6 early warning signs your NetSuite implementation needs help

Misaligned tiles.

Misaligned systems.

Same problem.

Your NetSuite system should be the heartbeat of your business operations, giving you visibility, accuracy, and control across finance, inventory, and fulfillment. But for many growing companies, the reality looks very different.

When troubleshooting consumes more team resources than data analysis or workflow improvements, it’s a strong indication your NetSuite implementation needs a strategic reset. Here’s how to recognize the early signs before minor issues turn into costly setbacks.

1. You’re relying on too many workarounds

Departments relying on their own “manual fixes” signal that the efficiency promised by NetSuite is slipping away. Workarounds—like spreadsheet reconciliations or manual journal entries—usually mean your system isn’t configured for your current processes.

Over time, these shortcuts create reporting blind spots and inconsistent data. If you’re constantly double-checking numbers or switching between systems to confirm accuracy, it’s time to evaluate your setup.

2. Month-end close is still a marathon

NetSuite should accelerate your close, not prolong it. If your finance team still takes more than a week to reconcile accounts and produce reports, something’s off.

We helped one client cut their month-end close from 10 days to just four by eliminating redundant processes and optimizing their workflows. The result? More time for strategic analysis and fewer late nights balancing the books.

3. Integration errors are eating into revenue

Sync failures or persistent Celigo flow errors can cost your business revenue almost immediately. Even a small percentage of failed transactions can lead to thousands in lost sales or delayed shipments.

For example, a 2% integration failure on $20M in annual revenue can mean $400,000 in preventable losses each year. A stable, well-optimized integration framework keeps your sales channels, warehouses, and accounting data moving seamlessly.

Ready to fix those integration errors before they cost you more revenue? Explore our NetSuite Rescue services to stabilize your systems and prove ROI fast.

4. Your internal team is stretched thin

Many companies lose or overextend their NetSuite admin, leaving operational gaps. Without the right technical oversight, your implementation drifts, and issues pile up.

Workflow improvements fall by the wayside once ticket management becomes routine—and that’s a clear indicator it’s time to scale up your NetSuite support. A proactive partner can help you stabilize, automate, and scale—without adding headcount.

5. Reporting feels unreliable… or impossible

If leadership questions every report or waits days for numbers, your NetSuite instance isn’t providing the clarity it should. Broken data flows, disconnected modules, and outdated configurations all contribute to unreliable results.

Your ERP should act as your single source of truth. When it doesn’t, decision-making slows, and opportunities pass by. Our experts can help rebuild confidence in your reporting foundation.

See how SMYTHE improved reporting and integration performance through automation.

6. You’ve been live for over a year, but results have plateaued

When measurable gains in speed, efficiency, or visibility stall after a year on NetSuite, the issue isn’t the platform’s capability—it’s because your business has outpaced your system’s configuration.

At Altura, we help implementations get back to peak performance through targeted optimizations that align technology with business goals. From automation tuning to reporting cleanup, our clients see measurable ROI—often in weeks, not months.

Why act now?

Every extra week spent troubleshooting is lost time, delayed decisions, and unrealized revenue. The sooner you optimize, the faster your business can grow—confidently, efficiently, and without disruption.

What to do next

If any of these signs sound familiar, don’t wait for them to turn into major disruptions. A strategic optimization can transform your system from a maintenance headache into a measurable growth driver.

Start by exploring our NetSuite services. Want to learn more about the platform itself? Visit NetSuite.com to see how a well-tuned implementation can support your next stage of growth.

If you’re ready, book a call today. We’ll chat about how far your ERP can really take you.

Case Study: SMYTHE Tailors its Tech Stack for Growth with Altura Innovation

SMYTHE started 20 years ago as a bold idea: bring the tailored sophistication of men’s blazers to women’s workwear. Over two decades, the brand grew from a single iconic blazer to a full ready-to-wear collection, opened retail stores in Toronto and Calgary, and launched a growing online presence.

But with growth came complexity. Managing inventory, analyzing sales performance, and integrating various sales channels became increasingly challenging. SMYTHE chose NetSuite as the backbone of their scaling business operations, but unlocking its full potential, particularly with Celigo integrations, required expertise they didn’t have internally.

Driven to address critical integration challenges with Celigo, NetSuite, and Shopify, SMYTHE partnered with Altura Innovation to stabilize and optimize their tech stack for seamless operations.

Building a scalable foundation with NetSuite

SMYTHE had begun with a system made for the apparel industry, but as their company expanded, they needed a more unified, scalable solution to support their growing complexity.

Adopting NetSuite is a strong strategic move that unifies finance, inventory, and reporting in one system. But after the initial rollout, the system wasn’t fully meeting expectations, particularly with integrations.

“From a logistics and fulfillment perspective, the transition was difficult. Key functions like production planning and inventory forecasting weren’t fully operational months after go-live,” said Lindsay Vilensky, SMYTHE’s ERP Project Manager.

Legacy integrations with platforms like Shopify, Loop Returns, and EDI had to be recreated from scratch for NetSuite. Some rebuilds stalled or became too costly, draining time and resources without delivering results.

To manage the growing backlog, Vilensky built an internal ticketing system — but the load was still overwhelming.

SMYTHE’s leadership quickly realized that while NetSuite offered robust data and functionality, the integration challenges, particularly with Celigo, were preventing them from leveraging it effectively. The technology they had invested in was powerful, but without the right support structure, it wasn’t delivering the seamless experience they had envisioned.

“We were drowning in Celigo variances,” said Vilensky. “We had 40 open integration issues at any given time, and I was under pressure from every department.” 

SMYTHE wasn’t facing a technology failure; they were facing the growing pains of a scaling brand with real-time demands across platforms, customers, and time zones. NetSuite and Celigo were powerful tools, but the missing piece was specialized support to resolve integration issues. 

“We didn’t need a different system. We needed a partner to help us move past these Celigo flags and make the pieces work together.”

Rebuilding confidence with Altura, one problem at a time

Realizing that overcoming their integration challenges required specialized expertise, SMYTHE sought a partner with deep knowledge of Celigo, NetSuite, and system integrations. That’s when they found Altura Innovation, a team known for delivering practical solutions tailored to complex needs.

Altura’s diverse group of specialists brought expertise across NetSuite, Celigo, and system integrations, enabling them to tackle issues efficiently and build a solution that could support SMYTHE’s operations.

Altura quickly got to work, helping SMYTHE’s Finance team streamline Shopify deposit reconciliations directly within NetSuite, eliminating tedious manual spreadsheets and speeding up month-end close processes.

Unlocking operational wins with data-driven tools

One of SMYTHE’s most significant breakthroughs came in the form of a deceptively simple deliverable: the Available-to-Sell report.

“Our sales team was manually copying and pasting images and data into Excel,” said Vilensky. “By the time they sent the report out, those units could already be sold.”

Altura replaced that manual process with a fully automated, image-rich PDF that refreshes every two hours. The impact was immediate: faster sales cycles, more confident wholesale buying, and a meaningful reduction in overhead.

“It really improved our wholesale channel,” said Vilensky. “This is something we had in our old system, but we couldn’t replicate it in NetSuite — until Altura.”

Simplifying support with a dedicated client partner

Altura Innovation simplifies collaboration within its diverse team through AlturaCare, a service agreement that pairs each client with a dedicated client partner who serves as a single point of contact. This clear line of communication keeps everyone on the same page and prevents confusion about who to contact or how to escalate issues.

For SMYTHE, this meant a clear, reliable process for handling technical issues—routing requests, prioritizing tickets, and receiving quick, knowledgeable responses.

“You don’t have to worry about who to email or where to escalate because there’s one trusted contact who knows your business and can coordinate with the team,” said Vilensky. “It’s so important having someone who understands our issues and can prioritize them for the right resources.”

This streamlined communication established a trusted channel that efficiently coordinated services for SMYTHE, fostering confidence and speeding up problem-solving across the board.

Celigo: Now core to operations

With a trusted partner in place, SMYTHE turned its focus to unlocking the full power of Celigo, a platform that had become essential to the company’s daily operations.

“Celigo is a non-negotiable for our business,” said Vilensky. “We couldn’t run our DTC channel without it.”

Altura helped rebuild and stabilize critical integrations between NetSuite and platforms like Shopify and Loop Returns. That clarity and automation eliminated hours of manual reconciliation, accelerated order flows, and dramatically reduced errors.

“We had a really bad view of Celigo, but I think it was skewed,” said Vilensky. “It’s an amazing product. We now understand how powerful it is — we just didn’t have the right team backing us at first.”

That realization, that the right technology needs the right partner, changed everything. With Altura managing the complexity, SMYTHE could rely on Celigo to support real-time inventory syncs, automated returns, and fully integrated EDI workflows.

“It’s not just NetSuite support,” said Vilensky. “Altura is also our go-to for Celigo, and that keeps everything aligned and working smoothly.”

Building a scalable foundation for the future

Thanks to Altura Innovation’s partnership, SMYTHE turned frustrating manual processes into smooth, automated workflows that support their evolving business. Enhanced data usability and operational agility have empowered SMYTHE to confidently pursue new growth opportunities while trusting their technology backbone to deliver.

"We wish we had found Altura from the beginning,” said Vilensky. “The difference with Altura is the team—they really know NetSuite and Celigo inside and out. When issues come up, they understand them quickly and can solve them without a lot of back and forth. Having that kind of expertise from the start would have saved us a lot of time and frustration."

The partnership between SMYTHE and Altura laid a strong foundation for sustained growth and continuous innovation, positioning SMYTHE to confidently meet the challenges ahead.

The Impact

✔ 50%+ reduction in recurring Celigo errors
✔ Eliminated manual Shopify reconciliation
✔ New automated Available-to-Sell report saving 3+ hours per wholesale cycle
✔ EDI sales orders fully integrated for the first time after 18 months of struggles
✔ Significant improvement in financial month-end close processes
✔ Better operational visibility and faster decision-making across teams

About Altura Innovation

Altura Innovation is a strategic partner specializing in optimizing and scaling NetSuite and Celigo ecosystems for fast-growing brands. By embedding dedicated client partners and delivering deep technical expertise, Altura Innovation helps companies transform complex operations into efficient, growth-ready systems.

About SMYTHE

SMYTHE is a contemporary women’s fashion brand known for redefining professional style with tailored, sophisticated apparel. SMYTHE’s ready-to-wear collection empowers women with confidence and timeless design. Committed to quality and innovation, SMYTHE continues to evolve its operations and technology to support sustained growth and meet the demands of a dynamic fashion market.

Love the story? Let’s build yours. Talk to Altura — Celigo’s New Partner of the Year →

The 3 most common ERP performance failures

These are the top 3 performance failures NetSuite customers make and what you can do about them.

Tailoring the robust NetSuite ERP to fit your specific requirements promises enhanced efficiency and a competitive edge by automating manual steps incorporation validations, and integrating your business systems like Shopify, Salesforce, BigCommerce with Celigo. To ensure your NetSuite environment thrives, do these 3 things.

1. Beware of Poorly Written Scripting and Customizations

The power of NetSuite lies in its flexibility, including the tremendously powerful use of scripts, such as programmatically updating a Sales Order Record while it's saving with value added information. However, this flexibility can be a double-edged sword. It's common for so many use cases to be added, that the scripts become bloated and sap the performance from your system. Loading many scripts/workflow is less efficient than using one per request type. Combine them and eliminate anything that doesn't add value. Requests that don't need to be synchronous on order save should be moved to MapReduce scripts.

2. Avoid Poor Integration Design and Performance

Integrating NetSuite with other systems is a common practice for expanding its capabilities and ensuring seamless data flow across your business ecosystem. Integrations that are not thoughtfully designed, considering data volume, sync frequency, and error handling, can lead to poor performance, and reliability issues. Use event based integrations where there is a performance need, and state based where near real time will do. Consider using an iPaaS software like my favorite Celigo to make it much easier to get a performant solution that checks all of the boxes.

3. Do Not Underestimate the Importance of Proper Data Management

An often overlooked aspect of NetSuite customization is the strategic management of data within the system. Having a thousand custom fields in the system with drop down lists that have an insane number of choices will sink your performance. Inadequate data management practices, such as creation of unnecessary records, failing to archive old data or not maintaining data integrity across records, can significantly slow down your NetSuite environment. Efficient data management ensures that your system can quickly access and process the information it needs, without being bogged down by irrelevant or outdated data. Thoughtful design of the data structure, regular data audits, and the use of data archiving or purging mechanisms are essential steps in maintaining a high-performing NetSuite system.

If you are already experiencing system performance or Integration pain in your NetSuite environment, you can improve it with tips like what I shared above or grab time with me to review your tech stack.

Together, we can review your system, identify potential improvements, and unlock the full potential of your NetSuite investment.

Top 5 benefits of integrating ecommerce & NetSuite

These are the top 5 ways integrating your BigCommerce or Shopify, ecommerce Store to NetSuite will transform your Operations and Accounting.

1. Orders placed on your website will be automatically imported into NetSuite. Products that are dropped shipped from vendors will have the Purchase Orders automatically created and sent to the preferred vendor. As a sweetener you can use the Shippers API and your ID to pull your order shipment information from your vendor and update the order fulfillment and shipping information.

2. Your fulfillment and shipping information including Advanced Shipping Notice will export from NetSuite into your Ecommerce Platform to keep your customer support team and customer informed on the shipping updates.

3. All of your Product Detail updates can be syndicated to your site. No more updating all of the sites individually.

4. Payout Reconciliation streamlines the reconciliation process by auto-matching the payment gateway settlement transactions against the NetSuite outstanding transactions (such as payment, cash sale, cash refund, customer deposit, or customer refund). It also provides you details about the unreconciled items, transactional, and non-transactional fees charged by the payment gateway.

5. All of your inventory levels for products will stay synchronized between your distribution centers and 3PLs. This eliminates stockout situations, speeds re-orders, and maximizes customer success.

Celigo's Integration Applications for Ecommerce makes doing all of this easy. You can get on our schedule to get this configured and then cross this off the list before Summer and you'll be the envy of all of your friends in the National Retail Federation this holiday season.