The Digital Backbone of Modern CPG Operations
In today’s consumer goods world, having the right technology isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential for survival. NetSuite for CPG companies delivers exactly what modern manufacturers and distributors need: a comprehensive cloud ERP solution that connects every part of your business under one digital roof.
Think about it—the global CPG market now tops $13 trillion, but the challenges have never been greater. Supply chains zigzag unpredictably, costs have surged by 25%, margins keep shrinking, and consumer preferences shift faster than ever. If you’re still managing operations through disconnected spreadsheets and manual processes, you’re likely feeling the pain.
I’ve seen this in my 15+ years helping CPG businesses steer digital change. As Connor Wray, a seasoned CPG executive, perfectly summarized: “When you only have a couple of products and customers, maybe you can get by with paper spreadsheets. But the second you start to expand, it’s an exponential problem when it comes to tracking products, components, and customers.”
This is where NetSuite for CPG companies truly shines—providing real-time visibility across your entire operation while automating those time-consuming manual processes. The benefits are transformative:
| Key Benefits of NetSuite for CPG Companies |
|---|
| ✓ Real-time inventory visibility across all locations |
| ✓ 50% faster month-end close processes |
| ✓ Streamlined omnichannel sales management |
| ✓ Advanced demand forecasting to prevent stockouts |
| ✓ Regulatory compliance and lot traceability |
| ✓ Supply chain optimization with 3PL integration |
Modern CPG companies juggle multiple revenue streams and distribution methods—from traditional retail to direct-to-consumer channels, from nationwide distributors to boutique specialty stores. NetSuite provides the flexible foundation that adapts as your business evolves, giving you the control and agility needed to thrive even when market conditions get rocky.
I’m Louis Balla, CRO and partner at Nuage, where we specialize in helping CPG companies implement NetSuite solutions that streamline complex business processes and drive growth across supply chains.
Looking to dive deeper into how ERP solutions can transform your specific CPG segment? We’ve got you covered with specialized resources:
- ERP solutions for food – Learn how food manufacturers streamline compliance and traceability
- Food industry digital change – Find how digital change is reshaping food production
- ERP for beverage manufacturers – See how beverage companies optimize production and distribution
Whether you’re dealing with perishable goods, complex supply chains, or strict regulatory requirements, NetSuite for CPG companies provides the digital foundation needed to steer today’s challenges while positioning your business for tomorrow’s growth.
The CPG Landscape: Challenges & Opportunities
Remember when the CPG industry was cruising along with 9% annual growth in the early 2000s? Those days feel like ancient history now. Today’s consumer packaged goods companies are navigating through choppy waters, with growth nearly flatlining by 2024. It’s not just a temporary blip—we’re witnessing a fundamental reshaping of the industry.
Supply Chain Volatility
If you’ve walked past those empty grocery shelves lately, you’ve seen the impact firsthand. The three-day US dockworker strike in late 2024 didn’t just delay your favorite products—it cost the economy a staggering $540 million daily. And that’s just one example of what’s become our new normal.
“Supply chain” used to be a boring back-office term. Now it’s front-page news. These disruptions have siphoned away an estimated $1.6 trillion in potential revenue from CPG companies. That’s not a typo—trillion with a “T.”
Surging Costs
The financial squeeze is hitting from every direction. Delivery costs have jumped 25% since 2020, while those shelf prices you’re noticing have surged about 30% in the same period. And it’s not just transportation—wages in the industry are up roughly 30% since 2019.
Add in material shortages affecting everything from cocoa to coffee to packaging materials, and you’ve got a perfect cost storm. As one natural foods CFO confided to us:
“When we’re hit with these cost increases from multiple directions simultaneously, we need systems that can help us quickly understand the impact on margins at the SKU level and make data-driven decisions.”
That’s exactly what NetSuite for CPG companies delivers—real-time visibility into how these cost changes affect your bottom line.
Inventory Challenges
The inventory tightrope has never been trickier to walk. Stockouts now hit 5-10% in fast-moving categories, sending frustrated customers straight to your competitors. But overcompensate with too much inventory, and you’re tying up precious capital while risking expiration—particularly devastating for food and beverage brands.
Modern ERP solutions provide the forecasting tools to help you thread this needle, balancing just-in-time inventory with consumer demand signals.
Consumer Loyalty Fragmentation
Perhaps most concerning is how quickly today’s consumers will abandon their once-favorite brands. A whopping 70% of global consumers now readily switch brands based on price, experience, or simple curiosity. Brand loyalty is expected to drop by another 25% by 2025, according to McKinsey.
This shift means CPG companies need systems that can track customer preferences and behaviors across multiple touchpoints, adapting quickly to changing market conditions.
The Omnichannel Imperative
Remember when “going to the store” was how everyone shopped? Now your products need to be everywhere your customers are. Direct-to-consumer ecommerce for established CPG brands reached $135 billion in 2023 and is projected to hit $187 billion by 2025.
This omnichannel reality creates immense complexity. You’re suddenly managing inventory, pricing, and customer experiences across retail shelves, online marketplaces, and your own direct channels—all simultaneously.
These challenges may seem daunting, but they’re also creating clear winners and losers in the industry. The companies embracing digital change with solutions like NetSuite for CPG companies aren’t just surviving these challenges—they’re turning them into competitive advantages.
With the right technology backbone, CPG brands can transform supply chain visibility, gain granular cost insights, optimize inventory, and create seamless omnichannel experiences that build loyalty even in this fragmented landscape.
Learn more about ERP for Food and Beverage Industry
Why ERP—and Specifically NetSuite—Matters to CPG Brands
In an industry where margins are razor-thin and operations increasingly complex, having the right technology isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential for survival. Let me share why ERP systems, and specifically NetSuite for CPG companies, have become the digital backbone that’s helping forward-thinking brands thrive in challenging times.
The Single Source of Truth
One of the biggest headaches for CPG companies is dealing with scattered data. When your inventory numbers live in one system, orders in another, and financial data somewhere else entirely, making good decisions becomes nearly impossible.
NetSuite for CPG companies solves this by creating one unified home for all your business data. Imagine having every piece of information—from raw material costs to customer preferences—accessible in real time, in one place. For companies juggling multiple product lines across various sales channels, this integration isn’t just convenient—it’s transformative.
Real-Time Visibility and Decision-Making
In today’s fast-moving CPG world, yesterday’s data might as well be ancient history. When a major retailer suddenly doubles their order or a supplier announces a delay, you need to know immediately—not when the weekly report comes out.
As one IT Director at a growing snack food company told us: “NetSuite is the heart of our organization, it’s the centerpoint.” With real-time dashboards showing everything from current inventory levels to sales performance across channels, teams can make confident decisions based on what’s happening right now, not what happened last week.
Advanced Analytics and AI-Driven Insights
Beyond just organizing your data, NetSuite for CPG companies helps you make sense of it through powerful analytics tools that spot trends and opportunities you might otherwise miss.
McKinsey’s research shows just how impactful these technologies can be. CPG brands implementing data analytics, automation, and AI are seeing remarkable savings:
- 55% savings in their supply chains
- 45% savings in back-office operations
- 40% savings (minimum) in commercial operations
For a $10 billion food and beverage company, that could mean between $810 million and $1.6 billion in additional growth and productivity gains. These aren’t small improvements—they’re game-changers.
Scalability for Growth
Many of the CPG companies we work with start small but grow quickly. The last thing you want is to outgrow your systems just as business takes off.
One frozen food manufacturer growing at over 50% annually put it perfectly: “We really believed in NetSuite’s platform being able to grow with us. We knew we didn’t want to put a lot of effort into implementing a static solution.” Their faith paid off—we’ve seen companies quadruple in size after implementing NetSuite while maintaining smooth operations throughout.
Regulatory Compliance and Traceability
For CPG brands, particularly in food and beverage, compliance isn’t optional. From allergen tracking to recall management, NetSuite for CPG companies provides the robust traceability features that modern regulations demand.
A frozen treats manufacturer we worked with explained their challenge: “We needed to track cradle to grave … to a 99%-plus degree of accuracy. And that’s something that gets regularly audited and tested.” With NetSuite, they achieved this level of precision, ensuring compliance with strict FDA requirements while giving their customers peace of mind.
Trade Promotion Management
Did you know CPG companies typically spend between 11% and 27% of their revenues on trade promotions? Yet 61% struggle to execute these promotions as planned. That’s a lot of marketing dollars potentially going to waste.
NetSuite for CPG companies provides tools to better plan, execute, and analyze these promotions. Instead of guessing which promotions work, you can track performance in real-time and adjust your strategy accordingly, ensuring your marketing investments deliver measurable returns.
The evidence is clear: CPG companies that invest in comprehensive ERP solutions like NetSuite gain significant competitive advantages. From streamlined operations to smarter decision-making, these systems provide the foundation for sustainable growth even as market conditions become increasingly challenging.
Latest research on NetSuite CPG benefits
More info about NetSuite Data Analytics
NetSuite for CPG companies: Features That Power Growth
When it comes to managing the complex world of consumer packaged goods, having the right technology backbone makes all the difference. NetSuite for CPG companies isn’t just another ERP system—it’s a purpose-built solution that addresses the unique challenges faced by brands in this competitive space.
Unified Financial Management
Money matters—especially in an industry known for razor-thin margins. NetSuite’s financial management capabilities give CPG companies complete visibility into their financial health with real-time access to your general ledger, accounts payable, and receivables.
What really shines for multi-brand CPG companies is the system’s ability to handle multiple entities, currencies, and tax requirements simultaneously. This means your finance team can close the books faster and spend more time analyzing data rather than just collecting it. The role-based dashboards ensure everyone from your CFO to your accounting staff sees exactly what they need.
Inventory and Supply Chain Management
In the CPG world, inventory can make or break you. NetSuite for CPG companies excels at giving you real-time visibility across all your warehouse locations, so you’ll always know exactly what you have and where it is.
For food and beverage companies, the lot tracking and expiration date management features are game-changers. You can easily implement first-expired, first-out (FEFO) picking logic to minimize waste and ensure product freshness. The system’s automated replenishment capabilities mean you’ll maintain optimal stock levels without constant manual intervention.
One of our clients in the natural foods space told us, “Before NetSuite, we were constantly either overstocked or running out of key items. Now our inventory levels adjust automatically based on actual demand patterns.”
Order Management and Fulfillment
Today’s CPG companies need to juggle orders from multiple channels—retail partners, direct-to-consumer websites, and everything in between. NetSuite for CPG companies captures orders from all these sources and streamlines the entire process from order to fulfillment.
The real magic happens when these orders flow automatically through your system, triggering the right picking, packing, and shipping processes without manual intervention. You’ll have complete visibility into order status at any time, and even complex scenarios like drop-shipping and special orders become manageable.
Customer Relationship Management
As more CPG brands develop direct relationships with consumers, understanding your customer becomes increasingly important. NetSuite’s integrated CRM gives you a 360-degree view of customer interactions across all touchpoints.
Your sales team gets powerful automation tools, your marketing department can track campaign effectiveness, and your customer service representatives have all the information they need to provide exceptional support. For brands building loyalty programs, NetSuite provides the foundation to track and reward your most valuable customers.
Warehouse Management
For CPG companies managing their own warehouses, NetSuite for CPG companies offers sophisticated tools to optimize operations. The bin and zone management features help organize your warehouse logically, while wave picking and task management improve efficiency.
Mobile device support and barcode scanning reduce errors and speed up warehouse processes. One beverage manufacturer we work with reduced picking errors by 95% after implementing NetSuite’s warehouse management capabilities.
Manufacturing and Production
Many CPG brands handle their own production, and NetSuite supports these operations with comprehensive manufacturing features. From managing your bill of materials to tracking work orders and controlling shop floor activities, the system gives you complete visibility into your production processes.
Quality management tools help ensure consistency across batches, while capacity planning helps you make the most of your production resources. As one client put it, “We finally have a clear picture of our true production costs down to the individual SKU level.”
Business Intelligence and Analytics
Data is only valuable when you can turn it into insights, and NetSuite for CPG companies excels at making your information actionable. Real-time dashboards show key performance indicators that matter to your business, while custom reports help you dig deeper into specific areas.
The predictive analytics capabilities are particularly valuable for CPG companies dealing with seasonal products or changing consumer preferences. You can spot trends early and adjust your strategies accordingly.
Integration and Extensibility
No CPG company uses just one system, and NetSuite’s open architecture makes it easy to connect with your other business applications. The robust APIs allow for custom integrations, while the SuiteCloud development platform enables custom customizations.
For CPG companies selling online, pre-built integrations with platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce make it simple to synchronize inventory, orders, and customer data. EDI capabilities streamline communication with major retail partners.
| Feature | Legacy ERP | NetSuite for CPG companies |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | On-premise | Cloud-based |
| Implementation Time | 12-24 months | 3-6 months |
| Mobile Access | Limited/Custom | Native |
| Real-time Analytics | No | Yes |
| Omnichannel Support | Limited | Comprehensive |
| Scalability | Hardware-dependent | Unlimited |
| Updates | Manual/Infrequent | Automatic/Twice yearly |
| Integration Capabilities | Limited/Custom | Extensive/API-driven |
| Total Cost of Ownership | High | Lower |
Want to learn more about the core platform? Visit NetSuite ERP software for details directly from the source, or check out our detailed breakdown of NetSuite Inventory Management’s Key Features and Advantages.
NetSuite for CPG companies and Financial & Operational Control
Financial control takes on special importance in the CPG world, where a fraction of a percentage point in margin can make the difference between profit and loss. NetSuite for CPG companies offers specialized financial tools built with these challenges in mind.
Revenue recognition becomes simple, even when dealing with complex scenarios like volume discounts, promotional pricing, and trade allowances. The system ensures compliance with ASC 606 standards while automating the process, freeing your team from manual calculations.
The month-end close process transforms dramatically with NetSuite. As one CFO from a natural foods company shared with us, “Since switching to NetSuite, the timeliness and quality of our month-end close has improved significantly.” Many of our clients report closing their books 50% faster after implementation.
For CPG companies importing goods, the landed cost management features provide clarity on true inventory costs. The system captures everything from base product costs to shipping, customs, insurance, and handling fees. This comprehensive view helps you make smarter pricing decisions and understand actual product profitability.
Global operations become much simpler with NetSuite’s multi-currency capabilities. As the CFO of Botany Group noted, “We have a lot of overseas suppliers, so being able to convert to foreign currencies and back to Australian dollars is invaluable. NetSuite also enables us to report better, and drill down into the information for deeper insight.”
Tax compliance across multiple jurisdictions is handled automatically, reducing the risk of errors and penalties while minimizing the administrative burden on your team.
NetSuite for CPG companies and Inventory & Demand Forecasting
Inventory management presents unique challenges for CPG brands, especially those dealing with perishable goods or seasonal demand patterns. NetSuite for CPG companies offers sophisticated tools to address these specific needs.
The AI-driven demand planning capabilities analyze historical data, seasonality, and other factors to generate accurate forecasts. This helps you optimize inventory levels, reduce both stockouts and overstocks, plan production more effectively, and align purchasing with anticipated demand. For CPG companies with seasonal products or promotional activities, these capabilities provide invaluable guidance.
Lot and expiration date tracking is essential for food, beverage, and other perishable CPG products. NetSuite provides comprehensive tracking throughout the supply chain, with expiration date management and alerts to prevent shipping expired products. The system can implement FEFO picking logic automatically and maintains detailed traceability for quality issues or recalls.
A frozen treats manufacturer emphasized this point: “We needed to track cradle to grave … to a 99%-plus degree of accuracy. And that’s something that gets regularly audited and tested.”
For food and beverage companies, allergen management is critical from both safety and compliance perspectives. NetSuite enables tracking of allergens at the ingredient level, alerts for potential cross-contamination, and documentation for regulatory compliance. As one executive noted, “If some allergen gets into a product we’re making, it’s not just a big deal to us, it’s a big deal to all our customers.”
Despite recent supply chain challenges, just-in-time inventory management remains valuable for CPG companies looking to minimize excess stock. NetSuite supports these strategies with real-time inventory visibility, automated replenishment based on demand signals, and supply chain collaboration tools.
The automated replenishment capabilities help maintain optimal inventory levels without constant manual oversight. The system generates purchase orders based on reorder points, calculates appropriate safety stock levels, suggests inventory transfers between locations, and even adjusts parameters based on seasonality.
By bringing together these powerful financial and inventory management capabilities, NetSuite for CPG companies creates a comprehensive solution that addresses the unique challenges of the consumer packaged goods industry. The result? Greater control, improved efficiency, and better decision-making—essential ingredients for success in today’s competitive marketplace.
Implementing NetSuite Successfully: Best Practices & ROI
Let’s talk about turning your NetSuite vision into reality. Having guided dozens of CPG companies through successful implementations, I’ve seen how the right approach can make all the difference between struggle and triumph.
Key Phases of a Successful Implementation
Findy and Planning
Think of this phase as setting your GPS before a road trip. You need to know exactly where you’re going and the best route to get there.
Good planning starts with clearly defined business objectives. What specific problems are you trying to solve? What does success look like for your organization? One project leader from a mid-sized snack company told me: “The time we spent upfront understanding our processes and defining our requirements saved us countless hours later in the project.”
This is also when you’ll assemble your implementation dream team – a mix of internal champions who understand your business and external experts who know the NetSuite landscape.
Data Cleansing and Migration
Your new system is only as good as the data you put into it. This is the perfect opportunity to clean house.
“We spent three months cleaning our data before migration,” shared a beverage manufacturer client, “and it was the best investment we made in the entire project.” Think of it as moving houses – why pack and move things you don’t need anymore?
During this phase, you’ll standardize naming conventions, eliminate duplicates, and make critical decisions about which historical data deserves a place in your new system. The effort pays dividends in system performance and user confidence.
Configuration and Customization
This is where NetSuite for CPG companies really shines. The platform offers remarkable flexibility, but the key is finding the sweet spot between using standard functionality and adding customizations.
Our approach at Nuage is “configure first, customize second.” We leverage NetSuite’s out-of-the-box CPG features whenever possible, then carefully add customizations only where they deliver clear business value. We’ve found this balance keeps implementations simpler, more cost-effective, and easier to maintain as your business evolves.
Testing and Validation
No implementation should go live without rigorous testing. This isn’t just about finding technical bugs – it’s about ensuring the system will work in your real-world business scenarios.
Effective testing includes running through complete business processes, from order to cash, with realistic data volumes. It’s also crucial to verify that integrations with your other systems – from e-commerce platforms to warehouse management – function seamlessly.
Training and Change Management
Even the most perfectly configured system will fail if your team doesn’t accept it. User adoption is often the biggest hurdle in ERP implementations.
The CFO of Botany Group noted: “NetSuite is very user-friendly and intuitive. Everyone that we’ve added to the system has had no problems finding their way around.” While NetSuite is indeed user-friendly, thoughtful training makes all the difference.
We recommend role-based training that focuses on each user’s specific responsibilities. Identifying and empowering “super users” within each department creates internal champions who can support their colleagues through the transition and beyond.
Go-Live and Post-Implementation Support
The moment of truth! A carefully orchestrated go-live minimizes disruption to your business operations.
Many of our CPG clients opt for a phased approach – perhaps starting with financials, then adding inventory management, and finally bringing in production and advanced features. This approach lets your team build confidence and competence before tackling more complex functionality.
Extra support during the first few weeks after go-live is essential. Having experts on hand to quickly address issues keeps momentum strong and prevents minor hiccups from becoming major headaches.
Continuous Improvement
Implementation isn’t the destination – it’s the beginning of a journey. NetSuite for CPG companies releases new features twice yearly, offering continuous opportunities to improve your operations.
Smart CPG companies establish a rhythm of regular system reviews, identifying new opportunities to streamline processes and leverage NetSuite’s evolving capabilities. This ongoing optimization is where the real transformative value emerges.
Measuring ROI and Business Impact
The business impact of implementing NetSuite for CPG companies can be truly remarkable. Here’s what our clients typically experience:
Financial operations transform dramatically, with month-end closes accelerated by 50%. Finance teams shift from data gathering to strategic analysis, while improved visibility into product-level profitability drives better pricing and production decisions.
On the operations side, the improvements are equally impressive. Stock-outs decrease while inventory turns increase. Production planning becomes more accurate, and supply chain visibility improves dramatically. One client told us, “For the first time, we can see our entire supply chain in real time – it’s like someone turned on the lights.”
Perhaps most importantly, NetSuite for CPG companies enables scalability that simply isn’t possible with legacy systems. We’ve seen clients quadruple their business volume without proportionally increasing administrative staff. A frozen pops manufacturer implemented NetSuite and subsequently grew at more than 50% annually while expanding from local distribution to placement in over 10,000 retail outlets across 50 states and multiple countries.
The Value of an Experienced Implementation Partner
While NetSuite for CPG companies is designed to be user-friendly, implementing an ERP system is undeniably complex. Working with an experienced partner like Nuage significantly increases your chances of success.
As the CFO of Botany Group shared about their implementation partner: “Their approach and implementation plan appealed to us. Throughout the project their people were very knowledgeable, and their service was absolutely first-class.”
At Nuage, our 20+ years of ERP implementation experience means we’ve seen virtually every challenge a CPG company might encounter – and we know how to steer around them. We bring industry-specific expertise, proven methodologies, and a commitment to your success that extends far beyond go-live.
We’re not just implementers – we’re partners in your digital change journey, committed to helping you realize the full potential of NetSuite for CPG companies.
More info about NetSuite Implementation Best Practices
FAQs & Conclusion
As CPG companies consider implementing NetSuite for CPG companies, several common questions arise. I’ve spent years helping businesses steer these exact questions, and I’m happy to share what I’ve learned from our many successful implementations.
What size CPG company benefits most from NetSuite?
NetSuite for CPG companies shines brightest for growth-stage to mid-enterprise organizations. These are typically companies that have hit that awkward adolescent phase – they’ve outgrown QuickBooks but don’t need (or want) the complexity and expense of tier-one ERPs designed for global giants.
The sweet spot typically includes companies with annual revenue between $5 million and $500 million that are managing multiple sales channels. I’ve seen this with clients juggling retail, wholesale, and direct-to-consumer channels simultaneously.
Companies experiencing rapid growth particularly benefit from NetSuite’s scalability. As one of our frozen foods clients put it: “When you’re growing at 50% a year, you need systems that can scale with you without requiring a complete replacement every few years.”
That said, we’ve successfully implemented NetSuite for smaller companies with complex operations and larger enterprises seeking more agility than their legacy systems could provide. The need for operational integration often matters more than company size.
How long does a typical NetSuite for CPG deployment take?
Most of our CPG clients complete their implementation in 60-180 days from kickoff to go-live. The timeline varies based on your company’s size, complexity, and the scope of what you’re implementing.
Many factors influence this timeline, including data quality, integration needs, and your team’s availability. We’ve found that a phased approach often works best – starting with core financials and operations, then adding additional functionality over time. This approach accelerates your time-to-value while making change management more digestible for your team.
As one client shared after their implementation: “Breaking the project into phases helped us get quick wins and build momentum. We had our financial core up in just two months, then added inventory and manufacturing over the next quarter.”
Can NetSuite integrate with Shopify, BigCommerce, Klaviyo & HubSpot?
Absolutely! NetSuite for CPG companies offers robust integration capabilities with the ecommerce and marketing platforms you’re likely already using.
For ecommerce, NetSuite connects seamlessly with Shopify through SuiteCommerce integration, linking inventory, orders, and customer data between systems. Similar capabilities exist for BigCommerce, Magento, WooCommerce, and other platforms through various SuiteApps and integration tools.
Marketing automation tools also connect nicely – customer data flows bidirectionally between NetSuite and platforms like Klaviyo for targeted marketing. HubSpot integrations connect sales, marketing, and customer service data for a unified view of your customer interactions.
One of our CPG clients shared: “The ability to integrate our Shopify store with NetSuite has been transformative. Orders flow automatically into the system, inventory updates in real-time, and we have a single view of our customers across all channels.”
NetSuite also supports EDI integration for large retailers like Walmart, Target, and Amazon – crucial for CPG companies expanding their retail footprint. And integration with 3PL providers gives you real-time visibility into inventory and orders, with shipping and tracking information flowing automatically between systems.
NetSuite Software for Ecommerce Businesses
How does NetSuite help with regulatory compliance and reporting?
This is especially important for CPG companies in food, beverage, cosmetics, and other regulated categories. NetSuite for CPG companies provides several capabilities to support your compliance needs.
For lot traceability, NetSuite tracks ingredients and products throughout your supply chain, supports mock recalls (and actual recalls if needed), and documents the chain of custody from raw materials to finished goods. One food manufacturer told us: “We needed to track cradle to grave … to a 99%-plus degree of accuracy. And that’s something that gets regularly audited and tested.”
Quality management features let you define and enforce quality control procedures, document test results, and manage any non-conformance issues. For allergen management, NetSuite tracks allergens at the ingredient level, helps prevent cross-contamination, and supports allergen-free certifications and labeling.
The reporting capabilities generate compliance documentation for regulatory agencies, maintain records for audits, and ensure accurate product labeling information. And for companies selling internationally, NetSuite supports country-specific regulations, multi-language and multi-currency operations, and tax compliance across jurisdictions.
What is the ROI timeline for NetSuite in a CPG company?
While every company is different, most of our CPG clients see positive returns within 6-18 months after implementing NetSuite for CPG companies. The ROI comes from several areas:
First, operational efficiencies create immediate savings – reduction in manual processes, 50% faster financial closes, improved inventory management, and reduced waste from better production planning all contribute to bottom-line improvements.
Revenue growth follows as you gain the ability to scale operations without proportionally increasing headcount. Better order fulfillment improves customer satisfaction, and improved visibility into product profitability helps you focus on your most lucrative opportunities.
The strategic benefits may be harder to quantify but are often the most valuable – better decision-making through real-time data, improved agility in responding to market changes, and a competitive advantage through improved customer experience.
One of our CPG clients quadrupled in size while maintaining the same finance team headcount – representing significant cost savings as they grew. Another reduced their inventory holding costs by 30% while simultaneously improving their in-stock rates.
At Nuage, our 20-year digital-change expertise helps CPG leaders evaluate, implement and support the right ERP—maximizing NetSuite value while staying vendor-agnostic. We understand the unique challenges facing CPG companies today and know how to leverage technology to turn those challenges into competitive advantages.
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Conclusion: The Path Forward for CPG Companies
The consumer packaged goods landscape has transformed dramatically in recent years. From supply chain disruptions to shifting consumer loyalties, the challenges are real – but so are the opportunities for companies willing to accept change.
Throughout our work with CPG brands, we’ve seen how technology becomes the difference-maker. Companies that leverage modern ERP solutions like NetSuite for CPG companies gain the visibility, control, and agility needed not just to survive but to thrive in these complex times.
After implementing NetSuite, one of our CPG clients told us: “It’s like we finally have a clear picture of our business. We can see inventory levels, production status, and financial performance all in one place, in real time. The fog has lifted.”
At Nuage, our 20+ years in digital change has taught us that technology alone isn’t enough. Success comes from the right solution implemented the right way, with careful attention to your unique business processes and goals. We don’t just implement software – we help transform how your business operates.
Whether you’re a scrappy CPG startup outgrowing your QuickBooks setup, a mid-sized manufacturer looking to streamline operations, or an established brand expanding into new sales channels, NetSuite provides the comprehensive functionality and scalability to support your journey. The cloud-based platform grows with you, eliminating the painful system replacements that often accompany business growth.
The implementation process is just as important as the software itself. Working with an experienced partner who understands both NetSuite’s capabilities and the unique challenges of the CPG industry can dramatically increase your chances of success and accelerate your time to value.
We invite you to explore how Nuage can help you evaluate, implement, and optimize NetSuite for CPG companies to meet your specific business needs. Our vendor-agnostic approach means we focus on finding the right solution for your situation – not just selling software. We’re partners in your success, not just technology providers.
The path forward for CPG companies isn’t about chasing every new technology trend. It’s about making smart, strategic investments in systems that provide the foundation for sustainable growth. With the right ERP solution and implementation partner, you can steer today’s challenges while positioning your business for tomorrow’s opportunities.
