Microsoft partner makes the case for developing new Dynamics 365 Business Central pros

Microsoft recently stated that at least 15,000 customers are now running Dynamics 365 Business Central. While that figure is difficult to analyze, reports from partners of growing Business Central sales and optimistic forecasts for the next year provide supporting evidence of the (primarily) SaaS ERP's momentum.

With Business Central established as Microsoft's SMB ERP solution for the future the biggest execution challenge for partners could turn out to be staffing. Some consultants have transitioned from Dynamics GP or NAV to Business Central. But if, as partners report, most BC deals continue to be new adds rather than migrations and upgrades from Dynamics NAV or GP, then the marketplace will continue to face competing resource demands.

The increase in BC sales volume has already started to constrain some consulting teams, pushing out project start dates or, worse, potentially passing on opportunities. To fix the problem, partners need more trained staff to meet the demand. But the NAV and Business Central job market has long been considered constrained by a slow-growing talent pool.

Traditional hiring methods may still serve the needs of those filling roles for specialized talent, some partners are also moving to accelerate the onboarding by bringing in people with no starting experience.

UK-based Technology Management recently grew its consulting team by hiring eighteen new staff members with no previous NAV or Business Central (or accounting or ERP) experience. Chosen from 750 applicants, the hires represented a fifteen percent increase in staff size. In a letter to associates, founder and CEO (and MSDW contributor) James Crowter explained that the organization was operating at full capacity and needed more people: