Category: D365 Contractor

🗣️ “This system is confusing.”

🗣️ “It takes longer than the old one.”

🗣️ “Why did we even do this upgrade?”

Sound familiar?

Here’s the truth: your employees don’t hate Dynamics 365.

They hate that no one taught them how to use it properly.

And if you don’t fix that? Your shiny new ERP will become the most expensive digital paperweight you’ve ever bought.

🧠 It’s Not the Software: It’s the Adoption

D365 is an incredibly powerful system.

But it’s not plug-and-play, and it’s definitely not intuitive for people who’ve been using the same legacy system for 15 years.

And when users feel confused, frustrated, or unsupported?

They blame the software:or worse, they avoid using it altogether.

👉 That’s not a software problem.

👉 That’s a training and change management problem.

⚠️ The 3 Most Common Adoption Fails

1️⃣ Dumping a user manual on employees and calling it “training”

2️⃣ Expecting people to “figure it out as they go”

3️⃣ Not assigning internal champions to support their teams

None of this drives adoption. It simply ticks boxes in the traditional sense of “training”. It’s not even touching the sides of true organizational change management when it comes to D365 implementations.

🛠️ How to Get Your Team to Actually Use D365

Here’s what works, every time:

✅ Start training early

Don’t wait until go-live week. Start hands-on exposure during UAT and CRP sessions. Let users see how the system works in their day-to-day context.

✅ Run live workshops, not lectures

People don’t learn by watching. They learn by doing. Use real data. Real scenarios. Real workflows.

✅ Assign internal D365 champions

You need someone in Finance, someone in Operations, someone on the floor who gets it—and can help others when issues pop up.

✅ Make D365 part of onboarding

New hire? Their first week should include deep system training: not just a login and a password.

✅ Bring in adoption-focused consultants

Contractors who specialize in change management and training are worth their weight in gold. They don’t just train: they drive user confidence.

💣 The Hidden Cost of Poor Adoption

Let’s say you spend $6M on your D365 project.

You launch. The system works.

But… people don’t use it.

You’ll spend:

• Extra hours OR days fixing bad data
• Double-entry between old and new systems
• Time chasing reports that should be automated
• More money on consultants to “retrain” and “relaunch”

In short: you’ll pay for D365 twice.

Once to build it, and again to fix it.

✅ Final Thoughts: Adoption Isn’t Optional

Want a successful ERP implementation?

It’s not enough to build it. People have to use it.

And for them to use it, you’ve got to:

• Invest in proper training
• Support them through the change
• Hire people who understand how to bridge the gap between tech and real-world operations

🔗 Want help finding D365 contractors who actually move the adoption needle?

We’ve got training pros, change experts, and functional leads who make D365 click.

👉 Let’s talk.

💸 Is your D365 project starting to feel like a bottomless money pit? 💸

You planned for a 6-month rollout. Now it’s month 12, you’re over budget, underwhelmed, and wondering where the money (and momentum) went.

Spoiler alert: It’s probably not because D365 is too expensive.

It’s because the way you’re running the implementation is.

Let’s break down the real money leaks- and how to plug them before you (or your CFO) start breathing into a paper bag.

🕳️ Leak #1: Scope Creep City

Adding “just one more” workflow. Customizing every form. Redesigning processes mid-project. Sound familiar?

You started with a lean plan… but somewhere along the way, it turned into a feature Frankenstein.

👉 The Fix:

• Lock your requirements before the partner starts building
• Appoint one internal decision-maker to kill unnecessary requests
• Stick to out-of-the-box where possible- D365 is powerful as-is

🕳️ Leak #2: The Wrong Team = The Wrong Results

Here’s a dirty secret: A lot of D365 projects are staffed by whoever was free, not whoever was best.

Maybe your Microsoft partner brought in juniors. Maybe you didn’t hire a proper D365 project lead internally. Maybe your supply chain SME quit halfway through.

And now? You’re paying for rework, delays, and miscommunication.

👉 The Fix:

• Bring in experienced, senior D365 contractors who’ve done it before
• Vet your functional consultants- industry experience matters
• Avoid relying solely on partner resources- build internal accountability

🕳️ Leak #3: No One’s Driving the Bus

If your leadership team thinks D365 is an “IT thing,” you’re already in trouble.

ERP is a business transformation, not a tech upgrade. Without strong executive sponsorship, decisions get stalled, adoption tanks, and timelines balloon.

👉 The Fix:

• Assign an exec sponsor (hint: CFOs are ideal)
• Make D365 a business priority, not just an IT one
• Communicate value to users early and often

🕳️ Leak #4: “We’ll Clean the Data Later” (No, You Won’t)

Bad data is like sand in the engine—it slows everything down and destroys accuracy.

And guess what? Your partner’s job is to migrate your data, not clean it.

👉 The Fix:

• Start cleansing your data before the project kicks off
• Deduplicate, validate, and assign owners
• Audit key reports now- garbage in = garbage out

🕳️ Leak #5: You’re Hiring Too Late (and Paying the Price)

You wait until go-live is 60 days out before hiring a D365 trainer or solution architect.

Now you’re scrambling, overpaying, or settling for whoever’s available.

👉 The Fix:

• Start hiring D365 contractors 3–6 months out
• Prioritize high-impact roles: Finance, Supply Chain, Production, Data Migration, Testing, Change Management
• Lock in availability early: the best consultants get booked fast

Final Thoughts: Smart Projects Don’t Bleed Cash—They Plan for It

You can deliver a D365 implementation that’s:

• On time
• Under budget
• And actually delivers ROI

But only if you:

✅ Build the right team early

✅ Avoid over-customizing

✅ Treat it like a business priority

✅ Clean your data like it matters (because it does)

💡 Bonus Tip: Hire Contractors Who Save You More Than They Cost

The best D365 contractors?

They don’t just tick boxes: they prevent mistakes before they happen.

That’s how you stop the bleeding and start winning.

🔗 Want help finding the right D365 experts—before the project goes sideways?

Let’s make your budget work smarter.

👉 Get in touch

💰 CFOs love predictability. But when it comes to staffing a D365 project, the big question is:

Should we hire full-time employees… or bring in expert contractors?

It really depends- if you are looking to build out an internal CoE for your long-term Dynamics needs then FTEs are a good option. If you can find them.

BUT: If you’re trying to increase speed AND avoid burnout for a specific project- contractors win every time.

Let’s break it down.

📉 Full-Time Hires: The Hidden Cost Trap

Hiring a permanent D365 resource sounds logical, right?

Until you realize:

• It takes 3-6 months to find and onboard them
• You’re paying benefits, PTO, and overhead—even when the project slows down
• They might not even have the exact experience OR industry knowledge you need

Oh- and what happens after go-live?

That $160K/yr D365 Advanced Warehouse SME is mostly twiddling their thumbs… or worse, leaving.

👉 Hiring full-time is a long-term investment for a short-term project. That’s not cost-effective. It’s just expensive.

🚀 Contractors: High-Impact, Zero Overhead

D365 contractors are built for speed.

You pay for outcomes- not office snacks.

Here’s what you get:

✅ Immediate availability

✅ Deep expertise (usually across 10+ implementations)

✅ Zero ramp-up time

✅ No long-term commitment

✅ Laser-focused delivery

They’re not there to climb the corporate ladder.

They’re there to get it done right, the first time.

💡 Let’s Do the Math

So you need a Supply Chain Expert to sort out your Inventory Management.

Full-Time Hire:

• Salary: $150,000
• Benefits, overhead, training: $25,000
• Ramp-up time: 2 months (minimum)
• Risk: high if they leave mid-project

D365 Contractor:

• Rate: $165–$200/hr
• Total cost for 6 months: ~$160K
• Immediate productivity
• Off your books when the job’s done

➡️ Same spend. Double the value. Zero long-term risk.

🛠️ But What About “Building Internal Knowledge”?

Valid point.

But here’s the trick: blend both.

Contractors aren’t here to replace your team. They’re here to:

• Accelerate delivery
• Transfer knowledge
• Upskill your internal staff along the way

You get the best of both worlds- speed now, stability later.

🧠 Pro Tip: Not All Contractors Are Equal

Yes, the market is flooded with D365 freelancers—but here’s the truth:

🟥 Some are PowerPoint warriors who talk the talk, but can’t run a proper CRP session.

🟩 Others are battle-tested consultants who’ve delivered 10+ rollouts, fixed trainwrecks, and can spot bad requirements from 100 yards away.

Guess which ones we work with? 😎

If you’re not plugged into the D365 contractor ecosystem, finding the right expert can feel like gambling with your project timeline.

✅ Final Verdict: Contractors Save You More (When You Hire Right)

If you’re:

• Launching a new D365 implementation
• Upgrading from AX or NAV
• Struggling with data, finance, or supply chain performance
• Or just trying to hit your go-live without losing sleep…

💡 Bringing in experienced contractors is faster, smarter, and more cost-effective than locking in full-time hires too soon.

Especially when your project success depends on getting it right the first time.

🔗 Want a cost-effective way to staff your D365 project with real pros?

Let’s connect you with high-impact contractors who deliver ROI from day one.

👉 Talk to us now

Hiring for a Dynamics 365 project? You’re probably stressed, behind schedule, and one spreadsheet away from existential crisis.

And while your D365 partner is talking about solution design, gap fits, and dual-write integration… you still don’t have a proper internal team in place.

Relax. Breathe. And whatever you do: don’t commit any of these 7 deadly sins.

❌ 1. Hiring IT Generalists to Do ERP Work

ERP isn’t “just another system.”

You need D365 specialists- not folks who built a SharePoint site once and now think they can handle Finance & Operations.

🧠 D365 is complex. Each module is its own world. And you should bring experts in for the most critical business functions for your company: finance, supply chain, production, warehousing, retail.

This is not the place for guesswork.

👉 What to do instead:

• Hire Functional Consultants with module-specific experience
• Vet resumes for actual project delivery, not just system exposure

❌ 2. Hiring After the Project Starts

Your implementation partner is ready. The kickoff is booked.

And you’re still posting job ads?

🚨 By the time you realize you need help, the good contractors are already gone. You’ll either overpay- or worse, hire the wrong person in a panic.

👉 What to do instead:

• Start hiring 3–6 months before kickoff
• Lock in talent early, especially for Finance, SCM, and Testing

PS- if you are hiring to save a project gone bad: it’s not too late. And you are not alone.

Rescue Experts have helped turn shipwrecks into super yachts. You just need to know where they are! Hint: we have many in the Community.

❌ 3. Prioritizing Culture Fit Over Capability

This isn’t a corporate happy hour. It’s a multi-million-dollar transformation project.

You don’t need someone “who fits the vibe”- you need someone who knows how to fix your problems, period.

👉 What to do instead:

• Hire for capability and delivery record, not just personality
• Let your contractors mentor your FTEs, not the other way around

PS- we do agree that if you can hire contractors that have both capability and culture fit, then you should. There is a universal “no d**ks” policy in the Community…

❌ 4. Paying Below Market Rates

Want senior-level expertise at junior-level rates?

Good luck. The best D365 contractors know their worth– and they’re not cutting their rate in half to help you. If they do: seriously question their experience / motive for doing so.

👉 What to do instead:

• Budget $150–$200/hr for high-quality consultants
• Think long-term: one good hire beats three mediocre ones

PS: you can get a senior contractor at better rates than junior consultants from your Microsoft Parner… let that sink in…

❌ 5. Over-Relying on Your Microsoft Partner

Your partner is there to deliver the system: not to run your business for you. They run a “for profit” business model based on services and billable hours. More problems = more hours…

They won’t own adoption, internal processes, or long-term success. That’s on you.

👉 What to do instead:

• Build an internal team that understands your business
• Use contractors to bridge gaps in capability, not accountability

❌ 6. Confusing Job Titles with Skillsets

“ERP Project Manager” means nothing if they’ve never led a D365 rollout.

“Functional Consultant” means what, exactly?

👉 What to do instead:

• Ask for project-specific examples in D365
• Use a recruiter (hey 👋) who knows the difference between a Finance lead, a solution architect, and someone who just clicked around in a sandbox

❌ 7. Thinking One Hire Will Solve Everything

ERP hiring is like assembling a Formula 1 pit crew.

Put the Wheel Gun Operator (tire changer!) in the shoes of the Chief Mechanic and watch all hell break loose. Or worse: ask one person to do both!

It’s the same when you hire for a “techno-functional” resource.

👉 What to do instead:

• Build a balanced team of:
  ✅ Project Manager
  ✅ Solution Architect
  ✅ Functional Leads (Finance, SCM, Production, Warehousing etc.)
  ✅ Technical Developer or Integration Expert
  ✅ Tester / Change Manager

PS: there are a VERY small handful of consultants globally that are experts in one or more fields technically AND functionally.

The Community homes some of these, but even they will tell you it makes most business sense to have someone else to support them.

🧠 Final Thoughts: The Right Team = Project Success

Dynamics 365 doesn’t fail because of software.

It fails because of people. OR bad hiring decisions.

Both are in your control.

If you want to avoid the 7 deadly sins, here’s the summary:

✅ Plan early

✅ Budget realistically

✅ Work with someone who knows the D365 ecosystem inside out

🔗 Need help hiring smart for your next D365 project?

We’ve got the network, the insights, and the A-players.

👉 Let’s talk.

D365 implementations can feel overwhelming. You start with big ambitions- a system that will streamline operations, improve reporting, and drive growth– only to end up in frustration, delays, and unexpected challenges.

When this happens, the first (easiest) reaction is: “Our Microsoft partner messed this up!”

But while D365 partners play a crucial role, they are not ultimately the ones running their business with this new system. You are.

The truth is, some challenges can only be solved by getting your own ducks in a row.

So instead of focusing on blame, let’s focus on ownership– because understanding what went wrong is the first step to getting it right next time.

1️⃣ Your Business Requirements Were a Moving Target 1️⃣

Your D365 partner isn’t a mind reader.

If your business starts the project with unclear requirements, vague objectives, and changing priorities, your D365 partner is guessing at best and chasing a moving target at worst.

If you don’t know what success looks like, how can they deliver it?

What You Should Be Doing (Not Your Partner):

✔️ Map your business processes before implementation- don’t wait for your D365 partner to “figure it out” for you.

✔️ Identify and align key stakeholders across finance, sales, operations, and IT before project kickoff.

✔️ Define must-haves vs. nice-to-haves– D365 partners can’t read minds, and they can’t prioritize what your business really needs.

FACT: Your D365 partner can configure the system, but they can’t define your business strategy. That’s on you.

2️⃣ Your Leadership Team Was Watching from the Sidelines 2️⃣

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D365 isn’t an IT project: it’s a business transformation.

And yet, in many failed implementations, leadership treats it like a back-office initiative, offloading the responsibility to the Partner and checking out.

When leadership isn’t engaged, employees don’t take the project seriously. And when roadblocks appear, no one has the authority to push through them.

What You Should Be Doing (Not Your Partner):

✔️ Deicide on ONE executive sponsor from day one: ideally this is the CFO.

✔️ Have leaders actively participate in meetings and adoption efforts.

✔️ Communicate the business impact of D365- so employees see why it matters.

FACT: Your D365 partner can build the system, but they can’t force your leaders to care. That’s on you.

3️⃣ You Gave Your Team a New System: But No Training 3️⃣

D365 isn’t a plug-and-play system—it requires training, practice, and ongoing support.

If employees aren’t properly trained, they’ll struggle, resist the system, and blame the software (or the partner).

No training = No adoption = D365 failure.

What You Should Be Doing (Not Your Partner):

✔️ Plan a structured training program—don’t expect people to just “pick it up.”

✔️ Run hands-on workshops instead of dumping a 100-page manual on employees.

✔️ Assign D365 champions inside the company—internal experts who can guide and support others.

✔️ Make training part of onboarding—so new hires don’t repeat the same mistakes.

FACT: The customization delivered by your Partner probably works flawlessly, but if Bob doesn’t understand how it helps him ship more product out of the Warehouse. That’s on you.

4️⃣ Your Data Was a Mess Before You Even Started 4️⃣

D365 is only as good as the data you put into it.

If your old system is full of duplicates, missing fields, and outdated records, guess what? Your new D365 will be too.

Your partner doesn’t own your data– they just migrate it.

What You Should Be Doing (Not Your Partner):

✔️ Start data cleanup at least 6 months before migration: don’t wait until go-live.

✔️ Deduplicate and standardize data formats: inconsistent data leads to errors.

✔️ Appoint internal data owners: people responsible for maintaining data quality long-term.

✔️ Audit reports in the old system: if they’re wrong before D365, they’ll still be wrong after.

FACT: Your D365 partner can move your data, but they can’t magically clean it up for you. That’s on you.

5️⃣  YOU Didn’t Get the Right People On The Bus 5️⃣

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If you don’t have the right internal expertise, your D365 project is set up to struggle.

Here’s the deal: Your partner is not going to “own” your D365 system for you.

They will implement it, guide you, and support you- but at the end of the day, they move to the next project. You must have someone inside your company who is an expert in key areas.

If you’re relying entirely on your D365 partner to run the show, you’re building a system without anyone who actually understands how to use it long-term.

What You Should Be Doing (Not Your Partner):

✔️ Hire or upskill a D365 expert internally– before the project starts, not after.

✔️ Make sure you have a consistent project team– if key people keep leaving, expect chaos.

✔️ Have at least one person inside the business who can challenge decisions, validate requirements, and support users.

✔️ Don’t assume IT alone can manage D365– this is a unique business system, that needs unique skills to get the most from it.

FACT: D365 is your system, not the partner’s– if you don’t have the right people in place to manage it, it will fail. That’s not on them.

 Final Thoughts: Shifting from Blame to Ownership

If your ERP project failed, before you blame the partner, ask yourself:

✔️ Did we define our business requirements clearly?

✔️ Was leadership engaged and driving the project forward?

✔️ Did we train our team to actually use the system?

✔️ Did we ensure our data was clean before migration?

✔️ Did we hire or train internal D365 experts to own the system?

If any of these are familiar, the problem wasn’t just your partner.

Changing to a new one might help.

But it’s better to be introspective first.

PS- if you want help with number 5: get in touch with me to talk about accessing our community of vetted D365 Contractors.

#d365 #ERP #ProjectOwnership #ImplementationSuccess #DigitalTransformation #TakeOwnership

🚨 Spoiler alert: If you’re hiring for top-tier D365 contractors right now, you’re not the only one.🚨

The demand for Dynamics 365 expertise is off the charts- especially in manufacturing, supply chain, and finance. But the supply? Let’s just say you’ve got a better chance of finding a clean UAT environment than an available Senior Functional Consultant with real-life industry chops.

Let’s talk about what’s going on.

📈 The D365 Boom (and Why It’s Not Slowing Down) 📈

Since Microsoft went all-in on cloud ERP, D365 Finance & Operations and Business Central have become the gold standard for mid-market and enterprise businesses alike.

Companies are:

• Replacing aging on-prem ERP systems
• Integrating with AI, Power Platform, and Copilot
• Expanding global operations and compliance needs

But here’s the kicker: everybody’s doing it at once.

That means more projects, more upgrades, more customizations- and a red-hot market for people who know what the hell they’re doing inside D365.

Note: Sadly, there are also many out there that simply look like they know what the hell they’re doing…

❌ The Talent Pool Isn’t Growing Fast Enough ❌

Here’s the math:

• D365 experts with real implementation experience take YEARS to grow
• Many seasoned consultants are booked out months in advance
• Some are going permanent (chasing job security or benefits)
• Others are niching down (just Finance, just SCM, just public sector)

And let’s be honest: not all contractors are created equal. The number of people claiming to be “D365 Consultants” on LinkedIn? Massive. The number who can actually deliver on a 12-month global rollout? Tiny.

🧨 The #1 Hiring Mistake You’re Probably Making🧨

Most companies wait until the project’s already kicked off to start looking for talent.

By then it’s too late. The best D365 contractors are already snapped up: usually by the smart folks who planned ahead and booked early.

Or worse… you hire based on rate instead of capability.

Remember: a $90/hr consultant who breaks things is way more expensive than a $165/hr consultant who delivers.

🧲 How to Secure Top D365 Talent (Before Your Competitors Do) 🧲

If you want the A-players, here’s what works:

✅ Start your search 3–6 months before project kickoff

✅ Prioritize experience over rate- especially in manufacturing-heavy skillsets

✅ Work with someone (hi 👋) who actually knows the D365 contractor market

✅ Lock in availability fast- if you hesitate, someone else will pull the trigger

Final Thoughts: D365 Talent Isn’t Cheap—But Scarcity Is Pricier

You don’t want to be the business stuck with “whatever’s left” when it’s go-live time.

If you’re serious about delivery, adoption, and long-term ROI- you need the right people in the right seats.

And if that sounds overwhelming, good news: this is what we do.

We live and breathe D365. We know who’s good. We know who’s available. And we’ll save you months of guessing.

🔗 Ready to connect with elite D365 contractors?

Let’s talk before someone else grabs them.

👉 Get in touch with us