Microsoft Dynamics Profile: Award just a bonus for first Business Applications MVP in the Philippines

For Paul Soliman, being named a Microsoft Business Applications MVP in March was the icing on the cake of his Microsoft Dynamics journey—a journey that began in 2009 with implementing Dynamics NAV for Starbucks in his home country of the Philippines. In the years since, his work has led to him co-found two new businesses, foster the development of the country's Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform community, and most recently, develop digital tools to encourage organizations to support work-from-home rules  related to the coronavirus pandemic.

The journey to entrepreneurship

Soliman's journey to entrepreneurship began with his first role at Starbucks in the Philippines, implementing NAV.

I was an in-house IT support for Starbucks Philippines. I also implemented the POS, which is, of course running on LS Retail, which was like an extension of NAV then. I was doing everything on Dynamics NAV, such as the support, development of reports everything having to do with Dynamics NAV.

Then in 2013, Soliman moved on to Mercedes Benz Philippines (CATS Motors Inc.) However, at that point, he didn't want to continue implementing NAV, so he created an open source ERP for Mercedes Benz instead. After a year at Mercedes Benz, Soliman was hired as a project manager by another company, Sagesoft Solutions Inc.