Info

The MSDW Podcast

The MSDynamicsWorld.com (MSDW) podcast explores news, ideas, and events in the Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM community.
RSS Feed Subscribe in Apple Podcasts
The MSDW Podcast
2024
March
February
January


2023
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2022
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2021
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April


Categories

All Episodes
Archives
Categories
Now displaying: September, 2021
Sep 29, 2021

This episode is sponsored by Mavim.

Business process modelling touches nearly every element of a Dynamics 365 ERP or CRM project, from the customer's requirements and goals to a partner's pre-sales engagement to Microsoft's own platform and tools for project execution.

On this episode we speak with Edwin Jongsma of Mavim, makers of BPM tooling built on Microsoft technology, about the variety of ways in which BPM fits into Dynamics projects today. 

We discuss some of the subtle but important reasons to focus on business process transformation from the diagnostic stage of a project onward, and why having a platform to support BPM leads to successful outcomes for both an individual project and for managing a broader IT portfolio.

Microsoft has a role to play in BPM for Dynamics 365, Edwin notes. The Lifecycle Services platform is one obvious touchpoint, as is the Catalyst methodology for envisioning and planning solutions. And Power Platform's low-code/no-code tools, have an important role to play in both defining business process and reflecting an organizations needs. 

And, Jongsma argues, partners should be applying BPM concepts to provide industry models and process expertise to shorten the diagnostic phase and provide better guidance. 

Show Notes:

  • 1:45 - Why the diagnostic phase of a Dynamics project is so important
  • 3:30 - Observations on Microsoft's Catalyst Framework
  • 5:30 - Why customers should define a clear roadmap to their 'to-be' state on D365 F&O
  • 8:00 -
  • 10:45 - How to avoid the risks of typical ERP projects by connecting people and technology
  • 12:00 - Why customers should expect partners to have to-be models already developed based on industry expertise
  • 14:30 - Positive outcomes in project phases after a successful diagnostic phase
  • 19:00 - How expertise in BPM fits with Microsoft's Power Platform value proposition

More from Mavim:

Sep 27, 2021

This episode is sponsored by ExpandIT.

 

Field service solutions maintain a unique position in the world of business software. It serves a distinct purpose and is used by very specific roles, and yet it also needs to work alongside other critical systems like a Dynamics ERP solution.

 

John Macdonald, group CSO and regional president for North America at ExpandIT joins us to talk about the types of businesses adopting field service today and how his firm's solution has matured alongside common ERPs like Dynamics 365 Business Central. We discuss the types of deployments and business outcomes his clients are seeking today, including some of his observations from recent customer conversations. For example, he estimates that eight percent of the prospects his sales team talks with are not moving from another field service solution but rather using manual, unstructured processes today.

 

As you will hear, John brings a unique perspective as a solution provider. Before joining ExpandIT, he held roles at Navision and Microsoft, so he is understands the challenges of the ERP-focused partner and how field service touch points should be optimized.

 

Show Notes:

  • 1:20 - John's history with Navision and Microsoft before joining ExpandIT
  • 3:35 - What types of organizations benefit from field service software?
  • 6:00 - The story of a growing business that was falling behind on service
  • 9:00 - What are organizations' starting points today?
  • 12:30 - Have ERP project experiences prepared customers for getting the most out of a field service deployment?
  • 16:00 - How ExpandIt engages with customers and partners
  • 20:00 - Navigating the need for a single source of truth between field service and other systems like ERP
  • 23:45 - How a field service deployment typically rolls out (hint: speed matters)
  • 28:00 - The types of business outcomes services firms are seeking

 

About ExpandIT : ExpandIT Field Service software puts information at your service technicians’ fingertips – digitally. Easily track key information, access up to date data, view a real-time overview of job related information, complete checklists and provide photographic proof of work completed.

Sep 8, 2021

This episode is sponsored by Stratos Cloud Alliance, Velosio’s Microsoft partner program. Visit www.dynamics365partner.com to learn more about their partner offerings.

 

Microsoft has been moving the Power Platform forward steadily over the last few years, both by expanding the platform and by deepening the tools and capabilities in each of the services. At the same time, the messaging from Microsoft about the suite has evolved, with encouragement for citizen developers and promises that professional developers and partners have a place in this ecosystem. Those dynamics of customer self-service and partner guidance may seem at odds, but the reality is that, like the rest of the Microsoft business applications stack, expertise comes from investments in skills development and from the time and experience gained from real world projects. While users may be able to get started themselves with Power Platform by building small scale apps or flows, the reality, say my guests Scott May and Rod Donovan of Stratos Cloud, is that partners are already becoming the trusted resource for most customers in more advanced scenarios. And, they believe, that opportunity will only grow, making Power Platform one of the best opportunities for new client engagements going forward.

 

Show Notes:

  • 2:00 - What's the reality of the Power Platform's value today?
  • 4:30 - Rod's experience helping Microsoft customers and partners to ramp up on Power Platform expertise and usage
  • 8:00 - Ways Stratos Cloud is getting partners interested in Power Platform opportunities like App in a Day or Dashboard in a Day
  • 11:30 - Observing Microsoft partner reactions to Power Platform around the world
  • 15:30 - Different models partners can use to engage with customers on the latest technology
  • 20:00 - The difference between being a Power Platform dev shop vs a well-rounded business apps service provider
  • 22: 00 - Microsoft's role in supporting Power Platform projects and deployments
  • 28:00 - Business apps growth in Microsoft earnings, and how Power Platform elements is becoming more closely tied to Dynamics 365 products
  • 32:00 - The most exciting new opportunities with Power Platform around licensing updates, RPA, and more
  • 33:30 - What partners can do next to ramp up engage with clients

 

About: Stratos Cloud Alliance is the Microsoft CSP Indirect Provider that provides all the sales support, enablement, and services a partner needs to build a profitable cloud solutions business with Microsoft Dynamics 365. With over 33 years’ experience implementing Dynamics business management solutions, Stratos Cloud offers partners a comprehensive portfolio of Microsoft Cloud Business and Productivity Solutions, ISV Products and Tools, Customer Services, and flexible Partner Programs supporting transformation at the pace and investment level that is right for you.

Sep 2, 2021

This episode is sponsored by BI4Dynamics.

Microsoft offers its Dynamics ERP customers a variety of ways to get started with analyzing their business data, but the BI and analytics landscape continues to evolve as data growth accelerates and industry demands change. Our guest on this episode,  Dr. Vijay Jog, the founder of CRGroup and president of Global Business Applications for CRGroup’s parent company, Quisitive, joins us to discuss the BI and reporting themes influencing Dynamics space today.

Expectations are changing for many roles, Vijay believes. Accounting teams must provide better insight that leads to a proactive outlook. IT departments must gaining new skills  in areas like data lakes, analytics, storage, and security. And teams continue to struggle with the perennial problem of data islands, Vijay says.

BI and analytics options vary by Dynamics product, and Vijay shares his views on  some of the most interesting new and upcoming capabilities, including the transition from BYOD to BYOL for Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations and advances with Power BI.

Show Notes:

  • 2:15 - What is unique about today's data challenges?
  • 4:30 - What do Dynamics customers get out of the box for BI and reporting?
  • 7:00 - BYOL and the other important competencies of BI
  • 10:00 - Building a great BI team around business systems like a Dynamics ERP
  • 14:00 - Metrics that customers are analyzing more carefully due to the pandemic
  • 16:00 - What makes an organization a top performer on BI and analytics practices
  • 18:00 - Microsoft technology to watch in the analytics and data management space
  • 21:30 - Optimism on the BYOL model for Dynamics 365 F&O

You can start a free 30 day trial of BI4Dynamics, just visit bi4dyamics.com/trial to learn more.

1