NetSuite ERP to BigCommerce Integration: Building Scalable B2B eCommerce Experiences
3 min read ● Silk Team
Introduction
Modern B2B buyers have come to expect the same easy-to-use digital purchasing experience that consumers have become accustomed to through consumer eCommerce. Whether they’re ordering from a desktop computer in an office or from a mobile device in a warehouse, buyers expect accurate pricing, real-time visibility to available inventory, and efficient order fulfillment.
While many organizations attempt to meet these buyer expectations, they continue to struggle due to the fact that their eCommerce platforms are often isolated from their operational systems. When product data, inventory levels, pricing rules, and order management processes reside in different systems that do not communicate with one another, organizations often find themselves performing manual tasks, managing inaccurate data, and experiencing operational inefficiencies.
For companies looking to scale their digital commerce efforts, connecting their eCommerce platform to an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system such as NetSuite is essential. One increasingly popular method to accomplish this is to connect NetSuite ERP with BigCommerce eCommerce, enabling organizations to create a unified commerce architecture where operational data flows seamlessly between systems.
A well-planned NetSuite to BigCommerce integration will enable organizations to automate workflows, maintain accurate operational data, and deliver scalable B2B eCommerce experiences.
What is a NetSuite ERP to BigCommerce Integration?
A NetSuite ERP to BigCommerce integration is the process of linking a company’s NetSuite ERP system to their BigCommerce storefront so that both systems can automatically exchange operational data.
In general, NetSuite functions as the operational backbone of a company’s ERP system where operational data such as inventory, order processing, financial reporting and product data management reside. On the other hand, BigCommerce is the digital storefront where customers browse products, view pricing and place orders.
When NetSuite and BigCommerce are connected, key operational data is shared between the two systems. This ensures that the eCommerce storefront displays accurate business information while the operational workflows are managed within the ERP system.
Instead of having separate data sources, businesses function with a unified system in which all product data, customer records, pricing rules and order information are consistent across platforms.
Understanding NetSuite ERP
NetSuite is a cloud-based ERP platform used to manage a company’s operational backbone. The ERP platform centralizes the various processes necessary to run a company efficiently such as inventory management, financial reporting, order processing, and customer data management.
For organizations conducting digital commerce through a variety of channels, NetSuite often becomes the system of record for important operational data such as product catalogs, inventory quantities, pricing structures and customer accounts.
Due to NetSuite being responsible for managing operational processes, it is crucial to ensure that the data displayed on an eCommerce storefront is accurate and current.
Understanding BigCommerce for B2B eCommerce
BigCommerce is a flexible and scalable eCommerce platform that supports both B2C and B2B digital commerce models. The platform has an API-driven architecture, allowing companies to develop custom digital storefronts while integrating with other systems such as ERP platforms, inventory management tools and marketing automation software.
For B2B organizations, BigCommerce provides several important features, including customer groups, pricing segmentation, corporate account management and multi-storefront support.
The features provided by BigCommerce enable organizations to offer personalized purchasing experiences to different customer segments while maintaining a scalable digital commerce environment.
However, to fully support the complexities of B2B operations, BigCommerce often requires integration with an ERP system such as NetSuite to manage operational data and business workflows.
Why Do B2B Companies Integrate Their NetSuite ERP System with Their BigCommerce Storefront?
As digital commerce continues to grow, B2B buyers expect the same level of self-service purchasing options that consumers have grown accustomed to when making purchases online. These expectations include viewing real-time inventory levels, accessing customer-specific pricing, placing orders online and tracking order history without interacting with a sales representative.
To meet these expectations, organizations must have accurate operational data and automate workflow processes. Many organizations currently do not integrate their ERP systems with their eCommerce platforms, thus relying on manual processes to update product information, pricing and enter orders into operational systems.
Manual processes can create several operational issues for organizations, including:
- Displaying inaccurate inventory levels on the eCommerce storefront
- Having different pricing structures for the same product across different sales channels
- Delays in order processing
- Creating inefficient reporting and financial reconciliations
By integrating their NetSuite ERP system with their BigCommerce storefront, companies can automate the exchange of operational data between systems, thereby creating an efficient and scalable digital commerce environment.
Important Data Flows Between Systems in a NetSuite to BigCommerce Integration
In order to design an effective ERP integration, it is necessary to understand the flow of data between systems. In most cases, there are several types of data originating in NetSuite that will be synchronized to BigCommerce, while others are created in BigCommerce and will be synced back into the ERP system.
Product Data Synchronization
Product data is typically managed within NetSuite and then synced to the BigCommerce storefront.
Some examples of data included in this sync include:
- Product SKUs
- Product Descriptions
- Product Attributes
- Pricing Tiers
- Product Availability
Syncing this information will ensure that the storefront is always displaying the most recent product information for customers.
Inventory Synchronization
Inventory levels are typically maintained within the ERP system. When NetSuite updates inventory quantities, those updates will be visible in BigCommerce via the integration.
This will allow customers to view the correct stock quantity when attempting to place an order online.
Customer Data Synchronization
B2B commerce can involve complex customer structures including corporate accounts, multiple buyers within an organization and negotiated pricing agreements.
By syncing customer data from NetSuite to BigCommerce, customer accounts, pricing structures, and billing information will be consistent across systems.
Order Synchronization
Orders placed on the BigCommerce storefront will automatically flow into NetSuite.
Once the order arrives in the ERP system, NetSuite will handle all the operational processes related to fulfilling the order, generating an invoice and producing financial reports.
This will eliminate the necessity for manual entry of orders and greatly reduce the likelihood of errors.
Enabled B2B Features Through Integration of NetSuite and BigCommerce
Customer-Specific Pricing
Many B2B companies have complex pricing structures that include negotiated contracts, customer-specific price lists and volume-based discounts.
Through integration, these pricing structures are managed within NetSuite and displayed accurately on the BigCommerce storefront.
Self-Service Customer Portals
With integrated systems, organizations are able to provide self-service portals to customers for managing their accounts and purchasing activity.
Portals often contain features such as:
- Viewing order history
- Saving product lists
- Quickly reordering products
- Managing customer account information
Multi-Channel Commerce
Companies with multiple storefronts or brands can also benefit from integration.
An integration between NetSuite and BigCommerce can support multiple digital sales channels while maintaining a single source of truth for operational data.
This enables organizations to expand their digital footprint without adding operational complexity.
Architecture for Integrating NetSuite with BigCommerce
There are several ways that organizations can architect the integration of NetSuite with BigCommerce.
Using Middleware
Many organizations prefer to use middleware or integration platforms to connect the two systems.
Middleware solutions provide tools for simplifying data transformation, error handling and system monitoring.
Using middleware will help improve scalability and make it simpler to manage integration workflows.
Connecting Directly Using APIs
Another way to connect the two systems is to connect NetSuite and BigCommerce directly using their respective APIs.
API-based connections allow for highly customizable implementation, but typically require more technical effort and maintenance.
Real Time vs. Batch Synchronization
When designing the integration architecture, organizations must also determine how frequently data will be synchronized.
Real time synchronization will update data immediately when changes occur, resulting in the most accurate information across systems.
Batch synchronization will update data at set intervals, reducing the load on systems but potentially resulting in short delays between updates.
The correct synchronization frequency will depend on several factors including the volume of orders, the rate of inventory turnover and the overall performance of the systems.
Operational Advantages of a NetSuite to BigCommerce Integration
| Operational Advantage | Description |
|---|---|
| Improved Inventory Accuracies | Synchronizing inventory data between systems ensures that customers see accurate inventory levels on the storefront when browsing products. This can help eliminate the possibility of selling out-of-stock items and improve order fulfillment rates. |
| Increased Speed of Order Fulfillment | When orders are placed on the BigCommerce storefront, they are automatically sent to NetSuite, eliminating the need for manual entry of orders and improving the speed of order fulfillment. |
| Accurate Pricing Across Sales Channels | Since pricing structures are centralized in NetSuite, customers will receive the correct pricing structure no matter what sales channel they utilize. |
| Streamlined Financial Reporting | Since all orders and transactions flow directly into the ERP system, financial reporting becomes more streamlined and manageable. |
Challenges That Organizations Face When Attempting to Create an Integration of Their ERP and eCommerce Platforms
Although the benefits of an integration are numerous, creating an integration of an organization’s ERP and eCommerce platforms can be challenging.
Mapping Operational Data Fields Between ERP and eCommerce Platforms
ERP systems and eCommerce platforms often utilize different data field formats. Correct mapping of fields between systems is critical for accurate data synchronization.
Configuring Complex Pricing Structures
Many B2B organizations have complex pricing structures, which must be carefully configured to ensure that pricing rules are properly applied in the eCommerce storefront.
Designing the Appropriate Synchronization Strategy
Determine which data should be synchronized in real-time and which can be updated at periodic intervals based on your organization’s operational needs.
Best Practices for Organizations Creating a NetSuite to BigCommerce Integration
Organizations can increase the chances of a successful integration project by adhering to several best practices.
Plan Your Integration Architecture Before Starting Development
Before beginning development, you should plan the flow of data between systems and define which system will serve as the system of record for each type of data.
Define Clear Data Ownership
Define who owns each product record, pricing rule, and customer account in your organization to avoid discrepancies in data between systems.
Plan for Future Growth
Your integration architecture should be built to accommodate future growth, including expanding product catalogs, increasing order volumes and developing new digital sales channels.
How Silk Commerce Can Help Organizations Achieve Success with Their NetSuite to BigCommerce Integration
Developing and executing ERP integrations requires a great deal of knowledge regarding both eCommerce platforms and operational systems.
Silk Commerce is dedicated to helping organizations develop scalable digital commerce environments by assisting with the development and execution of integrations between NetSuite ERP and BigCommerce storefronts.
Combining our extensive knowledge of ERP integration architecture and eCommerce platform development, we can assist organizations in automating operational workflows, maintaining accurate data, and delivering seamless digital buying experiences to their customers.
Companies that strategically pursue the integration of NetSuite and BigCommerce will be able to establish digital commerce ecosystems that support both operational efficiency and long-term growth.
Conclusion
As B2B commerce moves further into digital channels, organizations must ensure that their eCommerce platforms and operational systems are working together seamlessly.
The integration of NetSuite ERP and BigCommerce enables organizations to sync operational data, automate workflows and deliver modern digital purchasing experiences to their customers.
For organizations pursuing the expansion of their digital commerce operations, a well-planned integration of NetSuite and BigCommerce provides the framework for accurate data, efficient processes, and long-term growth.