2017 predictions for Microsoft Dynamics: Branding, leadership, upgrades, SMB partners, and more

The year 2016 has been a good one for Microsoft. The company's stock price soared 13 percent this year as the company's triple-digit cloud revenue growth, and its steadily growing subscription revenue base in the commercial space, impressed investors and underscored the company's commitment to offerings like Office 365 and Dynamics 365.

And unless you lived under a rock in 2016, you already know that Dynamics 365 is Microsoft's business solution suite for the future. The realignment of the ERP and CRM product line - and the teams responsible for them - come at a time when Azure-based services are all-important to Microsoft. Technology like machine learning, advanced analytics, bots, enterprise mobility, and Internet of Things (IoT) will become closer cousins of the Dynamics 365 apps in the future. And Microsoft's partners will get ever stronger incentives to get customers moving toward the cloud and subscription licensing models.

Without a doubt, Dynamics 365 was the big story of 2016, and it likely will be again in 2017. After all, the product only officially launched in the last three months of this calendar year. But what else do we see in our crystal ball for 2017? What follows are a few predictions about Dynamics software and the people create its community.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 naming and leadership will firm up

As a brand name, Dynamics 365 has received mixed reviews from the Dynamics community so far. Partners have been most vocal, noting that "365" is a great identity for Microsoft to bring across to business solutions from the success of Office 365, but it is so non-specific that it is slowing down some sales conversations. Partners have to answer ...