NetSuite Customization

If you have, or are considering using NetSuite then you have come to the right place. We are NetSuite SiteBuilder website set up and customization experts.

NetSuite is the world's most popular on-demand, integrated, CRM/ERP (customer relation management /enterprise resource planning) solution for growing and mid-sized companies. NetSuite enables companies to manage all key business operations in a single, integrated system. It is feature-rich and can be easy to use.

But that doesn't mean you have to learn how to set up and code the website. You're only going to do it once, so give that job to us. This page goes over different ways to customize NetSuite and specifics on how we handled various customization needs & requests. Our customizations are found nowhere else and can set your site apart, fix an problematic functionality issue, or make your site easier to use. Give us a call. From USA call: 302.304.8404.

NetSuite SiteBuilder is customized in four basic ways: the templates are changed for structural HTML, adding NetSuite tags or custom fields & tags from item and entity records, CSS for look and styling, and JavaScript & NetSuite SuiteScripts for functional changes & additional record data. We are experts in each of these areas which allow us to customized and expand SiteBuilder to do virtually anything. Continue below for more.

NetSuite SiteBuilder is template driven. That means, each piece of a web page (content, structure and look) is controlled by various themes & templates that can be customized and specified on a site-wide, category or item level.

The theme controls the entire website and contains the templates for the head-tag, the header, left side section, content section, and footer. Custom layouts and templates used for the site can also be specified in the theme. Tabs, Category, & Item List layouts contain two templates each: one for content and another for the cells. Customize those for your specific needs. Items and Information Items use a template file that usually is where the most customization happens.

When you customize a template, all the categories or items that use that template are immediately updated. You may be tempted to create a different template for each type of category or item customization you want, be we've found out the hard way, that that is not a good idea. Keeping one type of template, then have it modify the display via custom tags, css and scripting is the best way over time.

We've learned to customize templates in a orderly and specific manner. We structure the HTML for SEO purposes, ease of site maintenance, non-interference with NetSuite's code or other 3rd-party customizations, and to allow for our various customizations to function.

Once the HTML is set up, you can add in various standard NetSuite tags, attribute tags, and custom fields to display additional elements, or prepare for additional scripting. NetSuite's standard templates come with the most commonly used attribute tags, like: <%=getCurrentAttribute('item','displayname','')%> to display the name of an item. There are optional attribute tags NetSuite provides for item and entity fields you may use. For instance, to show the manufacturer name you would add to your template: <%=getCurrentAttribute('item','manufacturer','')%> These fields are available for categories, items, entities, info items, and even custom records.

These attribute tags can be expanded to include custom fields which will allow you to add just about anything to your templates; from additional images, to your customers favorite color. Once you set up and populate a custom field, it can be added to your template using a similar tag: <%=getCurrentAttribute('item','custitem_image2','')%>

This is where the true power of customizing the templates starts to come into play. We've been working with these elements for over 10 years and have the experience you need to create what you want.

NetSuite also provides a standard set of Web Site Tags that are used in the templates. There are standard elements like displaying how many items are in the current cart: < NLCARTITEMCOUNT> Like before, the real power of these is in create custom tags and using them appropriately.

We like to use custom tags to place content in the template that you will want to change from time to time: promotional text, navigational elements, item specifications, etc. This way, we can show you on a video how to easily change and update the site yourself without the possibility of harming the all-important templates; plus these tags can be changed on a per-category basis!

Years of using NetSuite's and custom elements, & coming back later to the same site to add even more requests, we've learned the best way to expand NetSuite in a consistent and easily understood way.

Once the HTML and tags are added, scripts can be used to change the functionality & content display even more. Generally, two types of scripts are used: JavaScript runs on the web page and NetSuite SuiteScripts run on the server.

For instance; if you want to display a sale price with a strike-thru price and a percent calculation of the sale savings you would gather the online price as normally, and add in a tag for a base price level. Then on page-load a JavaScript script runs the needed calculations, creates the HTML and displays it on your site. (like items on this page) Every site we work on has something similar happening; possibilities are endless!

We can also call a "SuiteScript" that resides on the server to gather even more information about the page.

Let's say that when a matrix option is selected, you want to display that option's part number, specifications, and a custom image (matrix children records don't contain NetSuite's normal image fields) and only make it available if inventory at one of your "inventory locations" was above a certain level. We'd use an AJAX request to gather that information via a SuiteScript, that returns a JSON object that a custom JavaScript uses to prepare that data and change the elements when appropriate. Easy, right?

For us it is. We've been doing such customizations for SiteBuilder users for years and chances are, whatever you want done, we've done it before. The most requested customizations we've even organized into a NetSuite Bundle, to make it easier and cheaper to add to your site. (WD Mini Cart, for one)

We've been creating customized home pages for NetSuite users for years. Sliders, good looking boxes of content; anything you've seen on any other site we can add to your NetSuite homepage. Our most popular customization is the ability to have more than one category of featured items on the home page. We've taken this request and stepped it up to be even more feature-rich & responsive.

We start by taking the special category or saved search that you've set up for home page use. Our custom scripts run each day, or every few hours depending upon your needs, and creates the HTML for the section. That HTML is instantaneously added when the home page loads. The items are organized into sections and sliders based on available screen width. (two per slide for handhelds, up to six for desktops). Item cells use our unique "rubberbanded" table cells, so they always look great!

The result is your home page can have always changing item sliders from multiple categories, saved searches or even custom records. (Like what you see on Amazon) We can style the item cells to match your current site's look, and even add unique customizations like promotional elements or pricing display. Item order can be manually or programmatically selected by you or we can randomize what comes first.

Though normally items from presentation or saved search categories are used, we can add content via a custom record search. See the Brands display at this sample site.

If you have 1000s of items and you want your users to easily select between them AND you want a facet / filtering system that works within your existing NetSuite SiteBuilder site templates -- we have what you need. We've been building custom template filtering systems for our customers for years. Everything we learned on coding, maintaining, and using facets / filters for category & item list pages we've put into this NetSuite bundle: Wuebben Design Facet/Filtering for SiteBuilder.

Our filters work with your existing SiteBuilder website, are secure, and have features no one else offers. Once we set it up, you can easily maintain your filters, add-to, and re-arrange the display of your facets. Content is updated as you need, usually daily. All data is kept in the secure confines of YOUR NetSuite account and files in your Live Hosting Files. Nothing leaves your control, ever. But best of all there are no ongoing monthly or yearly fees!

Our filters are not navigation nor does it replace your current navigation structure with a single page: you maintain your categories normally. (Good for SEO) Filters and facets automatically display based on the current category's items custom item fields data. If you currently have a deep category structure, you can significantly reduce you category depth since our filters remove the need for a deep category structure. This makes it much easier for your users to find exactly what they need. Item cells can look and behave like your current cells, or let us update them to something more modern. Any number of items display on one page, or let your users decide. We've added a more feature-rich sorting, too: Price, Name, Brand, Item ID.

See Facets / Filtering for NetSuite SiteBuilder to find out more information and to see examples. Then give us a call to discuss your needs. From USA call: 302.304.8404.

Your item detail page is usually where your customers make their purchase decision. Our unique customizations make it easier for them to get the information they need, add the item to the cart, and even make additional purchases. These are just a few of the many customizations that we can add to your item detail template.

Our floating-header-on-scroll functionality displays when a user scrolls past the add to cart button on both desktop and handhelds. (most useful on handhelds) It contains a thumbnail, item name & price and optionally a brief description or product ID. On the right is an Add To Cart button. This way the item can be added to the cart from anywhere on the page. Once an item is added to the cart, that button can be changed into a Checkout button for viewing the cart. This makes it real easy for your customers to add items to the cart, as they read your details and specifications lower on the page. If you use our custom-code for swapping out the main image for the matrix child image, it changes here, too. Use our miniCart, it can display just under when item is added.

For matrix items we have a few unique customizations. If you have matrix items that have some of the possible selections being for invalid items, we can help. Our exclusive code determines which matrix options are valid as options are selected, disabling the invalid options. Updates on-the-fly and can handle up to 8 item options and the NetSuite limit of 2000 child items. Call us and we can show it to you in action.

We can add functionality to change the main image when a matrix option is selected using a custom item field. We can also add the ability to change item specifications, UPC, model numbers, and extra images when an item option is selected. Let your customers know exactly the information they need in before adding the item to the cart.

One more unbelievable customization: display items with the same color when a matrix color is selected. This is super cool and the way we do it, results display immediately upon color selection. Scripts gather info about all your colors and the items that use them, even matrix children, each morning. If you deal with lots of items and color is a big part of your items, give us a call. Also works with non-matrix items!

Item Suggestion / Typeahead systems are now part of every modern website. We can add a secure, fast system to your NetSuite website that is tailored to your needs. Keeping the data secure, up-to-date and relevant.

Our item suggestion / typeahead system works with your existing SiteBuilder or SCA website, are secure, and have features no one else offers. Once we set it up, maintenance is automatic. Content is updated as you need, usually daily. All data is kept in the secure confines of YOUR NetSuite account and files in your Live Hosting Files. Nothing leaves your control, ever. But best of all there are no ongoing monthly or yearly fees!

Features include: Item suggestion with or without images. Multiple display or sort fields; even your custom fields. Multiple tests -- if display name or itemid does not provide a full list results, keywords or other fields seamlessly kick in. Cool. For type-ahead we can read your various item fields to come up with a list of type-ahead search suggestions. Great if you have lots of items with similar names or ids.

See Item Suggestion / Typeahead on Search - SiteBuilder & SCA to find out more information and to see examples. Then give us a call to discuss your needs. From USA call: 302.304.8404.

Every website uses CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) aid in styling fonts, display elements, and change functionality based on screen size. We've been working with CSS since 1998, adding it to every website we create as appropriate. Everyone uses stylesheets so having them done correctly is important. NetSuite will add a stylesheet, any 3rd-party code you add (like for image zoom or reviews) will add a stylesheet, and we will add a stylesheet.

The main difference is ours will be organized in a clear and easy-to-understand way, with template specific sections and will not interfere, nor be overwritten by any other stylesheet: consistent, reliable, and easy to adjust.

Your site will use lots of images. From your logo, some button elements or backgrounds (though for these we tend to use CSS styles), and product images. NetSuite provides two fields for each category or item: one for a thumbnail, and one for a main image. That's usually not enough. For items we add custom item image fields to add the extra images you need. Often a zoomable image is desired and we recommend MagicZoomPlus as it can work with desktop and handhelds. (see here)

If you have other image needs, chances are we've already done it so can add it to your NetSuite SiteBuilder site quickly.

NetSuite SiteBuilder has a basic cart and checkout turned on by default. There are limited customization possibilities and it is not responsive, so it is a good idea to upgrade. Fortunately, NetSuite offers a free download of the same cart /checkout / customer center that SCA uses, though modified for use with SiteBuilder. If you want your handheld users to more easily checkout and view your customer center, have us install & customize the latest SCA for SiteBuilder. Give us a call.

NetSuite has spent years developing and improving upon their latest cart / checkout / customer center. For SiteBuilder, they offer it as a free bundle. The current version is excellent with all sizes of screens –- from desktops to mobile handhelds -- and is designed to allow for easier updating in the future.

It is controlled via hundreds of modules of text, JavaScript files, and server pages. All text is customizable via an external file. Item cells are modifiable and can be added to with standard or custom item record fields. The checkout can be organized into multi-page or single-page checkout. It is near feature parity with SCA, is responsive, has more customization options; but it needs a few hours to install, add to your site, & customize to your exact needs. Give us a call.

We've spent years adding features to NetSuite's cart and checkout, and this latest setup allows us to add even more. For instance, if you have custom images for your matrix child items for the color of that item, we can show that color on the cart AND the checkout. No one else offers this feature! Give us a call.