NetSuite has added a new e-commerce module to its NetSuite hosted suite of ERP and CRM applications, which integrates website and Web store functionality with financials, warehouse management, sales and customer support systems. The new module, NetCommerce, allows companies to more easily deliver sales and service, as well as providing a complete view of a customer's interaction with a merchant. It also includes capabilities for acquiring new customers and tracking marketing efforts.

The new module is aimed at solving the problem many companies face with e-commerce Web sites. Many sites do not integrate directly into a company's front-end and back-end systems, and so are primarily designed only to accept orders. Companies then have to spend significant amounts of time, money, and effort integrating their Web sites with their accounting, inventory and customer management systems. NetCommerce instead integrates directly with the rest of the NetSuite ERP/CRM suite, so no integration efforts are required.

"With traditional business applications, it is almost impossible to extend internal business processes to the Web," said Zach Nelson, CEO of NetSuite, in a statement. "With the addition of NetCommerce to NetSuite, companies deliver an Amazon.com-like experience that makes a small company look as trustworthy and as efficient as their largest competitor."

Included in NetSuite is NetCommerce Analytics, a Web reporting tool that incorporates transactional and customer-specific behavioral data; and NetCommerce Site Builder, which lets companies build and manage customizable sites built with any tool (such as Macromedia Dreamweaver) that automatically links in real-time with NetSuite's accounting, inventory and customer management capabilities. The new NetCommerce Analytics and NetCommerce Site Builder modules will be available this summer.