Solution 7 is the award-winning SuiteApp that has been designed to make the creation of great-looking financial reports in Excel, based on live NetSuite data, simple. Read our article to find out the steps you would need to take to set up reports manually, then discover how Solution 7 takes the hassle away with an intuitive point-and-click interface.
NetSuite is known for being the number one cloud-based ERP, with much of its success stemming from its ability to manage financial data. It is a potent tool that brings data from across your business together and lets you report on it in ways that work for your teams.
But what if you love Excel spreadsheets and have no desire to move away from them for your financial reporting?
Unless you want to spend hours manually downloading and uploading CSV files, then you need to connect NetSuite to Excel in some way. The best way to connect is through Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) which gives you access to real-time connectivity and easy data refreshing. This is possible through the SuiteAnalytics Connect module, which seamlessly allows ODBC connections to your NetSuite data.
Why Connect NetSuite to Excel?
NetSuite comes with hundreds of pre-built reports and the ability to build your own custom reports, so why would you want to put your NetSuite data into Excel? Simply put, the familiarity and flexibility of Excel is what makes it such a strong tool, and it is likely what your finance team will be the most experienced in using.
By having both tools linked together, you always have the latest NetSuite data right in Excel with the ability to report on it in the way that best suits your business.
Connecting NetSuite to Excel using ODBC
Getting set up can be a manual process that requires some technical knowledge and understanding of how your NetSuite database is set up. Before establishing the ODBC connection, you need to set up an ODBC Data Source for NetSuite on your computer by following the steps below:
1. Install ODBC Driver
Download and install the NetSuite ODBC driver on your Windows computer, which you can find in the settings portlet of your NetSuite homepage or on the NetSuite website.
2. Configure Data Source
Open the ODBC Data Source Administrator on your computer, which can usually be found in the control panel. Select the “System DSN” tab and click “Add”.
3. Select NetSuite ODBC Driver
In the list of available drivers, choose the NetSuite ODBC driver. If it does not appear, you may have to restart your computer after having installed the ODBC driver in step one.
4. Configure Connection
You will need to provide connection details such as your NetSuite account ID, email address, password, and the specific NetSuite data centre you are using.
Once you have completed setting up the ODBC Data Source you will now need to set up the connection in Excel:
1. Data Connection
Launch Excel, open a new or existing worksheet and click on the “Data” ribbon at the top. You then want to choose “Get Data” or “Get External Data” and finally select “From Other Sources” and “From ODBC”.
2, Choose a Data Source
Once the ODBC dialog box opens you should see the ODBC Data Source you created in the previous stage which you can now select.
3. SQL Query
Depending on your needs, you can write a custom SQL query to retrieve specific data or select from tables directly. This is where the technical knowledge and understanding of how NetSuite records are named is vital.
4. Start Importing Data
Once you have selected the data needed, you can start to sort what cells you want it to go in before finally importing live NetSuite data.
The above process can be a complicated one to tackle on your own and, once complete, you still need to know the technical back end of NetSuite to be able to find the data you need to put into Excel.
Or … Turn Tables into Excel Functions, Hassle-Free, with Solution 7!
Solution 7 has been developed to be as simple to set up as possible for the end-user. Our expert team can quickly guide you through the connection set-up, with implementation and training taking under an hour. Once set up, Solution 7’s intuitive point-and-click system allows you to get the data you need into the cells you want.
You no longer need to memorise what tables different records live in, with a search box available to get the data you want into Excel fast. Now you can focus on using finance knowledge to build beautiful and functional reports that drive decision-making.
Unlike other bolt-on solutions, the beauty of Solution 7 is that it appears as a seamless tool within Excel, tucked neatly away as its own ribbon. Once you have built your reports and budgets, all you need to do is click ‘refresh’ and watch as the latest data in NetSuite populates in front of your eyes.
“Solution 7 is a lifesaver! Invest time in setting up a solid template and once complete, Solution 7 will do the rest. Any changes made in NetSuite are instantly updated with a press of a button...just a button!”
Conclusion
Connecting NetSuite to Excel using ODBC offers a more advanced, dynamic solution compared to traditional export and import methods. It provides businesses with real-time data, providing a platform for data analysis, reporting, budgeting, and decision-making. With this direct connection, you can ensure that your Excel spreadsheets always reflect the most current information from your NetSuite system.
Once you have this connection set up, Solution 7 provides you with the tools you need to focus on reporting, with an easy-to-use interface that removes the need for technical knowledge about NetSuite’s tables and records setup.