What is a Microsoft Dynamics 365 Partner?

What are the differences between Microsoft Dynamics 365 partners?

While many firms carry the “partner” label, they differ significantly in their approach, scale, and depth. For example:

• Broad vs. Specialized: Large generalist partners handle everything from CRM to Finance, while specialized partners focus on a specific industry or niche.
• Industry Focus: Many partners specialize in vertical markets like manufacturing, retail, professional services, or finance.
• Market Segment: Some firms focus exclusively on small businesses using Dynamics 365 Business Central, while others specialize in enterprise-level transformations using Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management (SCM).
• Multi-Platform: While some are “Microsoft-only,” others manage multiple ERP systems (like NetSuite or SAP), which can sometimes dilute their depth in the Microsoft stack.

What does a Microsoft Dynamics 365 Partner do?

A Microsoft Dynamics 365 Partner acts as the bridge between Microsoft’s powerful software platform and your specific business reality. Their primary role is to ensure that the technology actually solves your business problems. A partner’s responsibilities typically include:

• Consulting & Strategy: They perform a “Business Process Review” to understand how your company operates and then map those requirements to the Dynamics 365 framework.
• Implementation & Configuration: Partners handle the technical heavy lift, including system setup, data migration from legacy systems, and configuring the software to match your workflows.
• Custom Development & Integration: They build custom extensions or connect Dynamics 365 to your other essential tools (like HR systems, specialized CAD software, or proprietary databases).
• User Training & Adoption: A partner ensures your team actually knows how to use the system, which is the most critical factor in achieving a return on investment (ROI).
• Ongoing Support: Post-launch, partners provide managed services, troubleshooting, and assistance with Microsoft’s regular “wave” updates to keep your system healthy.
• Licensing Management: They help you navigate the complexities of Microsoft licensing to ensure you only pay for the seats and features you actually need.

How does the Microsoft D365 Partner Ecosystem work?

The Microsoft ecosystem is built on a collaborative model designed to give customers the best of both worlds: a stable platform and specialized functionality delivered by partners. It consists of three primary players:

1. Microsoft: The facilitator and platform provider. They build the core infrastructure (Azure) and the foundational Dynamics 365 ERP/CRM applications.
2. Independent Software Vendors (ISVs): Companies that build specialized, industry-specific solutions on top of the Microsoft platform to fill functional gaps, such as PlanAutomate.
3. System Integrators (SIs): The service providers who manage the implementation, training, and ongoing support for the customer, such as Adeaca.

Note: Because Adeaca is the exclusive partner provider of PlanAutomate, it acts as both the ISV (software creator) and the SI (implementer), customers benefit from a single point of accountability and a solution that is designed for their industry.

What should you look for in a Microsoft Partner?

Choosing the right partner is more important than choosing the software itself. When evaluating your options, prioritize these four criteria:

• Proven Industry Expertise: Does the partner understand your business model? Whether that is retail, construction, finance, or any other industry, make sure they know it. For example, if you’re a project-driven company, your partner should speak the language of EAC, WIP, earned value, slack, progress billing, and resource utilization without needing an explanation.
• In-House Solutions over Customization: Look for a partner that provides “out-of-the-box” industry solutions. Heavy customization is expensive to maintain and breaks during software updates; an integrated ISV solution help future-proof your system.
• Time-to-Value: You want a partner with a methodology that makes it easy to get started quickly, rather than one that spends months in discovery learning how your business works or creating workarounds for the system’s shortcomings.
• Scalability for the Future: Your business will change. Ensure your partner can support your growth over the next 5 to 10 years with tools that evolve as AI and automation expand in your industry.