Oracle NetSuite – Platform for Disruption?

I continue to share my thoughts and impression from last week SuiteWorld 2019 event. If you missed some of my previous articles, please check it out here – Grow Beyond and Manufacturing Mobile. More to come.

Coming to Oracle NetSuite last week, you might expect to hear a lot of ERP words in the air. While it is still true, I noticed an interesting change. NetSuite is often presented as a “platform”, which is triggered some thoughts on my side. Because I’ve heard this world a few weeks ago back in Solidworks World 2019 –  Will Dassault Systemes build a platform for manufacturing. So, the same word is resonating when you watch and hear NetSuite – single platform, business, etc.

The following slide captures some key platform milestones.

Cloud infrastructure is an obvious question and interesting topic. You can see NetSuite is increasing their re-use of Oracle cloud. The last one is not a surprise. You can see the same things are happening in other vendors (including vendors building PLM platforms)

My favorite feature in cloud infrastructure was about scheduled maintenance. This is a topic that usually raised as one of the biggest disadvantages for SaaS cloud systems compared to hosted and on premise systems. It seems NetSuite is about to find a solution.

What is my conclusion? Can I see NetSuite as a platform for disruption in manufacturing? I think not yet. NetSuite is still lacking many specific manufacturing functions. But, it is a horizontal platform, which gives an opportunity to develop partners solutions – an important element of any successful cloud platforms. This is a characteristic that will drive future success of cloud platforms – ability to incorporate multiple services in a single platform providing business solutions for customers. I want to see some PLM platforms coming to the same stage. It is an interesting time in manufacturing and cloud. Just my thoughts…

Best, Oleg`

Disclosure: Oracle NetSuite paid for my trip to SuiteWorld and some of the meals, but at no way influenced the content of this article.

Disclaimer: I’m co-founder and CEO of OpenBOM developing cloud-based bill of materials and inventory management tool for manufacturing companies, hardware startups and supply chain. My opinion can be unintentionally biased.