For Larger Microsoft Partners, Significant Dynamics ERP and CRM Acquisitions Become Part of The New Reality

The Microsoft Dynamics channel saw a steady stream of acquisitions in 2015. And the uptick in deals, especially for larger firms, continued last week when Hitachi Solutions America Group announced its acquisition of Dynamics AX and CRM partner and solution provider Ignify.

The Ignify deal is one more sign of the Dynamics partner channel's continued belief in the market opportunity for Microsoft's business solutions, says Mike Gillis, COO and president of Hitachi Solutions America Group. Gillis's organization is responsible for all Microsoft Dynamics related business for Hitachi outside of Japan.

"We have always been focused on going to market by industry and having a head start with global turnkey industry solutions," says Gillis. "When we're doing our work, we think about how we can have global solutions that are industry specific. We loved that Ignify are focused on AX and CRM and we loved their industry and geographic fit."

Ignify offers both a geographic reach into Southeast Asia and the industry expertise in retail and banking for AX. They have run an international business that has grown to over 450 employees and $28 million in annual revenue. The company brings new strengths to Hitachi Solutions, says Gillis. And they have built up a client list with some notable names like Starbucks, 3M, Microsoft, OSI Systems, and Northern Tool.

"They strengthen our retail offering like crazy. We had a nice retail offering but not a lot of strong IP to differentiate us. They also have a banking solution for AX, and while banking is not new to us, [an AX-based offering] is."

The Ignify acquisition follows the same approach that Hitachi Solutions has taken with other deals in the recent past, says Gillis. The