Why Finance Teams Still Leave NetSuite to Get Work Done

When we interviewed over a dozen finance teams, across industries and company sizes, a clear pattern emerged: finance work doesn't happen in a single system. Even with NetSuite as the ERP backbone, teams constantly jump between Salesforce for customer context, Slack for approvals, Drive for documentation, and spreadsheets to tie it all together.

The question isn't whether teams should consolidate into one system, it's whether their tools can work together automatically, meeting teams wherever they're most productive.

If NetSuite is designed to centralize and automate financial operations, why are teams still reaching for workarounds? The answer lies in the gaps left by partial automation and complex workflows.

Why Finance Teams Step Outside NetSuite

Across the interviews, we saw the same root causes again and again:

1. Partial automation leaves gaps.

NetSuite can trigger key steps like invoice creation or payment posting, but follow-up tasks such as overdue reminders, dispute resolution, or multi-step approvals often fall outside the system. Teams default to spreadsheets to track what’s still pending. Even simple NetSuite accounts receivable (AR) automation or NetSuite accounts payable (AP) automation isn’t always fully implemented, leaving teams to fill the gaps manually.

2. Complex customization slows adoption.

To truly match a team’s workflow, NetSuite often needs tailored automation or custom records. That takes developer time or consulting dollars, which many businesses can’t justify for every process. Without embedded ERP automation, teams piece things together elsewhere.

3. Reporting that feels “just out of reach.”

Some users told us they could build the report they wanted in NetSuite, eventually. But when a deadline looms, it’s faster to dump the data into Excel or pull quick updates from email threads.

“Finding the right report is a recurring self-discovery exercise—I redo it every month.” — Controller, Waste & Recycling

4. A comfort factor that’s hard to break.

Even veteran NetSuite users revert to spreadsheets or Slack for “control.” It feels faster to color-code a cell or ping a colleague than to configure a workflow.

The Risks of Workarounds

While workarounds feel convenient in the moment, they create hidden risks that compound over time:

Version control headaches: Multiple copies of data are found living in different systems.
Data silos: Insights gained outside NetSuite often never get logged back into the ERP, leaving gaps in the official system of record.
Error creep: Manual entry and copy-paste across tools introduces inconsistencies that ripple into reports.
Audit stress: Tracking who changed what, and when, becomes difficult outside the ERP.
Cross-system drag: Even when teams get the right answer, they still waste time navigating multiple systems just to update the source of truth.

One finance leader summed it up bluntly:

“Cross-system navigation wastes time; people aren’t sure which version is the latest.” — Finance Leader, SaaS

These risks undermine the value of finance automation and ERP automation, slowing decision-making and increasing operational friction.

The Human Cost

Beyond the operational risks, there's a personal toll. Finance teams describe feeling like "digital archaeologists"—constantly excavating data across systems instead of doing actual finance work. The repetitive tab-switching, the anxiety of missed updates, the late nights reconciling disconnected sources—it adds up to burnout and disengagement.

One AR specialist told us: "I spend so much time hunting for information that I barely have time to actually resolve issues. It's exhausting."

Closing the Gap With Embedded Automation

The solution isn't to ban spreadsheets or force everyone back into NetSuite. It's to embed intelligence directly where your team already works—whether that's NetSuite, Salesforce, or Slack—with no extra tabs, no new system to learn, and no disruption to existing workflows.

Legion connects NetSuite to your broader finance stack so you can work in your preferred tools while workflows execute automatically across all systems.

What this means for your team:

Work where you already work: Legion brings answers and actions directly into NetSuite, Salesforce, and Slack—no extra tabs, no context switching, no new system to learn.
AR automation: Stay on top of overdue invoices, streamline reminders, and keep every update in sync, across all your core systems.
AP automation: Accelerate approvals, notify stakeholders instantly, and update records automatically—without chasing details across tools.
Complete visibility: Get a single view of all AR, AP, and account data—no more toggling between apps to see the whole picture.
Orchestrated workflows: Surface exceptions and trigger next steps instantly, coordinating work across teams and platforms without disrupting routines.
Governed by design: Enforce NetSuite roles and permissions on every action, maintain full audit trails, and ensure compliance—without adding complexity.

When workflows span your entire stack automatically, you reduce risk, improve accuracy, and give your team back hours each week.

From Quick Wins to Enterprise Orchestration

Most teams start with Legion to solve an immediate pain point: faster collections, cleaner reconciliations, or shorter close cycles. Legion's prebuilt workflows deliver measurable results in under 30 days—guaranteed 25% faster or we refund your fees.¹

But Legion isn't just a NetSuite add-on—it's an agent orchestration platform that scales as your needs evolve. Start with AR/AP quick wins, then expand to custom workflows that orchestrate actions across finance, sales, and operations, all with the same enterprise-grade security trusted by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Why This Matters

Spreadsheets, chats, and side channels aren't a sign of laziness, they're a sign that teams need orchestration across their tools, not just better features in one system. Legion closes that gap by connecting NetSuite to your broader finance stack, enabling workflows that span multiple systems while maintaining governance, audit trails, and data integrity across all platforms.

The bottom line: Your team works faster, with less stress, and complete confidence in their data—whether they're in NetSuite, Salesforce, or Slack. No extra tabs. No disruption. Just finance work that flows.

We're so confident, we guarantee 25% faster workflows in 90 days or refund your fees.¹ Request a demo of Legion for NetSuite to see how you can spend less time in workarounds, and more time moving your business forward.

More AI for NetSuite Resources

^{¹ 25% workflow improvement guarantee applies to prebuilt Legion finance workflows (e.g., invoice lookup, reminder email drafting, Salesforce task creation, cross-system account views). Based on time saved vs. manual execution within NetSuite and connected systems. Results may vary depending on adoption and configuration. Refund eligibility requires completion of standard Legion implementation and training. Refund requests must be submitted in writing within 90 days of contract start date.}