NetSuite Showcases AI — But Data Quality Will Decide the Results

A couple of months ago, I was invited to Oracle’s headquarters here in Israel to see how they’re integrating AI into NetSuite ERP. The room was completely packed — a testament to how hot this topic is right now.

Full disclosure: I’ve been a huge NetSuite fan since the first time I used it as a CFO back in 2011. Since then, I’ve led three major NetSuite implementations, so I’m hardly unbiased. I truly believe in the power of an integrated ERP.

The presentation itself highlighted how NetSuite is layering AI across their platform. They talked about a conversational chat interface on top of their BI tools, smarter document reading through OCR, and AI-driven improvements to NetSuite’s already powerful search.

While these are all strong additions, my sense is that NetSuite is still in the early stages of its AI evolution — with much more impactful deployments likely ahead. Given that Oracle (NetSuite’s parent company) has surged 38% this year — double SAP’s gains — it’s clear they’re positioning themselves well for the AI era. That’s why I believe NetSuite and Oracle will ultimately deliver exceptional AI tools, because AI paired with ERP is where the real value lies.

Here’s the core takeaway I think every executive should consider: AI is only as good as the data you feed it.

“Garbage in, garbage out” has never been more relevant. Right now, I don’t think AI is very good at “un-garbageing” data. If your records are inconsistent, fragmented across systems, or littered with human and design errors, even the smartest AI tools are going to struggle to deliver meaningful insights.

This is exactly why I’m such a strong advocate for centralized, all-in-one platforms. With an ERP like NetSuite, which ties together finance, inventory, CRM, HR, and operations, your data lives in a single ecosystem, connected and largely normalized by design. When AI starts probing it — asking, for example, “show me all customers with overdue invoices who also returned products last quarter” — you’re far more likely to get accurate, actionable answers.

By contrast, companies running Salesforce for CRM, QuickBooks for accounting, a separate HRIS, and a standalone BI tool face an uphill battle. They’re forced to normalize data across disconnected systems, each with its own quirks. Moving from “data everywhere” to “insights everywhere” is no small feat, no matter how many AI buzzwords get thrown around.

So the biggest lesson from NetSuite’s showcase wasn’t the flashy AI demos. It was a reminder of why platforms like NetSuite matter. If you want to truly capitalize on AI — to automate, discover trends, or simply ask smarter questions — it starts with having clean, connected, holistic data. That’s where the real magic will happen.