The team at SME Today are thrilled to share that we are media guests in Las Vegas this week, having been invited by Oracle for their annual NetSuite conference.

NetSuite was the world’s first Cloud computing software company and offers a flexible solution designed for business which integrates many functions including financial management, inventory and supply chain management, CRM and more functions.

It’s very well known in the USA and is making inroads into the UK market too. It’s 27 years old and has its HQ in Austin, Texas. Oracle acquired the company almost ten years ago.

This week, its CEO Evan Goldberg will be revealing what’s said to be the biggest development for the software since its inception in 1998. We’ll be reporting on that and also interviewing at least one business owner about their business and how tech has helped them to grow and scale their business.

The annual conference for NetSuite is vast, with 1000s of attendees making it an overwhelming experience for those who have not visited previously. There are workshops and keynote speakers every day across all areas of technology, covering all sectors and very specific changes. There’s a huge expo where aligned brands and sponsors present their wares to the delegates. Entertainment is provided and a podcast is recorded on site, not to mention the DJ in the lobby.

For the media, there’s access to top Oracle and NetSuite executives and this year the press pack numbers around 75 journalists and influencers, about 12 media outlets from the UK of which we are one. Many are from the USA but other countries are also represented.

NetSuite’s top four territories are the USA (by far the biggest portion of its business comes from its home country), the UK, Australia and Canada and the company has, at last count, around 43,000 customers in the small to medium sized business space (and larger). It has an ethos known as ‘SuiteSuccess’ which explains that its software is ‘a customer lifecycle methodology…to help businesses scale and adapt to change’…

The pricing of NetSuite software varies depending on the functions a business requires. However, the investment needed per month means most of its customers will be the ‘larger’ small businesses rather than start-ups or micro businesses. This brand is not in the £200 to £300 plus VAT per month space.

Given the experiences of the team behind NetSuite and the fact it’s been developed with 1000s of customers over almost three decades, the software adapts readily into the functions needed which are particular to distinct sectors. This includes manufacturing, IT, food & drink, retail and financial services. Customers can add ‘bolt ons’ to their technology as they grow – which is the reason many stick with the brand because it’s easy to add more functionality quickly, when needed. There are also IT companies in the UK which act as partners offering the NetSuite software.

Each year, the conference announces new functions and new features, new partners and also offers a showcase for NetSuite users to come and meet up face to face and really be part of the NetSuite family with numerous networking opportunities. Fnd out more about NetSuite.

Report by Fiona Scott