At Microsoft Dynamics NAV Session, Users Bemoan Their Dependence on VARs and Partners

"Has anyone had an issue dealing with their VAR?" a user of Microsoft Dynamics NAV asked about 15 other users gathered on a conference call Tuesday.

"Has anyone not had an issue dealing with their VAR?" asked another user, to chuckles among the group.

The conference call was an event sponsored by the NAV User Group, ostensibly about "Go Live Experiences," but it quickly evolved into a gripe session about the difficulties associated with finding qualified assistance implementing Microsoft Dynamics NAV.

Part of the problem is what one user called "an ERP-related issue." Partners and VARs each have particular strengths and weaknesses, he noted.

The users nearly all said their don't even try to keep Microsoft Dynamics NAV experts on staff. "It's very difficult to find that expertise," said one user, and others seconded that view.

One user said her company is "trying to train our systems person in NAV." Still another said his company isn't necessarily seeking programming help, but rather "someone who knows the (NAV) program" and can help in dealing with ongoing difficulties and glitches that come up.

When the moderator inquired into whether anyone was using Microsoft for NAV support, there was silence. The same silence pervaded when the moderator inquired as to whether any users were obtaining support for anyone other than their VAR or partner.

Among the problems users complained about were problems with tables locking, preventing users from accessing key data at important times. A partner participating in the call suggested scheduling the input of transactions during off-peak times, to reduce system load, and locking episodes.

The moderator encouraged users to rely on each other for assistance by ...