Stop Chasing, Start Collecting: Making the Dunning Process Work for You

Written by Ankita Singh | Aug 17, 2025 5:05:42 AM

Deep Dive into NetSuite’s Dunning SuiteApp – And Why a Custom Approach Can Work Better for You

Effective collections management is critical for maintaining healthy cash flow. Many businesses on NetSuite consider the Dunning SuiteApp for automating payment reminders. While it certainly streamlines follow-ups, the SuiteApp isn’t without limitations. In this post, we’ll cover:

  1. What the Dunning SuiteApp is and how it works

  2. Its setup, levels, and automation features

  3. Best practices for using it

  4. The real-world business impact

  5. Why many companies turn to Maayins Technologies for a custom-built dunning module that’s tailored, flexible, and more cost-effective

What is the Dunning SuiteApp?

The NetSuite Dunning SuiteApp automates the collections process by sending pre-configured reminders to customers with overdue invoices. Instead of relying on manual emails or phone calls, businesses can schedule systematic communications that escalate over time.

This ensures consistency, reduces human effort, and improves collection rates.

Key Features

  • Automated Communications – Emails triggered at different overdue stages

  • Dunning Levels – Escalation from polite reminders to final notices

  • Customizable Templates – Email bodies and subjects can be tailored to match tone

  • Tracking & Reporting – Monitor which customers received reminders and at what stage

How Dunning Levels Work

NetSuite uses escalation levels to manage overdue payments. For example:

  • Level 1 (Gentle Reminder): Sent 5 days after due date

  • Level 2 (Second Reminder): Sent 15 days after due date

  • Level 3 (Urgent Notice): Sent 30 days after due date

  • Final Level (Escalation): Sent before legal action or service suspension

Each level can be tied to specific templates and customer groups.

Setup & Configuration

Implementing the SuiteApp involves several steps:

  1. Enable & Install the Dunning SuiteApp from the SuiteApp Marketplace

  2. Create Dunning Levels – Define reminder intervals and escalation paths

  3. Assign Customers – Group by risk profile, outstanding balance, or aging bucket

  4. Design Templates – Configure professional, branded emails for each stage

  5. Schedule Automation – Ensure reminders are triggered daily or weekly

Best Practices

  • Use polite but firm language in earlier levels

  • Personalize messages with customer name, due amount, and invoice details

  • Monitor open/click rates to adjust tone

  • Align escalation with your company’s credit policy

  • Involve sales or account managers before final notices to protect relationships

Business Impact

Done right, the SuiteApp:

  • Improves cash flow by accelerating collections

  • Reduces manual work for finance teams

  • Provides visibility into aging receivables

  • Standardizes communication across the business

However, there’s a catch…

The Limitations of NetSuite’s Dunning SuiteApp

While powerful, the SuiteApp has some drawbacks:

  • One-size-fits-all approach – All customers get treated the same way

  • Rigid setup – Limited flexibility in escalation rules and templates

  • Additional cost – Comes with licensing and implementation expenses

  • Not industry-specific – A manufacturing company’s dunning needs differ from SaaS or retail, but NetSuite doesn’t adapt out-of-the-box

This is where many companies start looking for alternatives.

Why Maayins’ Custom Dunning Module is a Better Fit

At Maayins Technologies, we help businesses design custom dunning modules built specifically for their operations. Unlike the SuiteApp, our solution is:

  • Tailored to your business – Different rules for different customer segments, geographies, or industries

  • More flexible – Adjust escalation paths, notifications, or even integrate with WhatsApp/SMS in addition to email

  • Cost-effective – Lower implementation and ongoing cost compared to NetSuite’s Dunning SuiteApp

  • Customer-centric – You decide how reminders look, feel, and escalate, not a fixed template

In short, instead of adapting your collections strategy to NetSuite, we build a module that adapts to you.

Final Thoughts

If you’re just starting with collections automation, the NetSuite Dunning SuiteApp is a solid option. It standardizes follow-ups and helps recover overdue payments faster.

But if you want a solution that’s truly aligned with your customers, industry, and budget, a custom-built dunning module from Maayins will give you more control, personalization, and value — at a fraction of the cost.

📩 Ready to optimize your collections process?
Contact Maayins Technologies today to explore how we can design a dunning system that works for you, not just for NetSuite.