NetSuite and Power BI: A Golden Combination for Wentzel

Wentzel supplies non-ferrous metals such as zinc, copper, and lead sheeting to the construction sector. The organization ensures the import, distribution, and availability of these materials for construction purposes. Three years ago, Cadran Consultancy implemented NetSuite at Wentzel, after which Wentzel used a different BI solution for three years. Recently, the company transitioned to Microsoft Power BI, gaining flexibility as the biggest advantage.

NetSuite is the ultimate cloud ERP system for businesses aiming to manage their finances and business processes seamlessly. To extract truly valuable insights from NetSuite data, an additional BI tool is required. This transforms NetSuite data into clear, interactive dashboards. For Wentzel, a BI tool is crucial to gain better control over trends in inventory and revenue, support strategic decision-making, and provide customers with clear insights into their orders.

Finding the Right BI Tool

However, the BI tool Wentzel had been using lacked flexibility. Making adjustments and creating reports independently was challenging. This slowed down the reporting process, often requiring Wentzel to rely on Cadran for support. As Sanne Wentzel, Operations Manager, explains: “We needed a solution that was flexible, fast, and fit our organization. Together with Cadran Analytics, we explored our options and ultimately chose Microsoft’s Power BI.”

A Smooth Implementation

The transition to Power BI went smoothly. “Cadran Analytics has extensive knowledge of both NetSuite and Power BI, which ensured a quick implementation. The key reports were ready within the agreed timeframe, and I hardly had to spend any time on it,” says Sanne. While Cadran Analytics set up the initial reports, Wentzel validated them. “The focus was mainly on daily sales reports and revenue overviews.”

Comparing Periods

In the second phase, a report was created to compare product sales from a previous period with current sales. “For instance, we want to see how a specific product has performed this year compared to the same period last year. At the same time, we check inventory to align purchasing with expected demand. Power BI makes it relatively easy to create such comparisons.”

Expertise in Both NetSuite and Power BI

Since Cadran is also Wentzel’s partner for NetSuite, the consultants could easily trace back information within NetSuite. Sanne remarks:
“Ninety percent of the time, Cadran Analytics’ consultants solved the issues themselves, and if not, they consulted their colleagues at Cadran Consultancy. For example, they once couldn’t find a specific field, but it was quickly located with help from Cadran Consultancy. This combination gave me full confidence to entrust the entire implementation process to them.”

Taking Control

Power BI is essential for organizations aiming to make data-driven decisions, according to Sanne. “You simply want accurate daily insights to understand how things are going and make quick adjustments. Additionally, I find it very important to create reports myself. I no longer need to call anyone if I want a new report. I just take an existing template, edit it, and save it as a new report. It’s that easy.”

The Less Contact, the Better

Power BI empowers users to work directly with data and gather insights. “When I’m generating a report and want to make changes, I want to do it on the spot. With Power BI, I can do that myself, offering immense flexibility. It might sound a bit harsh, but the less contact with Cadran, the better. That means everything is running smoothly, and that’s certainly the case with the combination of NetSuite and Power BI.”