Custom Segments in NetSuite
Custom Segments extend NetSuite's dimensional reporting beyond the standard Department, Class, and Location fields, enabling multi-dimensional financial analysis.
What Are Custom Segments?
Custom Segments are user-defined classification fields that:
- Appear on transactions like standard segments
- Support GL impact and reporting
- Enable filtering in financial reports
- Can be mandatory or optional by transaction type
Segment Architecture
CUSTOM SEGMENT STRUCTURE
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ CUSTOM SEGMENT │
│ "Project Code" │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ SEGMENT VALUES │ │
│ ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │
│ │ PRJ-001 │ Website Redesign │ │
│ │ PRJ-002 │ Mobile App Development │ │
│ │ PRJ-003 │ ERP Implementation │ │
│ │ PRJ-004 │ Data Center Migration │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Applied To: │
│ ✓ Journal Entry │
│ ✓ Vendor Bill │
│ ✓ Purchase Order │
│ ✓ Expense Report │
│ │
│ GL Impact: Yes (Posted to segment-specific accounts) │
│ │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
TRANSACTION WITH CUSTOM SEGMENT
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Vendor Bill #VB-2025-0123 │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Vendor: ABC Consulting │
│ Date: 2025-01-15 │
│ │
│ Classification: │
│ ├── Subsidiary: US Operations │
│ ├── Department: IT │
│ ├── Class: Professional Services │
│ ├── Location: Headquarters │
│ └── Project Code: PRJ-002 (Mobile App) ← CUSTOM │
│ │
│ Lines: │
│ ├── Development Services $15,000 PRJ-002 │
│ └── Project Management $5,000 PRJ-002 │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Standard vs Custom Segments
| Feature | Standard Segments | Custom Segments |
|---|---|---|
| Types | Department, Class, Location | Unlimited user-defined |
| Hierarchy | Supported | Supported |
| GL Impact | Built-in | Configurable |
| Reporting | Native support | Report Builder integration |
| SuiteAnalytics | Full support | Full support |
| Transaction Lines | Supported | Supported |
| Multi-Book | Yes | Yes |
Use Cases
Financial Reporting
| Segment | Purpose | Example Values |
|---|---|---|
| Project | Track project costs | PRJ-001, PRJ-002 |
| Grant | Non-profit fund tracking | GRT-2024-001 |
| Contract | Government contract accounting | CONT-DOD-123 |
| Cost Center | Beyond department | CC-1001, CC-1002 |
| Program | Program-based budgeting | PROG-A, PROG-B |
| Region | Geographic beyond location | APAC, EMEA, AMER |
| Brand | Multi-brand companies | Brand A, Brand B |
| Channel | Sales channel tracking | Direct, Partner, Online |
Industry-Specific
| Industry | Common Segments |
|---|---|
| Construction | Job, Phase, Cost Code |
| Healthcare | Facility, Service Line, Payer |
| Non-Profit | Fund, Grant, Restriction |
| Manufacturing | Plant, Product Line, Shift |
| Professional Services | Engagement, Matter, Client |
Feature Requirements
Required Features
- Custom Segments feature enabled
- GL Impact feature (if posting to segment accounts)
Navigation
Customization → Lists, Records, & Fields → Custom Segments
Segment Types
Type 1: With GL Impact
Creates segment-specific GL accounts for each value.
Account: 6000 - Professional Services
└── 6000-PRJ001 - Professional Services : Website Redesign
└── 6000-PRJ002 - Professional Services : Mobile App
└── 6000-PRJ003 - Professional Services : ERP Implementation
Type 2: For Reporting Only
No GL account creation; used for filtering/reporting only.
Transaction tagged with segment value
└── Available in reports as filter
└── No account number suffix
Planning Checklist
Before creating custom segments, consider:
| Question | Consideration |
|---|---|
| Do you need GL-level tracking? | Determines GL Impact setting |
| How many values expected? | Performance with 1000+ values |
| Will values change frequently? | Maintenance overhead |
| Which transactions need it? | Deployment scope |
| Is it header or line level? | Classification granularity |
| Who needs access? | Role restrictions |
| Reporting requirements? | SuiteAnalytics/Report Builder setup |
Related Topics
- Creating Segments - Step-by-step setup guide
- Transaction Impact - How segments affect transactions
- Reporting & Analytics - Using segments in reports