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Ending Dynamics ERP SMB exams 'not a decision we took lightly' says Microsoft's Jeff Edwards

by Jason Gumpert
Editor, MSDynamicsWorld.com

Editor's Note: For more on this debate, Mark Polino has posted a response to the comments in this article on his blog. And Mariano Gomez has posted a response on his blog.

Microsoft's Jeff Edwards, director of Dynamics partner strategy, has responded to criticism of the Microsoft's decision to end certification exams for Dynamics GP, NAV, and SL partners in a new, point-by-point comment that seeks to clarify the decision.

Following the Microsoft announcement, Dynamics GP Mark Polino wrote that Microsoft's stated reasons for the decision didn't hold water for a few key reasons. Edwards responded on September 3, writing that "this was not a decision we took lightly." He also addressed other key criticisms and concerns that Dynamics GP and NAV professionals have raised since the announcement.

In response to the suggestion that Microsoft is now pushing cloud expertise over partners' core ERP skills like calculating use tax, designing approval workflows, and creating cash flow projections, Edwards writes that it is the combination of Microsoft cloud solutions and Dynamics that the company wants to stress, not to relegate Dynamics products:

"We are not saying it is Azure/O365 in place of GP, we are saying GP AND Azure/O365. The integrated solution provides true value to customers and differentiation for our partners. Issues like use tax, approval workflow and cash flow projections are absolutely critical, and they ...

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About Jason Gumpert

As the editor of MSDynamicsWorld.com, Jason oversees all editorial content on the site and at our events, as well as providing site management and strategy. He can be reached at jgumpert@msdynamicsworld.com.

Prior to co-founding MSDynamicsWorld.com, Jason was a Principal Software Consultant at Parametric Technology Corporation (PTC), where he implemented solutions, trained customers, managed software development, and spent some time in the pre-sales engineering organization. He has also held consulting positions at CSC Consulting and Monitor Group.

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