NetSuite users often move between customers, vendors, transactions, and other records throughout the workday. When you need to return to a record you were just reviewing, navigating back through menus or running another search can add unnecessary steps.

The NetSuite Recent Records feature provides a faster way to return to records you recently viewed or edited. With the Recent Records menu and dashboard portlet, users can quickly reopen recently accessed records and keep their work moving. In this month’s tip, we’ll show you how to use Recent Records and add the portlet to your dashboard for even easier access.

Tip summary: Quickly reopen recently accessed NetSuite records

The Recent Records menu provides quick access to records you recently viewed or edited. Available from the Recent Records icon on the left side of the NetSuite navigation bar, the menu can be useful when moving between related customers, vendors, transactions, and other records.

For example, while entering a vendor bill, you may need to return to a vendor record to verify payment or contact information. If you recently viewed the vendor, you can reopen the record directly from Recent Records rather than navigating back through the vendor list or performing another search.

Tip steps: How to use the Recent Records menu

To quickly return to a recently accessed record:

1. Select or hover over the Recent Records icon in the NetSuite navigation header.
2. Locate the applicable record in the list.
3. Select the record name to open it in view mode.
4. When available, select Edit to open the record directly in edit mode.

If the record you need no longer appears in the shorter menu, select All Recent Records. This page displays up to 100 of your most recently accessed records, along with the record type and the last date each record was accessed.

Add Recent Records to your NetSuite dashboard

Users who frequently return to recent records can also add the Recent Records portlet to their dashboard. Unlike the navigation menu, which appears when you select or hover over the Recent Records icon, the portlet keeps recently accessed records visible directly on the dashboard.

To add the portlet:

1. Navigate to the applicable NetSuite dashboard.
2. Select Personalize in the upper-right corner.
3. Locate Recent Records under Standard Content.
4. Select the portlet or drag it to your preferred dashboard location.

Once added, the portlet displays the last 12 records you viewed or edited. To look further back, select All Recent Records to access the longer list of up to 100 records.

Tip insights: Know when to use Recent Records versus Shortcuts

Recent Records and Shortcuts can both help users navigate NetSuite faster, but they serve different purposes.

Recent Records are best for quickly returning to records you have already opened, such as a customer, vendor, or transaction you were just working with. Shortcuts, on the other hand, are better suited for reports, Saved Searches, transaction entry pages, and other NetSuite pages you access regularly, regardless of how recently you viewed them.

Using both features can help reduce unnecessary navigation and create a more efficient everyday NetSuite experience.

Why this tip matters

The NetSuite Recent Records feature provides a simple way to reduce repetitive navigation when moving between records. Instead of retracing menu paths or searching for information you recently accessed, users can quickly return to their work from the navigation bar or keep recent records visible directly on their dashboard.

If you’d like help personalizing your NetSuite experience or identifying other ways to improve user productivity, Rand Group’s NetSuite experts are here to help. Contact our team today to learn how we can help optimize your NetSuite environment, and be sure to return next month for another NetSuite Tip of the Month.