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How to Connect Nanonets to NetSuite: A Complete Integration Guide

how to connect nanonets to netsuite: a complete integration guide

Nanonets is an AI-powered document processing platform built to eliminate manual work from accounts payable. It uses machine learning and OCR to extract structured data from invoices, receipts, purchase orders, and other financial documents, regardless of layout, vendor, or file format.

When integrated with NetSuite, Nanonets becomes an intelligent AP automation layer that accelerates invoice processing, improves accuracy, and strengthens financial controls without disrupting existing workflows.

What Nanonets Automates Across the AP Lifecycle

Nanonets is designed to handle the full invoice-to-posting cycle, not just data capture.

Intelligent Invoice Data Extraction

The platform automatically captures critical invoice fields, including:

  • Vendor details

  • Invoice numbers and dates

  • Line items and quantities

  • Tax, totals, and due dates

This works consistently across PDFs, scanned documents, emails, and digital invoices without requiring vendors to follow a standard template.

Automated PO Matching

Extracted invoice data is compared against open purchase orders in NetSuite. Mismatches are flagged immediately, allowing AP teams to focus only on exceptions rather than reviewing every invoice manually.

Smart GL Coding

Nanonets learns from historical transactions to auto-assign general ledger codes. Over time, the system improves accuracy, reducing rework and coding inconsistencies across entities.

Approval Routing Outside NetSuite

Invoices are routed to the right approvers via Slack, Microsoft Teams, or email. Approvers do not need NetSuite licenses, which lowers cost and speeds up approvals.

Two-Way Sync with NetSuite

Once validated, invoices are pushed directly into NetSuite as vendor bills—fully coded, approved, and audit-ready.

NetSuite-Specific Capabilities That Matter

Nanonets is not a generic OCR tool. Its NetSuite integration is built for real-world accounting complexity.

Key capabilities include:

  • Pre-built NetSuite connector using REST and SOAP APIs

  • Support for custom fields, custom records, and user-defined lists

  • Configurable sync frequency for near real-time processing

  • Multi-subsidiary and multi-currency support for NetSuite OneWorld

  • Detailed audit trails to support compliance and SOX requirements

Invoices are typically processed in under 12 seconds, making the solution suitable for high-volume AP environments where speed and accuracy are critical.

Why Nanonets + NetSuite Changes How AP Teams Operate

NetSuite’s native Bill Capture works for basic scenarios, but many finance teams outgrow it as invoice volume, vendor diversity, and compliance needs increase. Nanonets fills those gaps by automating the tasks that still require human effort in standard NetSuite setups.

Operational Efficiency Improvements

With Nanonets connected to NetSuite:

  • Manual data entry is largely eliminated

  • Invoice processing speeds increase by up to 10x

  • Duplicate payments and coding errors drop significantly

  • AP staff spend more time on exceptions, analysis, and vendor communication

  • NetSuite dashboards reflect real-time AP aging and liabilities

Instead of acting as data-entry clerks, AP teams serve as control points and decision-makers.

Financial Impact and ROI

The return on investment is typically clear within the first few months, especially for organizations processing more than 300 invoices per month.

Common outcomes include:

  • 50+ hours per month saved in AP processing time

  • Improved capture of early payment discounts due to faster cycle times

  • Lower audit and compliance costs through complete, searchable audit trails

In one remediation services use case, Nanonets achieved 98.9% data extraction accuracy while reducing invoice processing time by more than 90% compared to a manual workflow.

NetSuite Integration Architecture and API Requirements

A successful integration requires the right technical foundation inside NetSuite. Nanonets relies on NetSuite’s web services framework and must be configured correctly to ensure stable, secure data exchange.

Supported Integration Methods

NetSuite offers several API options:

  • REST Web Services (recommended)

  • SOAP Web Services via SuiteTalk

  • RESTlets for custom or edge-case requirements

Nanonets primarily uses REST Web Services for performance and scalability, with SOAP available as a fallback where needed.

Authentication Requirements

Integrating Nanonets with NetSuite requires Token-Based Authentication (TBA), which provides secure, non-interactive access not tied to user sessions. You’ll need the following four credentials generated through TBA:

  • Consumer Key

  • Consumer Secret

  • Token ID

  • Token Secret

This method ensures a higher level of security compared to basic username or password access.

Permission Configuration

Your integration role must be configured with specific permissions in NetSuite for the connection to function correctly. Set the following permissions to full or view/edit access:

Transactions permissions: Full access needed for creating and updating vendor bills.

Lists permissions: Full access to vendors, items, and employees.

Set up permissions: Full access to custom fields and integration features.

Custom Records permissions: View/edit access to support syncing of custom data

Preparing for Nanonets-NetSuite Integration

Preparation is key to a smooth implementation. Make sure you’ve defined clear objectives and confirmed your environment meets all technical requirements.

Define Integration Goals

Clarify what success looks like for your organization by answering these questions:

  • What invoice types should Nanonets handle (vendor bills, expense reports, credit memos)?

  • What approval rules or thresholds need to be respected?

  • Are there NetSuite custom fields that must sync?

  • How will your team handle exceptions?

Environment Checklist

  • REST Web Services enabled

  • Token-Based Authentication feature is turned on

  • Admin-level access for setup

  • Sandbox instance for safe testing

  • Active Nanonets account (Professional plan or higher is best)

  • Admin rights to manage integrations

  • A collection of 50 - 100 sample invoices to train the AI

Data Mapping Preparation: Build a data mapping spreadsheet that connects fields between platforms:

  • Nanonets extracted fields → NetSuite vendor bill fields

  • Vendor identifiers → NetSuite vendor record IDs

  • GL coding from Nanonets → NetSuite’s Chart of Accounts

  • Routing rules → NetSuite approval flows

Expect to spend 2 - 4 hours on this step - it will pay off by reducing errors later.

Step-by-Step: Setting Up Nanonets for NetSuite Now that you're prepped, you can begin the technical setup - starting in NetSuite.

Step 1: Enable NetSuite Features (30 Minutes) In NetSuite, go to the Setup menu → Company → Enable Features, then navigate to the SuiteCloud tab:

  • Check "REST Web Services"

  • Check "Token-Based Authentication"

  • Save your changes

These settings are required to allow API connections for Nanonets integration.

Step 2: Create Integration Record (20 Minutes) Under Setup → Integrations → Manage Integrations, create a new record:

  • Name it “Nanonets AP Automation.”

  • Enable Token-Based Authentication

  • Save the record

Once saved, a Consumer Key and Consumer Secret will appear - you *must* copy and store these immediately, as they won’t be viewable again.

Step 3: Create Integration Role (30 Minutes) Go to Setup → Users/Roles → Manage Roles and create a new role named “Nanonets Integration Role”:

  • Enable Web Services Only

  • Assign these permissions:

  • Transactions: Full access to Vendor Bills and Purchase Orders

  • Lists: Full access to Vendors, Items, Employees

  • Setup: Full access to Custom Fields and Integration

  • For NetSuite OneWorld accounts, set Accessible Subsidiaries to “All”

  • Save the role

Step 4: Generate Access Tokens (15 Minutes) Log in as (or create) the integration user. Under Setup → Users/Roles → Access Tokens, create a new token:

  • Select the Integration record and the corresponding user

  • Copy the Token ID and Token Secret - you won’t be able to retrieve them again

You now have all four credentials: Consumer Key, Consumer Secret, Token ID, Token Secret.

Step 5: Connect Nanonets to NetSuite (15 Minutes) In Nanonets, go to the Integrations area and choose NetSuite as the connection:

  • Input the Consumer Key, Consumer Secret, Token ID, and Token Secret

  • Enter your NetSuite Account ID (you can find this under Company Information)

  • Test the connection

Nanonets will confirm once authentication is successful.

Step 6: Configure Data Sync Settings (30 - 60 Minutes) With your connection established, tell Nanonets what to sync:

  • Vendors: Import active vendors from NetSuite

  • Chart of Accounts: Sync GL codes to enable automatic expense categorization

  • Purchase Orders: Turn on PO matching to support 2-way and 3-way matching flows

  • Custom Fields: Connect any necessary user-defined fields

Set a sync frequency appropriate to your business - whether real-time (for transactional data) or on a scheduled basis for reference data.

Implementing NetSuite-Side Automation. While Nanonets handles data extraction and pre-processing, NetSuite will manage the downstream automation - from creating transactions to triggering approval workflows.

Workflow Integration Options

NetSuite provides several automation paths that work seamlessly alongside Nanonets:

  • SuiteFlow workflows: Automatically trigger actions when vendor bills hit certain statuses

  • SuiteScript: Add custom rules for advanced logic needs

  • Scheduled scripts: Run large-volume operations in batches

In most cases, custom scripting isn't necessary - Nanonets manages the data capture, while NetSuite's built-in workflows handle downstream processing.

Error Handling Configuration

Set up error handling to catch and manage issues during integration:

  • Validation rules: Ensure essential fields are completed before a vendor bill is created

  • Duplicate detection: Alert users if an invoice matches one already entered

  • Exception routing: Route failed imports to appointed team members

  • Logging: Track sync activity for visibility and troubleshooting

Approval Workflow Setup

You can configure versatile approval flows using Nanonets' external approval features:

  • Define approval criteria (e.g., bills over $5,000 need CFO approval)

  • Connect approvers via Slack, Teams, or email

  • Set up escalation protocols for overdue approvals

  • Trigger final approvals in NetSuite after the external sign-off

This structure keeps approvers looped in without needing NetSuite licenses - saving costs, but keeping controls intact.

Testing and Validating Your Integration

Thorough testing ensures a smooth go-live. Spend time validating everything before moving to real invoice processing.

Test Environment Strategy Start in your NetSuite Sandbox environment:

  • Link Nanonets with the Sandbox first

  • Run 20 - 30 sample invoices through end-to-end processing

  • Confirm vendor bill data reflects correctly in NetSuite

  • Verify approval logic operates as expected

  • Use intentionally flawed invoices to verify error handling

Validation Checklist Before switching to production, ensure:

  • Invoice fields (vendor, amount, date, line items) extract correctly

  • PO matching finds the right purchase orders

  • GL codes align with the configured mapping

  • Approvals reach the correct people

  • Final vendor bills are complete in NetSuite

  • PDFs are correctly attached to vendor records

  • Exceptions are flagged and routed appropriately

Parallel Processing Period* Run Nanonets side-by-side with your manual process for 1 - 2 weeks:

  • Process invoices through both systems

  • Compare outcomes for accuracy

  • Log and investigate any inconsistencies

  • Refine your configuration as needed

This phased approach boosts team trust and helps catch edge cases before full deployment.

Maintaining and Optimizing Your Integration

Even post-launch, your integration needs attention to keep up with changes in your business.

Ongoing Monitoring: Build a review cadence to stay ahead of issues:

  • Weekly: Inspect exception cases flagged by AI for trends

  • Monthly: Examine processing performance (accuracy, speed, exception rates)

  • Quarterly: Update GL code mapping if your Chart of Accounts changes

  • Annually: Revisit approval thresholds and team assignments

Performance Optimization: Optimize the setup over time using these strategies:

  • Retrain the AI by uploading new invoice layouts as vendors change templates

  • Fine-tune PO matching rules to reduce unnecessary exceptions

  • Incrementally automate additional documents, like expense reports or credits

  • Monitor system health regularly to catch API timeouts or sync delays

User Training: Empower your team to use the tools effectively:

  • Show AP teams how to manage invoice exceptions using Nanonets

  • Train approvers to use Slack or mobile approval flows

  • Document all steps for onboarding new vendors or setting up new GL codes

  • Define escalation channels for technical problems

Expanding Your NetSuite Integration Ecosystem

Nanonets is just one part of your broader NetSuite automation strategy. Many organizations integrate NetSuite with other platforms to drive full-scale efficiency.

Complementary Integrations* Here are additional ways to extend your setup:

  • E-commerce: Link BigCommerce or SuiteCommerce to sync orders

  • CRM: Integrate customer data from tools like Salesforce or HubSpot

  • Payments: Automate with platforms that execute vendor payments

  • Shipping: Sync fulfillment operations with warehouse tools

Integration Platform Options. As complexity grows, middleware tools can help:

  • Celigo: Prebuilt connectors for over 200 NetSuite-compatible apps

  • Boomi: Enterprise-level integration with robust logic control

  • Zapier/Make: Simplified automation for smaller workflows

Platforms like these offer better orchestration and scalability beyond direct connections like Nanonets.

Working With NetSuite Integration Partners: Deploying Nanonets with NetSuite has its complexities - working with experienced NetSuite experts can accelerate the process.

Integration partners bring deep NetSuite understanding across sectors like manufacturing, distribution, and retail. They support you from initial config and workflow design through long-term optimization - based on proven methods from similar implementations.

When choosing an netsuite integration partner, it’s important to work with an Oracle NetSuite Alliance Partner that has a proven history in your industry, a practical approach that avoids overcomplicating the process, and offers long-term support that can evolve alongside your business.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a Nanonets-NetSuite integration take to implement?

Typical implementations for mid-sized businesses range from 1 to 2 weeks. If you're dealing with a simpler use case - standard invoice types and one or two vendors - you might be up and running in just 3 to 5 days. On the other end, more complex setups with multiple subsidiaries and a lot of custom fields can take 3 to 4 weeks. Timing largely depends on how complex your data mapping is, the workflows needed for approvals, and how much testing is involved.

What happens if Nanonets extracts data incorrectly?

Nanonets has built-in confidence scoring for extracted data. If the platform is unsure about certain fields, it flags those for human review before syncing them into NetSuite. You set the confidence threshold that decides when a document should go to review versus getting processed automatically. As you review and fix errors, the AI learns from your corrections and quickly improves - most organizations go from about 85% to over 97% accuracy within the first month.

Can Nanonets handle invoices from vendors with different formats?

Yes. The AI-powered system adapts to any invoice format - whether it's a PDF, a scanned copy, or a digital document. Unlike template-based systems that need manual setup for every vendor, Nanonets recognizes document patterns and automatically adjusts to different formats. If you’re managing 50+ vendors, you can expect consistent performance regardless of formatting differences.

Do approvers need NetSuite licenses to approve invoices?

No. Invoice approvals can be done directly from Slack, Microsoft Teams, email, or mobile devices - without needing a NetSuite license. Approvers get the invoice details and can approve, reject, or ask for more info right from the message. This helps you control approval workflows without adding extra licensing costs.

What level of technical expertise is required for ongoing maintenance?

Most of the day-to-day tasks don’t require much technical knowledge. Your AP team can manage exceptions using the Nanonets interface, and invoice approvers will use familiar platforms like Slack or email. Technical input might be needed monthly to adjust GL mappings, tweak workflows, or troubleshoot integration issues, but these are not daily occurrences. After the initial setup and training, most teams handle ongoing operations with their existing staff.