh the costs, time, and resources required before choosing this approach.
NetSuite Salesforce Integration: Getting Started
When deciding which approach to take for a NetSuite Salesforce integration, it’s important to consider your business’s specific needs, technical expertise, and budget. For companies looking for a simple, easy-to-implement solution, built-in connectors like Breadwinner offer reliability, ease of use, and fast deployment.
On the other hand, iPaaS platforms provide greater flexibility for businesses with more complex workflows or those that need to integrate multiple applications. This solution is ideal for companies looking for a scalable, versatile approach, though it may require more technical expertise to implement and maintain.
Custom development is the best option for businesses with highly specialized needs that cannot be addressed by standard connectors or iPaaS platforms. However, it comes with higher costs and demands greater resources to maintain over time.
Each method has its own benefits and challenges, so it’s crucial to evaluate your business’s goals, capabilities, and resources before making a decision. A well-executed integration between NetSuite and Salesforce can improve data accuracy, streamline operations, and enhance collaboration between your teams, ultimately leading to better decision-making and improved business performance.
