NAV implementations range from just a few thousand pounds to millions and from one person companies to multinational corporations. Every company is different and so every implementation is different. The charm of Dynamics NAV is that it can be implemented straight from the box or it can be redeveloped to suit individual need.

The versatility of Dynamics NAV results in various issues. Conspicuous would like to highlight some key considerations companies should look at prior, during and post implementation.

1) Know your Partner

Knowing your Partner is crucial. You need to naturally like the personalities involved, their sales pitch and their numbers. Importantly you also need to know if a Partner has the capability to deliver your solution, if the Partner is a specialist in your market and if a Partner has a propensity to undersell and then ‘relook’ at the numbers and deliverables once the project is underway.

2) Understand what Vanilla NAV 2013 can do

In an ideal world the key stakeholders of a NAV implementation should have spent some time looking and getting to grips with a vanilla version of the solution. This gives an insight to the product and the strengths and weaknesses in respect to your business.

3) Understand your business processes

A new ERP solution should be viewed as the opportunity to relook at your business processes and it gives the opportunity to reinvigorate a company, alter and evolve as no doubt the years will have ticked by since their last ERP solution was initially put in place. We have previously seen a company with two sites who tried to implement one NAV solution without merging the business processes with disastrous results.

4) The desirability of in-house technical expertise

For all NAV implementations but especially when the project is large it is important to remember that whilst both parties want the same result; a fabulous NAV solution that is giving substantial ROI and has helped to drive the business forward, there is slightly conflicting intent.

The client wants a fabulous solution as cheaply as possible. The Partner wants to sell development and consultative days to give a Rolls-Royce solution with a Rolls-Royce price tag.  With in-house NAV expertise it is much easier to keep a lid on costs.

5) Work in partnership to implement the best solution

This sounds very obvious but too often we see individuals manipulating situations for their own gains to the detriment of an overall project. The project must be a partnership between the client and the Partner.

6) Work in partnership post implementation

A really important step that is often forgotten. Microsoft is constantly upgrading the solution, there is a constant stream of excellent add-ons available and businesses evolve. As these things happen so the system may need some attention. All too often a Partner implements a solution and apart from annual support invoices, effectively walks away from the client.

Conspicuous have been Navision / Dynamics NAV recruitment specialists since 2000. We have seen the product evolve, have worked with NAV end-users of all shapes and sizes and for over a decade have seen both successful and very occasionally rather less successful implementations.

At Conspicuous we see ourselves as much more than a recruitment agency and so for any advice on the Partners, NAV users or the market in general please do get in touch.