Over the last several years, Microsoft has cemented itself as a best-in-class provider of CRM and ERP solutions with its Dynamics 365 platform, which contains a wealth of tools for sales, marketing, operations, finance, service, and more. Dynamics 365’s many advantages include seamless integration with Office and other Microsoft products, the ability to code custom apps using the Power Platform, and advanced artificial intelligence tools that boost performance.
Despite its many advantages, however, a Dynamics CRM deployment is a significant project and requires a trustworthy and capable Microsoft Partner to implement. From aligning your needs and business processes, to setting up the system, to taking measures to increase the likelihood of high end-user adoption, there are many tasks that you need to make sure your Microsoft Dynamics 365 implementation partner is capable of performing. Here are five things to look for in a Dynamics CRM Partner.
1. Deep Dynamics CRM Expertise
The Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement platform is constantly evolving with new features being made available regularly and major release waves introduced twice per year. For this reason, it is very important to have a partner who lives and breathes Dynamics CRM, rather than a provider who happens to have a Dynamics CRM “side practice”. Not only will a dedicated Dynamics 365 CE partner provide you with a better implementation experience overall, they will be more knowledgeable about Microsoft’s future plans for Dynamics 365, will have more Dynamics 365 implementation experience to draw from and will be better equipped to support provide quality post-implementation support.
2. Proven Method
Having a Dynamics 365 implementation partner with a track record of successfully planning, implementing, and supporting Dynamics 365-based solutions is also key to ensuring a positive outcome for your CRM deployment. Make sure to ask potential partners about their specific implementation methodology, since projects as significant as a CRM implementation require a detailed framework to deploy successfully.
It is essential to have a CRM implementation approach that includes spending the right amount of time up-front gaining a deep understanding of end user needs, goals of management, and the business processes that will be supported by CRM, as well as ensuring there is organizational consensus on why a CRM system is being implemented.
3. Industry Expertise
Microsoft Partners with experience in your sector will be able to offer personalized guidance as you plan your implementation. If they understand common pain points and processes in your industry, they will be able to design a solution that is responsive and tailored to the needs of your end users. Additionally, they may have important lessons learned from past CRM deployments that they can apply to your situation, saving you from making costly mistakes.
4. The Right Team
Having a good culture fit with your partner is also important, as your team will be working closely with their employees throughout the course of the project. As part of your selection process, arrange to meet with key members of your partner’s delivery team they intend to assign to your implementation to understand how they collaborate and manage projects. This will ensure that you have full visibility into what this very important relationship will look like once the project gets underway.
5. A True Partner
Implementations of any software solution almost never go without a few bumps in the road. Do you see your team able to effectively work through issues with the partner? Can you trust the partner to always “shoot you straight” and not just tell you what you want to hear? Will the partner provide you with guidance based on their years of expertise and even push back when they disagree with a decision or direction you are taking?
Given the stakes of your project, you need a partner that is reliable and trustworthy. Additionally, you want a partner that will act as an advisor or coach throughout the process, sharing best practices with your team and pushing back on ideas that are infeasible. Part of the reason you pay a Microsoft Partner is for their expertise, so it’s important that they deploy it to prevent you from making mistakes.
Working with New Dynamic
With a proven CRM deployment methodology that management teams and end users love, New Dynamic implements high-ROI systems that successfully integrate sales, marketing, and service components of Microsoft Dynamics 365. Our meticulous and experience-driven approach with Microsoft solutions in many industries ensures that your needs are listened to and delivered on.
