How To Choose The Best NetSuite Integration For Your Business

In an effort to streamline workflow, businesses across the world utilise a range of platforms, applications, and software products to optimise processes based on their business needs. However, efficiency is often sacrificed in an attempt to simplify work methods across multiple areas. 

That’s why businesses turn to NetSuite and their range of integration options for internal and external systems. 

In this article, we describe common integration options for the NetSuite platform and help you decide which is best for your business. 

1. SuiteTalk 

SuiteTalk is a web service option available for integrating external systems through NetSuite. It allows you to securely access NetSuite data using an XML-based API and integrate across NetSuite’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and e-commerce solutions. The SuiteTalk API comes as an out-of-the-box solution with your NetSuite subscription. 

As an independent application built outside of NetSuite, SuiteTalk provides the ability to use any programming language or platform that supports both lightweight REST-based integration and the SOAP standard to produce business objects in Java or .NET.  

However, with an out-of-the-box solution like SuiteTalk, the control and flexibility of your integration can be limited.  

Let’s explore a more custom approach with the likes of RESTlet. 

2. RESTlet 

RESTlets are server-side scripts that facilitate external and internal applications to communicate with NetSuite within the RESTful framework.  

Unlike SuiteTalk, an off-the-shelf solution, RESTlets need to be specifically written and programmed for your exact business requirements. This custom development aspect provides you with more control and flexibility when it comes to integrating, but requires a good understanding of SuiteScript (NetSuite’s scripting language).  

On top of the extra customisation, RESTlets have a very quick response time. Meaning unless you exceed their data limits, RESTlets come with limited downtime and little to no chance of disruption.  

In most cases, RESTlets offer an extremely flexible integration option for NetSuite. Although, there is one drawback to consider before jumping the gun. RESTlets can become weak when trying to process large amounts of data, meaning some circumstances deem RESTlets impractical.  

So, if there are any system architecture limits that make RESTlets an unenforceable solution for your business, why not take a look at Suitelets – another custom integration option.  

3. Suitelets 

Suitelet is a basic form and extension of the SuiteScript API that allows developers to customise HTML request/response cycles. Since Suitelets are server-side scripts that operate in a request-response model, they allow for full flexibility when developing application extensions to NetSuite.  

Suitelets is often the favourable solution as custom NetSuite pages and back-end logic can be built in cases where RESTlets cannot be used. This may be the case when architectural limitations are present.  

Which NetSuite integration is best for your business? 

Choosing the right NetSuite integration comes down to what your business requirements are, and how familiar your team is with NetSuite’s scripting language. If you’re a NetSuite user looking for further information on the best integration route for your business, contact us at Nolan Business Solutions today. Our experienced development team specialise in the NetSuite platform and solve businesses problems other ERP solution providers shy away from.