NetSuite is known for being a powerhouse when it comes to cloud-based ERP software. Most companies use it for accounting, finance, or maybe some basic inventory control. That’s where the story usually ends.

But NetSuite is far more flexible than most give it credit for. It’s not just a tool for CFOs and finance teams. It’s a full-scale operations platform that can power your ecommerce, manage your construction jobs, automate your shipping, streamline your marketing, and even run global business units under one login.

From manufacturing to DTC brands to field service companies, NetSuite is being used in ways that might surprise you. And if you’re already using it for one part of your business, you’re likely underusing it elsewhere.

Here’s what you need to know about the 22 most surprising things NetSuite can actually do.

Run Your Entire Ecommerce Operation

NetSuite isn’t just built for the back office. With SuiteCommerce or popular integrations like Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce, NetSuite can run your entire ecommerce stack. From inventory and order routing to payment processing and customer data, everything is synced in one dashboard.

Instead of logging into multiple platforms, your team can view real-time data on customer behavior, cart abandonment, sales, and inventory levels. Orders flow straight into fulfillment without the need for custom scripts or daily CSV exports.

Handle Complex Shipping Scenarios

Shipping on NetSuite doesn’t have to be manual or messy. NetSuite integrates with solutions like ReadyShipper X to bring enterprise-grade shipping tools into the platform.

Whether you ship 50 or 5,000 packages a day, you can automate rate shopping, generate shipping labels, and apply carrier rules based on location, weight, or order type. You can also send tracking emails automatically, improving customer satisfaction without extra effort from your team.

Manage Large Construction Projects

Construction on NetSuite is more popular than you might think. Contractors, builders, and project managers use it to oversee every aspect of their jobs.

From job costing and labor tracking to subcontractor payments and equipment procurement, NetSuite helps eliminate the spreadsheets and duplicate data entry. You’ll get real-time visibility into project timelines, budget overruns, and milestone billing without juggling ten different tools.

Automate Billing & Subscription Services

If your business runs on recurring revenue, NetSuite is built to handle the entire lifecycle. You can schedule invoices, automate renewals, and manage usage-based pricing models.

Subscription billing is integrated directly into your financials, so revenue recognition stays clean and compliant. NetSuite also supports ASC 606 and IFRS 15, helping SaaS and service companies stay audit-ready at all times.

Create Real-Time Dashboards

Manual reporting kills time and energy across departments. NetSuite lets you build custom dashboards for each team, with real-time KPIs, saved searches, and charts.

Marketing can monitor lead flow. Sales can see pipeline metrics. Operations can track order delays. Everyone works off the same live data, which leads to faster decisions and less confusion.

Manage Multi-Warehouse Inventory

If you manage more than one warehouse, NetSuite can give you complete visibility over your entire operation. Stock levels, reorder points, and inventory transfers can all be controlled from within one system.

Need to route orders from the nearest location? NetSuite can handle that. Want to split shipments based on available inventory? You can set those rules in just a few clicks.

Improve Customer Relationships with Built-In CRM

NetSuite CRM doesn’t always get the spotlight, but it’s a strong tool for sales teams that want everything connected.

You can track leads, create automated follow-ups, assign tasks, and see full customer histories including orders, invoices, support tickets, and interactions. That means sales, marketing, and support all work from the same record without passing spreadsheets back and forth.

Track Labor Costs and Productivity

Whether you’re billing clients or tracking internal job hours, NetSuite makes it simple to monitor labor costs. Time entries can be connected to projects, clients, or tasks, giving managers a clear view of productivity and profitability.

Service businesses and construction firms especially benefit from this. You’ll know exactly where time is being spent and which jobs are driving profits.

Streamline Procurement & Vendor Management

Keeping track of vendors, purchase orders, and contract terms used to mean chasing down files in shared drives. NetSuite simplifies all of that.

You can automate the entire procurement workflow. Submit purchase requests, route approvals, track vendor performance, and compare prices across suppliers. No more guessing or relying on memory.

Automate Financial Reporting

NetSuite lets you create and schedule financial reports without touching Excel. Want an income statement every Monday morning? Done. Need to share budget vs. actuals with department heads? Easy.

You can segment reports by region, department, or business unit and export them in clean, presentation-ready formats. This helps keep teams informed and gives leadership confidence in the numbers.

Build Custom Workflows Without Developers

SuiteFlow is NetSuite’s built-in automation engine. It lets you create logic-based workflows without needing developers.

Need to route a purchase approval to the right manager? Want to alert sales when a VIP client makes a new order? You can create rules, triggers, and actions in a simple interface and get processes moving faster.

Connect to Virtually Any Platform

NetSuite has a huge ecosystem. You can connect to platforms like Shopify, Amazon, Salesforce, Zendesk, Mailchimp, Stripe, and more.

Whether you’re syncing orders, pushing data to a CRM, or updating inventory from a third-party app, NetSuite can serve as the central hub. This cuts down on data entry errors and ensures your systems actually talk to each other.

Set Up Multi-Entity Accounting

Running multiple business units or global subsidiaries? NetSuite can consolidate your financials while maintaining separate records for each entity.

You can assign currencies, apply localized taxes, and manage intercompany transactions without toggling between systems. Reporting also rolls up automatically, giving you visibility at both the micro and macro levels.

Gain True Omnichannel Visibility

NetSuite helps retailers and brands unify their operations across online, in-store, B2B, and marketplace channels.

You can sync customer profiles, inventory levels, and order data in real time. Whether someone buys from Amazon, your website, or your retail store, it’s all visible in one place. That means better fulfillment and more consistent customer experiences.

Handle Complex Tax Scenarios

If you sell across state lines or internationally, sales tax compliance can get complicated fast. NetSuite has tools and integrations like Avalara that help you calculate and remit taxes accurately.

You can configure tax rules by jurisdiction, apply exemptions, and generate audit-ready reports without having to chase down receipts.

Run Global Operations from One Login

NetSuite was built with international businesses in mind. It supports multi-currency transactions, regional tax setups, and multiple languages.

You can also assign roles based on location, time zone, and team structure. Global teams get the access they need without interfering with each other’s data.

Stay Compliant with Industry Regulations

Companies in regulated industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and finance often need to meet strict data and audit standards. NetSuite offers features like access logs, audit trails, and built-in controls that help you stay compliant.

Approval workflows, document version control, and secure data access are all configurable to meet your internal policies.

Manage Marketing Campaigns

You can run marketing campaigns directly from NetSuite or through connected platforms. Create segmented email lists, send campaigns, and track conversion performance in one view.

When you link marketing data to customer records, your team can finally see which campaigns drove revenue instead of just opens and clicks.

Go Mobile With NetSuite Apps

Field teams, sales reps, and managers can access NetSuite from mobile apps. That means real-time approvals, updates, and dashboards on the go.

You’ll be able to track project status, check inventory, or approve time entries without being at your desk.

Forecast Demand Accurately

NetSuite uses historical data and sales trends to help you forecast inventory needs. This helps reduce overstock and stockouts, especially during seasonal spikes.

You can also factor in supplier lead times and customer demand cycles to refine your purchasing plans.

Use SuiteAnalytics for Deep Insights

SuiteAnalytics gives you advanced reporting tools without requiring a business analyst. Build dashboards, trend charts, pivot tables, and custom KPIs in just a few clicks.

Your teams will spend less time building reports and more time acting on them.

Optimize Construction Job Costing

Let’s come back to construction on NetSuite. For firms managing multiple jobs, NetSuite makes it easy to allocate labor, track material usage, and generate cost reports per site.

You’ll know which projects are staying on budget and which ones need immediate attention. That kind of visibility improves profitability and decision-making on every build.

You’re Only Using a Fraction of NetSuite

Most companies only tap into 10 to 20 percent of what NetSuite can actually do. Whether you’re focused on ecommerce, fulfillment, finance, or construction, the platform has tools that can replace many of the disconnected systems you’re using today.

When you take advantage of everything NetSuite offers, you get better data, faster processes, and a single source of truth across your business.

FAQ

What industries use NetSuite the most?
NetSuite is popular in ecommerce, manufacturing, professional services, software, retail, and construction. Its flexibility makes it useful for both product and service-based companies.

Can NetSuite handle shipping and fulfillment?
Yes. NetSuite integrates with multiple shipping solutions and can manage label creation, rate shopping, carrier rules, and tracking updates.

Is NetSuite good for construction companies?
Absolutely. NetSuite offers tools for job costing, scheduling, subcontractor management, billing, and procurement, all in one platform.

How does NetSuite compare to QuickBooks?
QuickBooks is designed for small businesses, while NetSuite is built for scaling companies that need deeper visibility, automation, and integration.

Can I connect NetSuite to Shopify or Amazon?
Yes. NetSuite supports seamless integrations with platforms like Shopify, Amazon, and BigCommerce for order syncing and inventory updates.

Does NetSuite support time tracking for contractors?
Yes. Time entries can be tracked by project, job, or client. This helps with payroll, job costing, and profitability analysis.

Is there a shipping integration for NetSuite?
Yes. Platforms like ReadyShipper X offer shipping on NetSuite with multi-carrier support and automation features.

What kind of reporting does NetSuite offer?
NetSuite offers real-time dashboards, automated financial reports, saved searches, SuiteAnalytics, and pivot-style reporting tools.

Can NetSuite handle international operations?
Yes. NetSuite supports multiple currencies, languages, tax codes, and subsidiaries for global business operations.