Key Lessons for a Successful Oracle NetSuite Rollout Project in Vietnam
Author: Ms. Nu Huynh – Director, S4 Consulting
About the Author
Ms. Nu Huynh, Director of S4 Consulting, has over 10 years of international working experience in Germany and the Netherlands. She is ACCA Certified and combines her solid finance & accounting expertise with hands-on ERP implementation knowledge. She has led multiple successful Oracle NetSuite rollout and expansion projects for multinational companies in Vietnam, including Marteme (Retail), TLC Logistics, and Lifewear Technology.
Challenges in Rolling Out Oracle NetSuite to Subsidiaries in Vietnam
Based on our project experience, two common barriers often hinder successful rollout and expansion projects in Vietnam:
- Language Barriers
- Most local employees are not fluent in English, especially ERP-related business terminology.
- Operating a system entirely in English often leads to misinterpretation, incorrect data entry, or the continuation of off-system work.
- Solution: Provide localization and end-user training in Vietnamese, along with tailored manuals and practical workshops to fit the workforce’s capacity.
- Accounting Standards: IFRS vs. VAS
- Parent companies usually report under IFRS or US GAAP, while Vietnamese subsidiaries must comply with VAS.
- Relying only on IFRS books can expose the company to compliance risks and tax authority challenges.
- Solution: Implement Multibook Accounting or Account Mapping so the system can deliver both IFRS/US GAAP reports for headquarters and VAS-compliant reports for local compliance.
Key Factors for Success
From real-world projects, we identify four critical success factors:
- Local expertise: Consultants who understand Vietnamese tax, accounting, and cultural practices.
- Dual reporting (IFRS & VAS): Ensuring global management reporting while meeting local statutory requirements.
- Training & support in Vietnamese: Enabling staff to confidently operate the system and reduce data errors.
- Change Management: Driving leadership commitment and user adoption to prevent NetSuite from becoming “just a reporting tool for HQ.”
Case Studies in Vietnam
- TLC Logistics: Rolled out from Singapore, integrating the NetSuite Localization Package for Vietnam to consolidate IFRS reports while generating VAS-compliant financial statements. Read more
- Lifewear Technology: Local users were trained in Vietnamese on the NetSuite system, reducing data entry errors by 70% in the first months. Learn more
- Marteme Retail: A global retail chain that successfully rolled out NetSuite to multiple legal entities in Vietnam, ensuring both global connectivity and local compliance.
Conclusion
Rolling out Oracle NetSuite in Vietnam is not just about technology—it requires bridging the gap between global standards and local realities. Success lies in effectively addressing language barriers and accounting compliance (IFRS vs. VAS).
With an ACCA-certified consulting team, international expertise, and deep local knowledge, S4 Consulting is ready to help global organizations achieve a smooth and successful NetSuite rollout and expansion in Vietnam.
