At Newpath, we work with organisations from the moment they recognise the need to improve visibility, customer relationships, and efficiency, through to when the platform takes them to new levels of growth. Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a powerful, trusted, and reliable platform, but its value only becomes a reality through how it is implemented, set up, and aligned with the business.
It is not uncommon for teams to invest time, money and effort in implementing the platform with all the best intentions, only to find it falls short of their expectations. The reality is that when the system starts to cause friction, teams look for workarounds, or investment in adoption fails to deliver, everyone is impacted. Knowing when and where to engage Dynamics 365 consulting services is key to unlocking the value of your investment and getting it to work for you.
The system no longer fits the way your organisation works
Every organisation is different and operates in its own unique way; it’s what makes you unique. The platform provides industry-leading out-of-the-box functionality but doesn’t always account for your specific workflows, approval processes or customer journey from the get-go.
It’s not unusual for us to identify teams, business units, and, in many cases, the organisation as a whole, resorting to manual workarounds such as spreadsheets, emails, or duplicated data entry, as they try to use the system as it is instead of having it support the way you work. Identifying these workarounds early and engaging an expert to help you pivot is the first sign that support is needed.
Our team will make sure that when this stage is complete, the system is working with you rather than you having to work around it.
What worked for your team is no longer working for you
Size isn’t everything, but there is no doubt the system needs to scale as you grow, whether through new staff, new processes, new integrations, security controls, or reporting. If your teams have invested in Dynamics 365 with the hope that it will scale with growth, they are in for a surprise. As you grow and add new features, data, and business rules, scaling an existing system built for a smaller set of people and processes can be a daunting task.
We have worked with many organisations during periods of growth, market expansion, or internal organisational changes, and it is safe to say that this is the point at which the foundations need to be sound. We take a forward-thinking approach with the platform so that, as the organisation plans for new business drivers and requirements, the infrastructure and configuration setup to support these changes are now set up to scale without constant rework, revisions, or redevelopment.
User adoption is low or not where you want it to be
We have seen user adoption as the problem, when in fact the system is the core problem. We have a mantra that low adoption rates are a system problem, not a people problem. When the system has been customised, built, or inherited and doesn’t reflect how teams work, or isn’t up to the task of keeping up with their day-to-day operations, adoption is always an issue.
As a team, we place a strong emphasis on the system’s usability. We make sure that interfaces are intuitive, workflows are easy to follow, and above all, that the system reflects and supports the way teams work, so when we set out to transform a system, the end user always takes centre stage. In many cases, change management is another important consideration, and Newpath has extensive experience helping you communicate value and ensuring your training is focused and practical.
Integrations are critical to your digital estate
Interconnected systems are now an expected feature of the modern digital estate. In many cases, organisations find that, over time, they need the platform to connect to and integrate with finance software, marketing automation, portals, or custom third-party applications.
Weak or badly designed integrations cause problems further downstream by introducing data errors and, in some cases, operational risk. Newpath design integrations with scalability, security and reliability in mind. We do not just connect information between systems; we ensure it flows seamlessly so your data is available where it needs to be, reducing duplication, improving data quality, and allowing you to manage a more connected and coherent digital ecosystem.
Internal teams need strategic support
There is no doubt that an internal team can be successful at managing day-to-day admin; however, it is common for internal teams to be stretched for capacity and in many cases, do not have access to specialist skills to support them in planning the long-term roadmap.
Newpath works in partnership with internal teams as an extension of them, but with a strategic lens to their work. We can help organisations set realistic roadmaps that deliver value by aligning technology with the business, and in turn, we help teams plan rather than react to issues and prioritise initiatives that add measurable value.
If systems slow teams down or information sharing is hampered, if insight is not accurate or clear, or simply if growth and change is exposing gaps, limitations and shortcomings, this is the point when it is time to pause and think, because the faster these issues are identified and addressed the more likely organisations are to protect their investment and realise its true potential.
At Newpath, we believe that with the right platform, in the right environment and with the right strategy, technology should be seen as an enabler of growth, not an inhibitor or obstacle to overcome.
If you want your team to get the most out of your Dynamics 365 investment, knowing when to ask for help, when to reach out to an expert for support, is the first step in ensuring the system supports your organisation today and into the future.
