Convergence 2012 and Beyond: Where is Microsoft Taking Its Dynamics Business?

Convergence is always a fun and busy place for reporters and analysts, with access to the Microsoft Dynamics managers, updated product information, and a huge crowd of Dynamics users and professionals focused on the latest and greatest in the Microsoft Dynamics ecosystem.

But beyond the expected announcements, product updates, and perhaps a few surprises, Convergence 2012 will also offer an interesting look farther down the road at the areas where Microsoft has perhaps done some product positioning for Dynamics but still has plenty of space to adjust its trajectory. 

Several product areas and market opportunities stand out for their potential impact on future Dynamics ERP and CRM releases.  As a company, Microsoft is already well positioned in some areas, even if Dynamics has some catching up to do.  In other areas they are at risk of falling behind in the marketplace. 

We talked to two veteran Dynamics watchers - Rob Helm, VP of research at Directions on Microsoft, and Josh Greenbaum, principal at Enterprise Applications Consulting, for their views on the long term trends that Microsoft's ERP and CRM businesses should be planning for.

Tablet and Mobile

Microsoft has a variety of interests in play for its mobile strategy, and of course it is not all about Dynamics. The company is after improved Windows Phone market share, and it looks to the Dynamics teams to do its part in pushing that mission forward.  But at the same time, the Dynamics product teams need to show that they can play well with all the latest mobile platforms out there. 

"I hope ...