The HubSpot NetSuite Integration

Why Integrate CRM with ERP?

The unifying of all customer-facing aspects of your business, including Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service to achieve excellent customer services and improve conversions is the goal of the HubSpot CRM. The streamlining of business functions like supply chain management, payroll and more is achieved with the NetSuite ERP.

Both of these systems are extremely powerful – so imagine the success your business could see if you used them both in harmony. In fact, a 2021 report by IDC found that companies who integrate CRM and ERP systems can see an average increase in revenue of 35%, a decrease of 23% in operational costs and a 10% reduction in manual errors.

The HubSpot CRM:

Sales, Marketing, Services, Automation & Analytics

HubSpot CRM places the customer at the center of your organization. By aggregating, organizing, and analyzing data, HubSpot helps you track customer interactions across every touchpoint, from marketing campaigns to customer support. This unified system enables you to build better relationships and market more effectively.

Key Features of HubSpot CRM:

Contact Details: Name, address, email, phone number
Communication Records: Email conversations, meeting notes
Engagement Tracking: Social media interactions, marketing campaign engagement
Sales Data: Enquiries, sales leads, purchase history
Customer Support: Help desk queries, tickets
Financial Information: Proposals, invoices

HubSpot stands out for its robust integration capabilities, offering a well-documented API and numerous native integrations with popular ERP systems like NetSuite, simplifying the integration process and reducing implementation time.

NetSuite ERP:

Operations, Inventory Management, Finances, and Distribution

NetSuite ERP manages core business activities, including accounting, procurement, project management, and supply chain operations. Its comprehensive suite integrates various business applications, allowing for real-time data flow and improved business intelligence.

Key Benefits of NetSuite ERP:

Real-Time Insights: Enhanced business insight from up-to-date reports
Operational Efficiency: Streamlined processes reduce costs and improve collaboration
Unified Infrastructure: Consistent user experience across all functions
Risk Management: Improved data integrity and financial controls

NetSuite’s flexible architecture and extensive APIs (supporting REST and SOAP protocols) make it ideal for integration with CRM platforms, providing seamless connectivity and customization options through tools like SuiteScript, SuiteTalk, and SuiteFlow.

Do You Need Both HubSpot and NetSuite?

Yes. HubSpot fuels your business with new opportunities, while NetSuite manages and drives your operations efficiently. Together, they provide a holistic solution for managing customer relationships and back-office operations.

Eliminates Duplicate Data: Unified data management cleanses redundancies and inaccuracies.
Reduces Manual Data Entry: Automated synchronization saves time and reduces the chance of human errors in data transfer.
Provides End-to-End Visibility: 360-degree view of customer interactions across departments opens up more opportunities to sell and grow.
Enhances Sales Forecasting: Real-time inventory data and sales analytics combine for proactive planning.
Boosts Collaboration: Data and analytics sharing between departments improves communication and decision-making.
Promotes User Adoption: Simplified training and usage with a unified platform and process make a user-friendly system.
Increases Customer Happiness (and Revenue): Consistent experience across the customer journey leads to happier clients (who buy more).

A CRM focuses on managing customer interactions, while an ERP manages business processes like finance, HR, and supply chain management.

Integration boosts efficiency, enhances customer service, and enables better decision-making by allowing smooth data flow between customer-facing and back-office functions.

Challenges include data synchronization, differing data structures, and integration complexity. For many companies, the initial data mapping process can be the most challenging part as it requires time and effort of all stakeholders to determine specific details of the integration before programming.

HubSpot and NetSuite integration typically involves using the built-in native integration, middleware or custom APIs to connect the two systems, allowing for automatic data sharing, synchronization of customer information, and simplified workflows across marketing, sales, and finance teams.

Any business that requires the use of an ERP (inventory, finance, operations) and a Sales Enablement platform/CRM benefits from this integration. That being said, businesses with complex sales processes and substantial back-office operations, like manufacturing and distribution, gain the most from integrated systems.

Implement robust encryption, use secure APIs, conduct regular security audits, and comply with data protection regulations.

The different integration options offer a variety of pros and cons. For the most comprehensive, customizable integration, custom-development is recommended. Though for simple use-cases, the native integration can be more user-friendly for non-developers.

Ease of Use: Built-in integrations are typically user-friendly and easy to set up without requiring extensive technical knowledge.
Reliability: These integrations are developed and maintained by the platform providers, ensuring compatibility and support.
Cost-Effectiveness: Since they are included with the platform, there are often no additional costs involved.
Security: Native integrations usually have robust security measures in place as the platform providers directly manage them.

Limited Customization: Native integrations may not offer the flexibility to customize workflows and data syncs to specific business needs.
Feature Constraints: These integrations might not cover all the functionalities that a business requires, limiting their usability.
Dependence on Providers: Any issues or updates depend on the platform providers’ schedules and priorities, which might not align with your business needs.

Tailored Solutions: Custom integrations can be designed to meet specific business requirements and workflows.
Flexibility: Allows for extensive customization and scalability as per the business’s evolving needs.
Competitive Advantage: Custom solutions can provide unique functionalities that might give a business an edge over competitors.
Control: Complete control over the integration process, including how data is managed and secured.

Complex Implementation: Developing a custom integration requires skilled developers and can be time-consuming.
Maintenance Burden: The business is responsible for maintaining and updating the integration, which can be resource-intensive.
Risk of Errors: Custom code can introduce bugs and errors if not properly tested and maintained.

Quick Setup: Third-party services often provide easy and quick setup with minimal technical knowledge required.
Wide Range of Connectors: Services like Zapier offer numerous pre-built connectors for various platforms, facilitating multiple integrations.
Scalability: Third-party integrations can scale with your business needs, adding new connectors and functionalities as required.

Subscription Costs: Ongoing subscription fees for third-party services can add up over time.
Limited Customization: While they offer many connectors, the level of customization is often limited compared to custom-built solutions.
Data Latency: There might be a delay in data synchronization, which can affect real-time data accuracy.
Dependency on Service Provider: Any downtime or issues with the third-party provider can disrupt business operations.

How to Get Started with HubSpot and NetSuite

Integrating HubSpot and NetSuite to consolidate your data under a single platform can be daunting. Many businesses find this process requires months of diligent execution, migration, and training, as well as significant technical resources.

However, growth necessitates discovering new ways to streamline processes. Are you content with legacy applications that cause miscommunication, lost leads, and wasted time? Or do you want to elevate your business with an integrated platform that informs decisions and empowers your teams?

If you choose the latter, here's a quick 5-step plan to get started with a HubSpot NetSuite integration:

Planning: Compile a comprehensive list of data mapping requirements for NetSuite and HubSpot. Define your integration goals, identify stakeholders, and determine the critical data that needs accurate, daily synchronization.
Preparation: Gather necessary resources, including technical documentation and integration tools. Ensure all stakeholders are informed and aligned on the integration objectives.
Development: Execute your plan by constructing and testing integration components. Configure sync settings, program the integration in a sandbox environment, and continually test and optimize with error logging and handling documentation.
Testing and Training: Train all relevant team members on new processes and test different scenarios to identify and resolve potential issues before going live.
Deployment: Move your integration to production, ensuring all systems are functioning correctly, and monitor the integration closely to address any post-launch issues.

Need Expert Guidance on Integrating HubSpot and NetSuite?

Reach out to our team today. We have a proven track record of successful integrations, having completed over 1000 implementations for HubSpot and NetSuite, along with developing complex, custom solutions to meet our customers' needs.

As part of our special offering, we're ready to assess your HubSpot or NetSuite instances to determine integration potential, including timelines, budget, level of customization required, and any specific business requirements.