NetSuite API Integrations — Connecting SuiteScript with Salesforce, Shopify & HubSpot

Introduction

Modern businesses rarely operate in isolation. Your CRM, eCommerce, and marketing systems all need to share data with NetSuite in real-time.

Whether you’re syncing customer records, sales orders, or inventory — building seamless integrations between systems like Salesforce, Shopify, and HubSpot can dramatically improve efficiency.

This guide explains how NetSuite connects via RESTlets and SuiteTalk, complete with examples, authentication tips, and mapping strategies.

🧭 1. Integration Methods Overview

🔐 2. Setting Up Token-Based Authentication (TBA)

Before any API integration, enable TBA:

1. Navigate to Setup → Company → Enable Features → SuiteCloud → Manage Authentication.
2. Enable Token-Based Authentication.
3. Create an Integration Record.
4. Generate Consumer Key / Secret and Token ID / Secret.

You’ll use these to authenticate external API calls.

🌐 3. Example 1: Salesforce → NetSuite (Customer Sync via RESTlet)

Goal: Create or update NetSuite Customer when a new Lead converts in Salesforce.

A. SuiteScript RESTlet (in NetSuite)

/**
 * @NApiVersion 2.1
 * @NScriptType Restlet
 */
define(['N/record', 'N/log'], (record, log) => {
  const post = (data) => {
    try {
      const rec = record.create({ type: record.Type.CUSTOMER });
      rec.setValue('companyname', data.companyName);
      rec.setValue('email', data.email);
      rec.setValue('phone', data.phone);
      const id = rec.save();
      return { success: true, id };
    } catch (e) {
      log.error('Error creating customer', e);
      return { success: false, message: e.message };
    }
  };
  return { post };
});

B. Salesforce Callout (Apex Example)

HttpRequest req = new HttpRequest();
req.setEndpoint('https://ACCOUNTID.restlets.api.netsuite.com/app/site/hosting/restlet.nl?script=123&deploy=1');
req.setMethod('POST');
req.setHeader('Authorization', 'NLAuth nlauth_account=XXXX, nlauth_consumer_key=XXXX, nlauth_token=XXXX');
req.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json');
req.setBody(JSON.serialize(new Map<String, Object>{
  'companyName' => 'TechNova',
  'email' => 'contact@technova.com',
  'phone' => '1234567890'
}));
Http h = new Http();
HttpResponse res = h.send(req);
System.debug(res.getBody());

✅ Result: Each new Salesforce Lead creates a Customer in NetSuite.

🛍️ 4. Example 2: Shopify → NetSuite (Sales Order Integration)

Goal: Import new Shopify orders automatically into NetSuite.

A. Shopify Webhook → Middleware (Boomi / Custom Script) → RESTlet

Webhook payload example:

{
  "order_number": 3001,
  "email": "buyer@example.com",
  "total_price": "149.99",
  "line_items": [
    {"title": "Toy Car", "quantity": 2, "price": "29.99"}
  ]
}

B. RESTlet to Create Sales Order

define(['N/record', 'N/log'], (record, log) => ({
  post: (order) => {
    try {
      const so = record.create({ type: record.Type.SALES_ORDER });
      so.setValue('entity', order.customerId);
      order.line_items.forEach(item => {
        const line = so.selectNewLine({ sublistId: 'item' });
        line.setValue('item', item.itemId);
        line.setValue('quantity', item.quantity);
        line.commitLine('item');
      });
      const id = so.save();
      return { success: true, orderId: id };
    } catch (e) {
      log.error('Error creating SO', e);
      return { success: false, message: e.message };
    }
  }
}));

✅ Result: Orders flow directly from Shopify to NetSuite in real-time.

💬 5. Example 3: HubSpot → NetSuite (Contact Integration)

Goal: Sync HubSpot contacts into NetSuite for marketing and CRM consistency.

RESTlet Example

define(['N/record'], (record) => ({
  post: (data) => {
    const contact = record.create({ type: record.Type.CONTACT });
    contact.setValue('firstname', data.firstName);
    contact.setValue('lastname', data.lastName);
    contact.setValue('email', data.email);
    contact.save();
    return { success: true };
  }
}));

HubSpot can post data to this endpoint through a webhook or Zapier connector.

✅ Result: New HubSpot contacts appear in NetSuite instantly.

🔄 6. Mapping Example — Shopify to NetSuite

✅ Best Practice: Maintain mapping tables in custom records for flexibility.

⚙️ 7. Error Handling in Integrations

• Log all responses using log.error() or custom integration logs.
• Implement retry logic in middleware for failed transactions.
• Use status tracking fields like custbody_integration_status.

🔒 8. Security & Performance Tips

• Use TBA instead of NLAuth for integrations.
• Paginate API responses for large data sets.
• Avoid record loads in loops.
• Cache configuration data (like item mappings) in memory.
• Implement governance checks in long-running RESTlets.

🧠 9. When to Use Middleware (Celigo / Boomi / MuleSoft)

If your integration requires:

• Complex transformation logic
• High-volume batch processing
• Error queues and dashboards
  …then using middleware is more efficient than direct RESTlets.

✅ 10. Testing Checklist

Conclusion

NetSuite API integrations unlock automation across your business ecosystem.
Whether connecting to Salesforce, Shopify, or HubSpot, the approach remains the same:

• Secure authentication
• Clear mapping
• Reliable error handling

By mastering RESTlets and SuiteTalk, you can connect NetSuite with virtually any platform — enabling a unified, automated, data-driven business.