Fractional D365 support gives manufacturers senior expertise on their side of the table, for exactly as many hours as the situation needs.
Go-live day feels like the finish line. In manufacturing, it is usually the start of the most important stretch of the whole project.
The first few months after go-live are when production, warehouse, and finance run on the new system for real. It is also when the implementation partner starts scaling back, and when your internal team is still learning how everything fits together.
This blog is for the IT leader at a manufacturing company who is recently live on D365, or about to be, and wants a plan for what comes next. It covers what fractional support looks like, the two moments manufacturers use it most, and a real example from one of our clients.
What fractional D365 support means
Fractional D365 support is a senior independent contractor who works for you part-time, on a set number of hours per week or days per month.
They sit on the client side. That means they work only in your interests, alongside your internal team and, where it is still involved, your implementation partner.
The hours flex with the situation. A few days a month is common once things are stable. A few days a week is common when something needs fixing quickly.
The two moments manufacturers bring in fractional support
1. When go-live has been rough
Sometimes the first weeks on D365 bring production delays, shipping problems, or inventory that does not match what is on the shelf. Your partner is working the issue list, but you need someone on your side who can:
- Separate configuration issues from process issues
- Tell you which problems the partner should fix and which your team can own
- Bring calm to a stressed operation so people can focus
2. When the partner rolls off
Implementation partners are built to deliver projects. Once the statement of work is complete, their senior people move on to the next implementation.
Your team then owns a system they did not fully build. A fractional contractor who knows D365 manufacturing inside out keeps that knowledge in the building. Many of the manufacturers we work with keep a senior contractor on a few days a month for years, purely for continuity. That tribal knowledge is priceless.
For a practical plan of what to improve once you are stable, see the D365 F&O post go-live optimization roadmap.
Our D365Contractors.com community exists to serve D365 ERP customers who want to beef up their internal capability and drive projects forward internally. Chat with us today about our vetted consultants who are ready to jump in and help:
A real example: getting a Midwest manufacturer shipping again
One of our clients is a discrete manufacturer in the US Midwest. A few weeks after going live on D365 Finance & Operations, operations had stalled.
Very little was shipping. Revenue had dropped by more than a third, and the cost to the business was running into millions of dollars. Everyone in the building felt the pressure.
The client needed someone on their side of the table, fast. We placed an independent D365 contractor with deep production and operations experience, working directly for the client at around 25 hours a week on a six-month engagement. Which turned into over 12 months (so far).
Their first job was bringing some calm to the situation. From there, the work focused on three things:
- Pinpointing the configuration fixes. They identified exactly where the setup needed correcting, so the implementation partner could come back and fix it with a clear, specific list.
- Improving internal processes. They highlighted operational changes the client’s own team could make, so issues were handled better in-house.
- Getting product out the door. With both workstreams moving, the plant started shipping again.
The part I like most about this story is how the work was split. The partner fixed what the partner needed to fix. The client’s team got stronger. And one senior person on the client side made sure both happened at the same time.
What a good fractional D365 contractor does first
Whether you are stabilizing or planning for the long term, the first few weeks usually follow the same pattern:
- Listen first. Walk the plant floor, sit with planners and warehouse leads, and understand how the business actually runs.
- Triage the issue list. Sort every open item into partner fixes, internal process fixes, and training gaps.
- Protect revenue first. Focus on whatever is stopping production or shipping before anything else.
- Build internal capability. Leave your team more confident each week, so they depend less on outside help over time.
That last point matters. The goal of fractional support is a stronger internal team. For a structured way to assess yours, see how to build your internal D365 ERP team.
How many hours do you actually need?
It depends on where you are.
- Stabilizing after a rough go-live: typically 20 to 40 hours a week for a few months, often with some onsite time at the start.
- Steady state after the partner rolls off: typically a few days a month, scaling up around enhancements, new sites, or year-end.
The right contractor will tell you honestly when it is time to scale back.
Frequently asked questions
What is fractional D365 support?
Fractional D365 support is a senior independent Dynamics 365 contractor who works for your company part-time, on a set number of hours per week or days per month. They work on the client side, alongside your internal team and implementation partner.
Can a fractional contractor work alongside our implementation partner?
Yes, and this is one of the most common setups. The contractor gives you independent oversight, helps prioritize the partner’s fix list, and makes sure issues are resolved in a way that suits how your plants actually operate.
When should a manufacturer bring in fractional support?
The two most common moments are a difficult go-live, when you need senior help on your side quickly, and the point where your implementation partner rolls off, when you need continuity and ongoing expertise.
Can we scale fractional support up and down?
Yes. Most engagements start with more hours during stabilization and drop to a few days a month once things are running smoothly. You engage for as long as you need.
Find the right D365 specialist for your plant
The right fractional contractor has already run D365 in a real production environment and knows what “normal” looks like on the plant floor.
Our guide to how manufacturers hire D365 manufacturing contractors covers the modules, roles, vetting, and pricing in one place.
If you are recently live on D365 and need someone in your corner, or your partner is about to roll off and you want continuity, we can help. We typically present two or three vetted matches within 48 hours:
About the Author
Ryan Carolan is the founder of D365Contractors.com, connecting North American companies with pre-vetted, independent D365 experts. 14 years exclusively in D365 staffing. Hundreds of contractor placements into implementations across the US.
Most weeks, he waffles on about stuff like this online.
