Beyond Convergence: Microsoft Dynamics Community Grows Quickly By Filling a Communications and Networking Gap

When it comes to bringing lots of Microsoft Dynamics users together in single place, the big triggers has been the annual Convergence conferences--one in the U.S. in March and one in Europe in November.

But how are users to communicate and network during the long gaps between Convergence sessions? Increasingly, they are seeking out the Microsoft Dynamics Community, the Microsoft-sponsored online gathering place of interactive forums, blogs, and news. Members can even use syndication tools that let them automate their information streams.

Formed only 15 months ago, with a Finance community, the Dynamics Community has since expanded to include Sales and Marketing, and Customer Service communities.

Growth has been accelerating--in just the last three months, registrations have jumped 200%, to more than 9,000 members, reports Liz Hallen, senior product manager of Microsoft Dynamics Community. Registration is free, and she notes that registrants can, during a current promotion ending June 30, win points good toward possible prizes.

"The idea behind the Microsoft Dynamics Community is to give our users a way to experience the kind of networking and collaboration that they usually only get at conferences like Convergence," says Hallen. "Our customers tell us that those opportunities are really valuable, and we wanted to help them have better access to each other year round."

Microsoft Dynamics Community is organized to be consistent with the Microsoft Dynamics product strategy, she says. "Our product strategy has been to create products that everyone can utilize--finance, production, marketing--in ways that are tailored to their needs."

Similarly, Microsoft Dynamics Community seeks to "connect the two together--online communities with the software applications themselves--via content tailored to users' roles."

The community is ...