I will be one of the 400 people heading into Fargo next week for the Technical Airlift. I am really looking forward to seeing how GP’s new improved functionality is going to help ‘airlift’ sales of Dynamics GP in 2010.

What is a sales guy doing at a tech conference? A couple of really key reasons:
1. Technology=Sales
The connection between technical advances in GP – and sales has never been stronger. There was a time when we could rely on ‘Microsoftism’s’ to sell GP, but that is not enough any longer. We need to have the best product, with the best road map. I am keen to have Microsoft show me how we can beat all the competition by having a technically superior solution to our competition.
 
2. This goes with That, and hooks to that?
GP has great modules, ISV’s have great solutions – but how does everything work and talk together? As VAR’s this is our job to eliminate this question for our customers and present a ‘solution’ that is made up of the best of the best. One of my aims at Airlift is to help the technical crew get a grip on how to hang things together.
For Example: When to use SmartList Builder, when to switch to Excel Report builder – or is Navigation List Builder a better option when working with the HR module?
Or if I am using Wennsoft, how can we integrate and automate the next steps?
Or how to best tie custom entities in CRM with GP.
Or how to populate eXtender fields in GP with the data captured in CRM?
Or I love Rockton’s SmartFill addon – but does it work with eXtender and other third parties?
Or How do I make that V10 workflow stuff, fit with a real customer need?
3. eOne and V10 sp4 and V11
eOne has played a big part in the release of both SP4 and the upcoming V11. The first place to learn all the secrets of what is coming next from eOne/Microsoft is Airlift.
4. Understanding the power of SC
There are a few developers out there that still insist on writing directly to eConnect. I am going to discuss all the things SC can do as part of a full GP solution – and help reduce dev time while making more money for VAR’s.
5. Talking up Excel Report Builder
ERB is really cool and i think the most under utilised module out there, that most customers already own. Come and talk to any Microsoft Rep or anyone from eOne to learn about where and when it will help you win a deal.
So there are a few reasons why I am flying right to the other side of the globe to spend 2 days with 400 technical guru’s. It is the tech teams that bundle together solutions in a way that solve our customers business needs. If we do not get the tech components right then we are all out of business.