When finance teams begin exploring a Workday to NetSuite Migration, it often starts with one clear moment. Reports take longer. Costs rise with no clear return. Processes feel heavy. Leaders begin to question whether the current system still matches the pace of the business.
Workday Financials offers strong tools for large enterprises. NetSuite provides a wider range of finance-first features that support mid-market companies and fast-growing teams. When companies compare the two, the focus shifts from software features to long term growth and financial control.
This guide explains how Workday Financials and NetSuite differ, why many companies switch from Workday, and what a full Workday to NetSuite Migration looks like from start to finish. If you want a clear view of the full process, this is the place to start.
Why more companies are reviewing Workday Financials
You notice the pressure first in reporting. Numbers take longer to build. Teams export files into sheets to fix issues. Month-end grows. The gap widens between what your system does and what your team needs every day.
Workday Financials works best when a company has deep HR needs. Its finance tools sit inside a much wider system shaped by HR workflows. That structure becomes a challenge when a business needs stronger financial features.
As companies expand, they want:
- Better control of accounting
- Faster reporting
- Easier consolidation
- Support for multi-entity operations
- Lower operational costs
- Clearer financial dashboards
These needs often push businesses toward a Workday to NetSuite Migration, especially when their teams rely on finance data to make daily decisions.
NetSuite’s growing role for mid-market and global businesses
NetSuite is built for finance teams that want one place for accounting, reporting, projects, invoicing, tax, cash flow, and audits. It supports businesses of all sizes, from startups entering new markets to established companies managing several entities.
Companies that switch say the same things:
- NetSuite is easier for finance teams
- The reporting feels faster
- The cost is more predictable
- Integrations are simpler
- Dashboards show clearer data
- Daily tasks need fewer clicks
This shift is the reason many teams start reviewing a Workday to NetSuite Migration plan.
Workday Financials vs NetSuite: A clear comparison for 2025
A strong comparison helps teams understand where each system fits. Below is a practical view based on how finance teams use both systems today.
1. Financial Features
NetSuite is designed around core accounting. It supports daily tasks like:
- Accounts payable
- Accounts receivable
- Bank feeds
- Revenue tracking
- Cash flow
- Project accounting
- Inventory finance
- Multi-entity accounting
- Real time dashboards
Workday Financials includes accounting features but follows workflows shaped by HR operations. This works for people-driven organizations but becomes limiting when finance takes the lead.
A Workday to NetSuite Migration often happens when a company wants a finance-first system.
2. Reporting and Analytics
Finance teams depend on fast, reliable reporting. NetSuite gives real time numbers that update as soon as activity occurs. Month-end closes are faster because the data is more consistent.
Workday has strong reporting tools too, but they focus more on workforce data. The financial reporting options feel less flexible for businesses that change often or manage several revenue streams.
Growing companies choose NetSuite because it allows:
- Faster consolidations
- Real time dashboards
- Custom financial statements
- Deeper drill-down views
- Flexible filters and saved searches
These tools support finance teams that want more control.
3. Cost and Subscription Model
Workday is built for enterprises with larger budgets. Its setup and subscription structure often exceed what mid-market companies plan to spend.
NetSuite gives businesses more flexible pricing. Companies pay only for modules they need. Upgrades happen automatically and do not add surprise costs.
This difference is one of the biggest reasons behind a Workday to NetSuite Migration.
4. Integrations and Apps
NetSuite connects easily with:
- Ecommerce platforms
- Banking systems
- Payment tools
- Inventory apps
- CRM platforms
- Project tools
Workday integrations support HR and workforce features but require more setup for financial operations.
A full Workday to NetSuite Migration allows companies to connect the tools they already use with less friction.
5. Customization and Workflows
Workday workflows follow HR models. Finance teams sometimes find it difficult to adjust approval flows or create financial layouts that match their processes.
NetSuite gives more freedom to shape:
- Workflows
- Reports
- Dashboards
- Forms
- Alerts
- Saved searches
This flexibility helps companies improve internal controls and increase accuracy across the board.
Why companies decide to move from Workday to NetSuite
A Workday to NetSuite Migration is not a quick decision. It usually comes after months of review. Most companies switch for a combination of these reasons:
1. High operating costs
Workday’s structure fits larger enterprises. For mid-market companies, the cost becomes difficult to justify.
2. Limited financial depth
Workday’s finance tools do not match the flexibility many teams need.
3. Slow reporting
Finance teams spend more time fixing reports than reviewing them.
4. Integrations that feel heavy
Connecting external tools requires more support and setup time.
5. Better financial control in NetSuite
NetSuite gives finance teams clearer dashboards, faster access to data, and better support for growing operations.
What you must decide before starting a Workday to NetSuite Migration
Planning is the strongest part of any migration. Before you begin, your team must agree on a few key items.
1. What data should move?
You can migrate all historical data or focus on what you need today. Most companies move:
- Customers
- Vendors
- Item lists
- Chart of accounts
- Opening balances
- Open transactions
- Current year and previous year summary
Full transaction history can be stored outside NetSuite if not required.
A clear data plan ensures accurate numbers after migration.
2. How should data be cleaned?
Workday data usually needs cleanup before moving to NetSuite. This step prevents errors after go-live.
Most companies clean:
- Duplicate suppliers
- Old customer names
- Wrong tax codes
- Inactive items
- Incorrect account groups
- Outdated posting rules
Clean data makes the Workday to NetSuite Migration faster and safer.
3. What workflows must be rebuilt?
Workday workflows may not fit NetSuite. Your team must review:
- Approvals
- Posting rules
- Period locks
- Bank processes
- Inventory movements
- Project accounting workflows
NetSuite gives more configuration control. You can improve your processes instead of copying them.
4. Who is responsible for decisions?
Projects slow down when too many people approve every task. You need:
- One project lead
- One decision maker
- One IT liaison
- One finance lead
This structure avoids delays and miscommunication.
5. What is the expected timeline?
A typical Workday to NetSuite Migration takes:
- 4–6 weeks for small companies
- 8–12 weeks for mid-market operations
- 12+ weeks for multi-entity businesses
Timelines depend on data size, required modules, and workflow changes.
The complete Workday to NetSuite Migration process
This section explains how a typical migration works from start to finish.
Step 1: System Review and Planning
A deep review of your Workday setup takes place. You identify:
- Data to move
- Modules to configure
- Custom processes to rebuild
- Reports to recreate
- Integration needs
- User roles
This review becomes the blueprint for the full project.
Step 2: Data Preparation
Your finance team prepares Workday data for migration. This includes:
- Cleaning list data
- Reviewing tax codes
- Fixing naming issues
- Removing duplicates
- Checking open transactions
- Reviewing foreign currency data
Clean input ensures clean output in NetSuite.
Step 3: NetSuite Environment Setup
Your NetSuite account is built according to your business structure. You configure:
- Financial periods
- Chart of accounts
- Subsidiaries
- Tax setups
- Currencies
- Bank accounts
- Accounting rules
- Roles and permissions
The goal is to build a stable foundation before importing any data.
Step 4: Data Mapping and Sample Migration
Data mapping ensures Workday fields match NetSuite fields correctly.
A sample migration helps test:
- Customer records
- Vendor details
- Item lists
- Open invoices
- Opening balances
Teams compare the output with the original Workday numbers to confirm accuracy.
Step 5: Workflow and Report Setup
Your team reviews processes such as:
- Bills
- Invoices
- Journals
- Bank rules
- Inventory flows
- Projects
- Approvals
At this stage, the system starts to reflect how your company works.
Step 6: Full Data Migration
Once testing is complete, the final migration begins. This includes:
- Opening balances
- Current-year transactions
- Bank balances
- Vendor bills
- Customer invoices
- Project balances
Your Workday to NetSuite Migration reaches its key milestone here.
Step 7: User Training and Go-Live
Training includes:
- How to create transactions
- How to run reports
- How to review dashboards
- How to approve tasks
- How to close periods
Once training is complete, your team moves to NetSuite.
Step 8: Post-Go-Live Review
During the first few days, you review:
- Transactions
- Posting issues
- Tax codes
- Report differences
- Bank reconciliations
This step ensures accuracy and builds team confidence.
Common issues during a Workday to NetSuite Migration
Companies can avoid many problems by planning early.
1. Mapping mistakes
Different field structures between Workday and NetSuite can cause posting errors.
2. Workflow conflicts
Workday workflows may not match NetSuite layouts.
3. Slow decision turnaround
Projects slow when teams wait too long for approvals.
4. Data inconsistencies
If data is not cleaned, NetSuite reports may not match Workday records.
5. Missing user training
Teams that do not understand NetSuite struggle after go-live.
Real-world example: Why companies switch
A manufacturing company with four entities recently completed a Workday to NetSuite Migration. Their challenges included slow reporting, high licensing costs, and manual inventory updates.
After moving to NetSuite, they achieved:
- Faster month-end closing
- Better visibility across entities
- Real time reporting
- Easier vendor and customer management
- Lower ongoing costs
Their finance team now completes tasks in less time and has more trust in the numbers.
Is NetSuite the right move for your company?
You’ll know it is time to switch if you notice:
- HR-focused workflows limit financial control
- Reporting delays create bottlenecks
- Costs rise faster than expected
- Integrations feel too complex
- Users rely on sheet workarounds
- Finance tasks take too long
A Workday to NetSuite Migration gives companies a finance-first platform that grows with their operations.
Conclusion
Choosing between Workday Financials and NetSuite comes down to how your company works. Workday suits large HR-centric organizations. NetSuite suits growing businesses that want simple workflows, stronger reporting, and better control over daily financial operations.
A well-planned Workday to NetSuite Migration helps your team move with confidence and sets the stage for steady growth in 2025 and beyond.
Book a free consultation with our migration experts. Our migration team handles everything from data mapping to go-live support. You get accurate numbers, clean workflows, and a smooth shift into NetSuite.
