Moving Actionable Dynamics 365 Customized Solutions
In episode 27 of “Inside Dynamics Communities,” Ryan Gonzales, Senior Sales Director of Dynamics Communities and Summit NA, and Pam Misialek, Community Director of Dynamics Communities and Summit NA, host Matt Bowman, CFO, Truckee Meadows Water Authority, and Naeem Shafi, Partner, VP North America, OnActuate. The group discusses the migration journey to Dynamics 365 and share valuable lessons learned.
This episode is sponsored by Summit North America, the largest independent gathering of the Microsoft Business Applications ecosystem, taking place Oct. 15-20, 2023, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Register today to connect with thousands of users across the Microsoft business applications ecosystem at the for user, by user event.
Highlights
02:03 — Matt describes Truckee Meadows Water Authority’s realization that they needed to migrate from Dynamics A/X to the Dynamics 365 ERP. A critical component of the migration relates to timing. The company was facing additional complex and resource-intensive projects, but still decided to pursue its migration.
03:36 — The migration process was very simple, explains Matt. “Once we were in D365, we knew we could then really dive into broadening our footprint, evaluating existing processes, and possibly, you know, improving those processes as well.” As such, Truckee Meadows Water Authority began to look for a vendor that would understand their needs and help ensure the implementation was as simple and effective as possible. This is where OnActuate comes into play — working with OnActuate, Truckee Meadows Water Authority implemented D365 in about six months.
05:37 — Time was of the essence with this project, and finding a partner who understood that was critical, notes Matt. “We didn’t want to have this full-scale business process analysis, where we took a year to document and figure out and do everything.” Naeem notes how OnActuate and Truckee Meadows Water Authority met to have a “collaboration session” which helped both organizations understand project goals, timelines, and deliverables.
09:30 — How can users navigate Dynamics 365 migrations? “Having clear expectations and understanding on both sides, so we, as kind of the core project team, we really understood that we had to get converted to D365.” In order to guarantee user adoption, it’s important that organizations ensure that employees and end-users are familiar with — and understand — the tools. “Some people may have to make some sacrifices that might feel less efficient for them as an individual at times,” but it’s for a broader benefit. Naeem agrees that “clarity is key.”
15:11 — Pam asks Matt if he has any tips for other users looking to get started with a Dynamics 365 migration. “I think the biggest thing is just evaluating your needs…get a partner involved early, who can kind of help you bridge that gap.”
17:34 — OnActuate will be at Community Summit North America 2023 at Booth #2099. The company will also participate in the Public Sector Day Experience and present a session on Thursday, Oct. 19 from 9:45 to 10:45, titled “Going Global with Dynamics 365 F&O: How Hammond Power Solutions Streamlined Manufacturing Operations Across 4 Countries.”
