We find ourselves in a position where Microsoft cloud technology is in higher demand than ever before, but with uncertainty around the future, many businesses feel directionless and unable to commit to a long-term strategy.
I was recently invited by Nigel Frank, the Microsoft recruitment specialist, to contribute some thoughts and actionable tips to its new Microsoft Dynamics business continuity white paper.
The report, which is free to download from the Nigel Frank website, features insights from over 15 Microsoft experts and MVPs. It was produced in an effort to support businesses through this challenging period where unprecedented changes have disrupted both the way in which Dynamics technology is used, and the way Dynamics professionals work on a daily basis.
The future of cloud
The reality is, the cloud technology sector will never be the same again. The world has experienced just how essential it is to use web-based systems where employees can be granted remote access when required.
Those still using on-premise systems have really struggled to adjust, and are desperate for a cloud deployment, but they’re naturally concerned about the security of their data and the cost implications at a time when revenue is already lower than forecasted.
Nigel Frank’s white paper tackles issues such as cost-saving, data security, growing at scale, and best practices for remote working. I’m delighted to have contributed my insights to these topics—here is one of my tips, where I give an overview of how leveraging cloud infrastructure and automations can reduce running costs:
“Businesses who’ve been impacted by COVID-19 are unfortunately abundant, and too often, when a company has a business loss, IT is the first to be pushed to the side and forgotten. This is a tremendous error.
“Microsoft Dynamics ERP can help you automate processes, and the SaaS proposition can be adopted quickly. I see companies with lots of old servers in big rooms for handling their business processes, but now you could move all your infrastructure and all your ERP to the cloud in a few days and save money.
“Many operations like data analysis or complex tasks that require power can be moved to the cloud and scaled accordingly to meet business needs—meaning more power only when needed and less or zero energy when not in use—with a notable monetary gain, especially as many cloud services on Azure are pay-per-use.”
If you’re looking for quick wins, the white paper also contains a collection of 21 Microsoft Dynamics add-ons that will boost productivity and make your Dynamics solution go even further. One of these third-party apps could save you a lot of time and money, and may plug the gap until you have the opportunity to revisit your cloud strategy.
You can download the white paper ‘Overcoming unprecedented business challenges with Microsoft Dynamics’ in full from the Nigel Frank website.
Stefano Demiliani 