Highlights from SuiteConnect Sydney - what NetSuite users are really doing in 2025

What's really driving transformation with NetSuite in 2025? At SuiteConnect Sydney, it wasn't the demos or even product sneak peeks that resonated most - it was the customer stories. 

In front of 800 users, partners and prospects, two Annexa customers shared how they're using NetSuite to simplify, scale and unlock sharper decision-making. Their stories really set the tone for a day grounded in practical, real-world value. 

Smithbridge Group, a diversified construction and logistics business operating across Australia, New Zealand and Guam, showed how NetSuite OneWorld and NetSuite Analytics Warehouse (NSAW) are helping them break down silos and visualise performance across six entities. No third-party BI tools. No spreadsheet sprawl. Just clean, connected data - ready when leadership needs it. 

"We vetted and did a lot of work to make sure we had the right partner on board," said Shane Young, CFO at Smithbridge. "So, we selected Annexa as our NetSuite partner, and they've been with us from day one." 

"Previously, we were reliant on accountants to manually generate reports. Now we're empowering our managers to go in and consume that data themselves… The ability to slice and dice the information to compare businesses and divisions - and provide accurate information to our board - has really been important." 

Kieser, a health and strength training provider, told a similar story of simplification. Before NetSuite, they were managing 23 separate accounting files. With Annexa, they rolled out NetSuite OneWorld to unify operations, then layered on planning and budgeting tools to future-proof their finance function - shifting from manual data entry to meaningful analysis. 

"We had spreadsheets running around everywhere. Nothing was really talking to each other," said Dianna Butterworth, Co-Owner and CFO at Kieser. "All of our clinics are now in that one world, and all of our head office departments are in that one world. We've got complete visibility at the push of a button." 

"We've gone from a three-month budgeting period to probably a month - and we've gone from being data entry checkers to real analysts." 

These were some of the most telling stories of what Australian and New Zealand businesses can achieve with NetSuite. Because while SuiteConnect delivered plenty of future-facing AI, the most powerful transformations were grounded in fundamentals - consolidation, clarity and confidence in the numbers. 

Their stories reflected broader themes that came through loud and clear—especially around how NetSuite is helping users do more with less. 

Growing appetite for standardisation over customisation 

SuiteConnect reinforced that the ERP conversation is shifting - from building bespoke systems to adopting best-practice frameworks. The SuiteSuccess methodology reflects this trend. It gives businesses a head start with prebuilt dashboards, workflows and KPIs tailored to their industry. As NetSuite evolves, these leading practices are becoming smarter and more adaptive, reducing time to value while avoiding the complexity tax of traditional cloud ERP customisation. 

High demand for faster decision-making and real-time visibility 

NetSuite is responding with features designed to move insight closer to the point of action. At SuiteConnect, we saw how tools like Financial Exception Management, NetSuite Analytics Warehouse AI Assistant and SuiteAnalytics Assistant are making data-driven decisions faster and more accessible. Whether it's flagging a suspicious transaction or generating a chart from a natural language query, the goal is the same - give users the answers they need, without delay or dependency. 

AI as built-in, not bolted on 

While AI dominated the keynote again this year, the tone was refreshingly grounded. As NetSuite founder Evan Goldberg put it: 

"If you're a business leader in 2025, you're under pressure to get more value from your technology." 

That value now shows up inside NetSuite's core workflows - from writing item descriptions to spotting errors in journal entries. 

Three NetSuite AI features worth watching: 

• Financial Exception Management: Flags out-of-the-ordinary transactions (e.g. a $20K rent charge when $2K is the norm) so teams can catch mistakes early. 

• Text Enhance + Prompt Studio: Uses generative AI to auto-write content like sales comms or project descriptions - tailored to your account data. 

• SuiteAnalytics Assistant: Ask complex questions in plain English and get real-time visualisations back. 

The best part here is all of it is built into the platform - no extra cost, no external integrations. 

Making business data less technical 

Another highlight of the keynote was a sneak peek at NetSuite Experts - a new generative AI assistant coming soon to the SuiteAnswers Knowledge Center. 

Need to reverse a journal entry? Want help writing a saved search? Just ask like you would in Google. NetSuite Experts pulls from support articles and documentation to deliver the right answer - clearly, contextually, and without sending you down a help menu rabbit hole. 

It's part of a bigger shift in NetSuite's roadmap - making business systems more intuitive and reducing the technical overhead it takes to get things done. 

International expansion made easier 

As more ANZ businesses eye offshore growth, the need for robust multi-entity and multicurrency support has grown. SuiteConnect made clear that NetSuite OneWorld remains a must for companies managing global operations. The audience heard firsthand how Annexa customers like Smithbridge are using OneWorld to standardise processes and visualise performance across regions, without needing to duct-tape multiple systems together. 

Unified platform for connected workflows 

SuiteConnect also spotlighted the power of unified architecture. Whether it's CRM, ERP, FP&A or field service, NetSuite's tools now talk to each other more intelligently - thanks to ongoing enhancements and embedded AI. Features like document upload from the Field Service mobile app and Outlook integration show how NetSuite is extending functionality to field teams, customer interactions and day-to-day workflows. 

NetSuite is still underused - and that's a good thing 

NetSuite execs didn't shy away from calling out a persistent problem - too many customers still aren't using what they already have.  

Whether it's automation tools, embedded analytics or pre-built workflows, most NetSuite environments have dormant potential waiting to be tapped. And for customers working with experienced partners like Annexa, unlocking that value doesn't mean starting over, it means switching on what's already there. 

As NetSuite continues to build more intelligence into the platform, existing customers should be looking to activate what's already there - and lean on partners who know how to unlock it. For those considering NetSuite for the first time, it is clear that the capability is there, the leading practices are built in, and with the right partner, you have everything you need to hit the ground running.