MS Dynamics 365 CRM Partner / Consultancy Recommendations

[silverlight1]

Hi All,

I'm working with a charitable client of mine to help them implement MS Dynamics 365 CRM.

They are an SME and their focus is on using CRM for training provision - taking payments for courses, enquiries and lead generation from interested trainees.

The RFP process is just starting and I'd welcome suggestions from experienced contractors who could recommend any suitable Dynamics 365 CRM consultancies / partners.

There could potentially be some opportunities for independent contractors but the client would be unlikely to go for a small independent contractor / LTD

Welcome any recommendations please
Thanks

[eek]

Good luck because I actually can’t think of many that I have worked with and could recommend because it depends way more on the people you get rather than the company (current end client has Avanade in and oh boy they are rubbish).

ANS have decent people, Cloud9 have some as well

but you best plan is to go to Microsoft and get their recommendations based on what you want because you will save £0,000s if the company has done it before and knows how to do what you need.

Edit - Praqmatiq may have decent people - the ones I knew there have left though.

[Lance]

if they don't already have a partner are they sure Dynamics is the answer?
It's a BIG BIG BIG ERP package. Like SAP but will fewer people who understand it.
If it's just a CRM they need perhaps Salesforce is gonna be a lot simpler/cheaper?

This needs requirements gathering and a solution architecture before choosing a product IMO.

[eek]

if they don't already have a partner are they sure Dynamics is the answer?
It's a BIG BIG BIG ERP package. Like SAP but will fewer people who understand it.
If it's just a CRM they need perhaps Salesforce is gonna be a lot simpler/cheaper?

This needs requirements gathering and a solution architecture before choosing a product IMO.

Dynamics is multiple different things.

On one side there is a baby SAP that does finance, warehousing - which is what you seem to be thinking about

You then have Dynamics Customer Engagement / CRM / PowerApps side of things and that is what the OP is talking about here.

The problem everyone in the industry has is that Dynamics is a name that Microsoft use to sell a number of very different products...

On the upside it does make it very easy to identify which agencies have the first idea what they are asking for skillset wise.

[Eirikur]

If it is a charity they should go to Microsoft directly and get vastly cost reduced licenses

[m0n1k3r]

if they don't already have a partner are they sure Dynamics is the answer?
It's a BIG BIG BIG ERP package. Like SAP but will fewer people who understand it.
If it's just a CRM they need perhaps Salesforce is gonna be a lot simpler/cheaper?

This needs requirements gathering and a solution architecture before choosing a product IMO.

Dynamics 365 is three different platforms under the same family name:

The front-office apps, based on the Power Platform and Dataverse
The back-office ERP apps, based on Azure and X++
The SMB ERP package Business Central (formerly Nav/Navision), based on AL

Salesforce isn't any simpler and costs about twice as much for fewer features.

[m0n1k3r]

If it is a charity they should go to Microsoft directly and get vastly cost reduced licenses

They can get that through some partners as well.

[Lance]

They can get that through some partners as well.

Any decent partner will be able to provide the same discounts. In fact a decent partner can even reduce their margin and undercut Microsoft if they desire to do so.

What discounts there are for Dynamics though?

Azure resources don't get any charity discounts. They can get some credits added to the subscription but the resource costs are the same.

M365 gets huge charity/academic/government discounts.

[SchumiStars]

Good luck because I actually can’t think of many that I have worked with and could recommend because it depends way more on the people you get rather than the company (current end client has Avanade in and oh boy they are rubbish).

ANS have decent people, Cloud9 have some as well

but you best plan is to go to Microsoft and get their recommendations based on what you want because you will save £0,000s if the company has done it before and knows how to do what you need.

Edit - Praqmatiq may have decent people - the ones I knew there have left though.

I used to work at Avanade as MS Dynamics 365 Developer/Consultant. We were usually chosen above companies like Cap/Accenture/Microsoft if the solution required integration with ClientCo systems such as mainframes etc.

[eek]

Any decent partner will be able to provide the same discounts. In fact a decent partner can even reduce their margin and undercut Microsoft if they desire to do so.

What discounts there are for Dynamics though?

Azure resources don't get any charity discounts. They can get some credits added to the subscription but the resource costs are the same.

M365 gets huge charity/academic/government discounts.

Microsoft changed licensing a few years back - it's harder than it used to be...