NetSuite SuiteProjects Pro: A New Chapter for OpenAir and What It Means for Users
At SuiteWorld 2024, NetSuite made a significant announcement that has caught the attention of the OpenAir community: the rebranding of OpenAir to SuiteProjects Pro. This change represents more than just a new name—it signals NetSuite’s renewed commitment to the platform and its users. As someone who has been deeply involved with OpenAir for many years, I can say with confidence that this announcement, this investment, this marketing strategy is what we’ve been begging for, for years.
Understanding the Strategic Significance
The rebranding to SuiteProjects Pro addresses several long-standing concerns within the OpenAir community. For years, rumors about OpenAir’s potential sunset have circulated, creating uncertainty among users and prospective customers. This repositioning firmly establishes the platform’s place in NetSuite’s long-term product strategy.
What this solidifies is OpenAir’s longevity as a product within the NetSuite product family. It signifies a huge investment in OpenAir and a refresh of the product that the community has long awaited.
A Foundation of Stability with Enhanced Capabilities
I want to assure current OpenAir users that the core strength of the platform remains intact. The product is the same product, with the same code base underneath, and it’s going to remain that way. This means all your existing customizations, integrations, and workflows will continue to function just as they do today. Whether you’re using OpenAir as a standalone solution or integrated with NetSuite, your foundation remains solid and secure.
What’s exciting about this evolution is the enhanced user experience coming your way. The platform will receive a modern facelift aligned with NetSuite’s Redwood design style, making your daily interactions even more intuitive and efficient. Think of it as giving your trusted tool a premium upgrade – all the reliability you depend on, now with an even more polished look and feel.
Beyond aesthetics, NetSuite is doubling down on their investment in the platform. This means you’ll see substantial feature enhancements that keep the solution competitive and capable, all while maintaining the robust functionality that made OpenAir the premier PSA tool in the first place. The platform will also benefit from strengthened integration capabilities within the NetSuite ecosystem, offering even more flexibility for organizations using both solutions.
This evolution represents NetSuite’s commitment to building upon OpenAir’s strong foundation while preserving everything that makes it the go-to choice for professional services automation. It’s not about changing what works – it’s about enhancing an already powerful platform to serve you even better.
SuiteProjects vs. SuiteProjects Pro: Understanding the Difference
The naming alignment with SuiteProjects raises questions about the relationship between the two products. Here’s what you need to know:
- SuiteProjects is designed for organizations with simpler PSA needs, typically serving teams of 50 or fewer people and more simplistic requirements
- SuiteProjects Pro (formerly OpenAir) is the robust, full-featured solution for organizations with more complex requirements
- While there’s a clear upgrade path from SuiteProjects to SuiteProjects Pro, it’s important to note that these are separate products requiring separate implementations
The Impact on Integration
For organizations using both OpenAir and NetSuite, the rebranding brings positive developments. NetSuite will continue to invest in strengthening the built-in integration between SuiteProjects Pro and NetSuite, making it even more flexible and capable over time.
Looking Ahead: A Bright Future for the Platform
This rebranding represents more than a cosmetic change—it’s NetSuite’s clear signal to the professional services community about their long-term commitment to delivering world-class PSA capabilities. The repositioning brings several key benefits:
- Strategic Investment: By elevating OpenAir to SuiteProjects Pro, NetSuite demonstrates its dedication to maintaining and evolving a premier PSA solution as an integral part of their business suite. This commitment ensures the platform will continue to meet the sophisticated needs of professional services organizations
- Better Alignment: The tighter integration with the NetSuite ecosystem means professional services organizations can leverage the full power of an integrated business platform while maintaining the robust PSA capabilities they depend on
- Clear Product Positioning: Professional services organizations of all sizes can now choose the right-sized solution—SuiteProjects for simpler needs or SuiteProjects Pro for more complex requirements—with confidence in NetSuite’s commitment to both
- Continued Innovation: The strengthened position of PSA within NetSuite’s portfolio encourages continued innovation from partners like us at Top Step, who enhance the platform with solutions like CollabCenter to address evolving industry needs
Supporting Our Clients Through This Evolution
At Top Step, we’re uniquely positioned to support users through this transition. We’ve been involved in the rebranding process from its early stages and maintain close relationships with the key stakeholders driving SuiteProjects Pro’s future development. In fact, we’ve been able to watch this progression from the beginning and have had direct input into the process.
The Bottom Line
The rebranding of OpenAir to SuiteProjects Pro marks a significant milestone in the platform’s evolution. Rather than signaling an end, this change represents a renewed beginning—one that promises enhanced features, improved user experience, and continued innovation. For the OpenAir community, this is the validation and commitment we’ve long awaited from NetSuite.
Whether you’re a current OpenAir user, considering an upgrade from SuiteProjects, or evaluating PSA solutions for your organization, this repositioning demonstrates NetSuite’s long-term commitment to providing robust professional services automation solutions for organizations of all sizes.
For more information about NetSuite SuiteProjects Pro or to discuss how these changes might affect your organization, reach out to our team at Top Step. We’re here to help you navigate this exciting transition and make the most of your PSA investment.
