Microsoft continues the journey towards meaningful integration between ERP, CRM, and Analytics, revealing new tools, features, and improvements in general. Without going into details it was very refreshing to see the Microsoft Dynamics 365 customer engagement road map presented in the keynote by Dynamics 365 General Manager Param Kahlon. The road map was grouped into five topics;

1. User Experience
2. Customer Insights
3. LinkedIn Integration
4. Business Edition
5. Extensible and Scalable application platform

Especially the Customer Insights part holds promise for partners looking into the Azure resources like Machine Learning to create data-driven customer solutions. If you read our recent newsletters, you might have noted that Kalpavruksh is already working with partners that want to build more intelligent CRM solutions. The Customer Insights product from Microsoft will definitely bring out the early adopters in the channel and mature the market.

The extended application platform is also a grand vision for Dynamics 365 and we have already seen lots of apps being offered in AppSource. Allegedly, the apps in AppSource are already getting massive interest. Is this a trick to get partners motivated, maybe so, but no doubt the trend of small, simple, but global business models are entering the Microsoft ecosystem.

Personally, I was attending a break out session by the York Group on the topic of building repeatable IP. Specialization and verticalization is already in place for most Microsoft partners, yet business models in many cases seem to vary only on customer segments, key resources, and the cost structure, all other elements being the same, especially the revenue streams. Consultancy businesses are mostly local, so how do AppSource and the dynamics of the cloud fit into that business model?  The message from the York Group was that Microsoft partners not accustomed to running a software business actually have a lot of the prerequisites in place that the small ISV does not have, but is rather looking for investments to develop. Partners already have domain expertise, custom code or small scale applications, as well as an organization and business processes. Start-ups frequently have neither the customers, the domain expertise, and for sure does not have an organization with key partners and resources.

You have a head start! So, now you just need to go out, innovate, and build a recurring revenue stream into your existing business model. More or less. To me, that sounds great, because our company is exactly ready to take on the job of the innovation partner since we are all set on infrastructure, skilled people, processes, and knowledge.

The eXtreme365 conference amplified my belief that Kalpavruksh is right to bet its money on Dynamics365. We will continue to build our delivery organization on Dynamics365 technologies, and we will invest in both our setup to support cost-effective and quality-oriented operations with Microsoft partners, as well as our innovation capabilities that will help partners utilize the “new stuff” from Microsoft. We want to be just as much an innovation lab for Microsoft partners as a full-fledged support organization, so we can enjoy the fun of working with Azure Machine Learning and Cortana AI, building apps for AppSource, and helping partners making the transition from pure-play services to repeatable IP.

And remember that globalization is not a zero-sum game! It allows us to innovate together and create growth for everyone.

For those of you attending the EMEA Summit in Amsterdam April 4-6^th, give us a heads up so we can meet there and discuss opportunities.