If you are new to looking at NetSuite ecommerce or NetSuite’s flagship ecommerce platform called SuiteCommerce Advanced, then this guide will help you understand resources and the differences between traditional NetSuite roles and ecommerce roles.
What is a NetSuite Developer and Consultant?
A NetSuite developer and NetSuite consultant is specialized professional that works inside of the Oracle NetSuite ERP software solution. They will have experience with multiple companies optimizing and automating business processes.
When working in your NetSuite environment, you’ll want to take a look at customization since it can allow the software to form around your business rather than the other way around. A NetSuite developer writes SuiteScript to help automate processes that workflows can’t accomplish. Functional NetSuite consultants can help build out other configuration pieces or workflows for you so that you only need to worry about your role entering specific data.
Let’s dive into what makes a good NetSuite developer…
There are quite a few factors to review prior in order to set the foundation. Skills specific to NetSuite need to be identified and there are some softer skillsets that support the NetSuite specific developer skillsets. Both developers and consultants interact frequently together and have a good understanding of what the other does.
Here are some skills of a good NetSuite developer
- Know SuiteScript in and out (Suite Script developer)
- User event Scripts
- Scheduled Scripts
- Client Script
- Suitelet
- Map-Reduced Script
- Should know JavaScript well
- Ability to make NetSuite integrations via SOAP or Restlet.
- Make custom Advanced PDF and Email Templates using Freemarker, HTML, and CSS
What is a SuiteCommerce Developer?
A SuiteCommerce Advanced developer differs from your traditional NetSuite developer since they require knowledge of themes and extensions. This skillset is typically a niche skill that some know more of SCA rather than NetSuite. However, SCA developers still need to know NetSuite development. The different is advanced knowledge in HTML, CSS, SCA architecture of single page applications (SPA), web development, search engine optimization (SEO), and JavaScript. An SCA developer should know how to write SuiteScript, configure NetSuite, and understand all areas that SuiteCommerce impacts NetSuite.
SuiteCommerce and SuiteCommerce Advanced (SCA):
NetSuite has its own ecommerce platform called SuiteCommerce Advanced. SuiteCommerce developers to help implement the solution and make it easier to have a custom website that works perfectly for your business. You’ll want to check out commerce agency partners that have been authorized by NetSuite or you will lose a lot of money with mistakes. You can also see how it compares to Shopify Plus or other common ecommerce platforms such as Magento. As you begin the purchasing process, the first step will be to choose NetSuite SuiteCommerce theme. Then you can get the implementation started. NetSuite ecommerce goes beyond SuiteCommerce since you will likely want to integrate to other ecommerce platforms like Amazon, eBay, Walmart, or Overstock. All of these integrations can help drive more revenue for your organization.
Shopping for SuiteCommerce Apps:
There are many places to shop around for pre-built SuiteCommerce customizations or apps. But the two primary locations are SuiteMarkets or SuiteApp. SuiteMarkets is a 3rd party platform that hosts all types of solutions and SuiteApp is built by NetSuite and has quality control measures in place. Both options will help you optimize your ecommerce solution. Both options are very good places to find both NetSuite apps and SuiteCommerce apps. Getting a pre made NetSuite ERP customization or SuiteCommerce customization can be difficult to find, but SuiteMarkets will likely be the best place to find less common customizations.
Finding a Partner to Implement:
NetSuite is able to implement your ecommerce solutions themselves, but many have found that NetSuite partners are much better and more equipped to offer more solutions specific to your business. Partners have products that have built and NetSuite doesn’t have access to. Plus NetSuite often only is allowed to work with their own products. You can pay $250/hr for their professional services or you can pay $150/hour for a skilled SuiteCommerce partner that will give you focused attention. It is ideal to have a partner that will be able to be flexible. Your business will need a few customizations that partners are more equipped due to their quality of developers on staff. Most of the best SuiteCommerce developers move to different partners and NetSuite struggles consistently to retain talent.
