2 NetSuite API Integration Strategies You Wish You Knew Sooner

May 2, 2024 4 min read

Are you starting an API integration with NetSuite? Brace yourself—it’s not always straightforward. As one of the most robust ERP platforms available today, NetSuite can transform how businesses operate.

But tapping into its full potential through API integration is often easier said than done.

In this article, we’ll dive into five essential lessons you wish someone had told you before you began your Netsuite API integration journey. These insights will save you time and help you avoid the common setbacks many face when navigating the complexities of NetSuite’s APIs.

For instance, consider the costly error shared by Satva Solutions, where a simple oversight in NetSuite Sales Order API integration led to significant discrepancies and lost hours in debugging and corrections. This example underlines the fact that mistakes in API integration can have steep consequences.

Now, let’s deep dive into those lessons and uncover the truth about how hard and painful NetSuite API integration can be.

Netsuite API integration with your platform

Thinking REST is Easier? Think Again

NetSuite, as a cloud-based ERP system, offers several APIs each suited for different use cases, which makes it highly customizable but also adds to the complexity of integration.

The right choice isn’t always clear-cut, as each method—from SuiteTalk and SuiteScript to RESTlets, SuiteQL, and SFTP—brings a unique blend of features and potential intricacies in integration.

Let’s understand what are the advantages of SOAP services over REST, specifically in the context of NetSuite API integration.

1. SOAP vs REST :

1.1 NetSuite SOAP API’s Advantage:

Despite its age and being less modern compared to REST APIs, NetSuite SOAP API is more reliable for certain operations, especially for writing data into NetSuite. This contrasts with the common belief that modern REST APIs are always superior.

1.2 Comprehensive Access with SOAP:

The Netsuite SOAP API provides access to all fields in a request, unlike the REST API which may have limitations in accessing some record fields, thus showcasing better integration capability in some scenarios.

1.3 Most Important Handling Complex Data Transactions:

SOAP supports bulk creation or update requests, which can help manage API rate limiting by allowing operations on many records in a single request. Check here for detailed issues on limitations enforced.

1.4 Using the SOAP API:

custom records or fields can be integrated, which is crucial for businesses needing tailored integration solutions.

In this case, it seems SOAP is the winner, if you are a software developer then you should read this guide on How to Create SOAP Web Service Using WSDL in .NET Core

2. REST APIs use HATEOAS, which is an inefficient way to do the integration

It can slow things down because you often have to make several follow-up requests to get all the information you need.

What is HATEOAS?

As per Wikipedia, HATEOAS is a principle used in building RESTful web services. It makes applications work like web pages: each response from the server contains links to other actions available at that time. This means clients can dynamically navigate to different parts of the application without needing pre-programmed logic.

In other words, HATEOAS-based REST API doesn’t return all one meaningful JSON for the Sales order object, rather it returns just basic information and then gives you HyperLinks for more detailed information.

When you run a query, it only gives you the record IDs and links for further details (HATEOAS), not the full details of the records. You can only use the main parts of the records (body fields) for filtering in queries.

For example, if you query the NetSuiteREST API for a specific sales order, the API response would not only return the sales order details but also include hyperlinks to related actions that can be performed on that sales order. These actions might include updating the sales order, deleting it, or viewing related records like customer details or shipment tracking.

Here’s a simplified example of How a REST API response might look in JSON format:

{
	  "id": "12345",
	  "orderDate": "2024-01-01",
	  "status": "Pending",
	  "_links": {
		"self": {
		  "href": "https://api.netsuite.com/v1/salesorder/12345"
		},
		"update": {
		  "href": "https://api.netsuite.com/v1/salesorder/12345/update"
		},
		"delete": {
		  "href": "https://api.netsuite.com/v1/salesorder/12345/delete"
		},
		"customer": {
		  "href": "https://api.netsuite.com/v1/customers/67890"
		}
	  }
	}

HATEOAS REST APIs compared to traditional REST APIs:

Aspect	HATEOAS REST API	Traditional REST API
Client Complexity	Higher, as clients must parse and interpret hypermedia controls.	Lower, as clients interact through predetermined and fixed URIs.
Implementation Difficulty	More complex due to the dynamic nature and the need to generate links.	Simpler, with static and well-defined endpoints.
Documentation	Less straightforward; documentation must explain link relations.	More straightforward; endpoints and their functions are fixed.
Discoverability	High, as responses guide the client through available actions.	Low, relies on out-of-band knowledge of available endpoints.
Scalability	Can be more scalable as changes in URLs don’t affect clients.	Less scalable, changes in URLs require client updates.
Flexibility	More flexible in responding to changes in API resources.	Less flexible, as changes might require updates in client code.

Now you might be wondering why I emphasize that REST APIs in NetSuite can be challenging to work with. The reason is simple: they often require a series of subsequent API calls, complicating the integration process.

However, it’s important to remember that this can vary depending on your specific use case. Always consult the Netsuite API documentation before making a decision to ensure you’re on the right track.

For detailed guidance, refer to the NetSuiteREST API Browser, particularly the Record API section in the NetSuiteREST API Browser: Record API | API Reference. This resource will help you navigate your options more effectively.

Wrapping Up with 2 NetSuite API Integration Strategies

In conclusion, integrating with NetSuite’s APIs presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Whether you’re navigating the complexities of SOAP or REST APIs, the journey is a formidable one that can transform your business operations. We hope this article has provided you with valuable insights and guidance to help you along the way.

If you’ve experienced a NetSuite implementation, we would love to hear from you. Please share your insights and lessons learned. Moreover, if you are seeking more personalized guidance or need detailed assistance with your NetSuite API Integration implementation project, Satva Solutions is here to help.