And that’s a wrap! Just like that, User Group Summit 2019, the largest Microsoft Dynamics user conference in North America, has come to close. We have all the details you need to see what Microsoft Business Applications came out on top, what’s on the way out, and how you can prepare your organization for the future.
As we emphasized during our session – Independence Day: The Tigunia Way, businesses rely on more than just their Microsoft Dynamics NAV or 365 Business Central ERP alone. It’s essential to look at your technology stack holistically. Microsoft’s announcements in Orlando reinforced this even more. By stressing on development in cloud and infrastructure, along with integrations and ISVs, it was clear they are painting a bigger picture for your business technology as a whole.
At Tigunia, we’ve always been a step ahead on the concept of attending to the entire business process and the technology and people that provision it. This is why we support the full stack of all your necessary business systems with only senior IT experts on staff.
Read on to see the ‘up-and-coming’ and the ‘on-the-outs’ during User Group Summit, including the big winners of our booth giveaways!
The Winners
“Wave 2” and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Microsoft made it clear they are fiercely underway with ‘Wave 2’ of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Applications, including Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central enhancements. These are releases from October 2019 through March 2020 across existing and new Dynamics 365 apps and includes new capabilities for the following areas:
- Sales
- Marketing
- Customer Service
- Field Service
- Project Service Automation
- Finance
- Supply Chain Management
- Talent
- Retail
- Business Central
If you have a spare day (or three), you can read through the full Wave 2 Release Plan from Microsoft. Or, go directly to productivity and contact a senior Dynamics and technology expert to discuss how you can use the up-and-coming capabilities that are relevant to your business goals. In particular, Business Central will see a slew of enhancements in its financial modules, various browser experience advancements, and easier third-party integrations for things like better reporting and business intelligence.
Power Platform and AI
If we weren’t hearing the words AI, PowerApps, PowerBI, or Microsoft Flow repeatedly, then we knew we stepped outside the User Group Summit conference zone. Microsoft’s Power Platform is here in a big way.
Microsoft Flow allows you to create automated workflows and tasks across multiple Microsoft based business applications. The new AI Builder was all-the-buzz as a (still somewhat elusive) Power Platform capability that will allow businesses to automate processes and predict outcomes.
Perhaps most tangible was the demand from Microsoft Dynamics users at the show for Power BI. However, it was clear that most Microsoft Dynamics users are still on the hunt for a quick, fast, and manageable way to implement and use it for robust visualization. The excellent news is that Tigunia has a turnkey solution for rapid Power BI deployment, including a full business intelligence platform with it.
Anne Buster, Michael Carr, and Gretchen Shulz
You read that right, three specific people are on this list. Huge congrats to the biggest Summit winners of all! Michael Carr of Philadelphia Scientific and Anne Buster with BAE Systems won our Cisco Meraki Wireless Access Points, and Gretchen Schulz with Universal Service Administrative Co won our Apple iPad Air. How you ask? By visiting the Tigunia at the booth and learning more about how to take control of their business technology stack and how they can increase efficiency while reducing operational costs. And for answering the question “What IS a Tigunia anyway?” It was a win for everyone.
The Losers
Microsoft Dynamics GP
It’s now no secret that Microsoft is pouring the lion’s share of development resources into their line of Dynamics 365 applications. It was clear at Summit that this impacts Microsoft Dynamics GP users the most. Why? Because Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is built from the foundation of NAV (in fact, the on-premise, perpetual version is often informally referred to as NAV 2019 amongst channel insiders). So the base of innovations started on the NAV platform, and the upgrade path is seamless. Likewise, Microsoft Dynamics AX is still a part of the current on-premise (non-hosted) Dynamics offerings. But for Microsoft Dynamics GP, there is no question that the upgrade and cloud path is through Business Central exclusively, which is a further departure of the legacy solution.
All of this might sound dismal GP users at first, but it can be fantastic news if you are proactively planning for migration because you will gain innovative ERP features and integrations that you wouldn’t be able to get otherwise. All you need is an implementation Partner that can look at your entire business systems structure and goals, then work with you on the least interruptive and most valuable upgrade to Business Central possible.
On-Premise Business Applications
It’s no surprise that the demand for cloud solutions in business process management is proliferating. Microsoft doesn’t just intend to keep up; they are gunning for front-runner status against burgeoning competitors like NetSuite. That is not to say that on-premise ERPs are entirely irrelevant. There are still a few advantages with onsite infrastructure around data control that are a fit for some organizations. But User Group Summit proved that a majority of companies using Dynamics on-premise are considering ways to move to the cloud and wondering how to get there, which aligns with Microsoft’s emphasis on Dynamics 365.
The reduced cost and risk advantages to cloud infrastructure are becoming more evident to organizations that are already naturally looking at their next upgrade strategy. This includes:
- Automatic Upgrades – With Dynamics 365 Business Central in the cloud, updates push through the system automatically, eliminating lengthy, disruptive, and expensive upgrades forever.
- Accessibility and Mobility – Most on-premise ERPs aren’t built to work in web browsers or on mobile devices. In contrast, Dynamics 365 Business Central can be accessed on any device, from anywhere.
- Reporting and Data Visibility – With Dynamics 365, there are a plethora of robust ISV solutions available to manage the delta in any reporting you need, like Jet Reports and Jet Analytics. Also, Power BI is ready to deploy.
How to Prepare Yourself for Success
No matter what is “in” or “out” at the latest Dynamics tradeshow, which Microsoft Dynamics solution you have, or whether you’re in the cloud or not – the bottom line is that your business is made up of more than just your ERP. The entirety of your systems and infrastructure, along with your organization’s short and long-term objectives, need to be listened to and looked at for an optimum technology strategy.
Tigunia delivers unparalleled full-service technology solutions for organizations using Microsoft Dynamics NAV or 365 Business Central by covering the full array of needed services. From server infrastructure to executive dashboards, we do this in a way that is the right fit for you and your goals.
We take the frustration of high prices and slow delivery off the table so you can get back to running your business rather than the project. Find out what our customers know that you don’t by contacting us about your Microsoft Dynamics and business technology questions today. We’re here to help you, not sell you. It’s the Tigunia Way, and it’s the shortest path to success with your business and the technology you rely on to run it.
