Integrated Software Suites vs Standalone Apps: What’s Best for NetSuite?

How did we survive without software applications?

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Over 33,000 people around the world rely on NetSuite alone to power accounting, eCommerce, and contract management to name but a few.

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Between 2017-2022, it was projected that SaaS (Software as a Service) spending, increased by 241%.  

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America is currently the chief pioneer for SaaS products, with more than 17,000 companies actively working in this space - that’s currently 15,000 more than the next leader, the United Kingdom.  

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Such exponential growth is fuelling a sweep of solutions which not only support our work, but having the right tools can seamlessly unlock waves of fresh opportunities.  

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But, for NetSuite users looking to power up their software with additional SaaS, it's becoming more important to choose NetSuite integrations which serve particular functions the best.  

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For example, According to Forbes research, it was discovered that 20.9% of industries adopting SaaS, used this for general file sharing and collaboration.  

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Finance and IT were next on the list, boasting 7.5% and 7.1% shares respectively.

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The former could encompass a wide range of apps, whereas the latter are specialised roles, in which case, software needs to be focussed on specific tasks only applicable to these professions.  

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So, one question remains.  

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Are you better implementing apps individually? Or should you discover integrated software suites with everything you need in one package? Or maybe, just maybe, there’s a way to enjoy key benefits from both strategies?  

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You’re likely part of the $3.5 trillion being spent by businesses on software this year, so, let's make sure you get the best possible return on investment over the course of 2023.  

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What are Integrated Software Suites?

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In this case, the term ‘suite’ refers to a group.

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Think about Microsoft Office.  

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Over 354 million people have now subscribed, as purchasing not only unlocks Word and PowerPoint, but also Outlook, Notes, and Publisher.  

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Just one payment, and there you have it, everything required for typical working duties, all under one roof, which is great for businesses with various departments, often using at least some, if not all the tools made available through this package.  

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What are The Advantages of Integrated Software Suites?

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Tools inside your suite will most likely adopt similar functionality, with consistent interfaces, making it far easier to begin using others.  

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Another huge plus would be data consolidation, and later, transferring this between different apps.  

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Consider Google Workspace.  

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Not only can docs, sheets, and slides be created, but its cloud-powered drive ensures they remain secure, organised, and easily accessible from one place.

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You may also benefit from unified support and maintenance, therefore simplifying the management process for businesses.

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What are Standalone Apps?

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These are slightly more unique and often serve very specific functions.  

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Subsequently, interfaces will be fine-tuned to ensure distinct tasks can be completed with optimal efficiency.  

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A prime example would be Zoom.

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The sole focus is enabling video communication, so its dashboard, features, and general functionality have been crafted to truly maximise this.

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Development will also lean itself towards emerging needs, such as the recent addition of an ‘out of office’ status which indicates that people won’t likely respond to meeting requests for some time, and also message translation, fostering stronger communication between teams from different regions.  

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What are The Advantages of Standalone Apps?

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With just one focus, you can pick the best app for your specific needs.  

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Should you purchase a Microsoft package, you’re locked into multiple apps, some of which could be useful, and others may start collecting dust.

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By purchasing apps individually, you can form customised toolsets, filled with software you know is both permanently needed, and provides impactful working capabilities for your job role.

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And, sometimes, these standalone tools can integrate with each other, creating synergies between their functionalities.  

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A good example is the integration between Virtual Cabinet, a document management system, and Frama, a solution for automating key processes in document delivery.

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Support will also be more specialised for each tool, which could ensure problems are remedied quicker through more focussed expertise.

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Workiro is The Best of Both Worlds

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Imagine you could share documents, files, and communicate with people both inside and outside your business without ever leaving NetSuite.  

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And, imagine this could be done no matter what apps are being used by yourself or anyone else.  

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Workiro is the perfect way to harmonise a range of unique, business-critical tools, into a consolidated ‘single source of truth’, helping you benefit from the specialised nature of single apps, but also the unified structure of software suites.  

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As you start scaling, you can also monitor which apps comprise your suite, and decide proactively whether they meet with emerging needs, or provide little value, in which case, additions and removals can be made accordingly, keeping your toolset relevant during periods of growth.  

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