Streamline Your Team’s Workflow with These Tools

Collaboration is more than just a buzzword; it’s the foundation of an efficient, well-oiled business machine. When teams communicate effectively, share insights, and keep workflows aligned, tasks move faster, decisions are smarter, and results speak for themselves.

But let’s be honest: if you’ve invested in NetSuite, you need to maximize it (you know, to justify the “premium” experience). Luckily, NetSuite isn’t just about finance and inventory – it’s a full-fledged collaboration hub ready to help your teams work smarter, not harder.

Let’s break down six ways NetSuite can streamline your team’s collaboration.

1. Shared Dashboards: Keep Everyone Aligned

A good dashboard isn’t just for show – it’s like a well-organized morning briefing that gets everyone on the same page.

With Shared Dashboards in NetSuite, you can:

• Add or remove portlets like KPIs, Reports, Saved Searches, or Reminders.
• Create customized dashboards based on roles (e.g., Sales Managers, Accountants, or Executives).
• Use the “Publish Dashboards” feature to share standardized dashboards across your team.

Think of it like curating a playlist for your team – everyone sees the most relevant KPIs, upcoming tasks, and reports in one place.

Why It Matters:

• Sales teams can track pipeline performance without digging through spreadsheets.
• Finance teams can monitor KPIs like cash flow or overdue invoices instantly.
• Managers can distribute consistent reports and insights across their departments.

✅ Pro Tip: If you’re the admin, consider creating role-based dashboards. That way, everyone has the same view of what matters most – no digging, no confusion.

Humor Side-Note: You’re already paying for NetSuite, so make that dashboard sing – dashboards are free; accountants, not so much.

2. Built-In Notes and Messaging: Communication Where It Belongs

Sifting through emails for a critical note is like looking for a needle in a haystack – frustrating, time-consuming, and borderline maddening.

NetSuite solves this with its Built-In Notes and Messaging tools. Here’s how it works:

• Add notes, log calls, or attach files directly to records (like customer profiles, invoices, or projects).
• Post messages that stay with the record, so your team has full visibility into updates.
• Use the Activities Portlet to log emails, calls, and meetings seamlessly.

Practical Example:
Let’s say the sales team notes that a client wants to upgrade their dunning functionality (ahem, hello Dunning+). Instead of sending 10 emails about it, they log the request directly to the customer record. When the support team picks it up, all the context is already there.

Why It Matters:

• Keeps communication centralized.
• Provides context for everyone involved in the record.
• Reduces repetitive questions (“Who said what?” “Where’s the update?”).

✅ Pro Tip: Use the Communication Tab to keep internal notes and customer updates organized – your future self will thank you.

Bonus: No more “Did you see my email?” Slack pings. It’s all there, in NetSuite.

3. Automated Workflows: Take Your Hands Off the Wheel

Repetitive tasks can slow your team down faster than a Monday morning meeting that could’ve been an email. Enter Automated Workflows.

NetSuite allows you to automate processes that would otherwise require:

• Manual follow-ups.
• Constant reminders.
• Unnecessary human intervention (because we’re not robots… yet).

Here’s what you can automate:

• Approval workflows (like purchase orders or expense requests).
• Reminders for overdue tasks, payments, or approvals.
• Notifications to team members when tasks move to the next stage.

Practical Example:
Imagine sending an invoice for a client and waiting for approvals. NetSuite’s automated workflow can trigger notifications at every step – from sending the invoice to getting it approved and paid. No inbox pile-up, no oversight.

Why It Matters:

• Keeps processes moving forward without bottlenecks.
• Reduces errors caused by manual delays.
• Gives your team more time for meaningful work.

✅ Pro Tip: Use clear, role-based triggers so tasks move smoothly from one stage to the next.

Analogy Time: Think of workflows like a well-rehearsed play. Everyone knows their cue, and there’s no need for someone to shout, “Your line!”

4. Project Management Tools: Centralize Your Projects

Managing projects without a centralized system is like trying to build IKEA furniture without instructions.

NetSuite’s SuiteProjects Pro integrates project management with your ERP, CRM, and financial systems, bringing all project-related activities into one place.

Key Features Include:

• Project dashboards for timelines, budgets, and resource allocation.
• Task management to keep deadlines on track.
• Booked hours and financial insights for real-time reporting.

Practical Example:
Let’s say your team is deploying NetSuite for a client. SuiteProjects lets you assign tasks, track milestones, and see resource utilization in real time. No juggling spreadsheets or clunky tools – just one centralized project hub.

Why It Matters:

• Reduces miscommunication around project timelines or budgets.
• Provides accurate resource and cost management.
• Keeps team collaboration efficient and transparent.

✅ Pro Tip: Use the Gantt chart feature to visualize your timelines – a favorite for managers juggling multiple projects.

Efficiency Bonus: When everything’s in one place, fewer “status update” meetings are required.

5. Role-Based Permissions: The Right Access for the Right People

One of the biggest barriers to collaboration is too little access… or worse, too much. With Role-Based Permissions in NetSuite, you decide who sees what and who can do what.

Here’s what you can control:

• Edit and view permissions for records, reports, and dashboards.
• Approval workflows for specific roles (e.g., finance managers or project leads).
• Restrictions based on department, location, or job function.

Practical Example:
If the finance team only needs access to reports, you don’t need to give them admin-level permissions. Likewise, a project manager can update timelines without seeing sensitive company data.

Why It Matters:

• Prevents accidental data edits.
• Ensures compliance and security.
• Keeps roles aligned with responsibilities.

✅ Pro Tip: Regularly audit role-based permissions to ensure they align with job functions.

6. Integrated CRM Functions: Keep Sales, Support, and Operations Aligned

NetSuite’s Integrated CRM keeps customer data, sales pipelines, and support tickets in one place. It’s your single source of truth for managing the customer lifecycle.

Key Features:

• Lead generation and sales automation.
• Order management and fulfillment tracking.
• Integration with Zendesk, Salesforce, and HubSpot.

Practical Example:
A sales team can generate leads in NetSuite, while the support team uses Zendesk to manage tickets. NetSuite ties it all together, so everyone has a clear picture of the customer’s journey.

Why It Matters:

• Reduces toggling between systems.
• Provides real-time insights into customer relationships.
• Improves communication between sales, operations, and support.

✅ Pro Tip: Use the CRM to track deal pipelines and automate lead-to-order workflows.

Analogy: It’s like having one map for sales, support, and operations – everyone knows where they’re going without getting lost.

Ready to Maximize Your NetSuite Investment?

NetSuite is more than just an ERP – it’s a platform designed to help teams collaborate, automate, and centralize their work. By leveraging tools like Shared Dashboards, Automated Workflows, and Integrated CRM, your team can streamline processes, cut down on busy work, and focus on what matters most.

And let’s be real: you didn’t invest in NetSuite to only use 10% of it.

If you’re ready to unlock NetSuite’s full potential, reach out to us at Salora ERP. Our NetSuite experts can help you implement these tools, customize dashboards, and optimize workflows for your unique business needs.

📞 Call us today at (+1) 720-254-1320
📧 [email protected]