You log in one morning and see "SuiteProjects Pro" instead of "OpenAir." That might make you nervous. When you manage billing and staff schedules, even a name change can raise concerns.
The good news is that the change was mainly a rebrand. Oracle updated the name and web address without replacing the core platform. Recent updates also brought better search, new charts, and easier staff planning. Still, you should check your bookmarks, email filters, and system links.
Key Takeaways
- NetSuite OpenAir became SuiteProjects Pro, with new service URLs taking effect on February 15, 2025.
- Existing users kept their project data, account settings, and core tools.
- Recent updates include homepage charts, better search, and resource planning tools.
- The web address changed from
openair.com to netsuitesuiteprojectspro.com. - Oracle is changing system email senders in phases.
- Some older
openair.com links still work for system connections. - Oracle planned to end SuiteSignOn support with NetSuite 2025.1.
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Understanding the Change: From OpenAir to SuiteProjects Pro
The move from OpenAir to SuiteProjects Pro brings the product closer to the NetSuite brand. This is not a new system that forces users to start over. It is the same core project software, with updates added over time.
The Journey to SuiteProjects Pro
NetSuite bought OpenAir in 2008. Oracle later bought NetSuite in 2016. For years, OpenAir had its own login, data, and screen layout. It worked with NetSuite ERP through system links. The new name connects OpenAir more closely with the wider NetSuite product family. Still, SuiteProjects Pro remains a separate application.
This matters for service firms that manage many projects. They need project data and financial records to match. When time entries reach the right billing records, finance teams spend less time fixing errors. Managers can also make better choices about staff and project budgets.
Why the Change to SuiteProjects Pro?
The new name is part of Oracle's wider product branding. Recent releases have also improved daily work.
- Unified naming: The "Suite" name matches SuiteCommerce and SuiteAnalytics.
- Better connections: Updated tools support data sharing with NetSuite ERP.
- Modern design: Oracle has continued updating the screen layout.
- Better project views: New charts make key project data easier to see.
- Staff planning: The Resource Center helps managers review team bookings.
The result is a more useful platform for project teams. It also works with your wider NetSuite Implementation. The main goal remains the same. Help service firms manage projects, staff, time, and billing without extra manual work.
Core Features in SuiteProjects Pro
Let's look at what changed and what stayed the same. You do not need to learn a completely new system because of the name change.
What Stayed the Same
SuiteProjects Pro keeps the main tools from OpenAir.
- Project plans with tasks, phases, and templates
- Staff planning based on skills and available hours
- Time and expense tracking with approval steps
- Project accounting with income and cost reports
- Billing for hourly, fixed-fee, and milestone projects
- Two-way data sharing with NetSuite ERP
Existing project records and account settings remained in place during the rebrand. If your projects looked the same after February 15, 2025, that was expected. The name and web address changed, but your work did not need to start over.
What's New and Helpful
Recent SuiteProjects Pro releases brought several useful updates.
Modern Screen Design: Oracle has continued improving the look and feel of SuiteProjects Pro. The goal is to make common tasks easier to find and complete. That can also help when training new users.
Homepage Charts: The 2025.1 release added more ways to show data on the homepage. Teams can review project figures and trends without opening several reports.
Better Global Search: The same release expanded search across more records. Users can find tasks, project phases, bookings, and expenses. This saves time when looking for specific information.
Project Discussions: Teams can keep work-related talks inside SuiteProjects Pro. This helps keep project details close to the work itself. It also cuts down on switching between email and other apps.
Resource Center: The 2025.2 release added a new place to manage staff bookings. Managers can see assigned work and available time in one grid.
These changes help teams handle daily work with fewer extra steps.
Managing Projects with SuiteProjects Pro
Project work at a service firm comes with its own problems. You need to track hours, meet deadlines, manage costs, and keep clients informed. Those jobs become harder when teams use separate tools.
The Full Project Lifecycle
SuiteProjects Pro supports each stage of project work.
- Planning: Create tasks, project phases, budgets, and billing dates.
- Running: Track hours, costs, and completed work.
- Watching: Review project progress and budget use.
- Adjusting: Manage changes to project scope and plans.
- Closing: Complete billing and final project tasks.
The benefit comes from having these tools work together. For example, a manager can review hours used against a project budget. Finance can then use the right project data for billing. That means less time moving figures between spreadsheets. It also makes it easier to find errors before they reach an invoice.
Real-Time Visibility
Homepage charts help managers review project data without digging through records. Reports can show how much work has been done and how costs are changing. This matters because project teams and finance teams often see different problems.
A project manager may think the work is on track. Finance may see that costs are growing too fast. SuiteProjects Pro helps both teams use the same project data. That makes it easier to discuss problems and agree on what needs to change.
Resource Management for Better Utilization
Staff planning becomes harder as a service firm grows. A small team might manage schedules in a spreadsheet. But that gets tricky when people work across many clients and offices.
Planning Resources Well
SuiteProjects Pro offers tools for managing staff time and project work.
- Skills matching: Match people to work based on their skills.
- Capacity planning: Check available hours before assigning more work.
- Utilization tracking: See how much staff time is booked.
- Forecasting: Plan for work expected in future months.
The Resource Center added in 2025.2 brings staff bookings into one view. Managers can check bookings by week or month. They can also change booked hours and move work between people.
Imagine a firm with staff in Chicago and Dallas. A new client needs support in New York. The manager can review bookings across teams before deciding who should take the work.
Getting More from Your Team
The Resource Center makes staff planning easier to manage. Instead of checking several schedules, managers can review bookings in one place. They can spot people with too much work and find those with open time. The system also shows warnings when staff are overbooked.
You still need someone to make the final staffing decision. But having the right information in one place makes that job easier.
Project Accounting and Money Tracking
Project accounting is a major part of running a service firm. Billing mistakes can delay payments and create more work at month-end. SuiteProjects Pro helps teams track the financial side of project work.
How Project Accounting Works
The platform supports several common accounting tasks.
- Billing options: Support hourly, fixed-fee, and milestone billing.
- Revenue tracking: Record earned revenue using the chosen accounting rules.
- WIP tracking: Track work completed but not yet billed.
- Expense management: Record and approve project costs.
- Labor costs: Track staff costs against the right projects.
SuiteProjects Pro can share financial records with NetSuite ERP through approved system links. For example, invoices from SuiteProjects Pro can move into NetSuite. Revenue entries can also transfer when the correct settings are in place. Approved expense reports can become vendor bills in NetSuite.
These steps depend on how the systems are set up. They do not happen the same way in every account. A good NetSuite Integration helps keep the data moving correctly between both systems.
Seeing Profit in Real Time
Clear project reports help managers see where money is going. Imagine a project that uses more staff hours than planned. Without good reports, the team might notice the problem after billing.
SuiteProjects Pro lets managers review project costs and progress during the work. They can then check the cause and make changes. That might mean reviewing project scope, changing staff plans, or discussing extra work with the client. Finding problems early gives teams more room to act.
Time Tracking That Actually Works
Time tracking sounds easy until many people work on different clients and projects. Each project may have its own rules. Some hours are billable, while others are not. Managers also need to check and approve entries.
Easy Time Entry
SuiteProjects Pro gives staff several ways to track their work.
- Web timesheets: Enter hours against projects and tasks.
- Mobile app: Record time and expenses away from a desk.
- Approval workflows: Send entries to the right manager for review.
- Billable tracking: Separate client work from other tasks.
Oracle also continues to update the SuiteProjects Pro mobile app. The 2025.1 release added mobile reminders and to-do tools. These features help users keep track of work they need to complete.
Making Entry Less Painful
When time entry takes too much effort, people tend to put it off. Then Friday arrives, and everyone tries to remember what happened on Monday. That can lead to missing hours and billing errors. It also gives the finance team more work.
SuiteProjects Pro helps by linking time entries to assigned projects and tasks. Staff can enter hours from different devices. The goal is simple. Make time entry easier so staff can keep records up to date. Better time records also give managers more useful project reports.
Setting Up SuiteProjects Pro
The work needed depends on your current system. If you already used OpenAir, the rebrand itself did not require a full setup. New customers will need to plan and build their project system.
For Current OpenAir Customers
Existing users should check a few areas.
Domain Update: Oracle changed the main service URLs on February 15, 2025. The new domain is netsuitesuiteprojectspro.com. Old browser links redirect to the new login page. Still, it helps to update saved bookmarks and company guides.
Email Filter Changes: Oracle is moving system email from [email protected] to [email protected] in phases. Check your account notices before changing email rules. Some older email domains may still need to remain on your approved list. Oracle explains these needs in its mail and firewall guide.
Mobile App Updates: Make sure staff use a supported version of the SuiteProjects Pro mobile app. Check the latest app details before asking your team to update.
Integration Work: This part needs more care. Some older openair.com links still work for system connections. Oracle has kept certain URLs active so existing connections can continue working. Check each link before changing it. Review any older SOAP connections and the versions of your integration tools.
Oracle also planned to end SuiteSignOn support with NetSuite 2025.1. Older login methods may need updates. You can review Oracle's SuiteProjects Pro documentation for current steps. The work needed depends on how your account was set up.
For New Setups
Starting from scratch takes more planning. The timeline depends on your data, billing rules, other software, and custom needs. Most projects follow these steps.
- Discovery and Design: Review your current work and plan the new system.
- Build: Set up users, projects, tasks, and billing rules.
- Data Move: Bring over the customer and project records you need.
- Test and Train: Check key tasks and teach staff how to use them.
- Go-Live: Start using the system and watch for issues.
Each step matters. For example, a billing rule that looks fine during setup may fail during a real invoice run. Testing helps catch that before a client receives the wrong bill. Working with experienced NetSuite Consulting can help when the setup involves several systems or detailed billing rules.
One Connected System: ERP, Commerce, and Projects
One advantage of SuiteProjects Pro is its connection to NetSuite ERP. Both products belong to Oracle NetSuite. They can share records through built-in integration tools. However, they remain separate applications with their own data.
Why Connected Systems Matter
A well-planned connection can make several jobs easier.
- Less manual work: Supported records can move between systems.
- Better customer data: Teams can match customer records across both products.
- Clearer financial reports: Project records can support NetSuite accounting.
- Connected access: Supported login tools can link access to both systems.
This becomes useful during the month-end close. When finance needs to check an invoice, the team can follow the records between projects and accounting. Without a good connection, staff may spend hours checking spreadsheets.
The point is not that both products share one database. It is that they can exchange useful data through planned workflows.
How the Connection Works
Data can move both ways when the right settings are in place.
From SuiteProjects Pro to NetSuite:
- Approved invoices can move to NetSuite.
- Revenue entries can transfer to the general ledger.
- Expense reports can become vendor bills.
- Project and customer records can be shared.
- Other supported financial records can move through set workflows.
From NetSuite to SuiteProjects Pro:
- Employee records can move into the staff list.
- Customer records can support project setup.
- Project details can move between systems.
- Vendor records can support project costs.
- Purchase records can help track outside services.
Not every connection works automatically. Some need extra settings, matching records, or custom rules. That is why testing matters before the system goes live.
If you use SuiteCommerce Services for online sales, those processes can also connect with NetSuite ERP. This helps firms that sell both products and services keep their business records linked.
Who SuiteProjects Pro Fits Best
Strong Fit For:
- Service firms with many projects and staff
- Teams that need to match workers to projects by skill
- Businesses with several billing methods
- Companies that track billable hours and project profit
- Firms already using NetSuite ERP for accounting
| Factor |
SuiteProjects Pro |
Native NetSuite Projects |
| Main Use |
Detailed service project work |
Core project management |
| Staff Planning |
Skills and booking tools |
Standard staffing tools |
| Billing |
Flexible project billing |
NetSuite project billing |
| Setup |
Based on business needs |
Part of ERP setup |
| NetSuite Connection |
Uses integration tools |
Built into NetSuite ERP |
| Project Tools |
Charts, bookings, team discussions |
Core project tools |
The best choice depends on how your firm works. A business with many projects and shared staff may need detailed planning tools. A simpler project setup may only need basic task and billing records. The goal is to choose the tools your team will actually use.
How Anchor Group Helps
For many current OpenAir users, the basic rebrand updates are simple. Your IT team can often handle bookmarks and email rules.
The harder part is checking system connections. If you use custom workflows or older login methods, those areas need more care. A broken connection can:
- Stop invoices from moving to NetSuite
- Interrupt project data syncing
- Force finance teams to fix records by hand
That's where things can get squirrelly.
Support for SuiteProjects Pro
Anchor Group helps service firms set up, connect, and improve their NetSuite systems. Our team works on both the technical and business sides, including:
- SuiteScript
- Data mapping
- Billing rules
- How staff use the system each day
A system can look fine on paper but still create problems during real work.
If you're setting up SuiteProjects Pro, we can review its links to NetSuite ERP, billing rules, and financial workflows. If you already use the platform, we can help find and fix connection issues. Sometimes the best fix is simple. Other times, the old setup needs a closer look.
Need help with your NetSuite setup? Our FREE 30-minute NetSuite fix gives you time with a NetSuite consultant to explain the problem and get practical advice, with no long sales pitch required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main differences between NetSuite OpenAir and SuiteProjects Pro?
SuiteProjects Pro is the new name for NetSuite OpenAir. The main project tools remained available after the rebrand. Oracle changed the name and web address in February 2025. Later updates added homepage charts, better search, project discussions, and a Resource Center. Existing users kept their project data and settings. Some system links and email rules may still need review.
How does SuiteProjects Pro improve project profit and money tracking?
SuiteProjects Pro helps teams track project income, costs, and hours. Managers can review these figures while work is still active. The system also supports billing and revenue tracking. Financial records can move to NetSuite ERP through approved connections. These steps depend on your account settings. Clearer reports help teams find budget problems earlier and make changes before costs grow.
Can SuiteProjects Pro connect with other business systems?
Yes. SuiteProjects Pro offers XML, SOAP, and REST tools for connecting systems. It also has a connector for NetSuite ERP. These tools can help move invoices, customer records, and other data. The exact flow depends on your settings. Some older OpenAir links still work for certain connections. Review each link before making changes to avoid breaking a working setup.
What kind of businesses benefit most from SuiteProjects Pro?
SuiteProjects Pro works well for firms that manage many client projects. These include consulting companies, IT firms, agencies, and engineering businesses. It helps teams plan staff time, track project costs, and manage billing. Firms with detailed project needs may gain the most value. Companies already using NetSuite ERP can also connect project records with their main accounting system through supported tools.
Yes. SuiteProjects Pro helps managers plan staff time and project work. Teams can review skills, available hours, and existing bookings. The Resource Center added in 2025.2 puts this information into one grid. Managers can check bookings by week or month. They can also change hours and move work between staff. This makes it easier to plan work across different teams and offices.
