Choosing an ERP system for a life sciences company means deciding how finance, procurement, inventory, and quality processes will work as the business grows.
A biotech preparing for commercial launch may need stronger financial controls and consolidated reporting. A CDMO may need project costs tracked by sponsor. A medical device company may need lot traceability and better supplier oversight. Each business has different requirements, so the right NetSuite setup starts with how the company operates.
This guide explains what NetSuite can support across finance, procurement, inventory, quality, and reporting, what to plan during implementation, and how to evaluate a life sciences implementation partner.
Why life sciences companies choose NetSuite
As life sciences companies grow, their financial and operational needs become more complex. They may add legal entities, work with contract research organizations (CROs) and contract manufacturers (CMOs), expand their supplier networks, or prepare for commercial launch.
NetSuite can bring core financial and operational records into one ERP environment. Teams can manage accounting, purchasing, inventory, approvals, and reporting using shared data and defined workflows.
The value depends on how the system is configured. A clinical-stage biotech, a CDMO, a specialty pharmacy, and a medical device manufacturer may all use NetSuite, but their processes and reporting needs will differ.
What NetSuite should support in life sciences
A well-planned NetSuite environment connects daily business activity with financial reporting and operational oversight.
| Operating area | What NetSuite can support | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and close | Multi-entity accounting, consolidation, accruals, fixed assets, and financial reporting | Helps finance teams report performance to leadership, investors, and auditors |
| Procurement | Vendor records, purchase orders, approvals, invoice capture, and payment workflows | Supports spending controls and documented purchasing decisions |
| Inventory and supply chain | Item records, lot tracking, locations, costing, and 3PL integrations | Supports inventory visibility, traceability, and financial accuracy |
| Quality and compliance | Configured workflows, approval history, documentation, and exception records | Helps teams maintain consistent records for regulated processes |
| Revenue and commercial operations | Billing, revenue recognition, and relevant gross-to-net data | Supports financial reporting as commercial activity grows |
| Reporting | Dashboards, financial statements, and operational KPIs | Gives leadership a clearer view of business performance |
The implementation should also define how NetSuite connects with external systems and partners. For example, a company may need to exchange inventory data with a 3PL or coordinate financial records with manufacturing partners. The aim is to make sure the ERP reflects the way the business operates, including activities that take place outside its own facilities.
How NetSuite supports financial controls
For CFOs and Controllers, an ERP implementation is an opportunity to improve how financial activity is recorded, reviewed, and reported.
NetSuite can support standardized account structures, approval workflows, role-based access, multi-entity consolidation, and financial reporting. These capabilities help teams establish consistent processes as the organization grows.
Consider a purchase made by a clinical operations team. The request may need to follow a budget, route to an authorized approver, and connect to a purchase order and invoice. When those steps are configured in the system, finance can review spending commitments and approval records alongside the related transactions.
Companies preparing for an audit, financing event, acquisition, or public listing may also need to strengthen segregation of duties and other financial controls. The specific design should reflect the company's reporting obligations, risk profile, and internal policies.
A useful implementation goal is to reduce manual reconciliation and make it easier for finance leaders to understand cash, liabilities, commitments, and performance across entities.
Plan compliance and quality workflows early
Life sciences companies should identify which ERP processes support regulated activities before configuration begins.
For electronic records and signatures covered by FDA requirements, 21 CFR Part 11 may apply. The relevant controls depend on the records maintained and how the system is used. Companies should define their intended use, access requirements, audit trail needs, procedures, and validation approach.
NetSuite can support parts of these processes through roles, permissions, transaction history, and configured workflows. Additional controls or specialized modules may be needed for particular regulated uses.
Archer has a separate guide to what 21 CFR Part 11 requires from an ERP system.
The important implementation decision is to involve Quality, IT, and the relevant business owners early. This gives the team time to define requirements, test workflows, and document how the configured system supports its intended use.
Plan inventory and supply chain around your business model
Inventory requirements vary across life sciences.
A medical device company may need lot or serial number traceability. A CDMO may need to track materials by sponsor or manufacturing project. A specialty pharmacy may need specific inventory reporting and integrations with logistics partners.
NetSuite supports inventory records, locations, costing, and lot tracking. The item structure, transaction flows, and integrations should be designed around how materials move through the business.
For companies that rely on CMOs, CDMOs, CROs, or 3PLs, implementation planning should also define which system owns each record and how information is exchanged. This helps connect purchasing, inventory, production, and financial reporting without assuming that every operational process takes place inside the ERP.
What to plan during implementation
A life sciences NetSuite implementation should involve the teams responsible for the processes and records the system will support.
| Phase | Key activities | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery and planning | Map current processes, requirements, entities, reports, and integrations | Finance, Quality, Procurement, and Operations have defined their needs |
| System design | Configure roles, workflows, records, and reporting | The design reflects the intended operating model |
| Data migration | Prepare vendor, item, customer, account, and transaction data | Records are accurate and ready for use |
| Testing and validation | Test business scenarios, permissions, reports, integrations, and exceptions | Important workflows work as intended and results are documented |
| Go-live and support | Train users, transition operations, and review system performance | Ownership and ongoing change management are defined |
Planning for ongoing governance is also important. Roles, integrations, workflows, master data, and reports may change as the business grows. Establishing clear ownership helps keep the system aligned with business needs.
How to choose a NetSuite implementation partner
The implementation partner should understand both NetSuite and the way your company operates.
When evaluating partners, ask:
- Have they worked with companies at a similar stage of growth?
- Can they explain how they approach financial controls and multi-entity reporting?
- Do they understand the relevant quality, inventory, and regulatory workflows?
- How do they handle data migration, testing, and validation support?
- Can they support integrations with your CMOs, CDMOs, CROs, or 3PLs?
- What support is available after go-live?
Industry experience can help the project team identify requirements earlier and make design decisions that fit the business. The right partner should be able to explain its approach, provide relevant examples, and define the responsibilities of both teams.
How Archer Insights supports life sciences companies
Archer Insights focuses exclusively on health and life sciences. Our work centers on configuring NetSuite around the financial, operational, and regulatory needs of organizations such as biotech and biopharma companies, CDMOs, CROs, medical device manufacturers, and specialty pharma businesses.
Our services include NetSuite implementation, compliance and validation support, and purpose-built solutions for processes such as approved supplier list, vendor onboarding, invoice capture, contract lifecycle management, electronic signatures, and 3PL integrations.
The starting point is understanding how your company works today and what it needs to support next. From there, the implementation can be designed around the records, approvals, integrations, and reporting your teams rely on.
For more detail on planning for growth, read Scaling Systems in Life Science: From Lab Bench to Commercial Launch.
FAQs
Is NetSuite a good ERP for biotech companies?
NetSuite can support biotech finance, multi-entity accounting, procurement, inventory, and reporting. The right setup depends on the company's stage, operating model, integrations, and regulatory needs.
Can NetSuite support 21 CFR Part 11 requirements?
NetSuite can support relevant processes through appropriate configuration, electronic signature controls, procedures, and validation. Companies should assess which records fall within scope and document how the system supports its intended use.
Which integrations should a life sciences company plan for?
Common integrations include 3PL and manufacturing partner systems, invoice processing, banking, expense management, contract systems, and reporting tools. The required integrations depend on the company's operations and existing technology.
When should a life sciences company implement NetSuite?
Companies often evaluate NetSuite when they add entities, prepare for commercial launch, expand procurement, need more detailed financial reporting, or manage increasingly complex inventory and operational processes.
What is important for a successful implementation?
A clear business design is essential. Finance, Quality, Procurement, IT, Supply Chain, and Operations should define their requirements, responsibilities, data needs, and testing expectations before go-live.