If you're thinking about making the leap from NetSuite to Cin7, you’re in the right place! This transition might feel like you’re trading a complex Swiss Army knife (NetSuite) for a precision tool (Cin7), tailored perfectly for managing inventory and supply chains. So, why choose Cin7, and what’s the best way to make this shift? Come learn about the process and explore some key differences between these two powerful platforms.
Why is Cin7 the Right Fit for Your Business?
So, why consider Cin7 in the first place? NetSuite is undeniably powerful—it's one of the most comprehensive ERP systems available. From financials to customer relationship management, it can do it all. But the trade-off? That same depth can make it overwhelming for businesses that don’t need all of their bells and whistles. It’s like driving a race car in rush hour traffic—powerful, but maybe not the best choice for a straightforward ride.
Cin7, on the other hand, is laser-focused on product-based businesses. It specializes in inventory and supply chain management and excels in helping companies manage their stock across multiple channels like Shopify, Amazon, and wholesale. If inventory and multi-channel management are your bread and butter, Cin7 might just be the tool to take your operations up a notch.
Ask yourself:
- Are you using only a small part of NetSuite’s features and paying for things you don’t need?
- Do you want a system that’s more focused on inventory management and less on finance or CRM?
- Are you looking for a simpler, more affordable system to scale your business?
If any of these rings true, it’s worth looking deeper into Cin7.
Getting Ready to Switch—Clean Up That Data First
We cannot stress this point more. Cleaning up your data is the first step before switching to any new system. This is your chance to declutter and get everything in order before migrating it over. If you’ve been using NetSuite for a while, you probably have lots of old customer records, outdated inventory data, and a few forgotten products that haven’t been touched in years.
Take some time to:
- Update customer contact information and get rid of duplicates.
- Ensure product catalogs are accurate—double-check your SKUs, pricing, and descriptions.
- Organize your transaction histories. Only migrate what’s essential and archive the rest.
Having clean data will make the transition to Cin7 much smoother and faster. After all, no one wants to bring baggage from an old system into a new one.
Mapping Your Data: Where It All Comes Together
Once your data is clean and shiny, the next step is to map it to Cin7. NetSuite and Cin7 don’t store data in exactly the same way, so you’ll need to make sure everything lines up properly. Data mapping can sound intimidating, but it’s really just matching up the information from one system to another.
For example, you might have custom fields in NetSuite that don’t exist in Cin7—like product dimensions or specialized customer tags. During this step, you’ll decide what’s worth keeping and how it will fit into Cin7’s structure. The goal is to make sure nothing gets lost or misplaced during the migration. Keeping the team adaptable and with an open mind during this process will be the strength or downfall of the migration.
Setting Up Cin7: Keep it Organized
Once your data is prepped and mapped, the real fun begins—setting up Cin7. One of the great things about Cin7 is how easy it makes managing your inventory across multiple sales channels. Whether you’re selling through Shopify, Amazon, or wholesale distributors, Cin7 brings it all into one clear, manageable dashboard.
With Cin7, you can:
- Track your inventory in real-time across all your warehouses and channels.
- Sync orders automatically from your e-commerce platforms.
- Manage your suppliers, track purchase orders, and monitor stock levels effortlessly.
Compared to the all-encompassing NetSuite, which offers features across finance, HR, CRM, and more, Cin7 keeps things simple. It's built specifically for inventory-based businesses and designed to get you set up quickly with everything you need—and none of what you don’t.
Customization: Make it Simple
While NetSuite is highly customizable, the downside is that customization often requires heavy technical expertise. It’s like having access to every tool in the toolbox but needing a rocket scientist to figure out which ones to use and how to use them efficiently. Cin7 takes a different approach. It’s still flexible, but its pre-built integrations and easy-to-use setup make it much simpler to configure on your own or with the help of a partner like Unity Consulting Firm.
You can easily connect Cin7 to your eCommerce platforms like Shopify, your accounting tools like QuickBooks or Xero, and even your shipping solutions like ShipStation. This plug-and-play approach makes getting up and running much quicker compared to the occasionally overly complex integrations required by NetSuite.
Getting Your Team Onboard
Once everything is set up, you’ll need to get your team on the new system. One of the most common pain points with NetSuite is the learning curve—it’s robust, but the need for more training comes with great complexity. Your team may take weeks, or even months, to fully understand all of NetSuite’s features. It can create a mindset where the team thinks it's too difficult to learn, so they don't even try.
Cin7, by contrast, is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly. It’s focused on inventory, sales, and fulfillment, so your team will only have to learn the tools they need. Most businesses find that their staff can be trained on Cin7 within a few days, and it doesn't require heavy IT support for ongoing use.
A Quick Comparison
Let’s take a quick look at how NetSuite and Cin7 compare:
Feature | NetSuite | Cin7 |
Primary Focus | Full ERP: financials, CRM, supply chain | Inventory & supply chain management |
Ease of Use | More complex, longer to learn | Intuitive, user-friendly, quick to learn |
Customization | Deep customization, requires tech skills | Simple, pre-built integrations |
Integrations | Broad but can be complex and typically require the use of middleware | Plug-and-play Apps for eCommerce, accounting, and shipping tools |
Inventory Management | Part of a larger suite | Focused and specialized |
Best For | Large enterprises needing a full ERP | Product-based businesses scaling fast |
Cost | Higher total cost of ownership | More affordable for growing businesses |
Reporting | Advanced, customizable financial reports | Simplified reports focused on sales & inventory |
Implementation Time | Can take up to 6-12 months | System set-up can be as quick as 4-6 weeks |
Bottom Line: Is Cin7 Right for Your Business?
If you’re running a product-based business, especially one that sells across multiple channels, Cin7 could be a game-changer. While NetSuite is an excellent choice for large enterprises needing an all-in-one ERP system, Cin7 offers the simplicity, affordability, and specialization needed to streamline your inventory management.
Ready to make the switch? Let’s get started! Your product strategy and business transformation experts at Unity Consulting are here to help!
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