SuiteAnalytics Connect: NetSuite Excel Reporting via ODBC
- Solution 7
- Jul 28, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 2, 2024
As the title suggests, SuiteAnalytics Connect (ODBC) is an almost magical module which allows you to connect Excel and other reporting tools directly to your NetSuite data. This means that you have the flexibility and control to create reports you need, when you need them, for anyone in your business without losing the immense power and structure of your core NetSuite database.
If you’re reading this article, not only are you almost certainly using NetSuite, but you are using it heavily and looking for a way to get live data out of the system. Our guess would be that this would be a tool which harnesses the power of NetSuite but displays the information in a more tailored way for your organisation and gives you the power to share data with users out with the finance or NetSuite-using team.
If you know everything you need to know and are just looking for the best way to get NetSuite data into Excel, click here to read more about our dedicated NetSuite Excel Reporting Tool. If you’re still researching, read on to discover:
How do you enable SuiteAnalytics Connect? How do I connect SuiteAnalytics Connect to my Reporting Tool?
What is SuiteAnalytics Connect?
SuiteAnalytics Connect is purchased in addition to your core NetSuite platform and will be added to your annual subscription.
The module allows you to query NetSuite data using SQL and can connect via ODBC, JDBC, and ADO.Net, although a separate driver license is required for each connection type. At the time of writing this, there is no additional cost per driver, you just need to request these to be enabled after you purchase the module.
How do you enable SuiteAnalytics Connect?
As mentioned above, if it has not already been purchased as part of your current NetSuite subscription, you will be required to purchase the SuiteAnalytics Connect module – speak with your NetSuite Account Manager or NetSuite Partner for more information and pricing.
When you have the module, and assuming you have the necessary permissions, you can enable it by:
Browsing to Setup > Company > Enable Features.
Select the Analytics subtab and look for SuiteAnalytics Connect within the Data Management section.
Enable the module and save.
Once enabled, you should browse to your settings portlet on your home screen to find the appropriate drivers.
How do I connect SuiteAnalytics Connect to my Reporting Tool?
Connecting your selected output or reporting tool varies on a case-by-case basis depending on the specifics of your chosen tool and requirements.
As such, we cannot provide a ‘one-size-fits-all’ guide within this article. Nor can we accept responsibility for, or assist with, any configurations. If in doubt, speak with whoever provides your NetSuite support.
In our experience the most common output, or application, of SuiteAnalytics Connect is to export data from NetSuite to Excel or a Windows-based BI reporting tool. Assuming you have the correct drivers installed and licenses enabled, the easiest way to establish a connection is via the standard ODBC Data Source Administrator > System DSN > Select NetSuite > Apply.
We recommend that any such work should be carried out by an administrator with sufficient permissions and understanding of the technicalities involved, preferably in a sandbox to remove any risk to your live system.
We have included some helpful links to NetSuite’s technical documentation in the ‘learn more’ section at the end of the post.
What is the best way to build NetSuite Reports in Excel?
SuiteAnalytics Connect is a great first step to getting data from NetSuite into Excel. However, as alluded to above, it requires a semi-technical skillset to get going and does not present users with a simple interface to build reports. You need to understand field names, table structures and to be comfortable with clicking in the ‘lesser used’ tabs and options of Excel toolbar.
Solution 7’s off-the-shelf Excel Reporting for NetSuite tool utilises SuiteAnalytics Connect (ODBC) whilst providing a user friendly, point and click interface for users to build the NetSuite reports they need in Excel without having to worry about the complexities of NetSuite’s data structure.
Users simply select the NetSuite field(s) they want in their report, the cells they want those fields to appear in, point, click, refresh data and they’re off.
This is particularly appealing to finance teams who are extremely capable and experienced in using Excel to query data and present information. Importantly though, it also removes the frustrations for both the technical and finance teams within your business when it comes to building reports.
Finance gets what they need, quickly, and are able to query data from all angles, whilst your technical team can focus on the tech strategy of your business and enhancing performance without being tied up in areas they may not be comfortable with.
Useful Resources
About Solution 7
Solution 7’s award-winning SuiteApp provides finance professionals with all the power and capability of NetSuite’s reporting within the familiar and flexible interface of Microsoft Excel. Recognised by NetSuite as ‘SuiteApp of the Year’ in 2018, Solution 7 is one of the most, and highest, rated apps on SuiteApp.com, with an average rating of 4.8/5 from almost 100 reviews.
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