Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM in 2015: Top Stories and Themes in a Year of Change

With the end of 2015 upon us, it is time to look back at the stories, topics, and trends that MSDynamicsWorld.com readers responded to this year.

We'll dive into top articles specific to Dynamics AX, GP, NAV, and CRM in separate respective articles soon. But what follows here is a review of 2015 based around four themes: Microsoft's organizational changes, the future of Convergence, the shifting face of the partner channel, and finally (and hopefully closing the loop with the first topic) how Dynamics ERP and CRM fit into the larger Microsoft product lineup for businesses.

Microsoft Reorganized

The search process for Steve Ballmer's successor may have taken longer than some would have liked, but the appointment of Satya Nadella as Microsoft CEO in early 2014 has been viewed favorably by most Microsoft shareholders, employees, and partners. They seem to appreciate that Nadella has provided a new direction to the company, both for product and technology priorities and in how to structure an organization as massive as Microsoft. As part of a major overhaul to the product teams, Nadella made the decision to release Dynamics ERP and CRM from the protective confines of MBS.

• Kirill Tatarinov Out as Microsoft Dynamics R&D Moves to Cloud and Enterprise Group
• Microsoft Dynamics Goes Mainstream: Where Will MBS Teams End Up?

The self-contained division has been broken apart into its component parts, meaning it will operate more like other mature Microsoft products, with R&D, marketing, sales, and partner teams rolling up to centralized executives. Most people have said they see the move as a sign of strength in the ...