- NetSuite ERP
Scaling a business is never simple, especially when projects are at the heart of your operations. During our recent live demos at the Lumenia ERP HEADtoHEAD™ event, one thing stood out to our team: many businesses are still fighting an uphill battle against everyday project inefficiencies. Despite impressive ambitions and talented teams, too many organisations are reliant on guesswork to manage their projects, resulting in costly overruns, missed deadlines, and frustrated staff, rather than continued growth.
Fortunately, with the right software, project-centric businesses can replace guesswork with control. Implementing NetSuite solutions can transform the way your business operates, helping you move from ‘just managing’ to genuinely driving business growth.
Live insights from ERP HEADtoHEAD™
While our team were doing live demonstrations on NetSuite modules, they noticed just how many businesses are still tackling real challenges to scale with their projects. What we saw confirmed a widespread need for change:
• Many project-based organisations still depend on legacy systems or manual methods for scheduling and tracking, as well as performance analysis
• Decision-makers expressed that as projects scale, so do the risks of missed billing events, resource conflicts, or scope creep, which they can’t handle
• There was a tangible need for actionable insights – business leaders want dashboards that display financial, operational, and client data all in one place
NetSuite provides an end-to-end solution that offers the control and visibility these businesses are looking for. It’s built for clarity, collaboration, and control: exactly what’s needed to transform project inefficiency into success.
How project inefficiency impacts scaling businesses
Inefficiency in project management can have a direct impact on growth. For established organisations and ambitious scale-ups alike, mistakes can happen anywhere – project overruns and hidden costs decrease profitability.
Teams lack real-time visibility, forcing managers to chase updates by phone or spreadsheets. Poor integration between finance, resource allocation, and production scheduling causes gaps and bottlenecks. Accurate forecasting is a challenge, making it hard to plan ahead with confidence.
These pain points were all highlighted repeatedly at this year’s ERP HEADtoHEAD™ event. When businesses attempt to scale, unsuitable tools and outdated processes quickly become roadblocks rather than reliable support.
Common causes of project inefficiency
Before exploring solutions, it’s beneficial to recognise the typical factors:
• Fragmented Data – When project-related data is spread across multiple systems, tracking progress is difficult, slow and unreliable.
• Reactive Management – Teams only spot issues when it’s too late, leading to ‘firefighting’ and missed opportunities.
• Manual Processes – Approvals, billing, and updates handled by email or spreadsheet increase the risk for errors and wasted effort.
• Lack of Integration – When different systems are used for financial management, CRM, and inventory management, optimal planning feels impossible.
• Limited Forecasting – Without the right tools, managers rely more on instinct rather than accurate predictions for profitability.
How to tell if project management needs fixing
There are a few questions to ask yourself which can identify inefficiencies and the need for more suitable project software.
1. Are projects regularly exceeding budgets?
2. Does project reporting require you to combine data from multiple systems?
3. Are key performance metrics visible to all relevant stakeholders throughout projects?
4. Is resource scheduling handled manually or prone to overlap?
5. Are billing events or project milestones ever missed or delayed?
6. Can management forecast workload, cash flow, and profitability for all active projects?
7. Are your finance and operational teams aligned, or working from separate systems?
8. Have you considered how a modern ERP solution could improve your project outcomes?
If you answered ‘no’ to several of these questions, it’s undeniably worthwhile looking into NetSuite ERP implementation.
How implementing NetSuite solves project inefficiency
Moving from guesswork to control starts with real-time project management. A NetSuite ERP implementation can help businesses improve visibility, collaboration, and workflow efficiency across their projects. Key benefits include:
Unified Visibility and Reporting
NetSuite provides a centralised dashboard where project data is accessible in real time. Teams and stakeholders can track progress, milestones, and financials without relying on spreadsheets or delayed reports, enabling more informed, timely decisions.
Proactive Problem-Solving
Integrated data allows teams to spot potential issues early, respond proactively, and reduce risks such as missed deadlines or overspending. Predictive insights support better resource allocation and more accurate forecasting.
Seamless Collaboration
NetSuite connects departments on a single platform, ensuring finance, operations, and service teams work together effectively. Mobile access enables visibility anywhere, supporting accountability and transparency across all project stages.
Automated Workflows
Manual, time-consuming tasks can be automated, reducing errors and freeing teams to focus on critical activities. Projects can be managed efficiently, with staff assigned based on skills, workload, and availability.
Scalable, Industry-Specific Solutions
NetSuite adapts to business growth, supporting multi-entity operations and tailored workflows. This ensures your ERP system evolves with your business, providing flexibility and control as projects expand.
Moving forward with more control
All in all, project-centric businesses face similar hurdles on their journey to scalable growth. By choosing NetSuite, you can gain the visibility, control, and automation needed to move from guesswork to complete control. As an experienced NetSuite partner in the UK, OSSM can guide you through the implementation process and support your next phase of growth.
Partnering with OSSM brings the power of the world’s #1 cloud ERP to your business. We pride ourselves in guiding customers from initial needs analysis right through tailored NetSuite development, ensuring each ERP implementation delivers measurable improvements. With a passion for solving complex challenges, you will be in good hands with our team. Get in touch today.
About the Author
Brian Doherty
Brian is an accomplished Project Manager with a background in the ERP software industry. He possesses expertise in Business Process, Sage Products, NetSuite, Requirements Analysis, and Technical Support. As the Operations Director of OSSM, a member of the Noledge Group, Brian has directly implemented or been involved in the implementation of NetSuite ERP cloud-based software in various businesses across multiple sectors.
