Customer Access
Give external users access to portals.
What is Customer Access?
External users (customers, vendors, partners) can access limited NetSuite portals:
INTERNAL VS EXTERNAL ACCESS
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INTERNAL (Employees):
├── Full NetSuite access
├── Based on role
└── See internal data
EXTERNAL (Customers/Vendors):
├── Limited portal access
├── See only their own data
├── Self-service features
└── Much cheaper licensing
Types of External Access
| Portal | For | What They Can Do |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Center | Customers | View orders, invoices, make payments |
| Vendor Center | Vendors | View POs, upload bills |
| Partner Center | Partners | Access leads, commissions |
| SuiteCommerce | Shoppers | Online store access |
Customer Center
What Customers See
CUSTOMER CENTER FEATURES
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Customers can:
├── View their sales orders
├── View their invoices
├── View their payments
├── Make online payments
├── View quotes
├── Download statements
├── Update contact info
└── Create support cases
Customers cannot:
├── See other customers' data
├── Access internal records
├── Modify pricing
└── See costs or margins
Enabling Customer Center
HOW TO GIVE CUSTOMER ACCESS
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Step 1: Enable the feature
Setup > Company > Enable Features > Web Presence
├── Customer Center: ✓
└── Save
Step 2: Create a contact for login
On Customer record:
├── Go to Contacts subtab
├── Add a contact (the person who will log in)
├── Note: One contact per login user
Step 3: Enable access for contact
Edit the Contact record:
├── Access subtab
├── Give Access: ✓
├── Password: Set or send notification
├── Role: Customer Center (automatic)
└── Save
Step 4: Share login URL with customer
├── Customer gets portal URL
├── Logs in with email + password
└── Sees only their data
Vendor Center
What Vendors See
VENDOR CENTER FEATURES
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Vendors can:
├── View purchase orders to them
├── Submit bills (vendor uploads bill)
├── Track payment status
├── Update vendor info
└── Access vendor portal
Vendors cannot:
├── See other vendors
├── See internal transactions
├── Access costs or margins
└── Modify purchase orders
Enabling Vendor Center
HOW TO GIVE VENDOR ACCESS
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Step 1: Enable the feature
Setup > Company > Enable Features > Web Presence
├── Vendor Center: ✓
└── Save
Step 2: Create contact on vendor record
Vendor record > Contacts subtab
├── Add contact
└── This person will login
Step 3: Enable access
Edit Contact:
├── Access subtab
├── Give Access: ✓
├── Password: Set or send notification
├── Role: Vendor Center (automatic)
└── Save
Partner Center
For sales partners, resellers, distributors:
PARTNER CENTER FEATURES
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Partners can:
├── View assigned leads
├── Register opportunities
├── See commission statements
├── Access partner resources
└── Track referral status
Best for:
├── Reseller programs
├── Affiliate partners
├── Channel sales
└── Distribution networks
Managing External Users
Viewing External Users
WHERE TO SEE EXTERNAL USERS
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Customer contacts with access:
├── Go to customer record
├── Contacts subtab
└── Look for Give Access = ✓
Or create saved search:
├── Type: Contact
├── Criteria: Give Access = T
└── Shows all contact logins
Removing Access
HOW TO REMOVE EXTERNAL ACCESS
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Step 1: Go to Contact record
(on Customer or Vendor)
Step 2: Access subtab
├── Uncheck "Give Access"
└── Save
Result: User can no longer log in
Quick Reference
| I want to... | Go to |
|---|---|
| Enable Customer Center | Setup > Enable Features > Web Presence |
| Give customer access | Customer > Contacts > [Contact] > Access tab |
| Give vendor access | Vendor > Contacts > [Contact] > Access tab |
| View external users | Create saved search on Contact with Give Access = T |
| Remove access | Contact > Access tab > Uncheck Give Access |
Tips
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Create separate contact per user | Share one login |
| Use notification email for password | Set simple passwords |
| Limit to one role | Give internal roles |
| Review access periodically | Forget about external users |
Key Takeaways
- External users access portals - not full NetSuite
- Contact records hold login credentials
- Each portal is separate - Customer Center, Vendor Center, etc.
- Users see only their data - orders, invoices, etc.
- Manage via Contact records - not Employee records
Related Topics
- Access Overview - Authentication basics
- Users - Internal user management
- Roles Overview - Role concepts