By Chad Bowe, Marketing Director @ Millennium Business Solutions Group, Inc.
Why Small Businesses Under $10 Million Are Rethinking Their Tech Stack
For small businesses, every dollar and every hour counts. Many companies under $10 million in annual revenue find themselves juggling multiple software tools—one for sales, another for marketing, a third for customer service, and yet another for accounting. This patchwork approach often leads to inefficiency, data silos, and unnecessary costs.
NetSuite offers an alternative: a unified, cloud-based platform that brings sales, marketing, CRM, inventory, and financials together in one place. This article explains how NetSuite can be used by small businesses, what kind of ROI is realistic, and why it’s worth considering as a replacement for multiple disconnected systems.
The Problem with Multiple Systems
Many small businesses use a combination of QuickBooks for accounting, HubSpot or Mailchimp for marketing, and a separate CRM for sales. While each tool may be effective on its own, integrating them is often a challenge. Data gets duplicated, reporting is inconsistent, and teams spend time reconciling information instead of serving customers or growing the business.
Common frustrations with this approach:
· Manual data entry between systems, leading to errors
· Delays in reporting and decision-making due to inconsistent data
· Extra costs for software licenses, integrations, and IT support
· Difficulty tracking the full customer journey from lead to sale to support
How NetSuite Solves These Challenges
NetSuite is an all-in-one business management platform. For small businesses, this means:
· Sales, marketing, CRM, inventory, and accounting are all connected.
· Data flows automatically from one process to the next—no manual re-entry.
· Real-time dashboards and reporting provide a single source of truth for the entire business.
· No need for separate subscriptions to HubSpot, Mailchimp, or standalone CRMs.
Here are a few common tools that NetSuite can help eliminate:
· Hubspot – CRM, Email campaigns & audience segmentation
· Constant Contact – Email campaigns & audience segmentation
· MailChimp – Email campaigns & audience segmentation
· Salesforce – CRM and sales tracking
· ServiceNow – Basic support ticketing and service management
· Workday – Financials and workforce planning
· QuickBooks – Accounting (already mentioned)
If your business has basic sales, marketing, support, and finance needs, NetSuite may replace these tools entirely—simplifying your tech stack and cutting costs.
Example: A small furniture distributor previously used QuickBooks for accounting, Mailchimp for email marketing, and a basic CRM for sales. Each month, the team spent hours exporting and importing data to reconcile sales with marketing campaigns and financials. After moving to NetSuite, all customer and sales data is in one place. Marketing emails are sent directly from NetSuite, and sales results are tracked automatically. The finance team can see the impact of marketing campaigns on revenue in real time, without waiting for manual reports.
ROI and Tangible Benefits
1. Cost Savings By consolidating software, small businesses can eliminate multiple monthly subscriptions and reduce IT overhead. There’s no need to pay for separate marketing, CRM, and accounting tools.
2. Improved Efficiency Automated workflows reduce manual entry and the risk of errors. Teams spend less time on administrative tasks and more time on activities that drive growth.
3. Better Decision-Making With all data in one system, CEOs and CFOs get real-time visibility into sales, marketing performance, inventory, and financials. This enables faster, more informed decisions.
4. Enhanced Customer Experience Sales, marketing, and support teams have access to the same customer records. This means faster response times, more personalized service, and fewer dropped balls.
5. Scalability NetSuite is designed to grow with your business. As you add new products, channels, or locations, the system adapts—no need for a disruptive software switch later.
Real-World Example
A small wholesale distributor with $7 million in annual revenue was using three separate systems for sales, marketing, and accounting. The CEO reported frequent issues with duplicate data, missed follow-ups, and slow month-end closes. After implementing NetSuite:
· The company reduced software costs by 30% by eliminating redundant tools.
· Month-end close time dropped from 10 days to 3 days.
· Sales and marketing teams could track campaign ROI directly in the system.
· Customer response times improved, leading to higher repeat business.
NetSuite vs. Other ERPs
Some small businesses consider entry-level ERPs or point solutions. These often require add-ons or integrations to match NetSuite’s functionality. For example, a basic ERP may not include marketing automation or advanced CRM features, forcing companies to keep using tools like Mailchimp or HubSpot. This adds complexity and cost.
NetSuite’s all-in-one approach means everything is included and designed to work together. There’s no need to worry about integration failures or data mismatches.
The Value of a True ERP Partner
Selecting the right software is only half the battle—successful implementation is where the real value is unlocked. This is where having an experienced ERP partner makes all the difference. Unlike large software retailers who may simply sell you a license and move on, a dedicated ERP partner like Millennium Business Solutions Group is with you every step of the way.
We don’t believe in cookie-cutter implementations. Our team takes the time to understand your business processes, challenges, and goals. We design and customize your NetSuite environment so it fits your unique needs—not the other way around. Our approach is hands-on: we handle the sale, the implementation, the training, and the ongoing support.
After go-live, we remain engaged, supporting your team and your environment as your business evolves. Whether it’s troubleshooting, optimizing workflows, or helping you adapt to new market demands, we’re invested in your long-term success. This level of partnership ensures your ERP system isn’t just installed—it’s fully adopted, embraced by your team, and delivering measurable results.
Key Takeaways
· NetSuite consolidates sales, marketing, CRM, inventory, and accounting into a single platform.
· Small businesses can reduce costs, improve efficiency, and make better decisions with real-time data.
· Eliminating manual entry and disconnected systems leads to faster growth and a better customer experience.
· NetSuite’s scalability ensures your investment will support your business as it grows.
· You may no longer need tools like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Workday, or QuickBooks.