Stewarding Microsoft D365 Finance and Operations customers through version updates: An approach founded on prioritizing the client experience
By: Julia Levantian – Delivery Manager in IT implementation at Metam
Twice a year, Microsoft offers its Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations customers with version updates – planned deployments of new or enhanced functionality and fixes to existing inconsistencies and shortcomings. While software updates are hardly anything unique in the SaaS industry, their importance is vital to ensure customers receive the best possible product and service from manufacturers and providers. Given that professionals of all kinds depend on their ERP software to perform much, if not all of their daily tasks, a transition in versions can bring about both excitement and uncertainty, which is why at Metam, we never overlook the importance of accompanying our customers through updates. We believe in guiding them through important testing and advising on new or deprecated features based on our unmatched insight into the unique functioning of their organization.
Our upgrade service begins when a delivery manager reaches out the client to inform them of their upcoming version update. This is done a few months prior to the version’s release by Microsoft to allow enough time for alignment on dates, activities, and tasks between Metam and the client. The effort is collaborative to ensure nothing is forgotten and that all tasks can be covered by a project team member, whether that be us or our client. Metam always works around our clients’ needs and engagements, and our team can bend and stretch to best fit their schedule and capabilities.
The heart of our update offering lies within the “Upgrade Buddies” – a team of trained testers mobilized to assess the coherence of the update with the client’s specific solution. The Upgrade Buddies perform several essential tasks and with a trained eye, make recommendations on how the new software version can best serve each of our clients. The offering includes, but is not limited to:
An assessment of the existing test library. If the library requires pruning or updating, the buddies will document any missing information and enhance existing test scenarios.
Execution of all test cases encompassing a client’s D365 solution and documentation of the results in the client’s DevOps test suite.
Inspection of any undesirable elements discovered during these tests and their swift correction.
Full version documentation, complete with curated feature analysis and detailed release notes.
Recommendations for new feature use and how to leverage them moving forward.
To ensure the client remains informed and in control of their solution, the delivery manager offers regular touchpoints, written progress updates, and an end-of-project report summarizing the totality of the project’s components and outcomes, as well as recommendations for improving the future version update process.
Thanks to the update, our clients have a more powerful tool at their disposal and can achieve their goals quicker and with more effectiveness. With Metam’s stewardship, the end user’s mastery of their tool becomes more comprehensive. Users are equipped with recommendations made by people who not only have unmatched industry insight and knowledge of their solution, but who also care deeply about their clients’ long-lasting success.
Ready for the Upgrade Buddies to help?
Find out more about Metam’s comprehensive Microsoft Dynamics 365 upgrade program with our team of upgrade specialists
