How to Choose a Microsoft Dynamics 365 Partner: 12 Questions to Ask
1. What Dynamics 365 experience do you have?
Start with the basics.
Ask the consulting company:
Which Dynamics 365 products do you work with?
Business Central?
Finance?
Supply Chain Management?
Sales?
Customer Service?
Power Platform?
Power BI?
Power Automate?
Dynamics NAV or AX migration?
You should understand whether their capabilities match your project requirements.
For example, a Business Central implementation and a complex Finance & Supply Chain project may require different functional and technical expertise.
What to look for
Ask for specific examples of:
Implementation projects
Migration projects
Integration projects
Customization or extension work
ERP optimization
CRM implementation
Power Platform automation
Avoid accepting only generic statements such as "We know Dynamics 365."
Ask for evidence of relevant experience.
2. Have you worked with businesses similar to ours?
Industry experience can be useful because different industries have different workflows.
For example, a manufacturing company may need to consider:
Production planning
BOMs
Routings
Inventory
Procurement
Quality processes
Costing
Warehouse operations
Subcontracting
Production reporting
A real estate business may have very different requirements.
Ask:
"Have you implemented Dynamics 365 for a business with processes similar to ours?"
Then ask what challenges they encountered.
The goal is not simply to find a company that has worked in your industry.
The goal is to understand whether they can translate your operational processes into a practical ERP or CRM solution.
3. Who will actually work on our project?
This question is often overlooked.
The sales presentation may involve senior consultants, architects and specialists.
But who actually delivers the project?
Ask for the proposed project structure.
For example:
Project Manager
Functional Consultant
Solution Architect
Technical Consultant
Data Migration Specialist
Integration Specialist
Power Platform Specialist
BI Consultant
Training Lead
Microsoft's implementation guidance emphasizes clear accountability, defined roles and responsibilities, appropriate skills and sufficient project resources.
Ask:
"Can we meet the core implementation team before signing?"
This can help you understand communication style and technical depth before the project starts.
4. What implementation methodology do you follow?
A serious implementation should have a structured methodology.
Ask:
How do you conduct discovery?
How do you document requirements?
How do you define scope?
How do you manage changes?
How do you handle risks?
How do you conduct testing?
How do you prepare for go-live?
How do you manage post-go-live stabilization?
Microsoft's Dynamics 365 implementation guidance uses a structured lifecycle covering stages such as discovery/strategy, initiation, implementation, preparation and operation.
Your consulting team should be able to explain its methodology clearly.
If the answer is simply:
"We configure the system and then launch it."
Ask more questions.
5. How will you understand our business processes?
This may be one of the most important questions.
A good implementation should start with understanding your current business.
Ask whether the team will conduct workshops covering areas such as:
Finance
Sales
Procurement
Inventory
Manufacturing
Customer service
Reporting
Approvals
Compliance
Existing systems
You should also ask:
"How will you identify gaps between our current processes and Dynamics 365?"
Microsoft recommends mapping standard Dynamics 365 capabilities to business requirements and understanding the organization's vision and business drivers before making implementation decisions.
The objective should be to build a solution around business outcomes—not simply reproduce every old process inside a new system.
6. What is your data migration strategy?
Data migration can make or break an ERP implementation.
Ask:
What data will be migrated?
How will duplicate data be identified?
How will data be cleaned?
Who validates migrated data?
How many migration cycles will be performed?
How will historical data be handled?
How will master data be validated?
What happens if migration fails?
Important data may include:
Customers
Vendors
Items
Chart of accounts
Opening balances
Inventory
Sales history
Purchase history
Open transactions
Don't accept:
"We'll migrate your data."
Ask for the actual migration approach.
7. How will you handle integrations?
Most businesses don't operate on one system.
Your Dynamics 365 environment may need to connect with:
Banking systems
E-commerce
CRM
Payment gateways
Payroll
Websites
Warehouse systems
Legacy ERP
Shipping platforms
Power BI
Power Automate
Microsoft 365
Ask:
"Which systems need integration, and how will you design and test those integrations?"
Microsoft's implementation guidance identifies integration as one of the key areas requiring project governance.
Ask about:
Integration architecture
APIs
Data ownership
Error handling
Monitoring
Security
Integration testing
Future scalability
8. How do you decide between configuration and customization?
This is a critical commercial question.
Customization can solve specific business requirements, but excessive customization can increase complexity and future maintenance.
Ask:
"When would you recommend standard Dynamics 365 functionality, configuration, an extension, Power Platform or custom development?"
A good consulting team should explain the trade-offs.
The goal should not be to customize everything.
It should be to create a sustainable solution that supports your business while minimizing unnecessary complexity.
Microsoft's implementation guidance also recommends understanding standard capabilities against business requirements and minimizing unnecessary customization where practical.
9. What is your testing and UAT process?
Never treat testing as a final checkbox.
Ask how the team will test:
Business processes
Integrations
Data migration
Security
Reports
Performance
Workflows
User roles
End-to-end scenarios
Also ask:
"Who is responsible for User Acceptance Testing?"
Microsoft recommends defining testing scope early and covering functional and non-functional requirements, data, integrations, security, performance and business continuity where relevant.
A structured testing process can identify problems before production deployment.
10. How will you train our users?
Technology adoption depends on people.
Ask:
Who receives training?
Will training be role-based?
Will you provide documentation?
Will administrators receive technical training?
Will super users be created?
Is training included in the project scope?
What happens after go-live?
For example:
Finance users
Need training around:
Financial transactions
Reporting
Approvals
Period closing
Sales users
Need training around:
Leads
Opportunities
Activities
Quotes
Customer information
Operations users
May need training around:
Inventory
Procurement
Production
Warehouse workflows
Training should reflect actual job responsibilities.
11. What happens after go-live?
Go-live is not the end of an ERP project.
Ask:
Do you provide hypercare?
What is your support process?
What are your response times?
Who handles critical issues?
Do you provide ongoing optimization?
Can you support future integrations?
Can you help with new business requirements?
A useful support model may include:
Go-Live → Stabilization → Support → Optimization → Automation → Continuous Improvement
Clarify what is included in the original project and what becomes a separate service.
12. What exactly is included in the project cost?
Never compare vendors only by the final number.
Compare the scope behind the number.
Ask whether the proposal includes:
Discovery
Process workshops
Solution design
Configuration
Custom development
Data migration
Integration
Testing
Training
Documentation
Deployment
Go-live support
Post-go-live support
Also ask:
"What could cause the project cost to increase?"
Microsoft recommends structured project planning that covers areas such as business-process mapping, solution design, data migration, integration, testing, training, cutover and reporting.
A transparent proposal should make assumptions, dependencies, responsibilities and change-control processes clear.
A Simple Dynamics 365 Partner Evaluation Checklist
Before making your decision, compare each consulting company across these areas:
Evaluation Area | Questions |
Product knowledge | Do they understand the Dynamics 365 products required? |
Industry experience | Have they handled similar processes? |
Team | Who will actually deliver the project? |
Methodology | Is there a documented implementation approach? |
Discovery | Do they understand your business before proposing a solution? |
Migration | Is there a structured data strategy? |
Integration | Can they connect your existing systems? |
Customization | Can they explain when not to customize? |
Testing | Is UAT properly planned? |
Training | Is user adoption part of the project? |
Support | What happens after go-live? |
Commercials | Is scope and pricing transparent? |
Questions for Different Decision-Makers
For the CEO / Founder
Ask:
Will the implementation support our growth strategy?
What business outcomes should we expect?
How will the project affect employees and customers?
What risks could delay the project?
For the CFO
Ask:
How will finance processes improve?
How will reporting and controls work?
What is included in implementation cost?
What are the ongoing support and maintenance costs?
For the CIO / IT Head
Ask:
What is the architecture?
How will integrations work?
How will security and environments be managed?
What is the upgrade and lifecycle strategy?
For the COO
Ask:
How will operational workflows change?
How will departments collaborate?
What KPIs will management see?
How will the solution scale as operations grow?
For the Sales Head
Ask:
How will leads and opportunities be managed?
Can CRM connect with ERP data?
How will sales reporting work?
What automation opportunities exist?
Red Flags When Selecting a Dynamics 365 Consulting Company
Be careful when a provider:
Promises everything without discovery
Gives a detailed price without understanding requirements
Cannot explain its implementation methodology
Avoids discussing data migration
Treats integration as an afterthought
Has unclear project ownership
Cannot explain UAT
Focuses only on software features
Promises unrealistic timelines
Has unclear post-go-live support
Uses unsupported credentials or affiliations as a sales claim
Cannot explain what is included in the proposal
The best vendor evaluation process should be based on evidence, scope, capabilities and fit—not marketing language alone.
How JetBriks Approaches Dynamics 365 Consulting
At JetBriks, our focus is on helping businesses evaluate, implement, integrate, migrate and optimize Dynamics 365 solutions around their actual business requirements.
Our consulting areas include:
Dynamics 365 Business Central
Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain
Dynamics 365 Sales and CRM
Power BI
Power Automate
Power Apps
ERP migration
ERP integration
ERP audit
Business process consulting
Support and optimization
Our approach starts with understanding the business process and desired outcomes before defining the technology solution.
That means discussing:
Business Goals → Current Processes → Requirements → Solution Design → Data → Integration → Testing → Training → Go-Live → Support
For manufacturing organizations, we can also examine processes such as production, inventory, procurement, costing, planning and reporting.
Before You Sign: 12-Question Final Checklist
Save this checklist for your next Dynamics 365 vendor meeting:
Do you have relevant Dynamics 365 experience?
Have you worked with businesses similar to ours?
Who will actually work on our project?
What implementation methodology do you follow?
How will you understand our business processes?
What is your data migration strategy?
How will you handle integrations?
How do you decide between configuration and customization?
What is your testing and UAT process?
How will you train our users?
What happens after go-live?
What exactly is included in the project cost?
If a consulting company can answer these questions clearly, you have much better information for comparing proposals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I look for in a Dynamics 365 implementation partner?
Look for relevant Dynamics 365 expertise, industry understanding, experienced project resources, structured methodology, data migration capability, integration experience, testing processes, training, support and transparent commercial terms.
How much does a Dynamics 365 implementation cost?
There is no single implementation price. Cost depends on the Dynamics 365 applications, number of users, business complexity, configuration, customization, data migration, integrations, reporting, training and support requirements.
How long does a Dynamics 365 implementation take?
The timeline depends on project scope, organizational complexity, data quality, integrations, customization, testing and user readiness. A proper discovery phase should be completed before committing to a detailed timeline.
Should we customize Dynamics 365?
Customization should be based on genuine business requirements. First evaluate standard functionality and configuration options, then consider extensions, Power Platform or custom development where appropriate.
What is the difference between Dynamics 365 implementation and consulting?
Consulting focuses on understanding business requirements, processes, architecture and solution decisions. Implementation includes configuring, developing, migrating, integrating, testing, deploying and supporting the solution.
Can Dynamics 365 integrate with existing business systems?
Yes. Dynamics 365 solutions can be integrated with other applications and services, but the appropriate integration architecture depends on the systems, data flows, security requirements and business processes involved.
What should be included in a Dynamics 365 proposal?
A proposal should clearly explain scope, deliverables, assumptions, project phases, responsibilities, timeline, migration, integrations, testing, training, support, exclusions and commercial terms.
Is post-go-live support important?
Yes. Organizations may need stabilization, issue resolution, user support, optimization, reporting changes, automation and additional enhancements after go-live.
Need Help Evaluating Your Dynamics 365 Project?
Choosing a Dynamics 365 consulting team becomes easier when you have a clear understanding of your requirements, risks and implementation scope.
JetBriks can help you assess your ERP/CRM requirements, review your current environment, identify implementation or migration needs, and build a practical Dynamics 365 roadmap.
Request a Dynamics 365 Consultation
Discuss:
Business Central
Dynamics 365 ERP
Dynamics 365 CRM
ERP migration
ERP integration
ERP audit
Power Platform
Power BI
Business automation
JetBriks Technologies
Email: info@jetbriks.comPhone: +91 63536 19925
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