Partnering for Success: Crucial Considerations in Choosing a Dynamics 365 Business Central Implementation Partner

ERP has faced a monumental transformation from just being cookie-cutter solutions to becoming highly customized and industry-centric. They have evolved to equip businesses with tools to tackle operational complexities and challenges while meeting rising customer demands. ERP demands a major commitment of time and financial resources with the numerous benefits that accompany a successful ERP implementation. Most businesses dedicate months of research to find the right ERP solution but make haste in choosing an implementation partner.

Unsurprisingly, a wrong implementation partner is one of the most common causes of ERP failure and surprisingly, this is a little-known fact. Selecting an implementation partner requires a thorough analysis of capabilities and techniques used to implement an ERP. The organization needs to be confident in the implementation partner they choose due to the high stakes.

However, this research is a major feat and most small and medium-sized organizations lack the expertise to carry it out efficiently.

This blog synthesizes the criteria and some crucial considerations which SMBs can follow while choosing the right implementation partner for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Importance of Having the Right Implementation Partner

ERP and its implementation partner are pieces of a single puzzle. Both need to efficiently deliver what is promised to propel the business towards optimizing its processes. The ERP implementation partner needs to thoroughly analyze business requirements and identify its pain points before devising a custom implementation plan. Moreover, the partner should configure the ERP solution with the tools and technologies being already used by the business to ensure optimal performance and mitigate data siloes. Lastly, an ERP partner:

• Handles the entire project while implementing change management strategies through the entire implementation lifecycle.
• Optimizes business processes by setting up automation workflows where needed.
• Conducts employee training to equip them with the necessary skills to use the ERP solution.
• Provides unparalleled long-term support to configure routine upgrades.

Here are some aspects that you should consider while selecting an implementation partner for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Are they Microsoft’s Official Solutions Partner?

Microsoft has a Solutions Partner program which comprises of businesses offering tailor-made implementations for Microsoft’s products, which are trusted by Microsoft. It has the following six designations:

• Solutions partner for Business Applications
• Solutions partner for Data and AI (Azure)
• Solutions partner for Digital and App Innovation (Azure)
• Solutions partner for Infrastructure (Azure)
• Solutions partner for Modern Work
• Solutions partner for Security.

Since Business Central is a business application, you will have to look for businesses who have qualified as solutions partners for the Business Application designation. These carefully chosen partners have had to prove their skill and competence in implementing Microsoft’s solutions to Microsoft itself. According to Microsoft, here are some benefits of employing their solutions partner for business applications:

• You can discover solutions for present challenges and unlock growth for the future.
• You can foster profitability for the longer run by using tailor-made implementation of Microsoft Products.
• You can feel confident in your partner’s capabilities (which are validated by Microsoft) as they devise a path for your business to evolve.

Choosing a Microsoft endorsed implementation partner is a crucial step and can optimize your Business Central implementation with enhanced business processes and increased ROI.

Are they Experienced at Implementations?

An expert implementation partner will be able to expertly gauge your business needs and align the implementation strategy with the requirements. It is essential for you to select the partner after extensively evaluating their successful implementation projects and researching into their capabilities in effectively handling Microsoft’s tech stack.

The implementation partner needs to be expert in Microsoft’s stack like Power BI, Dynamics 365 CRM or even Azure so that they can configure these tools with your Business Central implementation to address your specific business needs. Moreover, expert capabilities can be gauged by how well they can customize the Business Central implementation for you and pair it with configurations like Power BI to enhance business reporting or Microsoft Security applications to make the business processes secure. Another thing to consider is how expertly they can handle your data integration with the implementation without creating any siloes.

Can they Expertly Identify Business Needs?

The right implementation partner should be able to extract the exact business requirements from the jumble of mismanaged processes. They should possess the ability to ask the right questions in the discovery phase and should lead it efficiently instead of expecting you to spell out your exact need. Most SMBs are barely equipped with technical knowledge to properly dictate their software implementation needs. In fact, they need to be guided about the various technologies that can be configured with their Business Central to enhance their processes.

Therefore, the implementation partner should be able to gauge your pain points first to be able to lead a successful implementation.

Do they Use the Right Project Management Methodology?

The right implementation partner will have a properly defined implementation process and will employ the best methodology and project management tools to lead it. These will enable them to work as an extension of your business, being aware and communicating each milestone or problem right away with the stakeholders.

Being able to gauge this aspect beforehand can also aid in helping your team manage expectations as well.

Dynamics Solution and Technology: The Business Central Partner You Need

Business Central’s business management capabilities can propel your organization towards sustained success with data excellence, automated workflows and streamlined processes. By choosing Dynamics Solution and Technology as your implementation partner, you can leverage optimal results and expedite your digital transformation.

Our team of industry experts provide unparalleled assistance from discovery till post-implementation support. Our technical consultants are well-versed in analyzing your business needs and are adept at employing the most innovative technologies that will be custom configured to meet your needs. As Microsoft’s Gold and Solutions partner, we have been digitally transforming businesses all over the Gulf and MENA regions and equipping them with the right tools to survive in today’s dynamic business landscape. Contact us today for a personalized demo on how we can be your Business Central implementation partners.