In previous blogs, I have touched on the sheer number of Dynamics ERP ISVs (third party products). They are great tools to add on to an accounting system, however choosing out of the thousands can be a daunting task. Implementing them can also be quite an undertaking. It involves multiple systems, and should involve several parties, not just the ISV but also your Dynamics Partner and IT personnel/company. All too often us partners get calls from clients saying they have purchased a product that was supposed to solve all their problems and now they have no clue how to use it and their ERP is crashing.
How did this happen? They were Microsoft certified! They said it was a seamless integration!
These are a few of the comments we hear after an incident like this happens. You (the customer) want answers and probably someone to blame for the catastrophe, but your ISV is only responsible for their solution and your partner hasn’t been involved. Let’s take a deeper look as to why you might be screaming on the phone to your partner about these things (probably right before your month end).
How did this happen?
Honestly, we have no idea. Your partner has no way of knowing exactly what went wrong, because they weren’t involved in the process. Ever heard the phrase “one throat to choke”? It absolutely applies here. When you use your partner for help during a third party implementation you can always go back to them when something goes wrong. You can hold one person responsible and depend on them to rectify the situation. Also, partners often have a close relationship with the ISVs and can get faster responses out of them than an average customer could.
You absolutely need to have your partner involved because if your accounting system is negatively impacted they are the ones who have to fix it, not the ISV. Having them as part of the process from the beginning can eliminate a lot of headache later.
They were Microsoft certified!
Often you will see the Microsoft seal of approval on ISV websites. This means that Microsoft has seen their product and sees that it integrates to their ERPs. However, this does not mean that they are GP, SL, NAV, AX, or CRM experts. That is the role of your partner. Your partner knows your accounting solution inside and out, so while the ISV may be Microsoft Certified they can’t hold a candle to your partner.
They said there was a seamless integration!
Microsoft certified ISVs try to make their integrations to the ERP as seamless as possible. However, when you are marrying together two systems there will always be hiccups. This is exactly why you want all the experts on hand and in the loop as to what is going on. Having your ERP expert and your ISV expert will help to eliminate errors and make the process much less painful.
Make sure to contact Mary at 301.360.0001 or by emailing sales@ktlsolutions.com for more exclusive tips on how why you should always include your partner in the ISV buying and implementing process.
MARY CHARUHAS | Junior Business Development/Internal Sales
Mary Charuhas has been with KTL since 2013, starting as a sales intern in the summer of 2013 and moving to Business Development and Internal Sales in the spring of 2014. She is currently pursuing her Associates Degree in Business Management from Frederick Community College and hopes to continue her education at the University of Maryland next spring. Mary also possesses several Microsoft Dynamics and Acumatica Cloud ERP Sales certifications. Mary assists the sales team in finding new and exciting opportunities. She also manages KTL’s existing customers through providing them with ongoing knowledge of the products, assisting them with upgrades and continuing projects, keeping them informed about updates/new releases, events, and training opportunities. Her charisma and passion for providing excellent customer service make her a valuable asset to KTL’s sales department.
