Hello and welcome to our May Source & Connect Newsletter.

Each month, we share insight from across the Dynamics 365 and Power Platform ecosystem, shaped by conversations with end‑user organisations, partners, consultants and candidates at different stages of their journey.

This includes what we’re seeing on live programmes, where pressure often builds, and how organisations and individuals actually navigate delivery, change and career transitions.

Source & Connect supports the Dynamics 365 community beyond job specs and CVs. Our work spans Finance & Operations, Customer Engagement, Business Central and Power Platform, helping organisations build capability and individuals navigate what is often a complex and shifting market.

From the programmes and careers we work alongside, it’s clear that outcomes improve when: 

• Capability matches the stage of the programme, not just the headcount plan 

  
  

• Ownership, confidence and experience are embedded early 

  
  

• People are supported not only during delivery, but through transition, stabilisation and longer-term growth 

Our perspective is informed by regular conversations across the Dynamics community, including clients, partners and individuals.

A Note from the Director

April was a busy month, with a mix of new work, ongoing delivery support and further conversations across the Dynamics ecosystem.

We hosted our very first Source & Connect event, continued to support existing clients through live programmes, and signed terms with another FMCG organisation — a sector we’re working with more frequently.

Manufacturing, supply chain and FMCG environments continue to generate a high volume of enquiries, often involving complex ERP and CRM implementations where timing, experience and delivery confidence really matter. In response, we’re exploring the idea of a dedicated event focused specifically on this space.

Across live programmes, we supported several organisations through key hiring moments. This included placing a candidate into an FMCG business live on Business Central Finance and preparing for a Supply Chain Management implementation, alongside placements into a services organisation and a Big Four consultancy. We also welcomed new starters in the F&O contractor market, including a Finance Consultant and a Technical Architect, reflecting continued demand for experienced capability at critical stages of delivery.

While market activity and confidence have picked up, the recruitment landscape remains challenging. Senior‑level roles continue to be harder to secure, and many highly capable candidates are still navigating a difficult and sometimes frustrating market. In response, we’re working closely with a specialist career coaching business to offer additional support to those looking to explore their options, gain clarity on next steps, or refine how they position themselves in a changing market.

Community Spotlight: Our First D365 Women’s Event

At Source & Connect, we place a strong emphasis on supporting women working across the Dynamics 365 ecosystem. Women remain under‑represented across technology and ERP delivery, particularly in senior and visible roles, and creating supportive spaces can play an important role in addressing that imbalance. The focus is on creating environments where women feel supported, heard and able to progress in what can still be a challenging space.

In April, we hosted our first Source & Connect D365 Women’s Event, created to provide space for honest discussion, shared experience and peer support within the D365 community. The event welcomed women from across the Dynamics 365 ecosystem, bringing together familiar faces and new connections.

The same point came up a number of times:

Women in tech value connection, a sense of belonging and mutual support. 

When we asked attendees what they hoped to take away from the day, their responses were varied but consistent in focus:

• A stronger sense of belonging

  
  

• More natural connections with other women

  
  

• Practical confidence and support

  
  

• Reconnecting with work after long periods of remote working

  
  

• Clearer perspective on individual value

  
  

• Ways to talk more openly about delivery, careers and leadership

The event highlighted the importance of having space to talk openly about delivery, careers and leadership.

Speakers and Sessions 

Sally Spicer led a workshop on career direction, prompting discussion around confidence and next steps.

Emma Beckett shared her career journey and her experience of testing on Dynamics programmes, with discussion focusing on confidence, challenge and being heard within delivery teams.

Beyond the Sessions

We finished the afternoon with a drink at the bar, which gave everyone time to relax, catch up and enjoy being in the same room again. 

Feedback has been encouraging, with interest in further opportunities for connection and shared experience within the Dynamics 365 community.

💜If you’d like to be involved in the next Women’s Event, please get in touch. The next event is planned for September.

AI and the Changing Shape of Work

Artificial intelligence is quickly moving from theory into everyday reality, reshaping how work is structured across industries.

According to Allianz, around 23% of jobs across major economies are expected to be affected by AI over the next one to three years. The level of impact varies, from 29% in the United States to 18% in the UK, with European markets sitting at different points in between.

Rather than widespread job loss, the shift is taking place within roles themselves. Many positions are evolving as individual tasks are automated, enhanced, or redistributed, changing how work is carried out on a day-to-day basis rather than removing roles altogether.

This is already influencing how productivity is defined. As repetitive tasks are reduced, there is greater scope for work that relies on judgement, creativity and human insight. At the same time, the pace of change is increasing the importance of adaptability and continuous learning.

AI is not a single moment of disruption, but an ongoing transition that will continue to evolve as its use becomes more widespread. Organisations and individuals alike are being encouraged to rethink how work is structured, how value is created, and how talent develops over time.

The conversation has clearly moved on. It is no longer about whether AI will have an impact, but about how that impact is understood and shaped for the future.

Contractor Bench – Specialist Skills, Applied at the Right Moment 

Many of the conversations we have with clients start very clearly: “We need a contractor.” Often, the requirement is specific and non‑negotiable.

Across Dynamics 365 programmes, we’re seeing continued demand for experienced contract specialists who can step into defined delivery needs, including:

• Data migration specialists who understand legacy complexity, cutover risk and reconciliation 

  
  

• Developers supporting integrations, extensions and performance under real delivery pressure 

  
  

• Functional consultants across Finance, Supply Chain, Field Service and Project Operations 

  
  

• Short‑term expertise to support build, test, remediation or post‑go‑live stabilisation 

These are not generic roles, and they are rarely solved by adding capacity alone.

What clients are really looking for is confidence: 

• Confidence that the contractor understands the system and the business context 

  
  

• Confidence that they can operate effectively alongside internal teams and partners 

  
  

• Confidence that specialist work will stand up under testing, governance and go‑live pressure 

This is where our contractor bench supports delivery on live programmes.

Through our network of Dynamics professionals, we support end users and partners by introducing specialist contractors who join programmes at defined delivery stages and take responsibility for complex workstreams.

Permanent Ownership During and After Implementation

Across the Dynamics 365 market, we’re seeing a clear shift in how end‑user organisations are thinking about permanent capability. 

Rather than waiting until after go‑live, many businesses are now bringing permanent hires in during implementation, with a clear remit to own the system long‑term and ensure the organisation gets the most value from its investment. 

On the end‑user side, this is showing up in roles such as: 

• D365 Systems Managers / Finance Systems Managers 

  
  

• D365 Support Managers or Technical Managers 

  
  

• Internal application and platform owners responsible for ongoing optimisation

These roles are no longer focused solely on support or maintenance. They sit at the intersection of business, IT and delivery, translating requirements, prioritising enhancements, managing partners and ensuring systems continue to evolve with the organisation.

For organisations, this reduces reliance on external partners and helps maintain continuity as programmes move from build into adoption and optimisation. For candidates, these roles offer scope for influence, visibility and longer‑term ownership, particularly for those who enjoy working closely with the business and shaping how D365 is used day to day.

If you’re navigating delivery challenges or considering your next step within the Dynamics ecosystem, we’re happy to talk.

Sarah Moody  📞 07799 265276 ☎️ 02381 440050