Welcome to the June edition of our Source & Connect Newsletter.

Each month, we share perspective from across Dynamics 365 delivery, built on ongoing conversations with end‑user organisations, partners, delivery leaders and candidates dealing with live delivery challenges.

This month, we explore planning through a new D365 Insights Podcast episode, alongside reflections on what good contracting and permanent hiring look like on live programmes. These topics are closely connected, particularly in complex programmes where clarity of ownership, capability and decision‑making can determine whether momentum is sustained or lost.

We work alongside organisations and individuals across Finance & Operations, Supply Chain, Customer Engagement, Business Central and Power Platform. Our role extends beyond recruitment, supporting delivery leaders as they navigate change, pressure and long‑term capability building. 

From the programmes and careers we work with, the same issues keep coming up:

• Planning, delivery and resourcing challenges are rarely isolated and tend to surface where alignment breaks down 

• Experience and judgement matter most when complexity and ambiguity increase 

• Strong outcomes depend on people being supported not just at go‑live, but through stabilisation and growth 

As always, this reflects what we’re hearing in regular conversations across the Dynamics community and what’s happening on programmes today.

A Note from the Director

We’ve had another busy and productive month supporting our existing clients, which is always great to see. Across the market, there is still stronger demand for permanent hiring than contract, although we remain committed to supporting contractors navigating what is still a relatively tight landscape.

One of the more interesting challenges we’ve noticed emerging recently is a shift in behaviour from experienced contractors. Many are now seeking greater stability and actively pursuing permanent opportunities, while at the same time, some clients remain cautious about hiring individuals who may ultimately return to contract work longer term. I shared some thoughts on this on LinkedIn recently and received significant feedback, reinforcing that this is a widespread and current challenge across the market.

It’s also been fantastic to see the progress the team continues to make. Vikki has delivered excellent results in supporting our clients with permanent placements, and over the last six months has doubled our perm revenue. This is a brilliant achievement and a real reflection of her hard work.

Tom has also made a real difference since joining us, increasing our company page following by over 500 and supporting both the podcast and our wider marketing activity. This has allowed me to focus more on building new client relationships, which is already having a positive impact.

Indie has been making the most of the recent heatwave, enjoying plenty of seaside strolls and well-earned sunbathing sessions. It’s safe to say remote working has had a real pawsitive impact on her wellbeing. 🐾

I would also like to say a big thank you to all of our clients, candidates, and followers who continue to support us. Without you, none of this would be possible.

🎙️ D365 Insights by Source & Connect — New Episode

Last month, we released a new episode featuring Roger Fleury, a highly experienced supply chain planning expert with over 30 years’ experience in manufacturing and ERP delivery. 

Roger’s perspective brings a valuable blend of practical operational experience and in‑depth Dynamics 365 knowledge, offering a clear and practical view of why planning continues to be one of the most challenging areas for organisations to get right. 

While the conversation focuses on planning within D365 Supply Chain, the discussion extends well beyond technology. The episode highlights that successful planning is not just about systems and also depends on mindset, alignment and how organisations respond to complexity and change. 

One of Roger’s key points is that planning is often misunderstood as a purely system-driven activity. In reality, it sits at the centre of the business, coordinating sales, operations, procurement and finance. When it struggles, it is rarely just a system issue and is more often a reflection of disconnects across data, processes and decision-making. 

He also highlights the limitations of traditional master planning. Many organisations still rely on MRP-based approaches that were never designed for today’s level of volatility, which can result in unstable outputs, constant re-planning and a heavy reliance on Excel to bridge the gaps. 

A consistent point throughout the episode is the level of effort planners put in behind the scenes. Often, things appear to be working, but only because individuals are constantly making manual adjustments and chasing issues. This creates risk, fragility and a lack of scalability as organisations grow. 

Drawing on decades of delivery experience, Roger highlights several principles that consistently separate strong planning environments from struggling ones: 

• Planning is a cross-functional discipline, not a siloed activity 

• Data alone is not enough — methodology and interpretation matter 

• Stability and predictability are more valuable than “perfect” plans 

• Mindset and education are often more critical than system configuration 

For clients, this episode is a reminder that implementing D365 or upgrading systems alone will not resolve planning challenges. Real progress comes from taking a step back, reassessing the approach, and better aligning people, processes and technology around clear operational priorities. 

For candidates, Roger outlines the strategic importance of planning roles, where communication, problem solving and the ability to manage ambiguity are just as important as technical expertise. 

🎧 Listen to D365 Insights by Source & Connect 

Spotify 

YouTube

Or search “D365 Insights by Source & Connect” 

Contractor Bench – What Good Contracting Looks Like (On Both Sides)

From conversations across live Dynamics 365 programmes — including recent discussions with delivery leaders on both the client and partner side — one thing is clear: good contracting is less about speed, and more about clarity, ownership and trust. 

When contract resource works well, a few conditions are usually in place. 

From the client side 

• Clear ownership of decisions, including the grey areas between functions and workstreams

• Realistic expectations around pace, scope and dependency on internal SMEs 

• Recognition that BAU pressure is real and that contractors are there to protect capacity rather than compete with it

• Openness about what is known, unknown and still evolving 

From the contractor side 

• Willingness to challenge early and call out risks before they become problems

• Proven ability to operate within existing governance rather than working around it

• An understanding that delivery does not end at go-live, and that adoption and stabilisation matter

• Willingness to ask for greater clarity rather than forcing progress

Where these conditions are in place, contractors become a stabilising force within delivery rather than simply additional capacity.

This is especially important in complex areas such as data migration, finance, supply chain, development and cross‑stream integrations, where unclear ownership or unrealistic assumptions quickly translate into rework and delay. 

This is the environment that enables contract delivery to work well. Not every requirement suits contract resource, and not every programme is right for every contractor. Early honesty protects delivery outcomes, relationships and momentum on both sides.

For clients, it means stronger, more dependable programmes.

For contractors, it means working in environments where experience, judgement and transparency are valued.

What Good Permanent Hiring Looks Like (On Both Sides) 

Permanent hiring carries long‑term impact, which means getting it wrong can introduce as much delivery risk as getting it right can remove.

From our conversations with both end user organisations and partners, good permanent hiring tends to share a few common themes.

On the client side, successful permanent hires typically:

• Have credibility across both business and technology 

• Understand delivery realities, not just system functionality 

• Are given clear ownership, decision‑making authority and a visible roadmap 

• Sit close enough to stakeholders to influence how the system is actually used 

On the partner side, the right permanent hires combine:

• Proven delivery experience

• The ability to guide teams and clients through complex delivery challenges

• Commercial awareness, with business development capability at senior levels

• A focus on long‑term client outcomes rather than short‑term gains

For candidates, this is an important distinction. Not every permanent role offers real ownership, influence or progression, and titles alone do not always reflect the reality of the role.

Understanding how a role fits into delivery, post‑go‑live plans and future growth is key.

By supporting honest conversations early, permanent hires are more likely to strengthen delivery and less likely to create challenges later.

If you’re delivering a Dynamics programme with a clearly defined contract requirement, or you’re a contractor with specialist expertise in a specific area, we’re always happy to talk.