🧩 SuiteAnalytics Advanced Reporting Framework (KPIs, Joins & Dashboards)

Introduction

Data is the lifeblood of decision-making in NetSuite — but raw reports and saved searches only go so far.
With SuiteAnalytics Workbooks, you can design a custom reporting framework that pulls together data from multiple records, applies formulas, and displays beautiful charts directly in your NetSuite dashboards.

This guide walks you through creating joined datasets, KPIs, and dashboards using the SuiteAnalytics Advanced Reporting Framework — a tool every functional consultant, CFO, or NetSuite admin should master.

💡 Why Use SuiteAnalytics Framework?

✅ Perfect for executives, finance managers, and auditors needing dynamic analytics.

🧱 Step 1: Understand SuiteAnalytics Components

⚙️ Step 2: Create a Dataset with Joins

Example: Customer Sales Performance Dataset

1. Go to Analytics → Datasets → New Dataset.
2. Select Primary Record Type = Customer.
3. Add joins:
   • Transactions → Sales Orders
   • Transactions → Invoices
4. Choose columns:
   • Customer → Entity ID
   • Transaction → Amount
   • Transaction → Date
   • Transaction → Status
5. Add formula fields: CASE WHEN {transaction.type}='Invoice' THEN {transaction.amount} ELSE 0 END → Rename: Invoice Amount
6. Save dataset as: Customer_Sales_Dataset.

✅ You now have relational data ready for analytics.

🧩 Step 3: Build Your Workbook

1. Go to Analytics → Workbooks → New Workbook.
2. Select the Customer_Sales_Dataset.
3. Add visualizations:
   • Pivot Table 1: Total Invoice Amount by Customer & Month
   • Chart 1: Top 10 Customers by Sales Volume
   • Chart 2: Monthly Trend of Sales Orders vs Invoices
4. Add filters:
   • Date = This Quarter
   • Status = “Billed” or “Paid”

✅ You can now analyze sales performance dynamically.

📈 Step 4: Create KPI Scorecards

KPI Scorecards turn data into executive metrics.

1. Navigate to Customization → Centers and Tabs → KPI Scorecards.
2. Create Scorecard: Quarterly Financial KPIs
3. Metrics:
   • Total Sales = SUM({Transaction.Amount})
   • Open Invoices = COUNT(Status = “Open”)
   • Gross Margin % = (Total Sales - COGS) / Total Sales * 100
4. Add Trend Graph: “Sales Growth % (Last 4 Quarters)”
5. Publish to Home Dashboard.

✅ Real-time metrics for leadership teams.

🧠 Step 5: Add Conditional Formatting & Formulas

Example 1 — Highlight Underperforming Customers:

Formula:

CASE WHEN {transaction.amount} < 10000 THEN '⚠ Low Revenue' ELSE '✅ OK' END

Example 2 — Aging Buckets for Invoices:

CASE 
  WHEN {daysopen} <= 30 THEN '0-30 Days'
  WHEN {daysopen} <= 60 THEN '31-60 Days'
  ELSE 'Over 60 Days'
END

✅ Makes financial and operational reporting more meaningful.

⚡ Step 6: Embed Workbooks in Dashboards

1. Go to Home → Personalize → Analytics Portlet
2. Choose your workbook or KPI Scorecard
3. Resize and reorder portlets for layout
4. (Optional) Add a custom Suitelet Portlet to combine multiple datasets visually

💡 Pro Tip: Create different dashboard tabs:

• “Executive Dashboard”
• “Finance KPI Board”
• “Integration & Governance Monitor”

🧩 Step 7: Advanced SuiteAnalytics Joins

Join across complex data models using related record fields.

✅ Each join creates relational flexibility — no SQL coding needed.

🧮 Step 8: Automate Workbook Refresh & Distribution

• Click Schedule → Refresh & Email
• Send weekly or monthly reports to management
• Attach as PDF or Excel
• Optional: Save in File Cabinet for archival

✅ Keeps everyone informed without manual effort.

🔒 Step 9: Control Access & Security

✅ Ensures data integrity and privacy compliance.

🧰 Step 10: Real-World Use Cases

✅ Centralized BI inside NetSuite — no external tools required.

📚 Related Tutorials

• 👉 Custom Record Dashboards & Portlets
• 👉 Security & Governance Framework
• 👉 Dynamic Configuration Framework

❓ FAQ

Q1. Can I join data from multiple subsidiaries?
Yes, use the subsidiary field and enable Multiple Subsidiary Access in your dataset.

Q2. Can workbooks replace saved searches?
In most cases yes — they’re faster, visual, and easier to share.

Q3. Can I embed SuiteAnalytics charts into Suitelets?
Yes, you can embed iframe URLs of dashboards or use REST APIs to pull workbook data.

Q4. Are workbooks included in SuiteAnalytics Pro only?
No — all SuiteAnalytics Workbooks are available by default, but advanced joins require the Analytics Dataset feature enabled.

🧭 Summary

The SuiteAnalytics Advanced Reporting Framework transforms NetSuite into a true Business Intelligence (BI) platform.
By leveraging datasets, joins, KPIs, and dashboards, you can monitor financial health, operational efficiency, and integration performance — all within NetSuite.

With structured dashboards per role and automated refresh scheduling, this framework helps leadership make data-driven decisions in real time — without ever exporting a spreadsheet.