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NetSuite features you're not using, but should - Custom Centers and Tabs
Sonny Spencer, BFP, ACA
January 7, 2024
15
min read
Introduction
Have your end users ever complained that NetSuite can be challenging to navigate, especially new users? Did you know that you can enhance the end user experience by modifying the menus and menu paths, so that only those applicable to a given role are shown?
Many NetSuite Administrators will solve these challenges with custom dashboards, shortcuts and detailed step-by-step process documentation. These are valid solutions, however there are alternatives to consider. Perhaps users with a specific role are only required to create five different transaction types. Instead of having them navigate the menu paths each and every time or setup shortcuts, you can create a simple menu that grants access to only those five transaction types the user needs access to. This can be achieved with Custom Centers and Tabs.
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What are Custom Centers and Tabs?
Custom Centers are used to determine the tabs and links available for users with similar user roles. Out of the box, NetSuite will group roles into different centers, such as the “Sales Center” and “Accounting Center”, etc. although the Administrator role defaults to the “Classic Center”.
Salto Tip: On the user role itself, there is an option to override the custom center assigned to the role and instead use the “Classic Center” by setting the appropriate preference.
Tabs are the menu options at the top of your NetSuite screen. Think “Documents”, “Setup”, “Customization”, etc. which are some of the out of the box Tabs. You are able to create your own Custom Tabs that appear in the same location as those out of the box.
Custom Centers and Tabs allow Administrators and Developers to fully customize the NetSuite end user experience by determining the menu paths and navigation for each user. Gone are the days of trying to find a specific NetSuite link only to then move your mouse slightly and need to navigate the menu paths once again. That is, if you make use of Custom Centers and Tabs.
How to use Custom Centers and Tabs
Custom Centers
To create a Custom Center, navigate:
Customization -> Centers and Tabs -> Centers -> New
Custom Centers are available for the creation of new user roles. Their impact is not directly seen in the NetSuite UI. They are the shells that contain all of the Custom Tabs, Categories and Links.
Custom Tabs
To create a Custom Tab, navigate:
Customization -> Centers and Tabs -> Center Tabs -> New
This is what a Custom Tab looks like in the NetSuite UI once created:
Salto Tip: Note you can create and add Custom Tabs to existing Centers. In other words, you do not need to create a new Custom Center in order to make use of Custom Tab functionality.
Custom Categories
To create a Custom Category, navigate:
Customization -> Centers and Tabs -> Center Categories -> New
This is what a Custom Category looks like in the NetSuite UI once created:
Custom Links
To create a Custom Link, navigate:
Customization -> Centers and Tabs -> Center Links -> New
This is what a Custom Link looks like in the NetSuite UI once created:
Why should you be using them?
One of the biggest challenges I hear from new NetSuite end users is that it takes some time to adapt to the UI and navigate the system. Some of these users have had support through custom dashboards and shortcuts, but rarely do they have Custom Centers.
On the surface this is surprising, given that Custom Centers allow NetSuite Administrators the ability to have complete control over the user interface. Yes, it takes some time to configure between the different Tabs, Categories and Links, as well as building the user roles themselves, but when done correctly can be a game changer for end users.
Custom Centers and Tabs provide the opportunity to simplify the UI navigation, removing anything that a user with a specific role does not need. In many cases, users appear to have access to features and functionality that they shouldn’t, but when clicking on the Link they receive a permission violation. That is a good control to have in place, but begs the question as to why the user sees this as an option in the first place.
Salto Tip: Links do not need to be internal to NetSuite. They can be Links to external websites also. As a result, you can provide your users with the ability to operate from a single system.
Do the work upfront to identify what each user role requires from both a permissions perspective, but also from a UI perspective. Your end users will thank you for it later!
Let’s explore some practical examples where Custom Centers and Tabs can be helpful.
Example 1 - Group custom reports
Over time, trying to access specific NetSuite reports and Saved Searches can be challenging if you don’t know where to look for them. The list of report links grows over time and you have to scroll through the list to find the one that you need.
The list will continue to grow, making it increasingly difficult to search for the report.
Consider creating a separate Center Tab for “Key Reports” that can be leveraged by all roles that require access to them. These are created at the Center level, so the setup does not need to be duplicated for users with the same role Center.
Here is an example of what this could look like in your NetSuite environment once you have taken the time to confirm the shortlist of “Key Reports”.
Example 2 - Custom NetSuite navigation
In some cases, a team may only require access to a very specific area of NetSuite. For example, your Facilities Team may only need access to lease data or perhaps your Treasury Team needs to access bank account related records.
For these end users you should create a clean and simple UI for them to engage with. They could be overwhelmed by all of the menu options in the Classic Center, when they just need access to one or two custom Tabs.
Let’s take a look at a simplified Custom Center for someone in a P2P role. This role only processes a handful of transaction types, including vendor payment processing.
Example 3 - NetSuite knowledge base inside NetSuite
System documentation is often an afterthought, for many reasons. One way that we can combat this is to have the system documentation maintained directly in the system itself.
Imagine creating your own NetSuite knowledge base directly in the system as its own Tab that all users can access. You can leverage different Categories to break down the documentation into the different customization areas e.g. scripts, workflows, custom records, etc.
Salto Tip: Start by creating a new custom record type that will capture all of the necessary fields required for your knowledge base. Then create knowledge base records. If this documentation already exists you can simply copy/paste into NetSuite.
Once you have captured the knowledge base documentation in these custom records, add them as Links to the Categories already setup. You now have a working knowledge base that is easily accessible and easy to maintain.
Useful references for NetSuite Custom Centers and Tabs
For more information on NetSuite features you should be using, check out Salto’s blog posts that explore some of the things that NetSuite Developers and NetSuite Administrators should be leveraging within the NetSuite ecosystem.
Final thoughts
Custom Centers and Tabs are not for everyone. As was mentioned earlier, there are numerous ways to solve NetSuite end user navigation challenges. Custom Centers are definitely underutilized. Yes, they take some time to configure, but users will benefit from the custom setup in perpetuity. Imagine every user in your NetSuite environment wasting 5 seconds (or longer) for every record type or report they need to find in the system. Extrapolate that by frequency per day and number of users and you will quickly start to see the potential value in creating Custom Centers and related custom user roles.
If you combine Custom Centers and Tabs with custom records, you can truly leverage NetSuite as a solution for many business challenges, not just those that are available out of the box or those offered as SuiteApps.
If you’re not using NetSuite Custom Centers and Tabs today - it’s time to start!
WRITTEN BY OUR EXPERT
Sonny Spencer, BFP, ACA
Director of Finance Operations
Sonny is a seasoned NetSuite veteran, with more than 7 years experience implementing NetSuite and architecting NetSuite solutions for a wide variety of public and private companies, on a global scale. He leverages his background both as a Chartered Accountant and Certified NetSuite Administrator to design and build NetSuite solutions that solve real world problems. Sonny is an active member of the NetSuite community, participating in local NetSuite meetups, NetSuite forums and groups focused on financial system optimization.
What’s next?
Knuckles has suggestions
Business App Configuration. Re-Imagined.
© Copyright Salto 2024 | Various trademarks held by their respective owners
Sort by Topics, Resources
Topics
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Salto for
NetSuite
NetSuite
SHARE
NetSuite features you're not using, but should - Custom Centers and Tabs
Sonny Spencer, BFP, ACA
January 7, 2024
15
min read
Introduction
Have your end users ever complained that NetSuite can be challenging to navigate, especially new users? Did you know that you can enhance the end user experience by modifying the menus and menu paths, so that only those applicable to a given role are shown?
Many NetSuite Administrators will solve these challenges with custom dashboards, shortcuts and detailed step-by-step process documentation. These are valid solutions, however there are alternatives to consider. Perhaps users with a specific role are only required to create five different transaction types. Instead of having them navigate the menu paths each and every time or setup shortcuts, you can create a simple menu that grants access to only those five transaction types the user needs access to. This can be achieved with Custom Centers and Tabs.
What are Custom Centers and Tabs?
Custom Centers are used to determine the tabs and links available for users with similar user roles. Out of the box, NetSuite will group roles into different centers, such as the “Sales Center” and “Accounting Center”, etc. although the Administrator role defaults to the “Classic Center”.
Salto Tip: On the user role itself, there is an option to override the custom center assigned to the role and instead use the “Classic Center” by setting the appropriate preference.
Tabs are the menu options at the top of your NetSuite screen. Think “Documents”, “Setup”, “Customization”, etc. which are some of the out of the box Tabs. You are able to create your own Custom Tabs that appear in the same location as those out of the box.
Custom Centers and Tabs allow Administrators and Developers to fully customize the NetSuite end user experience by determining the menu paths and navigation for each user. Gone are the days of trying to find a specific NetSuite link only to then move your mouse slightly and need to navigate the menu paths once again. That is, if you make use of Custom Centers and Tabs.
How to use Custom Centers and Tabs
Custom Centers
To create a Custom Center, navigate:
Customization -> Centers and Tabs -> Centers -> New
Custom Centers are available for the creation of new user roles. Their impact is not directly seen in the NetSuite UI. They are the shells that contain all of the Custom Tabs, Categories and Links.
Custom Tabs
To create a Custom Tab, navigate:
Customization -> Centers and Tabs -> Center Tabs -> New
This is what a Custom Tab looks like in the NetSuite UI once created:
Salto Tip: Note you can create and add Custom Tabs to existing Centers. In other words, you do not need to create a new Custom Center in order to make use of Custom Tab functionality.
Custom Categories
To create a Custom Category, navigate:
Customization -> Centers and Tabs -> Center Categories -> New
This is what a Custom Category looks like in the NetSuite UI once created:
Custom Links
To create a Custom Link, navigate:
Customization -> Centers and Tabs -> Center Links -> New
This is what a Custom Link looks like in the NetSuite UI once created:
Why should you be using them?
One of the biggest challenges I hear from new NetSuite end users is that it takes some time to adapt to the UI and navigate the system. Some of these users have had support through custom dashboards and shortcuts, but rarely do they have Custom Centers.
On the surface this is surprising, given that Custom Centers allow NetSuite Administrators the ability to have complete control over the user interface. Yes, it takes some time to configure between the different Tabs, Categories and Links, as well as building the user roles themselves, but when done correctly can be a game changer for end users.
Custom Centers and Tabs provide the opportunity to simplify the UI navigation, removing anything that a user with a specific role does not need. In many cases, users appear to have access to features and functionality that they shouldn’t, but when clicking on the Link they receive a permission violation. That is a good control to have in place, but begs the question as to why the user sees this as an option in the first place.
Salto Tip: Links do not need to be internal to NetSuite. They can be Links to external websites also. As a result, you can provide your users with the ability to operate from a single system.
Do the work upfront to identify what each user role requires from both a permissions perspective, but also from a UI perspective. Your end users will thank you for it later!
Let’s explore some practical examples where Custom Centers and Tabs can be helpful.
Example 1 - Group custom reports
Over time, trying to access specific NetSuite reports and Saved Searches can be challenging if you don’t know where to look for them. The list of report links grows over time and you have to scroll through the list to find the one that you need.
The list will continue to grow, making it increasingly difficult to search for the report.
Consider creating a separate Center Tab for “Key Reports” that can be leveraged by all roles that require access to them. These are created at the Center level, so the setup does not need to be duplicated for users with the same role Center.
Here is an example of what this could look like in your NetSuite environment once you have taken the time to confirm the shortlist of “Key Reports”.
Example 2 - Custom NetSuite navigation
In some cases, a team may only require access to a very specific area of NetSuite. For example, your Facilities Team may only need access to lease data or perhaps your Treasury Team needs to access bank account related records.
For these end users you should create a clean and simple UI for them to engage with. They could be overwhelmed by all of the menu options in the Classic Center, when they just need access to one or two custom Tabs.
Let’s take a look at a simplified Custom Center for someone in a P2P role. This role only processes a handful of transaction types, including vendor payment processing.
Example 3 - NetSuite knowledge base inside NetSuite
System documentation is often an afterthought, for many reasons. One way that we can combat this is to have the system documentation maintained directly in the system itself.
Imagine creating your own NetSuite knowledge base directly in the system as its own Tab that all users can access. You can leverage different Categories to break down the documentation into the different customization areas e.g. scripts, workflows, custom records, etc.
Salto Tip: Start by creating a new custom record type that will capture all of the necessary fields required for your knowledge base. Then create knowledge base records. If this documentation already exists you can simply copy/paste into NetSuite.
Once you have captured the knowledge base documentation in these custom records, add them as Links to the Categories already setup. You now have a working knowledge base that is easily accessible and easy to maintain.
Useful references for NetSuite Custom Centers and Tabs
For more information on NetSuite features you should be using, check out Salto’s blog posts that explore some of the things that NetSuite Developers and NetSuite Administrators should be leveraging within the NetSuite ecosystem.
Final thoughts
Custom Centers and Tabs are not for everyone. As was mentioned earlier, there are numerous ways to solve NetSuite end user navigation challenges. Custom Centers are definitely underutilized. Yes, they take some time to configure, but users will benefit from the custom setup in perpetuity. Imagine every user in your NetSuite environment wasting 5 seconds (or longer) for every record type or report they need to find in the system. Extrapolate that by frequency per day and number of users and you will quickly start to see the potential value in creating Custom Centers and related custom user roles.
If you combine Custom Centers and Tabs with custom records, you can truly leverage NetSuite as a solution for many business challenges, not just those that are available out of the box or those offered as SuiteApps.
If you’re not using NetSuite Custom Centers and Tabs today - it’s time to start!
Business App Configuration. Re-Imagined.
© Copyright Salto 2024 | Various trademarks held by their respective owners