Episode 61: Here we go again with Licensing changes
Starting October 1st, 2019, Microsoft will be enforcing new licensing rules and offerings, and this new licensing model is completely new. Steve Mordue is back on the show to discuss the new licensing model. Whether you are implementing for a brand new Dynamics 365 customer, or you’ve been a customer for a while, this episode is a MUST LISTEN! Guest: Steve Mordue: www.stevemordue.com More… Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 60: Top 10 OVERRATED skills for Solution Architects
There are things you must know as a Solution Architect, and then there are things you don’t but for some reason people believe you should know them in order to be a Solution Architect. These are my top 10 OVERRATED skills for Solution Architects. Video: How do you become a Solution Architect? – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZoZTuYbwHc Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
Episode 59: Top 10 things every Solution Architect MUST KNOW
Due to the popularity of the video posted on the CRM MVP Media YouTube on July 21st, 2019 (link below), I have decided to expand on my thoughts regarding the skills and knowledge needed to be a Solution Architect. These are my Top 10 things every Solution Architect MUST KNOW. Video: How do you become a Solution Architect? – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZoZTuYbwHc Please subscribe to our… Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 58: Creating, sending, and analyzing surveys with ease
Microsoft MVP and Dynamics 365 Community Superstar Megan Walker takes over the show to tell us all about Microsoft Forms Pro. Those of us using the Voice of the Customer (VoC) functionality in Dynamics 365 or perhaps even a third-party solution to create, send, and analyze surveys now have the ability to leverage Microsoft Forms Pro to accomplish our goals. Tune in to listen to Megan’s Top 10… Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 57: Top 10 D365CE things you need to REPLACE IMMEDIATELY
I can already tell you are going to disagree about these, you might even be skeptical about my warnings, you will perhaps even be mad about the horrible news I’ve come to bear today; but this list is real and you need to take it seriously. Here are the Top 10 things you need to STOP using in Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement. If you are using one or more of these on your current Dynamics 365… Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 56: Brace yourselves, 400+ new features are coming
The Microsoft Business Applications Summit is over and there is an overwhelming number of new features coming. So I sat down with Rami Mounla, former Microsoft MVP and Enterprise Solution Architect to discuss how can organizations get the most value out of Dynamics 365 and these features that are coming, as well as ways that organizations are leaving money on the table by paying for access to… Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 55: Building your personal brand like an MVP
One of the most effective ways to increase your impact in the community – and even become an MVP – is to build your brand. As MVPs we get to meet countless super talented professionals who have so much to offer to the community but whose voices and contributions go largely unnoticed since they lack a personal brand. So how do you stand out in the crowd? How do you build a reputation that draws… Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 54: Setting up your LinkedIn profile like an MVP
CRM MVP Neil Benson details the best practices and techniques he uses to maximize the value LinkedIn provides to his Dynamics 365 career. Tune in to listen Neil’s Top 10 tips to get the most effective LinkedIn Profile, as well as tons of personal stories and real events directly related to his ability to make the most out of LinkedIn capabilities and personal connections. Whether you are a… Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 53: Top 10 FUNCTIONAL TRICKS in Dynamics 365
When Microsoft introduces features into Dynamics 365, they have an objective in mind and a gap to fill with it. But there’s always a different and perhaps clever way to use some of these features to achieve a completely different goal. Links: Scheduling recurring workflows:
Episode 52: Here's the story of a CRM project DISASTER
This is our 2 year anniversary episode! In this episode, we talk about a massive CRM project failure that took place years ago, and my Top 5 red flags that can tell you if your project is going down the same road to failure. Links: EDS vs. BskyB Court Decision: https://www.scribd.com/document/32707026/EDS-v-BskyB-court-decisions EDIT: Several people asked me if this was a Microsoft Dynamics… Continue Reading Gus Gonzalez’s...
Episode 51: The end of Dynamics 365 as we know it
If you haven’t been paying attention to PowerApps and the Power Platform lately you are missing a massive shift in the world of Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement. As far as I’m concerned, Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement consulting, implementations, architecture, and approach – the entire CRM game – has changed forever. I decided to invite three CRM MVPs to the show to discuss these changes and… Continue...
Episode 50: Nine new MVPs talk about their 1st MVP summit
My first MVP Summit was in 2012, I had been an MVP for about 4 months and the experience was amazing and overwhelming. I wanted to hear what first timers were thinking after day 1 of the summit. This year’s MVP Summit was attended by 12 first timers, so after a few adult beverages I invited/convinced 9 of them to jump on the mics and talk about their experience at their very first MVP Summit…. Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 49: Top 10 mistakes aspiring MVPs make
This episode was recorded days before the Microsoft MVP Summit 2019 conference. Many of my listeners have what it takes to become a CRM MVP but unfortunately very few will make it. Setting aside the people who are not willing or able to do the work needed to become an MVP, I wanted to focus on those who are willing and able to do the work, and have the skills and commitment as well, but who… Continue Reading Gus Gonzalez’s...
Episode 48: Top 10 mistakes CRM developers make
Daryl LaBar is a 3x Microsoft MVP and a world-class Dynamics 365 developer. He stopped by the CRM MVP Podcast studio to share the Top 10 mistakes CRM developers make. Top 10 mistakes: Not learning TypeScript Not using a tool to deploy webresources Not using EarlyBinding Not using a plugin base Not creating a custom execution context Not creating unit tests Not logging plugin context on errors… Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 47: Demystifying Dynamics 365 and Power Platform licensing
Every time I get an opportunity to train new Solution Architects I always enforce the importance of understanding Dynamics 365 and Power Platform licenses when it comes to designing or architecting Dynamics 365 solutions. There are many reasons why understanding licensing is important. Lack of knowledge regarding licensing can lead to the creation of solutions that cost the organization a lot… Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 46: The CRM MVP Developer Podcast
Today’s episode is hosted by Michael Ochs, a Dynamics 365 MVP and veteran developer. Mike was joined by 4 of the best Dynamics 365 developers in the world. Tune in to hear them discuss a variety of deeply technical topics and share their best practices and favorite tools. Guests: Michael Ochs: https://twitter.com/MikeFactorial Daryl LaBar: https://twitter.com/ddlabar Nick Doelman:
Episode 45: How to train like Gus Gonzalez, by Gus Gonzalez
It is no secret that I love speaking at conferences and delivering training, but all the success I’ve had as a presenter came from all of the learning I’ve done since I started teaching full time over 15 years ago. In this episode, I share all of my secrets behind the way I prepare for, deliver, and evaluate a session. Whether the session is 45 minutes or 5 days long, the process is always the… Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 44: Setting up the User Interface like an MVP
In order to implement an effective Dynamics 365 solution, your users need to adopt it, and it is near impossible to get users to adopt a solution that has a poor user experience, so I wanted to spend an hour talking about the User Interface and User Experience best practices I use on every implementation I lead as a Solution Architect. I also talk about Unified Interface gaps and share my… Continue Reading Gus Gonzalez’s...
Episode 43: User Adoption Magnets
There are several features in Dynamics 365 that can strongly increase User Adoption when they are set up and used correctly. I’ve put a list of 10 User Adoption Magnets and I discuss why I believe these can be the difference between an Effective and an Ineffective Solution. Some of these magnets are features we’ve had for 10+ years but no one seems to pay attention to them! Let me explain. Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 42: CRM MVPs making PREDICTIONS
We were in Austin, TX attending eXtreme 365 and the keynote focused on what we can expect in 2019 from the world of Microsoft Business Applications and the Power Platform. We took some time to reflect on all the changes that have happened over the last 3 years, and see how many things we know and love today were only dreams or perhaps unimaginable back in 2015. Which made us think, where will… Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 41: THIS versus THAT
I was traveling to Sweden to speak at Dynamics 365 Saturday in Stockholm when I started realizing that there were a few situations in Microsoft Dynamics 365 where there were a couple of ways to approach them, but I always defaulted to one way versus the other, sometimes perhaps even going against Microsoft or Industry Best Practices. I wrote down a list of 10 situations or functionalities that… Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 40: Ten features that should be ADDED to Dynamics 365
Episode 39 focused on 10 features I wanted GONE from Dynamics 365. This episode focuses on 10 features I want ADDED to Dynamics 365 immediately. Here’s my wish list: Print to Word/Print to PDF/Email PDF Performance-based Configuration Freedom Save and Publish Business Rules actions on Sections and Tabs Multi-select Lookups Audit 2.0 Compose with Outlook Online Auto-Number and Random-Number… Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 39: Ten features that should be REMOVED from Dynamics 365
There are so many features in Microsoft Dynamics 365. Some of those features have been in the product for a long time and I believe they should go away! Now, I know you’ll disagree with some of the items on this list just by reading it but hear me out, let me explain why I think these features need to die: The Outlook client Mail Merge The Knowledge Base Leads Non-editable Entities… Continue Reading Gus Gonzalez’s...
Episode 38: Managed vs. Unmanaged
Episode 37 caused quite a stir because I publicly announced my refusal to ever use Managed Solutions for any purpose other than to deliver IP or Solutions created by an Independent Software Vendor (ISV). CRM MVP Jonas Rapp “closed this case” by publishing an article attempting to put this issue to rest where he basically claimed that you are either using Managed Solutions, or you are doing it… Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 37: NOT EVEN ONCE
The title says it all. This is an episode about the “things” I never do or use in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and why. Just like the “Top 20 Best Practices I disagree with” episode, you will probably go through a rollercoaster of emotions listening to this episode, as you find yourself agreeing, disagreeing, happy, sad, angry, proud, disappointed, and ready to unfollow me on Twitter and unfriend me… Continue...
Episode 36: Standby to GET SOME
Paul Slade is CEO at The CRM Team, a world-class Microsoft Dynamics 365 Gold Partner in South Africa. I’ve known Paul for several years and this episode is long overdue. Paul is an excellent speaker, and understands how organizations can accomplish a Digital Transformation successfully by leveraging Microsoft Business Applications, including Dynamics 365. On this episode we discuss: Paul’s… Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 35: Top 10 CONFRONTATIONS during implementations
I’ve been thinking about this episode for a while. I wanted to take some time and talk about those confrontational situations that happen once in a while during Dynamics 365 Implementations and what is the best way to manage them or diffuse them. Years ago when I was a “young Solution Architect” I was lucky enough to be mentored by someone who had been working with Dynamics CRM since its Beta… Continue Reading...
Episode 34: What's the best way to consume Dynamics 365 data and functionality?
In the past, whenever we approached a Dynamics 365 Solution we never really thought about the client/medium the user would use to access the functionality and data. We led entire implementations from the perspective of the Web Client and other available clients were always an afterthought. With the improvements on the Mobile clients and the introduction of new mediums to access the information… Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 33: Building Smart Partnerships
One of the reasons why I enjoy attending Microsoft Inspire (previously known as World Partner Conference) each year is that I have the opportunity to interact with partners that are not solely focused in Dynamics 365. Sometimes, we find opportunities to partner with these organizations and offer each other’s solutions to our customers. For example, we have partners who focus 100% on the… Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 32: Five CRM MVPs in a room
The conversation we started on Episode 31 with CRM MVPs Ulrik Carlsson, Chris Cognetta, and Steve Mordue continues now with Sean Tabor joining the party. These guys were visiting Atlanta for D365 Saturday so I invited them to the CRM MVP Podcast studio to talk all things Dynamics 365 and Microsoft MVP. Follow us: Ulrik: https://twitter.com/crmchartguy Chris: https://twitter.com/ccognetta… Continue Reading Gus Gonzalez’s...
Episode 31: Four CRM MVPs in a room
CRM MVPs Ulrik Carlsson, Chris Cognetta, and Steve Mordue were visiting Atlanta for D365 Saturday so I invited them to the CRM MVP Podcast studio to talk all things Dynamics 365 and Microsoft MVP. Follow us: Ulrik: https://twitter.com/crmchartguy Chris: https://twitter.com/ccognetta Steve: https://twitter.com/stevemordue Gus: https://twitter.com/gusgonzalez2 Podcast:
Episode 30: Top 10 Pro Tips to "Beautify" Dynamics 365
This episode is inspired by Scott Sewell and his obsession with Antiques Roadshow. CRM MVP Ulrik Carlsson was visiting Atlanta so I invited him over to the CRM MVP Podcast studio to collaborate on our list of Top 10 Pro Tips regarding how to take your Dynamics 365 Implementation to the next level. These tips are all about “the finish” high level professionals put on their Dynamics 365… Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 29: Diversity, with Julie Yack, Nick Doelman, and Salim Adamon
We are taking a break from the “Dynamics 365 Content” to discuss a very important non-technical topic. Back on Episode 22, when asked “Which non-MVP community leader do you want to see here at the Microsoft MVP Summit next year and why?”, CRM MVP Neil Benson said: “I’d like to see more women, I’d like to see more people who speak Arabic, and Korean, and Chinese, and Spanish, and...
Episode 28: Microsoft Flow, PowerApps, Power BI and more, with Scott Sewell
Times like these remind me of why I travel with so much equipment, you never know who you’ll have the opportunity to talk to. For this episode, I was in New Jersey for some customer meetings and after those meetings I stopped by the Microsoft Office at Times Square and talked to my friend Scott Sewell. Scott is a former CRM MVP and currently a Global Black Belt for Microsoft, so he has tons of… Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 17: Is Dynamics 365 the best Customer Service solution for every organization?, with Sarah Jelinek and Ulrik Carlsson
On this episode, Customer Service world-class experts and Community Leaders Sarah Jelinek and Ulrik Carlsson stop by the show to discuss whether Microsoft Dynamics 365 is the right Customer Service solution for all organizations out there. We discuss: Reasoning behind managing customer service on a separate stand-alone solution. Why Dynamics 365 makes sense as a Customer Service solution What… Continue Reading Gus...
Episode 16: Being a better customer, with Chris Warton
Here at the CRM MVP Podcast, we like to focus on topics that are rarely discussed out there, and sometimes we like to be the first podcast out there covering a topic in particular. In this case, we managed to accomplish both conditions, we decided to dedicate an episode to the best practices and techniques you can leverage to become a “better customer”, perhaps even “the perfect customer”. Let… Continue...
Episode 15: Moving to the Cloud (Part 1 of 2), hosted by Chris Cognetta and Joel Lindstrom
On this episode, Chris Cognetta and Joel Lindstrom dive deep into Migrating to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Online. They will tackle areas regarding preparation, data, customizations, tools, Microsoft FastTrack, and readiness, to name a few. CRMUG Q3 2017 Magazine: https://goo.gl/B4pgiQ Microsoft FastTrack info: https://technet.microsoft.com/library/mt812191.aspx Follow us:
Episode 14: Sales force automation and LinkedIn Navigator, with Brian Galicia
On December 8th, 2016, Microsoft closed its acquisition of LinkedIn and all of us on the Microsoft Dynamics 365 industry started wondering what that meant for us. Over the last few months, we’ve seen the evolution of the integration between the LinkedIn Sales Navigator and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement. I wanted to talk about this evolution and this acquisition as well, so I… Continue Reading Gus...