When Dynamics AX customers first examined Microsoft's cloud-first vision for Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations, many of the questions revolved around how users could remain on-premises into the foreseeable future. As the years have passed and Microsoft has pressed its case for SaaS ERP, the hardline on-prem segment has diminished, partly due to a clear view of what on-prem D365FO really looks like and partly due to a ceaseless campaign by Microsoft (and other ERP vendors) to promote cloud as the default option for new projects. Microsoft's progress on addressing key regulatory, security, and technical concerns of the public cloud seems to be helping, too.

Stickiest of all the on-prem debates, however, has been the hybrid question: how can an organization run both public cloud ERP and support sites that can't afford to stop operating if they lose connection to the outside world. Microsoft promised an architectural answer to this challenge, but their progress remains uncertain. In the meantime, D365FO partners continue to work with clients to develop real-world solutions.

On this episode of the series, we talk with Ken Edwards, a practice lead at Centric Consulting, on how he advises clients on the challenge of hybrid. Ken has worked on multiple generations of ERP and CRM from both the customer and partner side and explains that, in his view, the progress Microsoft is making with D365FO will not only change the conversation about hybrid, but about ERP investment more generally.

Show Notes:

• 1:00 – Introducing Ken Edwards
• 3:00 – Where does Ken think Microsoft really at with hybrid scenario support? Anywhere?
• 5:30 – How quickly are buyers' attitudes toward on-prem vs SaaS changing?
• 8:00 – What kind of organization is starting to look hard at SaaS today?
• 14:00 – Can teams realistically lower risk and cost on a cloud upgrade, and should they expect their partner can guide them?
• 17:30 – Would you rather have a thousand three-user clients or three one thousand user clients for cloud ERP?
• 22:15 – How is Microsoft reaching F&O customers directly with support tools?
• 25:30 – What to listen for next from Microsoft with product roadmap, deployment capabilities?
• 27:15 – The noticeable shift of accounting and ERP software from a business project to an IT project
• 36:00 – Does Microsoft have an update this spring on its hybrid plans laid out in 2017 and early 2018?