Simplifying Dynamics 365 offerings

This week, I had the opportunity to meet with many of our top Microsoft Dynamics partners at our annual Inner Circle event. The event serves as an opportunity to recognize and get feedback from partners who have demonstrated exceptional performance and extremely deep commitment to Microsoft Dynamics. After receiving partner feedback both at the Inner Circle event and also the Directions North America event, I’m excited to share an update to our Dynamics 365 business model – coming in Spring of 2018 – to further simplify our Dynamics 365 offerings and increase ease of selection for our customers and ecosystem.

Microsoft will offer a single collection of Dynamics 365 applications for customers of all sizes and complexity to digitally transform their organizations across all lines of business – Marketing, Sales, Service, Finance, Operations, and Talent – at their own pace. Instead of offering separate editions (e.g. “Business edition” and “Enterprise edition”), we will focus on enabling any organization to choose from different price points for each line of business application, based on the level of capabilities and capacity they need to meet their specific needs.  For example, in Spring 2018, Dynamics 365 for Sales will offer additional price point(s) with different level(s) of functionality.

Although we think the strategy mentioned above is well-suited for organizations of all sizes and complexity, we also realize that smaller businesses sometimes prefer an end-to-end business management solution, instead of an application for each individual line of business within their organization. To meet this need, Microsoft will offer a new end-to-end business management cloud solution – an expansion of Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations Business Edition adding the full capabilities of Dynamics NAV. It will be delivered as two distinct offerings, which customers can buy through our partner channel:

  1. A Microsoft Dynamics 365 cloud application, which enables partners participating in the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) Program to deliver a single business management cloud solution to their customers – across key business process areas such as sales, financial management, project management, and operations.
  2. A business application platform for ISVs, which enables partners who qualify for the Microsoft ISV Cloud Embed program to build and offer vertical cloud solutions directly to customers to meet their unique needs.

For small businesses who prefer to install their business management solution on-premises, we will continue to offer Dynamics NAV, Dynamics GP, and Dynamics SL.  Dynamics NAV 2018 and Dynamics GP 2018 will become generally available later this calendar year.

We’re committed to continuing the innovation we will bring in Dynamics 365 for our customers and partners, enabling them to accelerate business transformation, regardless of customer size and business complexity.

 

Microsoft partners can read the FAQ on this update to Dynamics 365 Offerings in PartnerSource to learn more.