Through recent years, Dynamics NAV from Microsoft has evolved as an innovative all-in-one business solution, now named Business Central. First available in the cloud, but now (since the October Release) Dynamics 365 Business Central is also available on-premise. The new release offers many enhancements for user productivity and tighter integration to other Microsoft technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), Power BI, Office365 and Common Data Services. From the perspective of partners, the most critical are innovative and improved tools for migrating existing customers to Business Central and managing customer solutions and customising them in the cloud.
The new release of Dynamics 365 Business Central and the integrated ecosystem of other Microsoft technologies and partner add-on solutions create immense growth opportunities for Microsoft SMB focused partners. Meeting the needs of small- to medium-sized (SMB) customers looking to benefit from digitalisation, Business Central will definitely help partners gain a competitive advantage on the market.
However, for many Microsoft Dynamics Partners that primarily and still offer on-premise solutions and implementation, the transition to the cloud model is a big challenge, meaning they need to develop a new strategic approach to their business, keep pace with technological innovations and look for their own innovative way to continue success. The general data on Business Central is, however, really encouraging: in North America there is 59% growth of customers per month and 30 new Business Central partners are signing up every month.
The perspectives for EMEA market will be presented by Microsoft at the Directions EMEA conference (October 29-30, The Hague) by Marko Perisic, the general manager for Dynamics SMB and Toby Bowers, senior director for Worldwide Applications and Industry. As Perisic emphasised in many interviews, partners and independent software vendors play a critical role in the success of Business Central, not only as a product but also an innovative concept, that requires a new approach of partners in the areas of development, marketing, sales, implementation and integration. Practically, it means a huge engagement on the partners’ side: in knowledge, technology, resources, marketing, management and collaboration at partner-partner and partner customer level.
The active involvement of Microsoft in the organisation of Directions EMEA conference (which is an event organised by partners for partners) is a sign of Microsoft’s commitment to support the partner community in the process of transitioning into the cloud model. The Microsoft Dynamics 365 team will be available for Directions EMEA attendees during sessions and meetings.
The conference is also packed with sessions delivered by other experts with the key focus on technical and development and leadership audience. The detailed conference program is available here.
As a unique learning opportunity for Dynamics Partners and the biggest networking event, this year’s Directions EMEA will bring together more than 2000 attendees.
Magdalena Janas, the author of the article, works in the marketing team for Directions EMEA.
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