Discover the powerful combination of NetSuite and AI as we explore the benefits of using ChatGPT for NetSuite administrators when writing SuiteScript, saved search formulas, and SuiteQL statements.
Managing a NetSuite ERP System effectively requires administrators to juggle user requests, data management, workflow optimization, and security. To help streamline operations, NetSuite artificial intelligence (AI) has introduced ERP-specific tasks such as financial forecasting, document processing, and compliance tracking. These AI-driven tools optimize NetSuite’s core functionality, reducing manual work and improving efficiency.
However, AI in NetSuite is primarily designed for specific ERP-related tasks and does not cover broader administrator tasks that require flexibility, problem-solving, and real-time reporting. This is where ChatGPT comes in as a valuable companion. By using ChatGPT in conjunction with NetSuite AI, administrators can enhance user support, optimize workflows, streamline custom scripting, and improve overall ERP system management.
In this article, we’ll explore how ChatGPT can assist NetSuite ERP administrators in six key areas, offering practical examples and best practices to maximize its benefits.
6 Ways to Improve Operations With NetSuite AI and ChatGPT
1. Streamline NetSuite Customization and Scripting
NetSuite administrators often customize their ERP system using SuiteScript. This JavaScript-based scripting language enables the automation of business processes, and SuiteFlow, NetSuite’s built-in workflow engine that allows users to automate business operations without requiring programming knowledge.
However, writing and debugging SuiteScripts can be time-consuming, especially for those without extensive development experience. Both ChatGPT and NetSuite AI offer solutions to accelerate and simplify this process.
How ChatGPT Helps:
- Generates SuiteScript snippets based on specific business requirements
- Identifies and fixes errors in existing scripts, reducing debugging time
- Suggests best practices for performance optimization, ensuring scripts run efficiently
How NetSuite AI Helps:
- Suggests pre-built automations to simplify workflows without manual coding
- Identifies performance issues in custom scripts and recommends optimizations
- Helps automate low-code or no-code configurations, reducing reliance on SuiteScript
ChatGPT is more beneficial for administrators who work with SuiteScript and need AI-assisted coding support, while NetSuite AI helps automate workflows without requiring manual scripting.
The below example is code ChatGPT generated, creating a Suitelet that displays a form where the user can enter the invoice ID and the approver’s email address. When the form is submitted, the script loads the invoice record, attaches it to an email, and sends it to the approver. Finally, the script redirects the user to a confirmation page.
2. Automate Routine Queries and User Support
One of the biggest challenges NetSuite administrators face is handling a high volume of user queries. Employees frequently need assistance with access permissions, report generation, CRM updates, and troubleshooting, often leading to a backlog of support requests. AI-powered automation can reduce the burden by providing instant answers and troubleshooting guides.
How ChatGPT Helps:
- Acts as a virtual assistant, responding to NetSuite-related queries
- Provides step-by-step troubleshooting guides, reducing IT support tickets
- Generates detailed responses for FAQs, improving user self-sufficiency
How NetSuite AI Helps:
- Uses Text Enhance to refine system-generated responses and recommendations
- Analyzes past user interactions to suggest more relevant answers
- Automates basic responses for common ERP-related queries
NetSuite AI is useful for optimizing internal system responses. At the same time, ChatGPT can act as a broader AI-powered user support tool, answering more complex administrative queries beyond NetSuite’s built-in AI capabilities.
For example, if a finance team member needs to generate a monthly revenue report but is unfamiliar with the process, ChatGPT can provide step-by-step guidance, allowing them to complete the task without administrator intervention.
3. Craft Saved Search Formulas
Saved searches in NetSuite ERP allow administrators to retrieve and analyze data from various system modules. However, writing formulas within saved searches can be daunting for some administrators, especially for those unfamiliar with NetSuite’s formula syntax and logic structures. AI can help simplify formula construction, improving accuracy and data retrieval.
How ChatGPT Helps:
- Provides recommendations for formula construction based on user requirements
- Explains function usage to ensure formulas are structured correctly
- Suggests ideas for logical operations, such as CASE statements
How NetSuite AI Helps:
- Currently, NetSuite AI does not offer direct assistance with Saved Search formulas
ChatGPT is a powerful assistant for building, troubleshooting, and optimizing Saved Search formulas. It bridges the gap where NetSuite AI currently lacks direct support.
Below is an example of asking ChatGPT to explain and provide an example of search formula creation:
4. Improve Data Extraction With SuiteQL Statements
SuiteQL is NetSuite’s SQL-based query language, enabling administrators to extract structured data with advanced filtering and sorting capabilities. However, crafting SuiteQL statements can be challenging for administrators who lack SQL experience.
How ChatGPT Helps:
- Guides query syntax, table joins, and aggregations, making SuiteQL statements easier to write
- Assists in troubleshooting errors in existing queries
- Suggests optimized queries for faster data retrieval and analysis
How NetSuite AI Helps:
- Provides prebuilt query templates for common reporting needs
- Optimizes data extraction processes for performance improvements
- Automates trend analysis using machine learning
ChatGPT is ideal for generating and troubleshooting SuiteQL statements, while NetSuite AI focuses on improving system-level query performance and automation.
Below is an example of a simple prompt with ChatGPT’s results, providing a baseline SuiteQL statement that, with minor modifications, we could use to query NetSuite:
5. Optimize Workflows and Business Processes
Inefficient workflows create bottlenecks and reduce productivity. AI-powered workflow automation can help ensure consistency, accuracy and faster execution of business processes.
How ChatGPT Helps:
- Identifies inefficiencies in existing workflows and suggests improvements
- Automates approval processes, such as purchase requests, without manual intervention
- Creates workflow templates for standard operations, ensuring consistency across teams
How NetSuite AI Helps:
- Automates document processing, such as invoice approvals, using Bill Capture AI
- Suggests workflow optimizations based on NetSuite usage data
- Uses machine learning to predict potential operational delays
NetSuite AI enhances ERP-specific automation, while ChatGPT provides broader AI-driven workflow recommendations that extend beyond NetSuite’s core capabilities. For example, if I were an administrator preparing to implement a new subsidiary into NetSuite, I may look to ChatGPT to provide some baseline best practices to help shape my planning:
6. Enhance Security and Compliance
Security is a top concern for NetSuite administrators, who manage sensitive company data. ChatGPT can help by improving security best practices, detecting potential risks, and ensuring compliance with company policies.
How ChatGPT Helps:
- Identifies unusual login patterns and recommends security enhancements
- Generates compliance reports to ensure adherence to industry regulations
- Provides real-time security recommendations based on NetSuite system activity
How NetSuite AI Helps:
- Uses machine learning to detect fraudulent transactions and access anomalies
- Automates compliance tracking based on regulatory requirements
- Provides built-in audit trails for data access and modifications
ChatGPT helps analyze security trends, while NetSuite AI enforces real-time security protections within the ERP system. If a user logs in from an unusual location, for example, then ChatGPT can analyze the login data, flag the activity, and suggest immediate security measures, helping prevent potential breaches.
Bringing AI Into Your NetSuite Workflow
The integration of NetSuite artificial intelligence into ERP management is transforming how administrators handle business operations. While NetSuite AI specializes in ERP-specific automation, compliance tracking, and financial forecasting, administrators can extend AI’s benefits by using ChatGPT for broader administrative tasks, including user support, workflow improvement, and SuiteScript development.
Incorporating ChatGPT into your NetSuite workflow is a smart step toward achieving greater productivity, agility and effectiveness as a NetSuite administrator.
In our on-demand webinar, our artificial intelligence expert provides an executive’s guide to what leaders need to know about adopting ChatGPT and AI in the workplace.
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