A while back, we discussed how people in the Dynamics industry – whether Partners or End users – are starting to become concerned with the level of resource on offer. Many believe this is a result of a Dynamics training drought.
Where we left off…
Previously, we suggested that Partners should take responsibility and to get the right training working to build their teams. However, after recent revelations and a number of conferences, we’ve learned that Microsoft is doing its damndest to make the job of learning and developing on Dynamics products as easy as possible.
Making Dynamics more intuitive
Seth Patton, senior director of marketing for Microsoft Dynamics CRM, was at the Convergence conference in Barcelona last week to discuss the issue.
He’s suggested that the Dynamics team’s goal is, “…to make the learning curve as easy as possible with things like lifecycle services”. By these, he means products and tools that deploy quickly and require little training to preconfigure. With respect to CRM, he continues, “We’re focused on tools and then the user experience in a way we believe over time means you shouldn’t need a training manual”. We think this will be sweet music to the ears of Dynamics professionals and Partners, as it should mean a reduction in the amount of prerequisite training needed. And it’s no coincidence that this approach coincides with Microsoft’s decision to scrap some Dynamics certification, driving a more content-led, self-taught training approach.
Will the cloud save the drought?
Giving the certification system the boot might seem like an odd move – particularly when Microsoft and Partners have invested so much energy into the Silver and Gold cert programme.
However, the switch to a more modern training concept, where online videos and interactive courses are shared and completed freely, is much more inline with Microsoft’s vision. It will drive device-based training, where mobile and the cloud play a big part in facilitating the development of Dynamics professionals – in cloud, on mobile. Naturally, developing in this sort of self-taught environment has both advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, it puts training power back in the hands of Dynamics teams, facilitating faster training, and alleviating the bottleneck of the Microsoft-knows-best approach. On the downside, a lack of true certification might make it difficult to identify those candidates who are really top-notch.
As these changes filter through Dynamics people and products over the coming year, it’s essential that Partners take it upon themselves to give their own training programmes a much-needed shot to the arm. It’s a sure-fire way to relieve the drought.
The Dynamics release calendar for 2015 is packed full, so make sure your team’s prepared for the new changes to CRM and Nav that are on the horizon. We’d like to know how you’re preparing for the changes, so leave a comment and let us know.
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