At first you might think the hardest decision you will make is which ERP system you agree to move forward with however you soon realise this is only the beginning.

You’ve obviously made the right decision in going for Microsoft Dynamics 365 😊… what comes next is choosing your Microsoft Dynamics Partner who will ultimately make or break your project success.

An ERP system that has been configured properly will have its benefits, but this isn’t the only thing you need to think about. Your Microsoft Partner will play a huge role in achieving operational excellence and End User adoption by ensuring user buy in and managing change.

When we speak to current and future Dynamics End Users, we hear different issues all the time, but they all tend to have the same theme.

These are:

• Time Management: they take too long to respond to Support or Guidance requests.
• Reactive rather than Pro-active: they don’t share New Functionality, Versions and Add-ons.
• No Transparency: this tends to be around fees generally.

This is not what you signed up for right?

What we’ve done below is created a handy check list of what you need to be selective of to choose the right Microsoft Partner that will ultimately lead you to project success:

Product Knowledge: Remember if you bring on board a Microsoft Partner who has the relevant product knowledge this will make your job hell of a lot easier. Look for Partners whose unique competencies fit your organization’s specific requirements.

Industry Knowledge: Every industry is different and if you are working with a Microsoft Partner who has completed several other implementations within a similar industry or with your competitors this is to your advantage. You will need a Partner who is willing to take the time to understand the unique pain points of your business, your specific requirements and the industry. You could consider asking for customer success examples. 

Support: Choosing the Partner and implementing is still the beginning as you can imagine End User buy in is a must and this is generally gained via training and providing support. Does the Microsoft Partner you want to go with offer Training and Support? Will they train the Super Users and provide them with the right tools?

Transparency: Whether it’s about timelines or any extra costs you may have this should be clear at the beginning and throughout the process if there are any delays. Choose a partner that can support you in the way that best meets your business needs, whether you want to be hands-on or delegate the entire process.

Scalability: You need a Microsoft Partner that can meet any business growth, offer future proof and flexible solution that will adapt to your evolving business.

Choosing the right Microsoft Partner for your business means finding a team of consultants that have the experience to suggest different solutions and are willing to spend the time with you to figure out what will work best together.

With the right partner, you embark on a smooth implementation process, thorough training, and first-rate support. Remember, it’s crucial to choose the right Microsoft Partner for you, biggest Microsoft Partner is not always the best Microsoft Partner to go with.

In the meantime if you are in the middle of a Microsoft Dynamics ERP implementation and aren’t getting the Support from your Partner contact us on our website www.pearsoncarter.com or drop us an email on [email protected]!