PPAI is committed to bringing together like-minded individuals and organizations within the promo community, and one of the most powerful tools the Association has is the ability to bring together industry volunteers to focus on important challenges and innovation within the industry. In late 2022, PPAI formed the NetSuite user group to share best practices, tips for maximizing the platform, potential troubleshooting and networking surrounding Oracle NetSuite.

  • At The PPAI Expo 2024, the NetSuite user group took huge steps with over five hours of in-person sessions during Monday’s PPAI Expo Conference at Mandalay Bay.

“It was great to see the way the NetSuite user group has grown,” says Nick DiNicola, PPAI’s digital transformation manager. “There was barely an open seat available during the entire five hours of content, and attendees’ eagerness to participate in the Ask-Me-Anything portion is proof positive of why PPAI created this user group.”

A Day Full Of ‘Practical And Tactical’ NetSuite Sessions

With the PPAI Expo Conference providing speakers and panel sessions simultaneously, the NetSuite user group attendees were able to come and go as they pleased, depending on their interest and availability.

The day’s schedule included:

  • 12-1 p.m. – “Ask Me Anything” presented by Bryant Park Consulting, a top NetSuite partner.
  • 1-1:40 p.m. – Break
  • 1:40-2:25 p.m. – “Hands on Deep Dive,” a panel discussion with representatives of NetSuite, eXtendTech, Bryant Park and Celigo.
  • 2:35-3:20 p.m. – “What’s New with NetSuite” presented by NetSuite Oracle.
  • 3:30-4:30 p.m. – “Learning Lab – SuiteAnalytics” as presented from SuiteWorld.
  • Happy Hour/Networking sponsored by Oracle NetSuite.

According to Kate Daniels, a director at NetSuite, the facilitation of troubleshooting and general education of the NetSuite platform is a rare but highly valued asset to the business service provider.

“Oracle NetSuite holds the partnership with PPAI in the highest regard, considering it to be the largest and most successful alliance we have formed to date, under our Associations & Buying Groups program,” Daniels says. “This partnership is emblematic of our commitment to driving innovation and efficiency within the industry.”

Representatives from NetSuite and its implementation partner, Bryant Parker, made clear to the packed room of Expo attendees that none of the sessions were intended to be a sales pitch of any kind. The state purpose was to respond to questions that are “practical and tactical” to attendees’ business needs.

  • The available speakers referred to themselves as the world’s utmost “NetSuite nerds” who relish talking through questions, problems and hypotheticals concerning the program.

A Growing Partnership

The meet-up at The PPAI Expo 2024 was only the most recent iteration of PPAI’s facilitation of the NetSuite user group. Previous in-person meet-ups and online Ask-Me-Anything’s have already taken place.

  • The Association is committed to maximizing the opportunity that The PPAI Expo provides by bringing so much of the promo community to one place.

“One of the most impactful outcomes of our alliance has been the establishment of the PPAI NetSuite User Group,” Daniels says. “This forum of more than seventy members has become a bastion for community discourse, allowing for the exchange of best practices and experiences related to technology and digital transformation.

“The User Group has fostered a strong, self-referential community that has been instrumental in enhancing options and support for all PPAI members, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

  • Individuals interested in getting involved in the NetSuite user group are encouraged to email Nick DiNicola at NickD@ppai.org.