The NetSuite 2025.1 update comes with detailed release notes, but some of the most important changes aren't immediately obvious. Our team has been thoroughly examining this update to uncover what's between the lines.
Whether you've already updated or are preparing to do so, understanding these less-obvious changes is crucial for keeping your business running smoothly, finding new ways to improve your processes, and staying ahead of competitors.
To access the official release notes for reference:
- Log in to your NetSuite account.
- On the Home dashboard, navigate to Support > Click on Go to SuiteAnswers.
- On SuiteAnswers, place the cursor over the 3 dashes (≡) icon right before "SuiteAnswers", then click "NetSuite Release Notes" (Alternatively, search for "31712" or "2025.1 Release Notes").
- In the NetSuite 2025.1 Release Notes article, locate the link to the PDF version of the 2025.1 Release Notes.
After extensive testing and analysis, here are the five key areas that might impact your NetSuite experience and the opportunities they present.
Customization Changes Worth Checking
Like any big NetSuite update, version 2025.1 modernizes some behind-the-scenes stuff that might affect your custom setup.
Take a close look at your saved searches that use certain fields. Things like revenue fields and customer communication preferences still look the same on screen but work differently underneath. If you don't check these ahead of time, your reports might show weird results.
The good news? Fixing these issues is pretty straightforward if you spot them early. These updates actually make NetSuite more secure and faster, even though they don't get much attention in the release notes.
Smart companies will use these improvements to their advantage rather than just dealing with them after problems pop up.
Key areas to review:
1. Script updates:
- SuiteScript 2.1 now requires "use strict" mode (2025.1 Release Notes, SuiteScript section). Scripts without this might start behaving unexpectedly after the update.
- The old getRecordType() method is gone now - you'll need to update your scripts to use getType() instead.
- Search formulas work differently now and handle complex expressions better, but you'll need to check any advanced searches.
- If you're using RESTlets, note that basic auth is being phased out, with OAuth 2.0 becoming required.
Saved search tweaks:
- Searches using inactive fields now show warnings instead of silently including problematic data.
- The "anyof" and "noneof" operators got an upgrade for better performance with multi-select fields.
- Complex searches with more than three joins need optimization to run well.
- Financial report filters handle intercompany transactions better, making consolidated reports more accurate.
Record behavior changes:
- Empty strings and NULL values now work the same way across all record types.
- Field dependencies flow correctly through standard and custom records.
- Conditional field display now supports more complex conditions based on multiple values.
Quick tip for everyone: Before the NetSuite 2025.1 update, export your important reports to Excel. After updating, run the same reports again and compare the numbers. This simple check can catch any differences early.
Checklist for system administrators:
- Review search-based reports and dashboards.
- Check custom scripts for compatibility.
- Test workflow triggers to ensure they still activate correctly.
- Document how your custom fields work together.
Technical Details for Administrators and Developers
For technical teams who need specific implementation details, below are the exact compatibility issues we've identified:
1. SuiteScript 2.x API changes:
- The Ext JS library has been removed in 2025.1 (SuiteScript section), which may break external references to it after upgrading.
- Script audience settings now separate internal and external roles into two different multiselect fields (SuiteScript section).
- Additional changes to hidden files affect Error.stack properties and functionName.toString() methods (SuiteScript section).
2. Saved search compatibility issues:
- The new HTML Formulas in Search feature (SuiteAnalytics section) requires Administrator role to assign permissions, improving security but potentially affecting existing saved searches.
- NetSuite.com data source support is ending, with complete removal scheduled for 2026.1 (SuiteAnalytics section).
- Group email functionality has changed - reports can now be sent to individual group members (SuiteAnalytics section).
3. Custom field behavior changes:
- Text Enhance feature has been added to custom Long Text, Text Area, and Rich Text field types (SuiteBuilder-Customization section).
- The BFO library for Advanced PDF/HTML Templates has been updated to version 1.2.10 with enhanced security features (SuiteBuilder-Customization section).
- Prompt Studio integration allows for custom Text Enhance actions specific to custom fields (SuiteBuilder-Customization section).
Connection Improvements and Considerations
The 2025.1 update brings significant improvements to how NetSuite connects with other systems. As NetSuite upgrades its connection tools, some existing integrations may need adjustments to take advantage of these improvements.
It's important to note that some of these new connectors (e.g., Shopify B2B Connector) may require additional licenses or subscriptions beyond your standard NetSuite account, so be sure to check licensing requirements before planning your implementation.
New Connection Tools and What to Watch For
NetSuite's 2025.1 release (NetSuite Connector section, March 24, 2025) introduces three new official connectors:
- Shopify B2B Connector: Supports order syncs, fulfillments, invoice posting, and payment handling for B2B selling. The release notes specifically highlight functionality for "Invoice Posting," "Subsequent Payment Handling," and "B2B Synchronisation."
- Oracle Simphony Connector: Creates daily invoice records from Simphony point-of-sale systems. Key benefits listed in the release notes include "accurate transaction records," simplified finance operations, and "minimal support and maintenance."
- Saved Search Export SuiteApp: Exports saved search data in structured formats with multiple authentication options. Features include third-party server integration, file cabinet storage, and flexible file types.
All connectors require additional licensing through your Account Manager as stated in the release notes.
After updating, verify your data flows, test system performance under load, check error handling, and monitor connection logs for issues.
Workflow Opportunities and Upgrades
The 2025.1 update significantly improves NetSuite's workflow capabilities. Multi-step approval processes that were overly complex before can now be streamlined considerably.
Manufacturing Process Improvements
This update brings several exciting enhancements for manufacturing businesses:
- Better production sequencing: New bin selection options in the Manufacturing Mobile SuiteApp give you more flexibility when scheduling production steps.
- New production scheduling tool: The Manufacturing Scheduler SuiteApp (2025.1 Release Notes) provides a visual interface to manage work center tasks, identify bottlenecks, and easily reassign operations. Note: This replaces the Manufacturing Task Scheduler, which retires October 7, 2025.
- Automatic serial numbers: Generate customized GS1 format serial numbers automatically through the new label printing features.
Month-end process improvement possibilities:
- Automated account reconciliation
- Streamlined approvals
- Better exception handling
- Simplified financial reporting
Workflows most likely to need attention:
- Approval processes with multiple conditions
- Actions triggered by custom field changes
- Email notifications with dynamic content
- Workflows using older configuration methods
For process owners:
- Identify complex workflows that could be simplified
- Test approval processes with different scenarios
- Verify that email notifications work correctly
- Look for opportunities to combine steps
Interface Changes and Adjustment Period
The 2025.1 update continues the rollout of NetSuite's modern "Redwood" interface design. Our usability testing shows that teams typically experience a 1-2 week adjustment period as they get used to the new layout.
The new interface ultimately improves usability, but this transition period requires some preparation to minimize disruption.
New Areas with Updated Design
The modern interface has expanded to include:
- Reports and analytics pages
- Email templates and file storage
- Help center and setup areas
- Time tracking features
- Settings panels and printing screens
Our usability testing shows it takes users about 5-7 business days to become comfortable with the new layout. Creating simple guides showing before-and-after screenshots of common tasks has proven extremely helpful during this transition.
Some of the most noticeable changes include:
- Relocated search functions
- Updated dashboard customization options
- Redesigned report creation tools
- Changed navigation for transaction pages
The good news is that once users adapt, many hidden improvements become apparent. Enhanced keyboard shortcuts, better filtering options, and a more intuitive search builder can actually boost productivity.
Tips for a smooth transition:
- Create simple guides highlighting key changes.
- Hold brief daily check-ins during the first week for questions.
- Show team members how to customize their experience.
- Focus training on the tasks people do most frequently.
Performance Considerations and AI Enhancements
The 2025.1 update generally improves overall system performance, but some existing reports and processes might need adjustment to run optimally.
New AI Features That Can Help
NetSuite 2025.1 introduces several AI-powered features to improve efficiency:
- Automated text generation: The new Prompt Studio tool (2025.1 Release Notes, Account Setup and Maintenance section) lets you create and manage AI prompts for text generation across NetSuite. This feature requires Administrator access and is only available for accounts where NetSuite supports generative AI.
- Customizable AI assistants: Text Enhance actions can now be fully customized through Prompt Studio, enabling you to tailor AI assistance to specific business needs. You can define what actions are available, which prompts are attached to each action, and control access through the new AI Preferences page (Setup > Company > AI > AI Preferences).
- Developer AI integration: New SuiteScript Generative AI APIs allow developers to incorporate AI capabilities into custom applications. These tools include usage limits and monitoring through the AI Preferences page, available only to Administrator roles.
The most common performance areas to check include:
- Complex searches with multiple relationships
- Reports that access large amounts of transaction data
- Scheduled processes running during busy periods
- Dashboards that load many real-time components
Quick ways to improve performance:
- Update searches to use indexed fields when possible
- Add appropriate result limits to large reports
- Schedule resource-intensive processes during quiet periods
- Split complex dashboards into simpler views
Tax and Financial Feature Improvements
NetSuite 2025.1 brings valuable updates to tax handling and financial operations that many businesses will benefit from:
- Combined service and expense handling: New SuiteTax preferences allow grouping similar time items and expenses on transactions (2025.1 Taxation section).
- Better invoice processing: Bill Capture now features improved duplicate detection and template support. Note: Available in UK only with SuiteTax Engine; not supported for India or LATAM.
- Region-specific tax improvements: Enhanced tax reporting for Brazil, Germany, Spain, and UK. US users can now use the Sales Tax Reports SuiteApp with single-instance deployments.
- Vendor payment management: New Vendor Payment Instruments feature for managing bank details directly on vendor profiles - especially useful for multi-entity businesses.
If your business deals with complex taxation or manages multiple entities, these updates are particularly valuable but easy to overlook.
After Updating: First Week Checklist
Our analysis shows that 80% of issues appear within the first week after updating. Here are the essential checks to perform immediately.
These checks will help you identify and address common issues before they affect your business operations. Consider documenting what you find to create a personalized checklist for future updates.
Making the Most of NetSuite 2025.1
NetSuite 2025.1 brings powerful new features that can really boost your business - if you know how to use them right. The key is figuring out which updates matter most for your specific operation.
Waiting too long to tackle these changes often creates headaches later. Companies that move quickly gain an edge by putting these improvements to work before their competitors.
Ready to turn these updates into real business wins? Our NetSuite experts can show you exactly which 2025.1 features will create the most value for your business. Skip the frustrating trial and error and avoid expensive disruptions.
Need help reviewing your customizations or running a test cycle? Schedule your free NetSuite assessment with Stockton10 today and get a clear plan to see results faster.
