This company embarked on its ERP journey with high hopes after a successful implementation of Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM.

Encouraged by the initial success, they decided to add Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central for their financial operations.

That is when things started to go wrong.

Their story serves as a valuable lesson in choosing a Partner with the right skill set and the dangers of going overboard with customization and trying to patch up a system with a weak foundation.

What went wrong with this Business Central project?

This company was working with a Microsoft Dynamics CRM partner.  When they said they wanted to expand the engagement and add Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, this CRM Partner was out of its depth. CRM and ERP are different skill sets.

However, instead of being honest with the customer and working in cooperation with an ERP partner, they took a gamble. The Partner outsourced the development overseas to a team that had technical expertise but did not have experience with the ins and outs of Business Central or knowledge of American accounting standards.

What ensued was a series of headaches. The ERP system they hoped would streamline operations turned into a money pit, requiring constant fixes and development to maintain basic core functionality.

As a distribution company heavily reliant on e-commerce, their ERP system was critical to maintaining operations.

The problem? They rushed into customization without really understanding how it would impact their business processes and overall system functionality.

Imagine you ask a developer to tweak how your invoices look. This seems simple. The developer will say yes because “developers love to develop.” But behind that request are layers of complexity. Before making a change, you must understand accounting principles and how each part of the ERP system works together.

If a developer doesn't consider how a change affects other parts of your ERP system, chaos can ensue. Integrations might break, important data might get lost in the shuffle, and suddenly, your whole system feels like it's held together with duct tape.

They were spending more and more money just trying to patch over the problems without getting down to the root of the issue.

In this case, the development was not based on a properly scoped business process.

It was more reactive to client needs. They said, “We want to send this order that way.” The developer said, “We can customize the system to do that.” But you can't just develop one thing and not think through how that will affect the other areas of the ERP system. It is a domino effect.

That is why system architecture is so important. It is the foundation.

This company eventually realized they were spinning their wheels. After months of frustration and mounting costs, they decided to hit the brakes and reassess.

They reached out to our team at Dexpro Dynamics.

We suggested to take a hard look at their business processes and system design, realizing that a fresh start would be the only way forward.

Think of it this way: your ERP system is like a house. If it was built on shaky ground, no amount of fixes and patching up holes will keep it standing. You've got to start with a solid foundation. That means thinking through your system architecture and making sure it's sturdy enough to support the changes you want to make.

This is just one example of the type of company that contacts Dexpro Dynamics looking for help with their Microsoft Dynamics system. We see many implementations that have not been successful because they did not include all of the critical business processes. Having a system architect involved and spending time planning the design before initial implementation always pays off and eliminates issues after go-live. 

How can you avoid a situation like this?

3 Lessons to Avoid Bad Dynamics 365 Business Central Projects

1. Choose a Partner that knows the specific product. Working with a partner Microsoft Dynamics Partner who knows “Microsoft Dynamics 365” is not enough. They need to specifically work with the product or products you want. Despite the confusing way Microsoft has decided to brand its product line – Microsoft Dynamics 365 is not just one project. And someone who knows CRM processes does not necessarily mean they know ERP processes. Do your homework on their specialty and experience.
2. Beware of Over-Development. If your consultant tells you they need to do customization or custom development, don’t just dive in without asking questions.
3. Is this change really necessary or just a “nice to have”?
4. Is there out-of-the-box functionality that would accomplish the same or nearly the same thing if we are flexible?
5. Will this change add more headaches down the line when we are ready to upgrade?
6. Will the change impact other areas of the system that I have not considered?
7. Should I get a second opinion before authorizing this expensive development project?
8. Don’t Keep Patching a System with a Poor Foundation. If you find that you are constantly paying to fix problems, you need to be willing to take a step back and analyze the foundation of your system. Was it set up correctly in the first place? Do you need a fresh start? The answer might be painful, but it is the only way forward. 

The Dexpro Dynamics Difference

At Dexpro Dynamics, we're here to help you navigate the twists and turns of ERP implementation. Every hand-picked individual on our team has extensive knowledge and experience that covers the functional as well as the technical parts of the system, allowing us to provide solutions specific to your organization's business needs. We work with the full range of Microsoft Dynamics 365 products, both ERP and CRM, so we know how they work together.

Our consultants work closely with you to gain a deep understanding of your organization's processes, challenges, and goals. This way, we can correctly implement Microsoft Dynamics 365 solutions to drive productivity, efficiency, and growth.

Read testimonials from Dexpro Dynamics customers.

If you find yourself grappling with an over-customized Business Central system, Dexpro Dynamics is here to help. Together, we can build a stronger, more efficient foundation for your business.

Contact our team to start the conversation.

By Dexpro Dynamics, Microsoft Dynamics Silver Certified Partner, www.dexprodynamics.com