At NetSuite’s SuiteWorld conference in May, the
NetSuite Wholesale Distribution(opens in new tab) team officially kicked off its Customer
Advisory Board. Twelve individuals were hand-selected to represent a variety of
wholesale distribution sub-verticals as well as organizational roles. The
intent was to formulate a body of individuals who can serve as a strategic
sounding board to help move the wholesale distribution business of NetSuite to
the next level.
At the beginning of August, this group met for two
days in San Francisco to begin its ongoing advisory mission and contribute to
the strategic direction of NetSuite in guiding the best options for serving WD
customers now and in the future. Committed to a two-year term, WD CAB members
were joined at the San Francisco meeting by the NetSuite WD team, comprised of
leads in the functional areas of product management, professional services,
support, client services, marketing, account management and sales.
The purpose of this event was to receive collective
feedback across the board from outside stakeholders with a vision for their
companies and the WD industry as a whole. NetSuite received feedback on the
interpretation of the macro environment, insights into what causes business
complexity and learning what product features NetSuite should direct its focus to
over the next few years.
Part of the exercise was to have these customers play
product manager and review numerous potential enhancement requests and
prioritize them. When they looked beyond their own company’s requirements,
they appreciated the challenge of meeting all the needs of a diverse group of
companies, even if centered on distributing goods to their customers.
The WD CAB also discussed what other services could be
provided, how NetSuite can better support our customers and whether additional
partner providers should be added to further complement the NetSuite solution
for WD.
Going forward, the WD CAB and NetSuite team will have
regular follow-up meetings to track progress, gain further insights and to
identify any new trends for the future.
NetSuite is excited to take this next step with our
customers and we look forward to the continued strategic guidance of this
select group for the next few years to come.
- Steven
Bisset, VME, Wholesale Distribution