If one thing unites sales teams across the globe, it’s their shared disdain for enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. If you’ve ever seen a salesperson attempt to navigate a clunky, outdated CRM while trying to close a deal, you’d understand why. Between confusing dashboards, lagging databases, and endless tabs that seem to exist only to induce migraines, ERPs have long been seen as necessary evils rather than productivity tools.
Yet, somehow, the business world keeps throwing these systems at sales teams, promising that this time—really, indeed—things will be different. It never is. That is until platforms like NetSuite proved that an ERP doesn’t have to be a glorified headache.
At Above Bits, a company that’s been mastering digital solutions since the days when MySpace was relevant, we’ve seen firsthand how NetSuite can actually make life easier for sales professionals. And before you scoff at the idea of an ERP being anything but a necessary burden, let’s take a closer look at why this platform is shaking up the sales world in Charlotte, North Carolina, and beyond.
Why Salespeople Have Historically Hated ERPs
Before we get into NetSuite’s redemption arc, let’s talk about why sales teams have every right to be skeptical. Traditional ERPs, especially legacy systems cobbled together in the early 2000s, were never designed with sales teams in mind. They were created for finance departments, supply chain managers, and IT administrators who weren’t considering how a salesperson would use them.
One of the biggest complaints? The sheer complexity. A sales rep just wants to check their leads, update the pipeline, and move on to closing deals. But in a lot of ERPs, doing something as simple as updating a prospect’s status feels like trying to launch a space shuttle. Slow interfaces, redundant data entry, and tiny inefficiencies add up, costing businesses millions in lost productivity.
According to a Forrester Research study, nearly 50% of sales professionals say their current CRM or ERP system slows them down more than it helps. That’s a staggering number, considering how crucial these systems are supposed to be for business growth.
The NetSuite Revolution: An ERP Sales Team Can Like
Enter NetSuite development in Charlotte, a game-changer in the ERP space. Unlike its clunky predecessors, NetSuite doesn’t just pretend to work for sales teams—it does. At Above Bits, we’ve worked with businesses struggling under the weight of their outdated ERPs, helping them migrate to NetSuite and optimize it to fit their sales operations seamlessly.
So, what makes it different? For starters, automation. NetSuite’s built-in AI and predictive analytics take the guesswork out of sales forecasting. Instead of manually entering data (which, let’s be honest, no one wants to do), NetSuite pulls in information from multiple sources, organizes it, and presents actionable insights.
Another game-changer is real-time data access. Unlike some ERPs, where reports feel like they were delivered via carrier pigeon, NetSuite gives sales reps up-to-the-minute information on inventory, pricing, and customer history. This means no more awkward pauses on sales calls while a rep scrambles to verify product availability.
And let’s talk about integrations. Many companies in Charlotte that rely on sales-driven revenue have been frustrated with how poorly their ERP talks to their marketing tools. NetSuite doesn’t have that problem. It integrates smoothly with platforms like HubSpot, Salesforce, and even e-commerce systems like Magento—another area where Above Bits has decades of experience.
The Global Impact: How Big Companies Leverage NetSuite for Sales
It’s not just small and mid-sized businesses jumping on the NetSuite development in Charlotte trend. Globally, some of the biggest names in tech, retail, and manufacturing have embraced NetSuite for its ability to unify sales, finance, and operations.
Take Airbnb, for example. The short-term rental giant needed a better way to manage its global transactions and customer relationships at scale. By moving to NetSuite, they streamlined their financial reporting, eliminated bottlenecks, and improved forecasting—something sales teams everywhere can appreciate.
Another example? Land O’Lakes is one of the largest agricultural companies in the world. Their sales teams used to struggle with outdated inventory tracking that led to delays and lost deals. After implementing NetSuite, they cut down processing times significantly, giving their reps the confidence to promise deliveries without crossing their fingers.
And let’s not forget Red Bull, the energy drink titan. They use NetSuite to manage distribution and sales channels across dozens of countries, ensuring that sales reps and distributors always work with real-time data.
The Downsides: Where NetSuite Still Has Room to Improve
While NetSuite is miles ahead of its ERP ancestors, it’s not perfect. One of the biggest complaints businesses have is the pricing. While NetSuite is scalable, it’s not exactly cheap, especially for smaller companies without a massive IT budget. That’s where working with experts like Above Bits becomes essential—we know how to optimize NetSuite’s features without unnecessary add-ons that drive up costs.
Another issue is the learning curve. Because NetSuite is so feature-rich, onboarding can be overwhelming. A poorly implemented setup can leave sales teams feeling just as lost as they did with their old ERP. Again, this is why having an experienced development partner in Charlotte makes all the difference. Above Bits doesn’t just implement NetSuite; we customize it to fit the unique needs of each business, ensuring that sales teams benefit from the system rather than fight against it.
NetSuite’s AI-Driven Sales Features: Making Reps Smarter, Not Just Busier
If there’s one thing I’ve learned covering tech for nearly two decades, it’s that artificial intelligence has become the Swiss Army knife for business operations—when used correctly. The problem? Most AI-driven sales tools feel like they were designed by engineers who have never sold anything. They pile on analytics, graphs, and dashboards that look impressive in board meetings but don’t help reps close deals.
This is where NetSuite development in Charlotte stands out. NetSuite doesn’t just flood sales teams with data—it curates the right insights at the right time. Its AI-powered predictive analytics can detect buying patterns, highlight high-priority leads, and even suggest ideal pricing based on historical transactions. Imagine a sales rep sitting down to start their day, and instead of digging through spreadsheets, NetSuite automatically presents a list of prospects most likely to convert.
And it gets better. NetSuite’s automation capabilities eliminate one of the biggest time-wasters for the sales team—manual follow-ups. Instead of relying on reps to remember when to chase a lead, NetSuite automates personalized emails, reminds reps when a deal is going cold, and even integrates with chatbots to answer preliminary customer questions.
But perhaps the biggest game-changer is NetSuite’s native mobile support. Most sales happen outside of an office, yet many ERPs still feel like they were built for desktop-only experiences. NetSuite gives sales professionals real-time access to their pipeline, customer history, and pricing structures from their phone—whether in a coffee shop, at a client’s office, or even sitting in North Carolina traffic (hopefully not using it while driving, though).
The Charlotte Businesses Seeing Real NetSuite Success
It’s one thing to talk about NetSuite’s features; it’s another to see how companies in Charlotte are actually using them. One local business—a fast-growing e-commerce retailer specializing in outdoor gear—was drowning in order processing issues. Their old system required sales reps to manually confirm inventory with the warehouse before closing deals, which meant long delays and lost customers. After working with Above Bits to implement NetSuite, they automated their inventory tracking, allowing sales reps to instantly see what’s available, what’s back-ordered, and even when restocks are arriving.
Another Charlotte-based company, a B2B wholesaler, struggled with disjointed CRM and ERP systems. Their sales team had to jump between platforms just to confirm pricing, past orders, and client data. After migrating to NetSuite, they cut their deal-closing time by nearly 40% because reps could access everything they needed from one unified dashboard.
These aren’t isolated cases. Across North Carolina, businesses are waking up to NetSuite development in Charlotte. It isn’t just about implementing software—it’s about optimizing how sales teams function, making their jobs easier instead of harder.
Why Above Bits Is the Right NetSuite Partner
By now, you might be wondering, “Okay, so NetSuite sounds great, but isn’t it just another ERP that requires a PhD in frustration to set up?” Fair question. And the answer is yes—if you don’t have the right team implementing it. That’s where Above Bits comes in.
Unlike the “plug-and-play” approach many ERP consultants take, Above Bits customizes NetSuite based on how sales teams work. We don’t just throw a generic setup at you and call it a day. We sit down, analyze your sales pipeline, and create an optimized workflow that ensures NetSuite works for you—not the other way around.
Beyond technical implementation, we also provide ongoing training and support, ensuring your team isn’t left wondering how to pull reports or adjust their workflow. And here’s the kicker: Because we’ve been at this since 2006, we know how to keep costs down without sacrificing functionality. There’s no need to pay for unnecessary NetSuite modules when you can get a tailored solution at a fraction of the cost.
The Downsides of NetSuite—Yes, It’s Not Perfect
Now, let’s be real—NetSuite isn’t a magic wand. While it does a fantastic job of streamlining sales processes, there are some drawbacks that businesses need to be aware of.
One of the biggest pain points? Customization takes time. Unlike out-of-the-box CRMs like HubSpot, NetSuite requires careful configuration to align with specific sales processes. Businesses looking for an instant fix might find the onboarding process frustrating. However, this is exactly why working with an experienced team like Above Bits makes all the difference—we ensure the setup is done efficiently without unnecessary delays.
Another issue is licensing costs. As mentioned earlier, NetSuite isn’t the cheapest option on the market, and for smaller businesses, the subscription fees can feel steep. It’s important to weigh this against the long-term benefits—many companies find that the efficiency gains and automation savings easily justify the investment.
Lastly, data migration can be a headache. Moving from an old ERP or CRM to NetSuite isn’t always smooth sailing, particularly if a company has messy historical data. Above Bits always performs a detailed pre-migration audit, ensuring that only clean, structured data is transferred to the new system.
The Future of Sales Teams and NetSuite
As businesses in Charlotte and across North Carolina abandon outdated sales processes, it’s becoming clear that ERPs aren’t the enemy—they’re just often misunderstood. NetSuite is proving that when implemented correctly, an ERP can actually be a sales team’s best friend.
The key takeaway? NetSuite development in Charlotte isn’t just about having a powerful tool—it’s about using that tool in a way that actually drives revenue and efficiency. And if you’re going to do it, you might as well do it with the experts.
So, if you’re tired of watching your sales team battle against an ERP that feels like it belongs in 1998, it’s time to make the switch. Check out NetSuite Development in Charlotte by Above Bits and see how a properly implemented ERP can transform your business.
After all, sales teams shouldn’t hate their software—they should love it. And with the proper setup, they just might.
