BlackOak-Consulting-Logo

Understanding Netsuite Custom Segments: How They Can Improve Your Business Operations

Introduction

Netsuite is a powerful software solution that helps businesses manage their operations, finances, and customer relationships. One of its key features is custom segments, which allow users to categorize and analyze data in more meaningful ways.

In our previous blog post, we talk about the standard Netsuite segment and how it can be used. You can access the blog via how-to-use-netsuite-financial-segment-for-your-business

In this blog post, we’ll explain what custom segments are, why they’re important, and how you can use them to improve your business operations.

What are Custom Segments?

Custom segments has all the capability of the standard segment (department, class, and location) but with the customizability of custom records and field. Think of it as a way to extend more segment when the standard offered by Netsuite is insufficient.

Why are Custom Segments Important?

Custom segments are important for several reasons.

  • First, they provide a more granular view of your data, allowing you to analyze it in more detail.
  • Second, they can help you identify trends and patterns that might not be apparent with more general data categories.
  • Third, they can improve your reporting capabilities, giving you more accurate and relevant information to make better business decisions.

While you may think that all the above could be achieve using a custom field or records, why should you consider using custom segment? The answer is pretty simple, you can get all the above benefits with custom records and fields, but it won’t be tied to the financial reporting. Custom segment are available as part of the standard financial reporting once it is created.

Another reason to use custom segment is that you can use it to restrict access to information and map them during integration.

How to Create Custom Segments in Netsuite

Prior to using the custom segments, it must first be enabled.

To enable the custom segments, navigate to “Setup” menu, hover over the company and select Enable Features. Go to SuiteCloud subtab, scroll down to SuiteGL subsection and check the Custom Segment checkbox.

Once its enabled, creating custom segments in Netsuite is a straightforward process. First, you’ll need to navigate to the “Customization” menu and hover to “Lists, Records, & Fields”, then select Custom Segments.

From there, you can create a new custom segment and define its properties, such as the segment type, name, and values. If you want the custom segment to behave like the standard Netsuite Segment, remember to select the GL Impact Checkbox.

Once you’ve created your custom segment, you can start using it to categorize your data and gain new insights.

Best Practices for Creating Custom Segments

To make the most of your custom segments, it’s important to follow some best practices.

  • First, choose meaningful segment names that accurately reflect the type of data you’re categorizing.
  • Second, avoid duplicating segment names or values, as this can lead to confusion and inaccurate reporting.
  • Third, regularly review and update your custom segments to ensure they remain relevant and useful.

Conclusion

Custom segments are a powerful tool for businesses using Netsuite. By providing a more granular view of your data, custom segments can help you make better decisions and improve your overall operations.

 

If you’re not already using custom segments in Netsuite, now is the time to start. With a little bit of planning, creativity and effort, you can create custom segments that provide valuable insights into your business.

About the author:

Meet Kuan Boon Lim (林观文), the Netsuite Proselytizer wanabee! who is dedicated to spreading the good word about seamless business management and NetSuite to all who will listen. With years of experience in ERP pre-sales, implementation, he is fully equipped to help businesses of all sizes take their operations to the next level.

 

He is currently the GM of Pre-sales for BlackOak Consulting Sdn Bhd.