As an existing Dynamics AX or Dynamics NAV customer, the transition to the cloud-based intelligent platform Microsoft Dynamics 365, is designed to be seamless. With the application code of both products forming the base of Dynamics 365 Business Central and Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations, the final result should be familiar to your users and provide limited business disruption.
With that said, Dynamics 365 is still a young product, and you’re running your business on a customized solution. In the land of ERP and CRM implementations, that typically means it won’t be an out-of-the-box installation. While there are many positives to moving to the Azure cloud and switching from an on-premise infrastructure, it’s not necessarily the right move for everyone.
To help you make the best decision for your current business operations, we will be covering the pros and cons of moving your current Dynamics ERP system to Dynamics 365.
Common Objections of Moving to Dynamics 365
As mentioned in our previous blog post on the basics of Dynamics 365, Microsoft’s newest cloud ERP product is changing the way companies are doing business and planning for growth. The all-in-one concept is not something that was offered to Dynamics customers before, and as a result, most companies have invested heavily in infrastructure, upgrades, customizations, and separate systems.
The biggest objection to Dynamics 365 boils down to the common saying, “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.” When you have a business management system that you’ve spent years developing and customizing to your business processes, why change?
Here are the top 5 reasons why current Dynamics customers feel that moving could be a setback instead of a step forward:
- The Risk of New
Dynamics 365 is still the new kid on the block, and many customers feel that it’s too risky to switch from an established ERP system. Between all the name changes, there are still growing pains and bugs to sort out.
- Existing Infrastructure Costs
Customers that have been running on Dynamics AX or Dynamics NAV for multiple years have invested heavily in infrastructure, from servers to storage to backups. Wasting money and resources is not an option for many companies, so they have to wait until their systems are ready for an upgrade to consider going from on-premise to the cloud.
- Current Customizations
Before Dynamics 365 and the power of automatic updates, upgrades have always been a complex project because of modifications and customizations. With most customers currently running intricate Dynamics AX and Dynamics NAV systems, there are too many variables that could go wrong.
- System Security
One of the biggest obstacles of adopting cloud technology is the uncertainty of the security and trust behind it. Many on-premise customers lack an understanding of how their data is accessed, stored, and protected.
- Employee Training
Even though Dynamics 365 is intuitive and has a familiar interface to anyone who’s ever used their technology before, many customers worry about the time it will take to retrain staff on the new system and set up workflows.
Top 5 Reasons to Move to Dynamics 365
While there may be some skepticism in moving to the Dynamics 365 platform, there is another group of companies that fully support the change. Customers in industries all over the world, from financial services and government to retail, manufacturing, and health are transforming their business models and taking advantage of this highly flexible platform. After all, would there be any progress without change?
Here are the top 5 reasons why current Dynamics AX and Dynamics NAV customers are moving their operations to Dynamics 365:
Total Cost of Ownership
Cloud software works out significantly cheaper than its on-premise counterparts because you access everything from a browser – no servers required. Your hardware does need to meet the software requirements to run Dynamics 365 and maintenance is always a factor. As a SaaS solution, Dynamics 365 is subscription-based and offers a number of licensing options, depending on the functionality you need and the applications you decide to use.
- Automatic Upgrades
Unlike it’s Dynamics family predecessors, upgrades are no longer a complex, stressful project that requires months of planning and developers. Dynamics 365 is on a continuous release cycle with semi-annual upgrades. This means all Dynamics 365 customers will be on the same version in a day, with improved performance, access to new features faster, and system stability.
- Quick and Easy Add-On Customizations
Microsoft AppSource is a hub for business applications, giving customers the ability to customize their Dynamics 365 solutions with additional features specific to their industry and processes. Instead of having to contact an ISV, merge the code, and manage the deployment across multiple environments, customers can now build onto their system with a quick install.
- Safe and Securely Hosted in the Azure Cloud
Recognized as the most trusted cloud provider all over the world, Microsoft Azure is a highly secure platform used to build, rapidly deploy, and manage your business applications on a massive global network. With embedded security, privacy, and over 70 compliance offerings, customers are protecting their data and gaining more control over their business operations by moving to Dynamics 365.
- Scalability When you Need it
The ability for a business management system to scale and grow with your business as needs and requirements change is one of the biggest selling factors of Dynamics 365. Using Azure as its unifying architecture and the underlying Common Data Model, you can build onto your system without complex development work and massive consulting fees.
Ease your Way onto the Azure Cloud with OnActuate
Making a move to Dynamics 365 from an existing Dynamics ERP system is definitely more than a simple out-of-the-box installation, but we believe it’s worth it. Dynamics 365 is designed for companies who want a Digital Business Transformation – which is our bread and butter. We have helped our clients see the value that the Azure cloud and the Dynamics 365 platform can bring to their employees, systems, processes and bottom line. If you need help in analyzing your readiness, please get in touch with our team below!
Not sure if Dynamics 365 is the right move for you? We’ll help assess your readiness!
