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Well, it’s an interesting question. There may be several possible explanations. First, the correlation between strong growth and NetSuite could be purely spurious. That is to say, there might be a third factor that many of NetSuite’s e-commerce companies share that results in really strong growth. For example, they might all share a strategic vision of how they want to run their companies, and in their quest for efficiency, growth and profitability they have found NetSuite’s completely integrated solution. Let’s face it not every small business is equal. Some want to survive and others want to succeed.
Another explanation is the the software itself actually makes it easier to sell in NetSuite web sites. Honestly, I can’t really buy this one. There are a lot of very good e-commerce engines out there. They provide excellent functionality for managing a web site. The one thing that they do not have is an integrated inventory and financial modules. This is perhaps the most compelling explanation for why NetSuite e-commerce companies do much better than others: They don’t have to spend a lot of time manipulating data or managing spreadsheets, or rectifying inventory or the books. Without all of those business distractions, a NetSuite e-commerce user can spend more time on the stuff that really matters, like search marketing and product updates.
GoEngineer uses the NetSuite ERP/CRM system extensively, including a division that uses Advanced Project Accounting to manage a large professional services team. Previously they had the website hosted by a local company, and every time they needed a change they had to pick up the phone to speak to the principal, and then wait for time on his schedule.
What they really needed was a Content Management System, or CMS, to help them manage the site ongoing; adding new pages, products and training announcements on their schedule. The NetSuite CMS was a perfect fit. They didn’t have to learn another User Interface, it’s completely integrated with the rest of NetSuite, and it enables them to sell online effortlessly, they are doing a bit of e-commerce, as well as list new classes, events, whitepapers, videos, etc.
The key for GoEngineer was to find a way to put a lot of content into a site and keep it looking streamlined and classy. The last thing that GoEngineer wants is a ‘busy’ website. They sell B2B and need to present a professional face to their audience. At the same time they want engineers and designers to find interesting content that will help them make a decision about both SolidWorks and GoEngineer.
One of the neat customizations that we did on the site was a Calendar that lists all of the schedules classes that Go offers, by location. The allows current customers to check in and see when they might have a chance to send a new employee to a class, or take an advanced class themselves, and they can find it in the most convenient location. We also added some scrolling customer testimonials and placed a SolidWorks rotating advertisment on the interior pages.
A large site like this requires a good deal of content gathering and editing and Go’s Marketing Director Jennifer Douglas did an awesome job. Great site, great project.
We created the site in NetSuite, top to bottom, with some interesting additions. First, since Tall Couture sells clothing, for Tall Women as you might have guessed, they needed matrix options for sizes. This required a custom solution because Jennifer did not want sizes appearing in the drop-down if they were not in stock. Always thinking of the shopper is that Jennifer. It was a good call, no doubt. Shopping can be difficult enough without having to find out after you have made your choice that the size you need is out of stock. Takes the fun out it pretty quickly. With the custom solution shoppers will only see sizes that are in stock.
Along the same lines, we also added in custom narrowing filter on the product pages so that the shopper can quickly filter out items which do not have their size. Again, that makes for a better shopping experience.
I’ll add on to this post over the next few days, but until then I invite any tall women who read this blog, or any men who know tall women and the difficulty of finding great fitting fashion, to take a look at Tall Couture.
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