Technological acceleration and digital transformation are making Microsoft Dynamics 365 proficiency more valuable with each passing day, yet businesses are still struggling to find professionals with the Dynamics 365 skill set.
- Over 500,000 organizations use Dynamics 365, including 97% of Fortune 500 companies.
- Dynamics 365 revenue grew by 24% in Q1 2023, a sign of broader implementation.
- Dynamics 365 has the largest market share of ERP software and the second largest market share of CRM platforms—behind only Salesforce.
As Dynamics 365 continues to fuel digital transformations, skills shortages are preventing businesses from taking full advantage of Microsoft’s ERP and CRM powerhouse suite. Amid this tech talent shortage, Dynamics 365 professionals are more important than ever, yet demand for Dynamics 365 professionals is continuing to grow.
Dynamics 365—A Pivotal Technology
In 2016, Dynamics 365 only had a 4% market share. Currently, in 2023, that market share has jumped to 27%.
As the Dynamics 365 customer base grows, the need for qualified professionals grows along with it—widespread adoption means more companies are trying to recruit valuable Dynamics 365 professionals. But why is Dynamics 365 so important, and what can a Dynamics 365 professional do for your organization?
The Crucial Software for Modern Enterprise
Dynamics 365 is successful among CRM and ERP platforms because their integrated technologies work symbiotically to help companies achieve greatness.
These are some of the reasons Dynamics 365 is not replaceable in today’s business world:
- Integrated Business Intelligence. Dynamics 365 supports business intelligence by providing small and large organizations with real-time reporting and predictive analytics. Dynamics 365 leverages AI and machine learning to track key performance indicators (KPIs) and provide organizations with predictive analytics and forecasting, which help them anticipate trends, formulate data-driven sales strategies, and identify future risks.
- Enhanced Efficiency. Through process automation, self-service capabilities, and streamlined data management, Dynamics 365 enables digital transformation. Dynamics 365’s efficiency enhancements are part of why they’re such a monolith in their field.
- Collaboration and Communication. Microsoft promotes digital collaboration, free-flowing communication via remote access, and integration with other apps like Microsoft Teams and Microsoft SharePoint.
- Agility and Scalability. Scalability is one of the biggest challenges businesses face during the digital transformation process. As companies grow, their infrastructure needs expand, frequently leading to businesses stuck in a rut; forced to commit to their second-best strategy because their technology is not scalable or agile. Dynamics 365 solves this problem through cloud-powered agility (including integration with Microsoft Azure), a flexible modular architecture that can allow businesses to customize their applications according to their unique and changing needs, and integration with the rest of the Microsoft ecosystem, including Office 365 and Power BI.
- Industry Leadership. Microsoft’s industry leadership partly fuels demand for Dynamics 365 professionals. Dynamics 365 offers industry-specific solutions like Dynamics 365 Retail and Dynamics 365 Sales, as well as integration with general-industry tools like Office 365 and Azure which are used by over 95% of Fortune 100 companies.
Fueling Digital Transformations
The digital revolution began over 30 years ago with the launch of the World Wide Web and continues to shape our world today. The COVID-19 pandemic and shifting social attitudes have brought about significant changes in consumer behavior. As a result, many companies are now wholeheartedly adopting a digital-first business model. This shift involves prioritizing digital technologies and strategies to meet the evolving needs and expectations of customers in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
Dynamics 365 is fueling digital transformations for businesses in many ways, including:
- Process Automation. By automating processes such as lead management, ticket handling, and transaction processing that bog down human workers, Dynamics 365 allows workers to focus on more critical tasks. As a result, process automation will enable organizations to operate more efficiently, increasing their profitability.
- Unified Platform. Dynamics 365 brings ERP and CRM under one roof, enabling businesses to improve data visibility, collaborate freely across departments, and streamline workflows.
- Scalability. One of the challenges businesses face during digital transformation is that their solutions must make sense for their current size and as their business grows. Since Dynamics 365 is a cloud-based platform, companies can quickly scale as their needs grow without reinvesting in new solutions.
Dynamics 365 has enabled companies like Coca-Cola and Mercedes-Benz to undergo digital transformations and streamline their operations.
Dynamics 365 has helped brands like Chipotle to create and track key performance indicators (KPIs), allowing them to increase their customer base by 30%. Global beauty brand L’Oreal also uses Dynamics 365 to great success—they say Dynamics 365 has reduced the time they spend on diagnostics and resolving issues in half, which directly translates to lower operational costs.
Each organization has unique needs, and serving those unique needs requires a specialized skillset—a skillset that’s in high demand. As businesses engage in digital transformation, they’re forced to compete for the same pool of skilled Dynamics 365 professionals, leading to tech talent shortages.
Addressing the Tech Talent Shortage
Businesses need proficient Dynamics 365 professionals for their digital transformation efforts, but demand for Dynamics 365 professionals has outpaced the supply of new talent.
Defining the Skills Gap
The space between the skills businesses desire and the skills they can hire is known as a “skills gap.” Unfortunately, the IT industry is experiencing a massive skills gap as many organizations are desperate for (but can’t recruit) Dynamics 365 experts.
Without employees with the right skills, businesses are forced to compromise, often settling for less agile frameworks because they can’t attract the specialized skill set of a Dynamics 365 professional.
The Impact of the Skills Shortage
The complexity and depth of Dynamics 365 make it a powerful asset for any business, but that same sophistication means that qualified workers are quickly snapped up by prospective employers, leaving their competition wanting.
The resulting skills gap means businesses face a higher cost to recruit and retain skilled Dynamics 365 professionals. This specialized talent is the bottleneck between Dynamics 365’s capabilities and a business’s ability to utilize them.
Without qualified Dynamics 365 professionals, businesses don’t just postpone their digital transformation milestones but potentially miss out on opportunities for growth and stability.
The Difference Your Talent Can Make
Nearly a decade after Eastman Kodak Company’s highly-publicized bankruptcy, Kodak Alaris has embraced Dynamics 365 to great success: 25% cost reduction, enabling remote work, and eliminating many costly customizations.
Dynamics 365 professionals have helped Kodak Alaris forge a new trail for the Kodak brand, but if Kodak Alaris had not been able to find the right Dynamics 365 experts, they would have missed out.
Bridging the Skills Gap
Experis is an IT staffing and managed services provider that’s helping companies bridge their skills gap. Through Experis, organizations can hire qualified Dynamics 365 professionals to help them embrace digital transformation and keep up with the changing business world.
“We’re facing the tightest labor market in nearly two decades, and upskilling talent is the only way to develop the skilled IT talent we know businesses need,” said Ger Doyle, SVP, Experis NA Leader. “When new technologies emerge as fast as others become obsolete, we need to accelerate fast-paced upskilling across the sector to keep pace.”
Keeping up with Dynamics 365 Updates
Blockbuster rented out VHS tapes when VHS was popular, moved to DVDs when DVDs were popular, mailed DVDs to customers’ homes when Netflix was doing the same thing, and even dipped their toes into on-demand streaming.
So why did Blockbuster fail while new streaming sites began to flourish? Blockbuster did it too little, too late. Offering your customers what they want is only half the battle. The other half is staying ahead of the curve, so you’re always prepared to deliver.
Businesses need to stay up to date as new technology transforms the business landscape, but it’s also crucial that your Dynamics 365 professionals stay up to date. Microsoft updates Dynamics 365 every month, so IT professionals need thorough, timely training and ongoing education to stay current with the best ways to use Dynamics 365.
Failing to keep up with Dynamics 365 updates can cause businesses to miss vital security patches, fall out of date with compatibility features, or miss out on new features.
Having the right staff with the proper skill set is vital for getting the most out of your software because using ever-changing software to compete in an ever-changing market is not a one-time fix.
Choosing the Right Partner for IT Development
Having skilled professionals fully harness the capabilities of Microsoft Dynamics 365 is the key to unlocking its maximum potential for your business.
Experis is renowned for its expertise in talent and skills development, and we are dedicated to leveraging our experience to benefit your business and give you a competitive advantage. By partnering with us, you can tap into our extensive knowledge and resources, empowering you to enhance your workforce's Dynamics 365 capabilities and stay ahead in today's dynamic business landscape. Whether it's through our tailored training programs or talent sourcing, we are committed to helping you achieve your business goals.
We place as many as 12,000 people in jobs each year for industries ranging from Retail to Healthcare to Video Games, and we can help you find qualified experts too.
The Value of Proper Skills
In addition to familiarity with Dynamics 365, many other skills are essential for a well-rounded and effective Dynamics 365 professional, such as:
- Development Experience. Knowledge of development tools and languages like C#, HTML, JavaScript, or CSS for building customized plugins, extensions, or integrations.
- Data Migration and Integration. Dynamics 365 uses vast amounts of data to make intelligent forecasts and recommendations. Skill in data migration and integration can not only make the transition to Dynamics 365 smoother but can also make the day-to-day operation of the applications more effective.
- System Administration. Successful Dynamics 365 implementation requires both hard and soft system administration skills. IT professionals should be familiar with administering security roles, running updates, and managing user accounts to get the most out of their applications.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Certifications
At Experis, we connect organizations with the talent they need. When talent with the skills you need isn’t available, we can build it for you. Our fully-customizable training programs include:
- Power Platform Developer. These professionals use Microsoft’s Power Platform to build applications for your business with Power Apps and automate workflows with Power Automate.
- Sales Functional Consultants leverage Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales and Microsoft Power Platform to design and implement sales software solutions that can free up your sales staff to prioritize big-picture decision-making, relationship building, and strategic planning.
- Customer Service Functional Consultant. In this role, IT professionals implement omnichannel solutions for your business focusing on service, quality, reliability, efficiency, and overall customer experience.
- Business Central Functional Consultants implement set-up processes for Business Central applications within small- and medium-sized businesses.
- Finance Functional Consultant. IT professionals in a Finance Functional Consultant role will leverage Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform solutions to anticipate and plan for customer needs.
- Supply Chain Functional Consultant. These workers support an organization by using Microsoft Dynamics 365’s software solutions to address customers’ business scenarios and requirements.
Every Experis Dynamics 365 trained professional undergoes Microsoft certification to validate their expertise. To attain a Dynamics 365 certification, IT professionals are required to showcase a strong command of Dynamics 365, including comprehensive knowledge of its applications and best practices.
Next Steps with Experis
With Experis by your side, you can confidently navigate the challenge of talent shortages and gain the upper hand in the market.
IT Staffing is what we do best—contact us to learn more.
