🚀 Key Takeaways from Last Week’s Summit:
While I did not get a chance to attend last week’s Microsoft Summit, based on my research this morning, there seems to be a few key themes that were stressed through the week that seem to go along with my recent Poll that I created regarding the continued growth of AI into the workforce.
It also seems to mirror what was stressed at the recent NetSuite SuiteWorld conference a couple of weeks ago.
AI and ERP are tied to the hip moving forward!
Here are four insights I believe are especially relevant for companies building out ERP/CRM practices and for recruiting talent into those teams.
1️⃣ “There’s an agent for that.”
Microsoft is shifting its messaging: the future of business applications is about embedded, outcome-driven agents inside Dynamics 365, not just modules.
For example: automated lead routing/sales follow-up, service-case quality agents, payables agents in Business Central. Dynamics Communities+1
For recruiting, that means: look for candidates who are comfortable with solution architecture that includes AI/agents, not just “vanilla” configuration.
2️⃣ Business applications = strategic extension of the enterprise, not just technology deployment.
Microsoft emphasized that the role of business apps (Dynamics 365, Power Platform) is evolving from “we built it” to “we embed it, we adopt it, we use it for business outcomes.”
That means for delivery teams we need to think about change-management, adoption, business ROI—hiring profiles should reflect that.
3️⃣ Partner and client practices must evolve into “frontier firms.”
At the summit Microsoft challenged its ecosystem: if you aren’t moving to an AI-first business-applications model you risk falling behind. Technology Management Concepts
From a recruiting lens: we want to present and place people who not only know Dynamics modules, but who can lead practice transformation, build go-to-market around new agent-based services.
4️⃣ Faster time-to-value and less “big bang”.
Speakers emphasized tools like pre-built agents, guided onboarding, rapid adoption programs. The focus is on getting measurable results quickly.
In recruiting: prioritize candidates who have done “quick wins” in Dynamics or Power Platform roll-outs, especially with solution accelerators, not just long, drawn-out implementations. Shifting the emphasis on identifying candidates that appreciate and understand the blend of business applications and embedded AI/agents and how they work together vs. the classic “module” knowledge mindset. hashtagmicrosoftdynamics hashtagdynamics365 hashtagdynamicsfocus hashtagai