Customization & Integration
Why Going Native or Decustomizing Your NetSuite Environment is a Worthwhile Pursuit
Table of Contents
Introduction
As NetSuite is an ERP platform, it allows customers to build whatever customizations and workflows into the environment to streamline and automate business processes. Oftentimes, though, this is done without a full view of what is available out of the box. Over time, as the system ages, more and more unnecessary scripts and workflows are added to the environment, leading to system slowdowns and an increased likelihood of system errors. This is where Decustomizing NetSuite becomes important.
The general rule is that you should not customize anything unless the business process is so unique that there is no native functionality that can be leveraged. Over time, as the system ages, more and more unnecessary scripts and workflows are added to the environment, leading to system slowdowns and confusion. This is why many organizations consider NetSuite going native to improve system efficiency.
This blog explains how decustomizing NetSuite improves speed, reduces maintenance costs, simplifies upgrades, and helps the platform support long-term growth.
What Does Going Native Mean in NetSuite?
NetSuite going native means replacing custom scripts, workflows, and third-party integrations with its built-in functionality. This approach reduces technical debt and leverages the platform’s standard features, which are designed to efficiently handle common business processes.
Why Should Your Organization Consider Decustomizing NetSuite?
Many organizations accumulate customizations over time without conducting regular audits. This creates a complex environment where outdated scripts run alongside newer features, resulting in increased processing time and a higher maintenance burden. Decustomizing addresses these issues systematically.
Increased System Performance:
Every script that runs against a record adds to the system processing time. The system does not run asynchronously at the record level, so the processing time adds up quickly. While this may not be a significant issue with regard to a single record containing an extra script, it becomes a substantial problem when this issue is magnified across all records and forms throughout the entire system.
Lower Maintenance Costs:
Instead of relying on costly developers, either internal or external, NetSuite will take care of maintaining the scripts themselves and ensuring that they work well together. NetSuite has a rigorous testing process to ensure that any customizations included in a release are reliable. Homemade scripts do not undergo testing as thoroughly and therefore have a higher probability of breaking or experiencing an unexpected interaction with another script.
Ready to Optimize Your NetSuite Environment?
AlphaBOLD specializes in transitioning enterprises to Native NetSuite. Our certified consultants audit your customizations, identify unnecessary scripts, and provide a detailed remediation roadmap. We help you reduce technical debt while maintaining critical business functionality.
Request a DemoEasier Transition Between Upgrades:
When it comes to custom scripts, Oracle always warns its customers that there is a risk that custom scripts could break with every upgrade since homemade custom scripts are not built with the full breadth of NetSuite infrastructure in mind. Every process transitioned to native functionality reduces the likelihood of errors and contributes to the peace of mind of all users.
Bonus reading: NetSuite 2025.2 Release: AI-Driven ERP for CFOs & CIOs
Better Scalability:
As your company grows, homegrown scripts may not be able to handle the transaction volume or complexity. When NetSuite develops functionality, they test it for all company sizes, as their customers range from small businesses to enterprise-level multinationals. Decustomizing NetSuite supports this growth because relying on native features makes it easier for the platform to scale with your operations.
Stronger Data Integrity:
Over-engineered scripts can unintentionally bypass validation rules, create duplicate data, or introduce inconsistencies. Native functionality is built with NetSuite’s data model in mind, ensuring cleaner records and more reliable reporting. When your organization relies on accurate dashboards and real-time insights, decustomizing NetSuite helps maintain the data quality you need.
Bonus Reading: NetSuite Integrations: Enhancing Business Operations and Data Insights
Partner With NetSuite ERP Experts
Our team helps organizations streamline their NetSuite environments, reducing maintenance costs, and improving system performance. We deliver comprehensive decustomization strategies tailored to your industry and business requirements.
Request a DemoConclusion
Before beginning a decustomization project, conduct a thorough audit of your current environment. Identify which customizations serve critical business functions versus those that replicate native features. Document dependencies and prioritize scripts with the highest maintenance costs or performance impact.
FAQs
What is the difference between customization and configuration in NetSuite?
Configuration utilizes NetSuite’s built-in settings without requiring code, whereas customization involves scripts and third-party integrations. Configuration is always preferable when it meets your requirements.
How long does a typical NetSuite decustomization project take?
A typical assessment takes 2-4 weeks, while full implementation ranges from 3 to 6 months, depending on the scope. Decustomizing NetSuite can be planned in phases to minimize disruption.
Will going native eliminate all our custom functionality?
No. The goal is to replace unnecessary customizations while preserving truly unique business processes that require custom code.
Can we gradually transition to native functionality, or must it be done all at once?
Gradual transition is recommended. Most organizations prioritize high-impact, low-risk customizations first, then systematically tackle more complex areas.
What happens to our data during the decustomization process?
Data remains intact throughout the process. Decustomization focuses on removing or replacing scripts and workflows, not modifying your records.
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