In this episode of PartnerTalks, host Rick McCutcheon speaks with Natalie Lemke, Founder and CEO of RUX Software, about building a vertical-focused ISV for asset-heavy industries on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Lemke shares her journey from ERP customer to consultant to product builder, explaining how early experience with Microsoft Dynamics NAV shaped her belief in the power of industry-specific software. Today, RUX Software develops packaged applications designed for industrial asset management, equipment rental, and field service organizations, helping partners deliver repeatable IP without relying on heavy customization.

Tune in to learn how vertical ERP solutions are reshaping the Business Central channel, why repeatable software IP is gaining momentum, and how RUX Software is helping partners deliver industry-specific value faster.

(Originally Aired January 30, 2026)

In this episode of PartnerTalks, host Rick McCutcheon is joined by Michael Dohr, COO of mscrm-addons, to discuss the company's expansion into Dynamics 365 Business Central and what it means for partners struggling with document and report customization in ERP projects.

Known for its popular Documents Core Pack and automation tools in Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement and the Power Platform, mscrm-addons is bringing its approach to document generation and layout automation to the rapidly growing Business Central ecosystem. Dohr explains why report complexity continues to create costly bottlenecks for partners, especially when working with Word, Excel, and RDLC layouts that often require specialized developer expertise.

Tune in to learn how mscrm-addons is addressing one of Business Central's most persistent challenges and what this expansion signals for the future of ERP customization in the Microsoft ecosystem.

(Originally Aired January 23, 2026)

In this episode of PartnerTalks, host Rick McCutcheon speaks with Heather Cook, Principal Customer Experience Manager at Microsoft, about the powerful return of in-person professional events and why face-to-face networking continues to shape careers across the technology industry.

Drawing on her work with the Microsoft 365 engineering community, Cook explains how consistent participation in conferences, user groups, and community-led events can create meaningful professional opportunities, from new client relationships to career advancement. She shares firsthand perspective on why live engagement remains one of the most trusted ways to build long-term connections, even in an era defined by hybrid work and digital collaboration.

Tune in to learn why in-person events continue to drive trust in the technology sector, how community engagement impacts career growth, and why relationships remain at the center of professional success.

(Originally Aired January 16, 2026)

In this episode of PartnerTalks, host Rick McCutcheon welcomes Bob McAdam, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Tasklet, for a timely conversation on Microsoft's push for Partners to operate at the technology frontier. As AI and Copilot move from buzzwords to real-world deployment, Microsoft is challenging Dynamics partners to lead customers with practical innovation, not just messaging.

McAdam shares insights from a packed conference season, highlighting strong growth for Dynamics 365 Business Central and the significance of surpassing 50,000 customers. He explains why this momentum signals continued confidence in Microsoft's ERP direction and how Business Central is gaining ground against competing cloud ERP platforms.

Tune in to learn why Microsoft's "frontier" messaging is reshaping partner strategy, how AI and Copilot are being applied in Business Central environments, and what partners must do to stay competitive in the evolving Dynamics ecosystem.

(Originally Aired January 9, 2026)

In this episode of PartnerTalks, host Rick McCutcheon sits down with Shannon Mullins, six-time Microsoft MVP and CEO of A BC Consulting Group, to unpack one of the biggest realities facing Microsoft Business Central partners today: before AI, most ERP customers still need to get to the cloud.

Drawing on 25 years of experience spanning Dynamics GP through Dynamics 365 Business Central, Shannon explains why cloud migration remains the top priority for organizations undergoing digital transformation. While AI and Copilot capabilities continue to generate buzz, many businesses are still focused on modernizing legacy ERP systems to unlock scalable, integrated financial and operational workflows in the Microsoft cloud.

Tune in to learn why cloud readiness is the critical foundation for AI adoption, how partners can build strong Business Central practices, and what's next for ERP transformation in the Microsoft ecosystem.

(Originally Aired January 5, 2026)

In this episode of the PartnerTalks podcast, host Rick McCutcheon speaks with Eric Fink from Microsoft's SMB Channel team about what it takes for partners to grow an AI solutions business.

Eric explains how Microsoft defines success for SMB partners, how partners should think about productivity versus full AI transformation, and what Microsoft means by Frontier partners. The conversation covers Dynamics 365, Business Central, Copilot Studio, AI agents, and why partners must become "customer one" before selling AI to customers.

This episode is designed for Microsoft Partners working with SMB customers who want practical guidance on positioning AI, scaling their business, and aligning with Microsoft's direction.