How a small business has been able to grow and stay ahead of competitors – a case history from NoBlue and NetSuite…
When discussing the advantages of implementing an ERP system, you will always hear it helps companies stay ahead competitors and be able to quickly react to market changes. To do so, you need to clearly understand your own operations. Without the ability to analyse the data from across your organisation, you can’t identify causes and effects, new opportunities for expansion and operations that could be holding back your business.
New channels and new visibility
This technology not only connects your data and employees storing important information such as the purchase and communication history of each client at a central location, but also allows using predictive analytics to better understand customer behaviour and improve marketing and strategic planning to enhance user experience and expand your geographic reach. It supports new channels and improves supply chain visibility.
Technology partner to LeisureOutlet.com
We have been in the ERP business for more than 19 years, the last 10 as a NetSuite only practice and for us is a great pleasure seeing customers grow and prove promises are not only that. That is why we are proud of being the technology partner of Leisure Outlet. Back in 2012 it was a small business with a vision, but also believed a strong ERP could unleash its potential and help them grow. 3 years later they were not only selling through their own online store, but market places, such as Amazon and Ebay.
The main NetSuite ERP capabilities LeisureOutlet.com uses include financials, CRM, Stock and Order Management. After a long relation, first implementing and giving support after, Leisure Outlet contacted NoBlue to assist them in finding a web provider that could integrate with NetSuite.
[irp]
Integration with suppliers
NoBlue helped in the process of selecting web provider and the subsequent set up for NetSuite to take stock levels from suppliers, so delivery timescales and availability are updated in the site using both shelf and supplier stock information. Very few businesses for the type and size of Leisureoutlet.com are capable of this integration with suppliers.
But as they grow, they keep adding areas and processes. Next step will be warehouse management. So far, the major benefits they point out for using NetSuite ERP as their backend is the significantly improved control and efficiency in the operational management of the business.
Why choose the Cloud?
Any ERP can manage company’s business operations and activities like finance, HR (Human Resource), sales, purchase, stock, CRM, production, etc.
Cloud means no need to log into a program like remote desktop first, it is a truly web based software, so only needs an internet connection to work. It also means that NetSuite takes full responsibility of delivering, as a service, your infrastructure (IaaS), platform (PaaS) and software (SaaS) so you can focus on planning and working in your core business.
Amongst other benefits NetSuite keeps you up to date, with two releases per year for all customers, and offers a flexible, scalable and reliable platform for you to work. You work in a unified database, a single source of truth, so all users have the same information, updated in real time, with an uptime guarantee of 99.5%. It grows with your business, so you only have to sign up for those functionalities you really need and widen it as needed.
Additional benefits
The above mentioned are just a few, but we could go on and on with a huge list. Just to mention a few more: Lower upfront and operating costs and no need to invest in hardware, software or infrastructure. You will have best of breed technology You will access and use specialized technology and advanced computing resources NetSuite has.
Always up to date: With your subscription you will get two major updates a year, with lots of improvements in the different modules and core software without interrupting your business or losing customisations made for your specific business.
[irp]
Improved accessibility, mobility, and usability: You just need an internet connection to access all your information, anywhere, anytime from any device. NetSuite also delivers an amazing UX. Interactions are so intuitive that the learning process is reduced to minimum.
No hidden costs: Subscription model is transparent, you will know from the beginning how much you will have to spend and will be paying.
Security standards
Security standards both for data centres and operational: NetSuite has met a host of audit and security standards including SOC 1, and SOC 2 Type II audit, is certified for PCI-DSS and ISO 27001:2013, and is EU-US Privacy Shield compliant. NetSuite has defined its Information Security Management System in accordance with NIST standards, including 800-53 and ISO 27000 series standards. by independent third-party auditors.
What methodology should you look for?
Typical ERP’s offer an implementation time between 9-12 months (best case scenario). The reason why is they do a layered process, first installing the basics, after which they do customisations, connections, development… and so on. We strongly recommend looking for a solution and a partner such as NetSuite and NoBlue, able to offer you the implementation with the minimum or none downtime in the cutover, plus being able to work in parallel implementation, customisation and development if needed, not to mention assist you with change management, so implementation times can be reduced to 3-9 months depending on your level of customisations and development required.
