NetSuite CPQ AI Assistant Enhancements in NetSuite 2026.1

TL;DR Opening

Starting in NetSuite 2026.1, the CPQ AI Assistant offers a powerful generative AI tool that streamlines the product and service configuration process. This feature enables users to interactively configure complex products using natural language, making it accessible even for first-time buyers.

What’s New

The NetSuite CPQ AI Assistant has been introduced in version 1.8.0 of the NetSuite CPQ Configurator. This new tool employs generative AI, allowing for customized user interactions and simplifying the configuration process for a variety of products and services. The AI Assistant responds to user prompts, guiding both sales representatives and customers through intricate configurations with ease by leveraging a large language model (LLM).

Key Features

• Natural Language Interaction: Users can describe their configuration needs using simple, natural language. The AI responds with tailored recommendations and clarifications, helping users articulate their requirements clearly.
• Guided Configuration Process: By selecting a configurable item, such as a bicycle, users can initiate a chat with the AI Assistant, which will ask relevant questions to aid in the configuration process.
• Real-Time Assistance: As users interact with the assistant, it provides instant feedback and recommendations, allowing for quicker decision-making.
• Ease of Access: A new button, labeled 'Configure with CPQ Assistant,' appears on transaction records, making the AI Assistant readily available.
• Quality Control for Administrators: Users with Administrator or CPQ Product Builder roles can manage product configurations, question sets, and ensure that records comply with standards via the CPQ AI Assistant subtab.

How it Works

Upon selection of a configurable item in a transaction, users can click the 'Configure with CPQ Assistant' button, which triggers a chat interface. Here’s how the process unfolds:

1. Initiation: Click the button to start the AI chat.
2. User Input: Describe your needs, such as wanting a bike for light trails.
3. Follow-Up Questions: The AI may ask clarifying questions to refine the configuration.
4. Tailored Solutions: It will provide suggestions based on the responses, helping construct a suitable item configuration.

Important Considerations

• The CPQ AI Assistant is currently only available in non-production environments like sandboxes and release preview accounts.
• Users must validate the recommendations provided by the AI before proceeding with configurations, as the output is based on existing prompts.
• Ensure compliance with data processing regulations as stipulated in the Oracle Services Privacy Policy.

Who This Affects

• Administrators: Manage AI configurations and quality standards.
• Developers: Implement and integrate the assistant into existing systems.
• Sales Representatives: Utilize the AI for generating tailored configurations for customers.
• End Users: Customers and internal teams leveraging the AI Assistant for product configurations.

Key Takeaways

• The CPQ AI Assistant enhances the user experience by simplifying product configurations through generative AI.
• It allows users to interact using natural language, making it more accessible for individuals with varying experience levels.
• Administrators can manage and refine content for quality assurance to ensure optimal recommendations.
• Currently accessible only in non-production environments, emphasizing its preliminary rollout phase.