Slow NetSuite performance isn’t normal. It’s not “just how NetSuite is.” And it’s not something you have to accept.
When NetSuite takes 8 seconds to load a customer record, 15 seconds to run a report, or times out during order entry—those are symptoms of configuration problems. Not NetSuite’s limitations.
We’ve optimised over 50 slow NetSuite systems. The causes are predictable, and the fixes are straightforward once you know what to look for.
The Most Common Performance Problems
1. Saved Searches Running on Every Page Load
The problem: Saved searches set to “Public” or placed on dashboard run continuously, even when no one’s looking at them. If you have 50 users and 30 public saved searches, NetSuite is running 1,500 searches constantly throughout the day.
How to identify it:
- Go to Customisation > Saved Searches
- Filter by “Available Without Login” = Yes or “Public” = Yes
- Look at the “Last Run Time” for each search
- Anything taking more than 2 seconds is a problem
The fix:
- Change searches from “Public” to “Shared” with specific roles
- Remove searches from dashboards that aren’t actively used
- Add filters to searches so they return fewer results
- Archive searches that haven’t been used in 6 months
Real example: A retail company had 47 public saved searches. Their average page load time was 12 seconds. We moved searches to role-specific access and optimised filters. Page load time dropped to 3 seconds.
2. Too Many Custom Fields on Forms
The problem: Every custom field on a form adds processing time. We regularly see transaction forms with 80-150 custom fields—most of which users never touch. NetSuite has to process all of them on every transaction.
How to identify it:
- Go to Customisation > Forms
- Open your most-used transaction forms (Sales Order, Purchase Order, Invoice)
- Count the custom fields on each tab
- Look at sublists—they’re the worst offenders
The fix:
- Remove unused custom fields from forms
- Move rarely-used fields to custom tabs
- Use field display logic to show fields conditionally
- Consider custom records instead of cramming everything on transactions
Real example: A manufacturing company had 127 custom fields on their Sales Order form. Users complained it took 30 seconds to create orders. We reduced it to 35 essential fields (moving others to custom tabs). Order creation time dropped to 4 seconds.
3. Workflows That Trigger on Every Field Change
The problem: Workflows set to trigger “Before Record Submit” or “On Field Change” run constantly. If they’re inefficient, they slow down every transaction.
How to identify it:
- Go to Customisation > Workflow > Workflows
- Check the trigger for each workflow
- Look at workflows that execute on “Any Record Change”
- Review the actions—especially searches within workflows
The fix:
- Change triggers to specific field changes only
- Add execution conditions to prevent unnecessary runs
- Simplify workflow logic (fewer branches, fewer searches)
- Consider scheduled scripts instead of real-time workflows
Real example: A logistics company had a workflow that ran complex calculations on every Sales Order field change. Users experienced 5-10 second delays typing into orders. We changed the trigger to run only on specific fields and moved calculations to a scheduled script. Delays disappeared.
4. Inefficient SuiteScript Code
The problem: Custom SuiteScript that searches large datasets, loops inefficiently, or makes excessive API calls brings NetSuite to a crawl. Common issues include:
- Searches without filters (returning thousands of records)
- Nested loops processing large arrays
- API calls inside loops
- Loading full records when only IDs are needed
How to identify it:
- Check Script Execution Log for long-running scripts
- Look at scripts with high “Usage” numbers
- Review scripts that time out frequently
- Ask users which transactions are slowest
The fix:
- Add filters to searches (return only what you need)
- Use search pagination instead of loading all results
- Batch API calls instead of individual requests
- Load only required fields, not full records
- Consider SuiteQL for complex data operations
Real example: A SaaS company’s customer portal loaded in 45 seconds because a script was loading full customer records for 500+ customers. We changed it to load only customer ID, name, and status. Portal load time dropped to 2 seconds.
5. Large Transaction Volumes Without Archiving
The problem: NetSuite slows down when tables have millions of records. Searches scan through years of old transactions that users never access. The system works harder for results no one needs.
How to identify it:
- Run searches showing total record counts for:
- Sales Orders (past 5 years)
- Invoices (past 5 years)
- Item Fulfillments (past 3 years)
- Check if you have records from 5+ years ago still active
The fix:
- Use NetSuite’s data archiving features
- Close old accounting periods properly
- Delete test/duplicate data
- Set retention policies for different record types
Real example: An e-commerce company had 8 years of order data (2.4 million orders). Report generation took 3-5 minutes. We archived orders older than 3 years. Report time dropped to 15-20 seconds.
Quick Performance Wins You Can Implement Today
1. Audit Your Saved Searches (30 minutes)
- Find searches taking more than 2 seconds
- Add filters to reduce result sets
- Remove unused searches from dashboards
2. Clean Up Custom Fields (1 hour)
- Remove fields that aren’t used
- Hide fields that are rarely needed
- Consolidate related fields into custom records
3. Review Workflow Triggers (1 hour)
- Change “Any Field” triggers to specific fields
- Add execution conditions
- Disable workflows you’re not using
4. Check Script Performance (30 minutes)
- Review Script Execution Log
- Identify scripts with high governance usage
- Flag scripts that timeout regularly
When to Get Help With Performance
Some performance issues require deeper investigation:
- Database-level optimisation
- Complex script refactoring
- Architecture changes for high-transaction businesses
- Custom module performance tuning
If you’ve addressed the basics and NetSuite is still slow, the problem likely requires technical expertise to diagnose and fix properly.
The Real Cost of Slow NetSuite
Performance problems aren’t just annoying—they’re expensive:
- Users spend 20-30% more time on basic tasks
- Customer service takes longer, reducing satisfaction
- Finance teams can’t close books efficiently
- Reports that should take seconds take minutes
- Users avoid using NetSuite, creating data accuracy problems
Most businesses tolerate slow NetSuite because they think it’s normal. It’s not. Your system should be responsive, not frustrating.
Related Articles:
- NetSuite Saved Search Optimisation Guide
- Custom Field Best Practices
- SuiteScript Performance Patterns
Need Performance Help? If your NetSuite system is slow and you’re not sure why, we can help. Our NetSuite Health Check identifies performance bottlenecks and provides specific recommendations to fix them.