NetSuite Launches First HR Application, Offers SuiteSuccess Customer Engagement Services To Channel Partners

Cloud application developer NetSuite used this week's Oracle OpenWorld as a launchpad for the company's new human resource management software, as well as unveiling a wave of product enhancements and new industry-specific features and functionality for its software portfolio.

The announcements came during "SuiteConnect," a one-day event within Oracle OpenWorld that focused on NetSuite, which Oracle acquired nearly one year ago.

NetSuite executives emphasized the opportunities the new and extended products offer the vendor's channel partners. "We continue to accelerate the capabilities, the depth and breadth of NetSuite and its products for partners around the world," said Paul Farrell, senior vice president of product marketing, in an interview with CRN.

[Related: NetSuite Takes Center Stage On Final Day Of Oracle OpenWorld]

NetSuite said that SuitePeople, the vendor's new HR management application, is now generally available with such core HR processes as hiring and onboarding new employees and managing compensation and promotions. Employees can use the system to request time off and access employee directories.

Until now NetSuite's product line consisted of ERP and financial applications and software for CRM, professional services automation and omnichannel commerce.

"The Oracle umbrella is just great news for NetSuite Partners. We are going to see lots of positive change in the upcoming months. Already we saw SuitePeople coming out fast to take care of the HR Portion in NetSuite," said Mark Rhyman, co-CEO and business development officer at Big Bang ERP, a Montreal-based solutions provider that partners with NetSuite. "In my opinion, Oracle and NetSuite will be leveraging lots of modules and apps co-existing on both systems to give them the utmost competitive edge."

In a significant announcement for its channel partner community, NetSuite said it is now offering its cloud-based SuiteSuccess customer engagement methodology and industry-specific functionality to its partner community. SuiteSuccess, launched in May at NetSuite's SuiteWorld customer conference, provides a way for customers – and now channel partners – to more quickly implement and optimize NetSuite applications for specific industries.

"We've been bringing the channel up to speed on SuiteSuccess," Farrell said. The company has begun partner training and orientation on SuiteSuccess across its three main partner categories: alliance partners, solution providers and SDN (SuiteCloud Developer Network) partners.

Alliance partners, which co-sell NetSuite applications, include global systems integrators like Accenture, Capgemini and Deloitte and North America companies like Grant Thornton and 9Gauge Partners. They are combining SuiteSuccess with their own customer engagement and application implementation methodologies, according to NetSuite.

Solution providers sell, implement, augment and optimize NetSuite applications and the company is providing those partners with new SuiteSuccess training and business practices they can use to help their customers across different industries derive the most value from NetSuite products.

SDN partners are ISVs who build complementary applications called SuiteApps that work with NetSuite's software. The vendor said those partners can align their development, go-to-market and implementation strategies around SuiteSuccess.

NetSuite initially provided 12 SuiteSuccess editions for eight industries. This week the company unveiled three new editions for non-profit and services organizations that include built-in workflows and role-specific functionality, industry best-practice capabilities, and pre-built key performance indicators and reports.

The cloud software vendor added more functionality across its product portfolio for services companies, including profitability reporting and change order management features, and new capabilities for manufacturers, distributors and retailers. The company also launched Oracle NetSuite Planning and Budgeting Cloud Service for company-wide and departmental financial planning, budgeting and reporting.

NetSuite also announced that a new data center in Chicago, built on Oracle infrastructure, is now up and running. "In the near future, I am convinced that we will also be seeing more Datacenters coming online for NetSuite to even better re-distribute the load per territory," Big Bang ERP's Rhyman said.