Microsoft Dynamics NAV ISV Transitions from Add-On Aggregator to Dev Shop

Just last week Dynamics NAV Addons, a developer of Microsoft Dynamics NAV addons and utilities, added a type of employee to its company most developers of such products already employ--an actual developer.

"As of Monday we a hired a programmer to work for Dynamics NAV Addons and that's the first time that's happened," said Robert Cole, Managing Director of Sales at the San Diego, Calif.-based Vertical Leap company.

Cole explained that over the years the various personnel who joined the parent organization, in part, through acquistions, had helped the company solve the "niggling problems" that annoyed it and everyone else who works with NAV.

Then about four or five years ago, the owner of the parent company decided it would be a be a good business model to offer these utilities to the rest of the world, so he put together an organzation and packaged the utilities so they could be sold to other companies, according to Cole.

"Some came from the parent organization, some came from the acquistions, some were from friends of the owners who asked him to sell their NAV add ons," Cole said. "So there's a variety of sources for where this stuff came from, but it's irrelevant. As far as our customers are concerned we're selling it, we're supporting it and if they ever have any questions, problems, concerns or anxieties they come to us and it's my problem to fix it."

However, Cole said now that the company has an internal developer, most of its products will probably be developed in-house, rather than by outside developers.

Cole said Dynamics NAV Addons sells about a dozen products through its partner network including the AR &...