NetSuite announced SuiteFlex, a new application development platform that enables the creation of third-party vertical applications within NetSuite, as well as end-to-end business process customization for any end-user company. SuiteFlex includes several industry "first and only" breakthroughs including additions to SuiteScript -- the world's first on-demand programming language. As a part of SuiteScript, NetSuite introduced Suitelets and SuiteScript UI Objects. Together, Suitelets and SuiteScript UI Objects enable customers and third-party developers to build new workflows and applications that look and operate as if NetSuite's own developers wrote them.

In addition, SuiteFlex introduces a dramatic new concept for the Software as a Service market -- "Service as Software" (see accompanying release). Third-parties can use one of SuiteFlex's key components, SuiteBundler, to deliver new integrated vertical solutions by packaging their Suitelets and other extensions with NetSuite's core ERP/CRM/Ecommerce application. SuiteBundler's new capabilities allow solution providers to embed their industry-best practices, knowledge and applications -- traditionally delivered as one-off services -- into the actual NetSuite application.

Finally, NetSuite announced that SuiteFlex application and process customizations can be shared as Open Source. More than 100 SuiteFlex extensions are already available at SuiteSource. The Open Source SuiteFlex components were contributed by NetSuite, and by NetSuite customers and NetSuite partners including Explore Consulting, IT-Ration Consulting, Epiphany, Inc., Skyytek Worldwide, Demand Solutions Group and Ncompass Business Solutions. For more information about SuiteFlex and other announcements made today, please go to www.netsuite.com/suiteflex .

"While thousands of companies have standardized on NetSuite as their system of record, these new technologies allow companies of all sizes and industries to run their entire business on-demand," said Zach Nelson, CEO, NetSuite. "SuiteFlex enables in-house developers to extend NetSuite's embedded business processes to the specifics of their industry. In addition, SuiteFlex will enable an entirely new concept of 'Service as Software' by enabling resellers and system integrators to productize and embed their industry expertise directly in the NetSuite application."

Mid-sized businesses face enormous challenges in automating their business. Among the biggest challenges is tailoring the software to support specific company and industry business practices. On-premise software requires significant technical knowledge and expense for companies to manage business process customization and integration. Once customized, on-premise software typically doesn't carry forward those customizations with package upgrades, presenting even further constraints.