How to ensure you have the best Dynamics AX talent in a skills-short market

Last year I returned to Australia from 2 years overseas, during which time I worked with a London-based Dynamics & SharePoint recruitment consultancy. Whilst there, I worked with tier one consultancies, Microsoft Partners and global and local end user programmes. Given Australia's history to follow employment trends in the UK and EU, I'd like to describe some important trends and challenges that we are facing or can expect soon - here in Australia and likely in other parts of the world, too.

Microsoft experienced their biggest sales year ever for Dynamics AX in 2012, and with plans to double Dynamics revenue in the coming years, it is clear that it is a product on the rise. With a history of delivering cost effective implementations, Microsoft has helped attract new SMEs and also large multinationals to the product. As a result, the number of projects kicking off and systems in need of support in Australia is increasing.

Traditionally there is a shortage of candidates within niche markets, and the Dynamics channel is no different. And with adjustments being made to skilled visas, this could become problematic for some.

On the basis of simple supply vs. demand, this talent strain doesn't create the equilibrium that organisations might hope for. Businesses will have to consider the impact on project and resource costs but also, and possibly more importantly, the availability of those resources when required. Organisations implementing an ERP like Dynamics AX do so with the objective that it will improve efficiency and the ability to deliver to an ever changing market place, ultimately ensuring a strong ROI.

But this article isn't intended to simply bring light to a problem. Aside from the obvious, ...