Learning the emphasis on customer focus

What a week it has been!  I’ve worked to absorb as much as time would allow on the Microsoft training courses for Business Central.  There is a lot of great information to take in. 

One big take away for me this week was the amount of care that goes into an implementation or setup of Business Central for the client.  It might sound cheesy; but Microsoft really cares and wants the client to be successful so the client can continue to grow their business and utilize the efficiencies that come with Business Central.

We’ve all seen it or have heard about an implementation with a different software stand up that either did not go well or the client didn’t know what they were sold.  The selling business makes the software upgrade implementation sound like it is a need for the business; which in most cases it is needed because their business has out grown their current platform, but the business does not fully understand what they are getting.  The implementing business knows the ERP they are going to standup for the client inside and out, but they often forget the client does not know the ERP like they do and what the ERP has to offer their business. 

Fast forward to the implementation date the client is now ready to use the system; typically, they are given limited training; less than five hours and they are expected to be an expert at working in this new system they have never seen until that moment.  Many times, simple things are not working for the client that end up being large road blocks in their day-to-day activities, such as the invoice template not having the necessary data fields or their vendor checks no longer lining up with their check stock they have on hand.  Unfortunately for the client there are times the answer to fix or adjust these issues are non-existent and they are told they have to replace their check stock or go without what they need.

Microsoft and their partners that support their clients in implementations of Business Central focus on the end user and making sure they are setup for success from the very beginning.  There are many meetings to learn the business and their process inside and out to understand what the people of the business are doing to make it successful each day.  The Business Central team will create a journey map from the detailed conversations they have with the teams and decision makers of the business.  This journey map will include the current processes, the users and their key actions, outcomes needed in the work they complete, their likes and dislikes in their current system, and automation opportunities through Business Central. 

Before the first meeting with the business and their team the Microsoft Partner will review who, the business is and any other information they can gather about the business beforehand.  This I believe is the beginning of a successful implementation and sets a great starting point for client confidence in your consulting team just by knowing some of the basics of the business we’re going work for on the project. 

Some key things to think about when meeting with the team members and any decision makers is to ask open ended questions, too many times we won’t get the whole picture if we don’t leave space for the team to talk about themselves, the company, and the tasks they are doing each day.  We want to capture what makes them successful and repeat that or even make it easier and better for them to be successful in their roles.  

If you’re interested in browsing some of the courses to grow your own skills visit Microsoft Learn, I’d love to hear about something new you learned or did not know Business Central could do. 

My first official day as a Functional Consultant

Hello! I'm excited to have you here as I embark on my journey to become a Functional Consultant for Microsoft Business Central. 

I have been an end user thus far in my accounting career, working in the public, Government, and private sectors.  I’ve worked through the various roles and picked up many skills to be successful in my roles and am looking for a new challenge and opportunity to advance those skills I currently have in the accounting field and help new clients and established businesses grow their ERP to fit their current and future needs of the business.

A bit more about me and my background; ever since I was young, I’ve had a knack for numbers and a curiosity about how businesses operate.  This interest led me to pursue a degree in accounting.  I have a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting and a 2-year Business degree.  I enjoy helping business owners and the management teams making the best decisions for their business with the financial information that I provide to them on a regular basis.  What lead me to go into the accounting field was how easily the concepts came to me and I enjoyed having an end product that others can use to grow the business.  Plus, it was nice to really know everything about the business as a whole without having to work in every department and understand their processes.  It's like an inside view not many people see of a business.  

My current role is in the public accounting sector, I work with a team of people to ensure monthly completion of financial information for the business owners.  I also work with businesses to understand their current processes, team, and systems to advise on any industry tools and implement best practices in their current environment. 

I wanted to start this blog to share my journey as I become a Functional Consultant for Microsoft BC and hope it inspires or helps someone else that is thinking about a career shift in their life.  I know each step will not be easy and I am here to share the ups and downs that may come along with making this career shift in my life.  I hope others can find a use from what I share in the tools or my learning as I go through this next journey.    

My hope with the career change from accountant end user to Functional Consultant is that I can utilize the accounting skills I have now to make for a smooth transition for the end users by understanding the full accounting picture and their roles to make sure they have a seamless experience to Business central.  

This is my first official day of becoming a Functional Consultant and I have to say I’m a bit nervous, there are a lot of new terms to learn and the backend processes to making the system function seamless for the end users.  I’m having to shift my mindset from end user to consultant.  I’m excited to take on this new role and can’t wait to see where it will take me over my career.  The possibilities of growth as a Functional Consultant are endless. 

As I learn new tasks or better ways to complete a task in Business Central, I’ll be sure to share them here with you.  Or when I meet any of the amazing people along the way, I’ll be sharing them here too.  We can all use more resources in our career that we can call on.  I’ll be sharing what the typical day in the life of a Functional Consultant looks like, career development tools, and certifications.    

While I am leaning into the training through Microsoft, I’ll be sharing some tips and tricks I pick up along the way so you can learn them too or just refresh your memory with some tips you may have forgot from when you first started working in Business Central and going through training.  

I’m looking forward to meeting with future business leaders and team members to understand the ins and outs of their business and help solve problems they may be having in their current ERP or in need of an ERP that can support their growing business by transitioning to Business Central.  It will be a grateful and rewarding opportunity. 

I’d love to hear from you! Whether you’re an aspiring Functional Consultant, a seasoned professional, or just curious about the field, feel free to leave a comment, ask questions, or share your own experiences.

Thank you for visiting my blog! I’m thrilled to have you along on this journey. Stay tuned for more posts about my experiences, tips, and insights into the world of becoming a Functional Consultant with Business Central.