As NetSuite channel partners it is our goal to design and build best-of-breed, end-to-end business solutions that solve our customer's diverse business challenges. This often involves connecting multiple tech stacks.
Of course, NetSuite still operates as the heart of our customers’ operations, with many prebuilt modules solving a large number of business requirements. However, at times the NetSuite platform must be extended beyond native capabilities and modules to complete the picture.
In this blog, we are sharing Annexa's strategy for leveraging integrations for our customers, our journey to iPaaS - including a look at our platform evaluation process - and some key takeaways for those currently weighing up their integration options.
Best-of-breed versus native capabilities
Just as ERP’s role has evolved significantly over time offering a solid technological foundation spanning various operational processes so too have other business software applications. Often, the capabilities of these vertical-specific third-party solutions outshine those of a cloud ERP.
This presents a significant challenge for us and our customers: the need to integrate various software solutions with their ERP platform to ensure optimal performance and efficiency across all operational areas.
Now add to this the breadth of systems found in many businesses core tech stack and you start to see just how important integrations are for the modern tech stack:
- Marketing automation
- CRM
- Financial management
- Inventory control
- Business intelligence tools
- Warehousing and logistic
- Communication and productivity management
The complexity of modern IT landscapes and the need for seamless connectivity between disparate systems makes integrations critical to any cloud ERP implementation.
One technology ecosystem with Celigo
What Celigo and NetSuite can look like for a retail business
Why NetSuite customers need iPaaS
- >Keep existing systems: They want to migrate to cloud ERP but keep their existing third-party solutions
- Automation: They don’t want to lose their competitive edge by getting mired down in time-consuming, manual processes.
- Custom solutions: They choose to go with a best-of breed third-party that better matches their unique operational needs.
- Customer experiences: They want to deliver exceptional customer experiences throughout the customer lifecycle
Yes, the ERP’s back-end functions will drive a business forward, but it's ERP system integration with the rest of the IT stack that is so tied to helping our customers achieve those specific organisational outcomes.
Becoming integration specialists
At Annexa, we no longer implement stand-alone NetSuite solutions, we have evolved into integration specialists, ensuring the right pieces are connected in the right way. Selecting a stable iPaaS solution was a critical decision for Annexa, and for our diverse customer base.
Where our integration journey began
In 2018, we developed our own in-house connector – AnnexaConnect - a low-code enterprise ready API solution - built and managed by Annexa for NetSuite customers, it offers
- Connectivity in days, not months
- Configuration without the need to write code
- Built for NetSuite, so no reliance on additional systems
- Trigger integration for easy access scheduled or real time data
- Flexible mapping to map key fields
- Advanced security with modern token based authentication
We also built pre-built NetSuite connectors for connecting the most common third-party systems used by our customers.
But as the number of essential solutions took off and business models and requirements diversified, AnnexaConnect was no longer the best fit for our more exponentially complicated customer tech stacks. ;
This prompted us undertake a thorough assessment of best-of-breed iPaaS solutions, with a goal of identifying the solution that would best serve the majority of our diverse customer base.
Our iPaaS vendor shortlist
- Boomi
- Jitterbit
- MuleSoft
- Celigo
- AnnexaConnect
Our iPaaS evaluation process
Hands-on approach | Constructed prototypes and developed rigorous testing against criteria to explore and understand each platform's functionality
Real-world simulations | Simulated onboarding of new customers and formation of project teams on each platform.
Performance-based ranking | Conducted thorough evaluations based on performance outcomes with each platform ranked according to its effectiveness in meeting our criteria.
Our evaluation criteria
The evaluation criteria consist of three main levels: the technology of the product, the product's capabilities, and the capabilities of our customers and Annexa's team.
Criteria 1: The integration technology
Platform infrastructure: Each product's approach, including on-premises, cloud-based, or hybrid models.
Extension capabilities: The programming languages supported for customising and extending functionalities.
Scalability and performance: Ability to scale and performance efficiency under various conditions.
User accessibility: The ease of use for different user profiles - technical, business, or both.
Security and compliance: How each platform manages sensitive data and controls user access/permissions.
Criteria 2: Product capabilities
Integration flows: Whether each product supports the desired integration complexity, including custom integrations, pre-built apps or templates
Integration types: The ability to handle integration methods, such as modern REST endpoints with specific or flexible authentication, FTP/File transfers, and EDI/XML formats
Management and deployment: The deployment options, update processes, and change management capabilities
Criteria 3: Customers, teams and vendor
Team integration and development: Based on the above we then evaluated the process of:
- Onboarding an existing technical team
- The feasibility of assembling a dedicated team
- The potential for our customers to independently manage or collaborate on the product
Educational support: Evaluated available educational resources and training programs .
The outcome of our evaluation process
At the end of this process, Celigo emerged as the preferred choice for our team and customer base, and a key solution to support our leading position in navigating industry transformations. Notably, we found that Celigo's user-friendly interface excelled at facilitating quick team onboarding and efficient solution delivery.
Our iPaaS evaluation takeaways
- While it may not be suitable to construct prototypes or even conduct rigorous testing, we suggest engaging directly with the platforms to assess their true capabilities against your specific criteria.
- Don't forget to evaluate potential iPaaS solutions on both their technological merits and how they fit within your broader ecosystem of operations, needs and team capabilities
- Selecting an iPaaS solution is as much about finding a technological solution as it is identifying a strategic partner
- And finally, look for a robust platform backed by support, training, and resources.
IPaaS deployments with Annexa customer Telegram
Since the evaluation process, Annexa have deployed a number of Celigo integration solutions for our customers. Below we highlight Telegram’s iPaaS journey, supported by Annexa.
About Telegram
Telegram was founded in 2008 and acquired by the Dymocks Group in 2015. Today, Telegram is a leading distributor of designer stationery, lifestyle, and personal products, boasting exclusive rights to over 30 brands including Moleskine, Lamy, Kinto, and Rifle. The development and distribution of its own brands, such as Milligram Studio, Any Day Now, and Addition Studio, further strengthen its market presence. Operating across the ANZ region with a revenue model encompassing wholesale, four B2C websites, and eight retail stores, Telegram has over 100 employees and a substantial operational footprint.
Telegram’s iPaaS evolution
To fuel their growth, Telegram initially established a direct integration from their Magento storefront to NetSuite via Celigo. As their needs evolved, they transitioned to Shopify, maintaining seamless communication between their eCommerce and backend systems through another Celigo integration. Further extending their capabilities, Telegram connected NetSuite with their parent company, the Dymocks Group, using Celigo. The Annexa team was engaged to refine these integrations, enhancing the impact of Celigo’s solutions. This resulted in:
- Simplified integration processes
- Enhanced system stability and the capacity for growth
- Uniform data across all platforms, improving inventory and financial accuracy
- Greater agility to meet changing market demands and embrace new technologies
What’s next for Telegram?
Looking to the future, Telegram aims to broaden its retail footprint and further integrate with the Dymocks Group, utilising Celigo to amplify their operational capabilities. This strategic vision, paired with an ongoing commitment to leveraging Celigo’s full potential, sets Telegram on a path of continuous growth and innovation.
Annexa, our customers and iPaaS
Our journey to iPaaS and its successful application in a number of NetSuite customer deployments has seen us named Celigo partner of the year for Australia and New Zealand in 2024. We are also proud to be Celigo Platinum Strategic Solution Partners – currently the only partner of this status in the ANZ region.
Considering iPaaS for your NetSuite ecosystem?
If your business has more complex integration needs, such as multiple stores or operations across various markets, we’d love to discuss how a Celigo iPaaS solution could provide your NetSuite platform with a more robust and scalable solution. Contact us online or on 1300 994 550.
