Executive Q&A: How to accelerate the Microsoft Dynamics NAV channel's cloud journey

When we spoke to SaaSplaza CEO Berend-Jan van Maanen, he had just flown from Amsterdam to Seattle for strategic discussions with Microsoft. The focus of the meetings was to accelerate Dynamics partners' journey to the cloud, which all parties seem to agree is moving too slowly.

"The danger for partners who postpone selling cloud solutions is that their competitors will eat their lunch," he says.

"Customers are naturally turning to born-in-the-cloud ERP providers," says Van Maanen, "and Microsoft partners are at risk if their efforts stall in 2018. It need not be that way."

He believes that with Microsoft's solid product, plus partners' vertical and implementation expertise and the guidance of Dynamics-focused Cloud Solution Providers (CSP) like SaaSplaza, Microsoft Dynamics partners can beat the competition on value and competitive offerings. However, he believes the partners need more guidance both from Microsoft and by CSPs to make the cloud journey.

SaaSplaza has delivered Microsoft Dynamics as a Service on a global scale since 2008. They started in private hosting, and have now expanded to 11 Microsoft Azure locations, as well as enabling hybrid solutions. Their primary go-to market is via the Microsoft channel, with a global network of 280 Dynamics partners. Van Maanen and SaaSplaza's General Manager for the Americas, Olivier Meynier, spoke with MSDynamicsWorld to discuss the barrier to the Microsoft channel's cloud journey and to offer ideas on how to move forward and embrace the cloud to remain relevant.

MSDW: What makes the cloud transition difficult for Dynamics partners? 

Van Maanen: It's ...