Julie and Jason are talking about goals and goal setting. While neither of them is a self-described goal setter, they both acknowledge that taking a goal-oriented approach can be a helpful tool for professional development.

Using the SMART(ER) model as a reference point, they talk through different ways professionals in the Dynamics 365 and Power Platform space can set goals for their own professional development. They note examples of various people in the Microsoft community who have modelled great goal-setting behaviors for the rest of us, and they identify tools and programs that listeners can look at for further guidance and inspiration.

References:

• All episodes of Biz Apps Classroom - https://msdynamicsworld.com/biz-apps-classroom
• Lisa Crosbie - https://www.youtube.com/@LisaCrosbie
• Mark Smith's mentoring program - https://ako.nz365guy.com/
• April Dunham - https://www.youtube.com/@AprilDunnam
• Reskill program for Business Central partners - https://msdynamicsworld.com/story/microsoft-launches-reskill-help-dynamics-365-business-central-partners-add-services-capacity
• My Digest - https://mydigest.365.training/MyFeed
• Julie's email: julie@365.training
• Jason's email: jason@msdynamicsworld.com

This episode is sponsored by Vertex.

Larry Mellon , Tax Director – Chief Tax Office at Vertex, joins us to shed light on potential risks that businesses grapple with when they rely on their ERP's native tax functionality rather than a dedicated tax engine.

Larry tells us about his history with Vertex, working both internally and with both customers and jurisdictions on tax matters. He discusses some of the reasons why tax accuracy is so important to an organization and how any shortcomings can interfere with compliance, lead to audit risk, and affect staff allocation. He also explains the role a trusted tax engine can have in improving the auditor's role and optimizing staff allocation.

Show Notes:

• 1:00 - Larry's professional history at Vertex, in their tax office and working on the software
• 1:45 - Why does tax automation software differ from native ERP tools?
• 2:45 - Common challenges of accurate taxation
• 3:45 - Changing rules for sales and use tax assessment
• 5:30 - Top challenges in staying compliant
• 6:15 - How reporting to tax jurisdictions works with a tax engine
• 7:10 - Have tax jurisdictions adapted to receiving data from tax engines?
• 8:30 - Reporting for auditors
• 9:45 - How tax engine deployment improves staff allocation

Vertex integrates with Dynamics 365 F&O, Business Central, Sales, and  Commerce. To learn more about Vertex’s integrations with Dynamics 365, visit https://vertexinc.com. 

Email: microsoftdynamics@vertexinc.com to discuss your specific tax needs.  Vertex integrates with F&O, Business Central, Sales & Commerce.

Julie Yack has years of experience with Microsoft certification exams, whether taking them herself, helping others prepare to pass them, and even helping Microsoft develop new ones. On this episode she talks with Biz Apps Classroom co-host Jason Gumpert about her certification experiences over the years, both good and bad, and what Microsoft has done to improve their approach in recent years by transitioning toward a role-based model and taking steps to make exams and exam prep somewhat more accessible.

Special offer: Listeners can support the podcast and get a discount on an annual plan for 365.training by visiting  https://365l.ink/MSDW.

Show Notes:

• 3:25 - Certification development is not a black box - what goes into it
• 6:30 - How Microsoft has shifted their approach based on community feedback
• 7:45 - Power Platform roles that align with certifications
• 9:00 - What will Microsoft do next to update its approach to certifications: roles, processes, and resources
• 10:20 - Interactive experiences on Learn for Power Automate
• 12:45 - Barriers to taking a certification exam, and some options from Microsoft to help
• 14:00 - Why better study materials and more relevant exam questions lead to better results
• 17:45 - Training and prep options, from free to paid
• 19:15 - What should you do if you fail an exam?
• 22:30 - More Microsoft practice assessments.
• 23:30 - Getting support from the community

More about Practice Assessments: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/practice-assessments-for-microsoft-certifications