Creating NetSuite Item Categories for Item Category Mapping
The trading partner categories listed in the preceding screenshot are mapped to NetSuite Categories, which are non-inventory items. Non-inventory items are used because you can assign different expense GL accounts on the Accounting subtab on an item record, which facilitates automated GL coding for each item being purchased.
The following image illustrates how to assign an expense account to a non-inventory item for purchase.
You can create as many non-inventory items as required to accommodate the level of detail needed when assigning categories to GL expenses accounts. Examples include the following:
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Office Supplies
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IT Supplies
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Janitorial Supplies
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MRO Supplies
To include any non-inventory item for SuiteProcurement purchases, check the following boxes on the item record.
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Include in NetSuite Category for SuiteProcurement Purchases
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Can be Fulfilled/Received
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Generate Accruals
When you check these boxes for an item, the NetSuite Category field lists the non-inventory item in the NetSuite Category list.
To perform item category mapping:
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Go to Setup > SuiteProcurement > Preferences.
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In the Manage Trading Partners section, click the Item Category subtab.
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In the Trading Partner Category field, select a category.
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In the NetSuite Category field, select a category. If you leave this field blank, Default SuiteProcurement Category is selected by default.
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Repeat Step 3 and Step 4 for each trading partner category and NetSuite category combination for each of the trading partners.
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To save the mapping, click Save.
By default, the Trading Partner Category field lists the L1categories, which are high level categories associated with a trading partner. UNSPSC L1 categories have been chosen because they provide the best balance between mapping maintenance and expense level detail. However, if you want to add an additional trading partner category for a more granular level of mapping (expense) detail, use the Category CSV file upload functionality. For more information, see Importing Item Categories through CSV.