This episode is sponsored by Cavallo.
Microsoft has provided a wealth of Dynamics 365 Business Central product and channel guidance in 2023 that is sure to impact strategic planning across the ecosystem. Our guests on this episode, Matt Abbott and Bob McAdam of Cavallo, share their views on what the future holds for customers, VARs, and ISVs. Coming out of Directions North America 2023, they discuss their unique perspective on going to market with advanced capabilities that augment Business Central. In a specialized area like advanced workflow capabilities for order management, Cavallo must stay aligned with Microsoft's process automation capabilities, they say, while continuing to differentiate their advanced out of the box offering.
Bob and Matt also offer a preview of their team's conference plans for the near future.
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For more information or to see a demo of Cavallo, reach out to Matt Abbott: matt.abbott@cavallo.com.
Training workers on their organization's Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O or CE solution is never a simple initiative. Trainers must factor in the way users learn and the way they do their work. Another critical factor: the choices the organization makes throughout an implementation project in terms of scheduling and funding training efforts. Our guest on this episode, Elif Item, is a Dynamics AX and Dynamics 365 consulting veteran and trainer and she works hard on optimizing training to match the way software users learn. Recently recognized as a Microsoft MVP, Elif talks with us about her latest work including a new video series for MSDW, her journey to becoming an MVP, expanding her work to include training on D365 CE applications, and what younger people entering the workforce will expect from their employers when it comes to technology training.
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This episode is sponsored by Microsoft.
FastTrack senior program manager Rachel Profitt joins us to talk about Dynamics 365 F&O migrations, the latest updates to the FastTrack program, and her team's newest achievement, the launch of new business process guides and a guidance hub.
The first editions of the guides have just launched, and Rachel talks about what it means to take a business process-focused implementation, how to use the tools, how partners and users might contribute, and how to give her team feedback.
This conversation follows a Microsoft roundtable on successful AX to D365 migrations hosted by MSDW in which Rachel also participated.
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This episode is sponsored by Forceworks.
Microsoft has revealed a broad range of plans to bring generative AI to businesses. The Copilot brand now spans productivity tools, collaboration, and business applications, and their Azure OpenAI Service will offer any developer new ways to incorporate the technology into their own offerings.
Our guest, Microsoft MVP and Forceworks CEO Steve Mordue, has been thinking about the impact AI will have on some of today's conventional wisdom around developers and applications. He wrote about Microsoft's vision for building a massive population of no-code/low-code citizen developers and why that could be as unrealistic as the myth of the so-called full-stack developer. Microsoft's Copilot investments could expose the weak points in how customers use Power Platform or how they customize their business applications more broadly, Steve says. He even offers a few guesses at what could come next as Microsoft and others in the generative AI market accelerate their efforts.
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This episode is sponsored by Bluefort.
Unlike a one-time order, a subscription-based sale brings with it a range of new opportunities, challenges, and complexities. Working with a customer over multiple interactions can lead to additional orders, up-sell and cross-sell opportunities, upgrades, and downgrades, and new pricing models. Evolving a subscription model can also lead to new demands on sales, support, and service teams.
Our guest, Bjorn Kuijt, VP of product management at Bluefort, discusses his work with Dynamics 365 F&O customers and partners to support subscription-based sales models by building on Microsoft's core ERP and CRM solutions to offer new capabilities related to the order-to-cash process, payment automation, and commerce, and beyond. Bjorn shares his outlook on Microsoft's product roadmap for D365, as well as how key partnerships in the channel are strengthening Bluefort's offerings.
Show Notes:
If you'd like to learn more about leveraging D365 F&O to accelerate your subscription revenue, tune in to the upcoming webcast where Bjorn talks to Rick McCutcheon in more depth about the topic, including the latest capabilities of Bluefort LISA.
Life in the Microsoft channel has changed over the years, and while our guest, Microsoft MVP Neil Benson, has never been far from that world of license rules, ISV solutions, and partner programs, his recent experiences with his new venture, Superware, have been instructive, he says.
Working with Microsoft in 2023 is not like working with them in 2013 or 2006, and Neil explains some of the ways he and other partners are adapting. In addition to getting a new industry-focused software and services business off the ground, Neil continues to develop training programs for the Microsoft community, blog, podcast, and think more broadly about where the Dynamics 365 and Power Platform ecosystem is headed.
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This episode is sponsored by emfluence.
Following a recent webcast on data-driven email marketing, we speak with Monica Hoyer, marketing director at emfluence, to get her views on different ways to use business data in digital marketing. For Dynamics ERP and CRM users, it should come as no surprise that their systems offer a bounty of valuable data that marketers can incorporate into their planning and analysis if they have access to it. Data from sales interactions, customer service, orders, and other touch points can all factor into crafting more effective email marketing campaigns. We discuss different types of B2B and B2C scenarios where Monica has seen Dynamics and emfluence customers find new levels of marketing results by putting data to work.
Show Notes:
For more on this theme from emfluence, check out the recording of the conversation Rick McCutcheon had with Jess Best on MSDW
This episode is sponsored by Mazars.
Microsoft continues to support Dynamics 365 mixed reality applications to support training and remote work scenarios, and the products get even more interesting when viewed against the backdrop of the rest of the Dynamics 365 and Power Platform portfolio's evolution.
Our guest, Mazars solution architect and Microsoft MVP Chris Segurado, has been working with the D365 mixed reality hardware and applications for three years, both with Mazars clients and in the development of presentations and other content for the community. He shares an update on how the technology has evolved and what Microsoft customers can do today to get started with planning for mixed reality scenarios in their operations.
Show Notes:
Visit mazars.us/microsoft to learn more about MazarsNow! Mixed Reality assessment, or email the team at bizapps@mazarsusa.com
Rob Jolliffe of Sabre Limited has been adapting fixed-fee services models to suit his Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central clients for nearly five years. At Directions North America 2023, Rob will be helping lead a workshop for Microsoft partners who want to explore fixed-fee models, share experiences, and even work on new strategies and frameworks that suit the Dynamics 365 channel.
On this episode we talk about fixed-fee strategies, expectations for Directions North America 2023 overall, and some signs of where partner sentiment is heading in the space.
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This episode is sponsored by Formpipe.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 projects have the potential to impact organizations both in terms of the quality of internal operations and their customer-facing activities. On this episode, Formpipe’s Commercial Director Mike Rogers and Business Solutions Consultant Soren Hjorth join us to share their recent real world experiences working with Dynamics 365 customers. As they explain, solving business document challenges can deliver Dynamics ERP and CRM users with a range of benefits that not only achieve immediate goals but also position them for future needs.
We also discuss some news of the day: Microsoft's recent announcements of Copilot capabilities for Dynamics 365 apps, Power Platform, Microsoft 365, and beyond. As AI tools scour an organization's content and data, proper access to business documents will be a critical pre-requisite.
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For more information on Formpipe and its document management solutions for Dynamics, please visit: www.formpipe.com or please check out Formpipe content on MSDW.
This episode is sponsored by Cavallo.
On this episode we hear from Cavallo vice presidents Bob McAdam and Joe Alt for the latest guidance on the company's Dynamics GP solution roadmap and partnerships. GP users looking at both the Cavallo Salespad roadmap and their latest partnerships should find comfort in the ecosystem's future, including in the opportunities to modernize order management and build more integrated and automated systems.
Cavallo's Salespad continues to evolve, both in terms of the core offering and with new partnerships and connectors, Joe and Bob explain. We discuss the addition of more granular controls over orders coming from e-commerce systems. And Cavallo's new partnership with WennSoft (formerly Key2Act) will benefit customers who want better integration of order management with job costing and service management.
Looking ahead, Salespad Desktop is evolving to offer customers a more modular set of capabilities, Joe explains. And the company's spring event plans include a pre-day at DynamicsCon Live in May and their own Panels 2023 event later in the year in the company's home town of Grand Rapids.
Show Notes:
For more on the DynamicsCon pre-day, visit https://cavallo.com/scottsdale. If you have other questions about what you heard today, please email joe.alt@cavallo.com.
This episode is sponsored by Resco.
Resco.net CEO Andrew Lorraine joins us to break down what’s next for mobile workers in 2023. We discuss the technology trends with long term potential, how to maximize your mobile worker experience, and Resco’s new developments for the Microsoft Dynamics 365 community.
Show Notes:
Test drive the Resco Mobile App now. Get a feel for key functions, and use sample data - there is no need to upload your own. Get the app:
MSDW and MSCN Editors Jason Gumpert and Eamon McCarthy Earls discuss recent developments in the Microsoft channel, highlighting recent news and features, as well as ongoing trends and upcoming Microsoft Dynamics events.
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This episode is sponsored by Provance.
Power Platform is rapidly maturing as an application development platform, giving professional developers more ways to use it to build advanced solutions. For Microsoft ISVs, those advances have opened up opportunities to build first class solutions for on the platform where they can overlay their unique technology and expertise.
In the area of ITSM and ITAM, Provance has launched its own Power Apps-based solution, ServiceTeam ITSM. Two experts from the firm, Jennifer Grassen and Brian Field, join us to discuss the company's approach to Power Platform, some of the challenges they have solved with ServiceTeam ITSM, and how Provance's work in the Microsoft channel has informed their own work to take their ITAM and ITSM vision further.
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For more information on ITSM and ITAM Solutions from Provance, visit Provance.com
The Canadian National Dynamics 365 CE/CRM User Group has a long tradition of bringing members of the community together, both virtually and in-person. The group paused its activities during the pandemic, but they are back with new events, new plans, and a new organizing platform with the support of Dynamics User Group (DUG).
Two of the organizers of the Canadian National group, Microsoft MVPs Malcolm McAuley of C5 Insight and Rick McCutcheon, update us on building new momentum among Canadian users and how they see the group moving forward at both a regional and national level.
Group members come from a variety of organizations, Rick and Malcolm tell us. Often these users are the lone CRM experts in their organizations, so the connections to other users can be invaluable when planning how to enhance skills and learn about new technology.
Malcolm and Rick also discuss the challenges of offering content that resonates with others while also working toward their goal of increasing the volume of meetings, aiming for a monthly cadence. Malcolm also explains what the group has planned for the future, like more roadmap guidance, additional perspective on related Microsoft products, and helping foster direct connections between members.
This episode is sponsored by Evenica.
Manufacturers have made a lot of progress on their e-commerce journeys in recent years, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Commerce offers some interesting ways for these companies to achieve sales and broader customer experience goals. Our guest, Stefanie Richter of Evenica, explains how manufacturers are approaching commerce plans today and how those decisions influence technology investment.
Stefanie shares her takeaways from this year's NRF BIG Show, a retail-focused event that also offers interesting perspective for other industries. And she tells us about some specific Dynamics 365 Commerce scenarios Evenica is working on with clients, making the product a hub for the organization that brings together ERP and CRM.
Show Notes:
Evenica specializes in Dynamics 356 Commerce implementations, and they have a growing portfolio of their own IP that extends and amplifies the capabilities of Commerce. With a unique industry-specific approach, Evenica is able to offer custom solutions for brands in retail, manufacturing, healthcare, beverage & cannabis, government and more. For more information, please visit evenica.com.
This episode is sponsored by KwikTag by enChoice.
The world of work has changed in recent years, and today's AP departments find themselves working to meet both the performance demands of their businesses and the career interests of employees.
Our guests on this episode, Mary Miller and Sean Fitzgerald of KwikTag by enChoice, share their perspective on recent research on the impact of remote work and the implications on enterprise software investment. They share their own experiences working with companies to embrace the digital world and making sense of the marketplace and their employees' needs.
We also discuss why the profile of a company adopting AP automation is changing and the outcomes that finance departments are seeking from their software investments.
Show Notes
KwikTag by enChoice leads digital transformation as the one system for AI-powered invoice capture and workflow automation. With 20+ years of experience in the Dynamics community, KwikTag offers intelligent, cloud AP automation solutions for Dynamics GP and Business Central that provide a completely digital, touchless workflow and automatic transaction creation in your ERP. Visit kwiktag.com to learn how AP automation could benefit your business.
To learn more about the reasons companies are automating accounts payable, read this whitepaper: 5 Reasons Companies Are Automating AP. Watch this video to learn how a company using Dynamics GP transformed their AP process as a result of the pandemic and the work-from-anywhere era: Customer Spotlight: American Software.
This episode is sponsored by Formpipe.
Formpipe’s Business Solutions Consultants Soren Hjorth and Stefan Kristiansen join us to discuss commonly seen document management requirements in the Dynamics community. As more customers modernize from on-premises to cloud ERP solutions, their requirements and expectations for document automation often change, our guests say. Organizations today want greater speed, universal access and control, and better integrations, among other things. We also discuss what's new at Formpipe, including the next major version of Lasernet and some of the forward-looking plans of Dynamics customers looking to document management more holistically.
Show Notes
For more information on Lasernet for Dynamics and Formpipe, please visit: www.formpipe.com or please check out Formpipe’s content on MSDW.
Dynamics ERP veterans Tanya Henderson and Steve Endow join the podcast to discuss their new ISV venture focused on the Dynamics 365 Business Central market, Blue Dragonfly. They also talk about their overall career journeys from a focus mostly on Dynamics GP a few years ago to now working primarily with Business Central. They bring some unique observations to what's happening in the BC space, including their outlook on how AppSource is changing, the differences in how Microsoft seems to run its BC R&D organization compared to the old GP team, and how the global community interacts more or less 24x7 around the world. They also offer some interesting ideas for what it takes for other GP professionals to get up to speed on BC.
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