Directions EMEA Sees Big Attendance, New Access to NAV 2013, but Azure Questions Remain

For Microsoft Dynamics NAV partners, last week's Directions EMEA conference was one of the major update opportunities in the lead up to the planned release of Dynamics NAV 2013 later this year.   Highlights included access to a new community technical preview build, which includes the much anticipated web client and a long lineup of Microsoft officials.

NDA-signers were given a copy of the new community technical preview, CTP4, of NAV 2013, which includes the web client.  Only three CTPs had been planned, per normal practice, but Microsoft added the fourth due to the addition of the web client, Azure compatibility, and the resulting push back of  the planned release to October 2012.

That October 2012 release date is still somewhat in doubt.  Attendees reported it being described as "more of an 'if'" than a commitment, though it is likely Microsoft will do what it takes to get the release out before the end of 2012 in order to start its plans for a new annual release cadence on the right note.

Lars Agger of Catapult ERP described what he sees as the three biggest changes in NAV 2013:

1. Introduction of SharePoint client (light ERP users with tools available to collaborate and self service with enhanced business productivity)
2. Functional improvements in manufacturing and warehousing granules + cash flow functionality
3. Cloud readiness

"Cloud readiness" may still seem, well, cloudy to some including Eric Wauters, who characterized the strategy as "fuzzy" still.

Another source confirmed that Microsoft's plans for NAV in Azure are still not fully baked.  ...