ODBC connectors were once the go-to method for pulling NetSuite data into Excel. But today’s finance teams need more speed, reliability, and less technical friction. They’re finding that ODBC can’t keep up. It’s slow, complex, and fragile, leaving finance professionals dependent on IT and vulnerable to broken reports and security gaps.
That’s why leading teams are moving to other user-friendly solutions like ExtendInsights by CloudExtend, an Excel-native tool explicitly built for NetSuite users. ExtendInsights eliminates the pain points of ODBC and enhances the entire NetSuite reporting workflow when paired with Power Query and Power BI.
ExtendInsights also uses Asynchronous Web Services to enable faster data downloads and shorter queue times, delivering performance at scale without delays.
Let’s take a look at the challenges of using ODBC and the differences a modern solution can make for your team.
The Top 7 Challenges: ODBC vs. ExtendInsights
| ODBC Challenge | ExtendInsights Solution |
| 1. Requires Technical Setup | Installs in Excel without IT Support: No drivers, DSNs, or firewall adjustments needed. Any NetSuite user can install and use it in minutes. |
| 2. Exposes Raw Tables | Uses Clean, Curated NetSuite Saved Searches: Connects directly to NetSuite Saved Searches, meaning users work with business-ready data, saving time and avoiding SQL errors. |
| 3. Refreshes Are Slow and Unreliable | Fast and Powered by Asynchronous Web Services: Leverages Asynchronous Web Services to process and deliver data faster, making refreshing reports a single-click action. |
| 4. Breaks with NetSuite Changes | Remains Stable During Schema Updates: Pulls directly from Saved Searches, ensuring stability even when NetSuite backend tables or fields change. |
| 5. Requires SQL | Designed for Business Users: Requires no technical skills. Users can analyze data if they can run a saved search and use Excel. |
| 6. Poses Security Risks | Enforces NetSuite Permissions Automatically: Uses the user’s NetSuite login and respects all permissions by default. Access is secure and compliant. |
| 7. Feeds Unstructured Data | Enhances Power Query and Power BI Workflows: Delivers clean, trusted data into Excel, allowing Power Query to easily shape and combine it for reliable Power BI dashboards. |
Moving on from ODBC for Modern Finance Reporting
ODBC was helpful in its time, but it no longer meets the demands of today’s finance and reporting teams. It’s slow, complex, fragile, and requires constant IT support, making it an obsolete solution for NetSuite Excel reporting.
Fortunately for finance teams, ExtendInsights offers a purpose-built alternative for NetSuite users, enabling fast, reliable, and secure access to business-ready data inside Excel.
With seamless integration into Power Query and Power BI, ExtendInsights delivers scalable reporting that empowers finance teams to make timely, data-driven decisions. Plus, Asynchronous Web Services provide the speed and performance needed for real-time insights, without compromising security or ease of use.
If your team still relies on ODBC, it’s time to consider a better path. ExtendInsights modernizes how finance professionals work with NetSuite data, making reporting faster, innovative, and more efficient.
But don’t just take our word for it. Try it for yourself—completely free—for two weeks. Get started here.