Is there a simple way to show data from customer records (custom fields) on other forms - eg sales order? We currently have an equivalent field setup on the sales order and a workflow that copies from customer to sales order when a SO is created - but that seems like a really cumbersome way

If the fields on the SO are custom fields you can use the sourcing and filtering tab to source the data from the customer record If they are native fields you would need a workflow

you could create a custom tab and custom sub list which would just be a saved search that returns the information you're looking for. There needs to be a hidden filter of the customers ID, but it would work

Thanks, good idea! Our order processors want certain fields in certain specific places of our form so might just have to stick with creating them as SO fields

yeah, a field to source on creation definitely works, but if you don't want all the fields, a sublist works too https://netsuite.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/10120/kw/custom%20sublist%20on%20transaction