Directions4Partners Days of Knowledge UK 2023
I will be speaking at the Days on Knowledge event on March 23rd in Birmingham. I have two sessions in the afternoon: Document automation with Microsoft Power Platform This session will investigate the automation of documents using Power Automate cloud flows, AI Builder, Power Automate Desktop (RPA), and document automation Build chatbots using Power Virtual Agents Learn how to create chatbots… Continue Reading Julian...
Power BI Summit March 2023
I am speaking at the Power BI Summit on March 6th on the topic of Microsoft Dataverse and Power BI. Power BI links to the rest of the Power Platform. In the session I will explain the different ways to use visualize Dataverse data including Direct Query, Dataflows, Azure Data Lake, and Azure Synapse Link. The session also provides best practice and guidance on using Dataverse and Power BI… Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s...
MCT Connect Virtual Conference
The Microsoft Certified Trainer Connect conference is on March 8th and 9th. I am involved in three sessions: New MCT – What to do next with Dwayne Natwick You have just become a new MCT and there are so many things to find out and nowhere to go. This session will guide you around the MCT program and resources and allow you to discover all the official and unofficial sources of information… Continue Reading Julian...
DP-100 Certified Azure Data Science Associate
I recently passed he DP-100 exam which is about machine learning in Azure. Now I have worked with Azure machine learning over the years and I teach both the AI-900 fundamentals and AI-102 cognitive services courses but there was still a lot for me to learn. Here are the Microsoft resources I used: < ul> Microsoft Learn modules https://aka.ms/dp100-v2 Hands-on labs
20% Discount on Microsoft books from Packt Publishing
For a limited time, until December 12th, you can get 20% off Microsoft books at Amazon US including: Becoming a Microsoft Dynamics 365 Marketing Functional Consultant: Learn to deliver enterprise marketing solutions and insights to exponentially grow your business by Malin Martnes. Administrating Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Online: A practical guide to SaaS administration and… Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s...
Enrique Lima Award
Do you know a MCT that has done amazing work for the MCT Community? The Enrique Lima Award is designed to recognize and celebrate the outstanding work of Microsoft Certified Trainers in the MCT Community, being awarded to only those who show knowledge, passion, and commitment to the Microsoft community as a whole, and specifically to the MCT program. This Award was established in memory of… Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s...
Power Automate RPA Developer PL-500 Study Group
I will be running an online study group for people wanting to take the Power Automate RPA Developer PL-500 exam https://docs.microsoft.com/learn/certifications/exams/pl-500. Although this group is about preparing for the exam, it is not exam prep. The course will run one evening during the week, Thursday 8pm BST, with another session at the weekend on Sunday morning at 8am BST and will take… Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s...
Nordic Summit 2022
Nordic Summit is as in-person Power Platform and Dynamics 365 community conference in Stockholm on the 24th of September. Sign up here: https://nordicsummit.info/ – it’s free! I will be speaking on Power Apps Component Framework – PCF 101 How to start creating your own code components. Power Apps Component Framework is an exciting way to increase the usability of your solutions. But how do you… Continue Reading...
MCT Europe Summit Switzerland September 12-14th
The European MCT Summit is taking place in Zurich, Switzerland 12-14th September. You can register here https://www.mctsummit.eu/ You will be able to learn technical topics, discover information about courses and certifications, and to develop your trainer skills. I will be speaking on the Dynamics 365 certifications and also on using the Power Platform with Azure IoT. The summit includes a… Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s...
MCT Summit Switzerland September 12-14 2022
The MCT Community is running an in-person 3-day summit for Microsoft Certified Trainers in Zurich. There will both technical and soft skills sessions delivered by some of the best MCTs around. Plus over the weekend of September 10-11 there are community activities. If are not an MCT and you want to join the great community of MCTs, there an approved 3-day technical trainer course to qualify… Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s...
Dynamics 365 functional consultant certifications now only require one exam
Until now to gain a one of the Dynamics 365 functional consultant associate certifications: Dynamics 365 Sales Functional Consultant Associate Dynamics 365 Marketing Functional Consultant Associate Dynamics 365 Customer Service Functional Consultant Associate Dynamics 365 Field Service Functional Consultant Associate you had to also pass the PL-200 Microsoft Power Platform Functional… Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s...
Microsoft Build
Microsoft Build starts tomorrow. I will be taking part in a Humans of IT panel on discussion Build the skills you need for today’s tech world on Wednesday at 9PM BST. I will also be answering questions for the following Power Platform Learn Live sessions: Build a Power Apps component Discover and use Web APIs with Power Apps and I am moderating the chat for The New Developer’s Guide to the… Continue Reading Julian...
Exam voucher at Microsoft Build
Microsoft have a cloud skills challenge starting on May 24 where you can get an exam voucher by completing various Microsoft Learn modules. The list of exams covered is small but includes PL-100, PL-200, and PL-300. Sign up at https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/cloudskillschallenge/build/registration/2022 The rules for the challenge can be found at
Speaking at Power Platform Community Sweden May 3
I will be in Stockholm next week for a training session and while I am there I will be speaking at the Power Platform Community Sweden event on May 3. I will be discussing Dynamics 365 Customer Insights. To find out more and register to to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/power-platform-community-sweden-event-may-2022-biljetter-299003687077 Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s Article on their blog Speaking at Power Platform Community...
Business Applications solutions partner
I posted an overview of the changes to the Microsoft Partner network. In this post I will outline the certification requirements for the Business Application solutions area. To qualify as a Business Applications solution partner you need 70 points out of 100 possible. You can obtain 50% of the points (35 points) from certified individuals. Both Dynamics 365 and Power Platform certifications… Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s...
Microsoft Partner program changes
The Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) program is changing to the Microsoft Cloud Partner Program later this year. No longer will there be many competencies with Silver and Gold levels but six solution areas: Data & AI (Azure) Infrastructure (Azure) Digital & App Innovation (Azure) Business Applications Modern Work Security Partner capability score This new program is going back to a points… Continue Reading Julian...
Taking vs writing an exam
As one of my other activities I “create” items for Microsoft exams and practice tests. For example on the PL-900 exam there are sample questions that you can use to gauge the level of knowledge used in exam item. Now one thing that annoys me is people who misuse the term “write the exam” when they mean to take or sit the exam. These are the definitions I use for exams: Write – the… Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s Article...
Microsoft certification exam renewals
Microsoft Associate, Speciality, and Expert exams like MB-210, PL-200, and PL-600 must be renewed each year rather than retaking the exam every two years. The idea is for you to be able to demonstrate that you are up-to-date without having to retake the exam. Renewals are free and you need to complete an online assessment on Microsoft Learn. The questions in the online assessment tend to… Continue Reading Julian...
Data Analyst exam DA-100 renamed to PL-300
The Power BI exam and certification DA-100 has been renamed and replaced by PL-300 at the end of February. For more information read the blog post https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-learn-blog/announcing-a-new-name-for-the-data-analyst-associate/ba-p/2388941 Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s Article on their blog Data Analyst exam DA-100 renamed to PL-300 The Power BI exam and certification DA-100 has been renamed...
Low-code application development on Azure
Here are my slides for my talk for Festive Tech Calendar 2021 on using Power Platform with Azure where I discuss using Azure Functions and API Management and consumption-based billing for Power Platform usage using your Azure subscription. Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s Article on their blog https://ukcrm.wordpress.com/2021/12/30/low-code-application-development-on-azure/ Blog Syndicated with Julian Sharp’s...
Hands-On Microsoft Lists book review
Hands-On Microsoft Lists: Create custom data models and improve the way data is organized using Lists in Microsoft 365 by João Ferreira and Rene Modery. Microsoft Lists is an application in Microsoft 365 that people can use to track their work. I was interested to discover how Microsoft Lists compared with SharePoint Lists and Microsoft Dataverse and to learn its capabilities so I can decide… Continue Reading Julian...
Cosmos DB with Power Platform and Dataverse
Here are my slides from the Dataverse Summit on the options for Azure Cosmos DB with the Power Platform and Microsoft Dataverse. Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s Article on their blog Cosmos DB with Power Platform and Dataverse Here are my slides from the Dataverse Summit on the options for Azure Cosmos DB with the Power Platform and Microsoft Dataverse. I have worked with Dynamics CRM/365 since 2004 and have been involved in...
AI 101 – Options for using AI in the Power Platform
Here are my slides from the South Coast Summit on the options for using AI with the Power Platform. Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s Article on their blog AI 101 – Options for using AI in the Power Platform Here are my slides from the South Coast Summit on the options for using AI with the Power Platform. I have worked with Dynamics CRM/365 since 2004 and have been involved in over 100 CRM projects. Blog Syndicated with...
Hands-on labs in Microsoft Learn for Power Platform
There are two labs in Microsoft Learn modules that are now hands-on labs in a Virtual Machine that you can perform work without needing a Power Platform environment or license. The labs can be found at Lab – Create a Microsoft Dataverse table Lab – Create a new custom table and enable attachments Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s Article on their blog Hands-on labs in Microsoft Learn for Power Platform There are...
South Coast Summit: AI 101 – Options for using AI in the Power Platform
I am speaking at 10:00 on Greenidge on Saturday 16th October at the South Coast Summit in Southampton UK. I will be describing how you can use Azure Machine Learning, Azure Cognitive Services, and AI Builder with the Power Platform. There are still tickets available at https://www.southcoastsummit.com #SouthCoastSummit Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s Article on their blog South Coast Summit: AI 101 – Options for using AI...
Empowering Organizations with Power Virtual Agents book review
Empowering Organizations with Power Virtual Agents: A practical guide to building intelligent chatbots with Microsoft Power Platform by Nicolae Tarla I have created bots for customers and internal users for several years, mainly with the Azure Bot Framework which required deep coding skills. Power Virtual Agents allows you to create and deploy automated chatbots without requiring a developer,… Continue Reading Julian...
Dynamics 365 Sales MB-210 exam study group
I am starting a new online study group for the Dynamics 365 Sales MB-210 exam. The group will start on Sunday 12th September and meet twice a week’; on Sundays at 08:00 BST and Thursdays at 20:00 BST. The group will take around 5 weeks. Each session will last an hour. Although this group is about preparing for the exam, it is not exam prep. The planned agenda is: Session 1 12/09 –… Continue Reading Julian...
Working with Microsoft Forms and Customer Voice book review
Working with Microsoft Forms and Customer Voice: Efficiently gather and manage customer feedback, insights, and experiences by Welly Lee I have used Customer Voice and its predecessors Forms Pro and Voice of the Customer for a few years, and these are important tools to capture feedback from customer and well as understanding more broadly what customers think about my clients and their… Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s...
DA-100 Data Analyst Exam prep
I gave a presentation at the Power BI Bootcamp https://events.powercommunity.com/power-bi-bootcamp/ last weekend titled DA-100 Certification Overview. This was an run through of the content of the DA-100 Data Analyst exam for Power BI. Hopefully the recording will be made available on the event YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Powerthon but in the meantime here are all the links… Continue Reading Julian...
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations book review
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations: Deliver profitable projects with effective project planning and productive operational workflows by Robert Houdeshell Robert Houdeshell – Senior Solutions Architect – Tech Consulting – EY | LinkedIn Utilizing proven successful methodologies, I work closely with my clients to deliver Project Operations and CRM solutions resulting in improved project delivery. I have a long...
PL-100 Study Group June 2021
I am organizing an online community group learning program for people wanting to take the Power Platform App Maker PL-100 exam. To apply for a place on the study group complete the form at https://tinyurl.com/pl100study Although this group is about preparing for the exam, it is not exam prep. The course will run one evening a week, Thursday 8pm, with another session at the weekend on Sunday… Continue Reading Julian...
Power Platform Starter Days Resources
Here are the slides with links to resources from my session today for Power Platform Starter Days https://powerplatformstarterdays.com/ Slides Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s Article on their blog Power Platform Starter Days Resources Here are the slides with links to resources from my session today for Power Platform Starter Days https://powerplatformstarterdays.com/ I have worked with Dynamics CRM/365 since 2004 and have been...
Power Apps Developer Bootcamp: PCF 101
Here are my slides and resources from my session on how to start creating your own code components at the Power Apps Developer Bootcamp https://events.powercommunity.com/powerapps-developer-bootcamp-2021/ Slides Learning Collection Blogs and...
Power Apps Developer Bootcamp: PL-400 Certification review
Here are my slides and resources from my session on the PL-400 Power Platform Developer exam at the Power Apps Developer Bootcamp https://events.powercommunity.com/powerapps-developer-bootcamp-2021/ Slides Learning collection Exam Links Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Developer Associate – Learn If you have a passion for designing, developing, securing, and extending Microsoft Power Platform solutions, this certification...
Renaming Power Automate flows
To reduce confusion, Microsoft have renamed flows. Flows are now Power Automate Cloud flows, the instant, automated, and scheduled flows that connect to web services and APIs via connectors UI flows are now Power Automate Desktop flows, the attended and unattended Robotic Process Automate (RPA) for desktop and web applications that do not have an API, for which you capture steps with Power… Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s...
Free Microsoft certification renewals
When Microsoft moved to role-based examinations almost two-years ago, the plan was to renew certifications to keep up to date with the rapid changes in cloud produces. As I explained in my last post https://ukcrm.wordpress.com/2020/11/28/microsoft-certification-exam-expiration/ Microsoft has extended by six months those certification exams due to expire before June 30th 2021. Microsoft has now… Continue Reading Julian...
Microsoft Certification Exam Expiration
Microsoft switched to role based exams two years ago from MCSE and MCSA. The role based exams are focussed on the day to day tasks of a job role, not the features of a product. You may have seen on your exam transcript https://mcptnc.microsoft.com/ that the role based certifications are valid for two years such as my Sales Functional Consultant Associate below. When the role based… Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s Article...
Terminology in the Common Data Service
After years of using entities, attributes, and option sets in Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform, Microsoft are changing the terminology for elements in the data model as follows: Old term New term Entity Table Field, attribute Column Record Row Option set, Picklist Choice Two options, Boolean Yes/No More details at
Microsoft Ignite Sessions #MSIgnite2020
Here are links to all the sessions for the Power Platform, Dynamics 365, and IoT. Power Apps Power Apps at Microsoft Ignite Virtual Conference As has been the case this entire year due to these unprecedented circumstances, we will be delivering Microsoft Ignite virtually this year September 22-24. If you have not registered already, there’s still time so we hope you take a few minutes and Register Here. Power Automate Power...
Find me at Microsoft Ignite #MSIgnite
Find links to all my sessions on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/posts/juliansharp_msignite-activity-6713382679250776064-wg-9 Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s Article on their blog Find me at Microsoft Ignite #MSIgnite Find links to all my sessions on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/posts/juliansharp_msignite-activity-6713382679250776064-wg-9 Blog Syndicated with Julian Sharp’s...
Microsoft Ignite Intro to Tech Skills: Dynamics 365
This session is a 30 minute introduction to Dynamics 365 and how you can get started on your journey into skilling up for Dynamics 365 apps and discover the resources available to you. There are three sessions in different time zones: LRN115 Tuesday LRN116 Wednesday LRN117 Wednesday Check out the Learning Zone https://myignite.microsoft.com/learning-zone for more skilling sessions and… Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s...
Microsoft Ignite Learn Workshop: Work with external data in a Power Apps canvas
On Thursday 24 I will be on the chat answering questions and assisting on the Microsoft Learning workshop, Work with external data in a Power Apps canvas. This is a guided online workshop using material from Microsoft Learn https://aka.ms/Learn/PowerAppsExternalData Sign up at https://myignite.microsoft.com/sessions/80a76dc5-8cf3-4ef9-bb8d-d3bfdaf98d4d Check out the Learning Zone
Microsoft Ignite Learn Workshop: Shape data in a Power Apps canvas app
On Wednesday 23 I will be on the chat answering questions and assisting on the Microsoft Learning workshop, Shape data in a Power Apps canvas app. This is a guided online workshop using material from Microsoft Learn https://aka.ms/Learn/PowerAppsShapeData Sign up at https://myignite.microsoft.com/sessions/df7c7313-e055-4132-bd98-8f228958e3bb PS Take part in the Cloud Skills Challenge to earn… Continue Reading Julian...
Microsoft Ignite Table Talk: The Dynamics Community in action
Table Talks are scheduled 30 minute Microsoft Teams meetings for the community to connect face-to-face. One of the best things about Ignite isn’t the sessions but the organic conversations you have while walking the hallways. As Ignite is virtual Talk talks are a way to meetup and have those valuable discussions. Come and meetup with Alex Chandiwana, Stefano Demiliani, Mohamed Mostafa, Antti… Continue Reading Julian...
Microsoft Ignite Table Talk: How Learning changes careers
Table Talks are scheduled 30 minute Microsoft Teams meetings for the community to connect face-to-face. One of the best things about Ignite isn’t the sessions but the organic conversations you have while walking the hallways. As Ignite is virtual Talk talks are a way to meetup and have those valuable discussions. Come and meetup with Ed Baker, Salman Chishti, Tiago Costa, Gareth Jones, myself… Continue Reading Julian...
Forms Pro is now Customer Voice
Gathering feedback for Dynamics 365 via surveys that had an interesting history. It started with Microsoft purchasing the IP to Mojo Surveys, which became the Voice of the Customer product provided with Dynamics 365. Voice of the Customer was deprecated in 2019 (and removed at the end of June 2020) to be replaced by Microsoft Forms Pro. Now Forms Pro is , in the words of Microsoft,
Field Service Bootcamp 2020
If you are interested in Dynamics 365 Field Service sign up for this combined product team and community event. There are three days of workshops plus a day full of sessions. Details below. I will be speaking on the Saturday on Dynamics 365 Field Service mobile Power App and comparing with the Field Service mobile and rolling your own canvas app. Wednesday August 12th – Advanced scheduling… Continue Reading Julian...
Preparing for the Dynamics 365 Marketing MB-220 exam
The Dynamics 365 Marketing exam, MB-220, it one of my favourite exams and along with Field Service, my favourite courses to teach as you learn so much from the delegates who attend. The exam covers a lot of topics: Configure marketing applications (5-10%) Manage segments and lists (10-15%) Create and manage marketing forms and pages (10-15%) Manage leads (10-15%) Create and manage… Continue Reading Julian Sharp’s Article...
Power Platform Developer PL-400 Certification
Microsoft has announced a new exam, PL-400, and certification aimed at developers who implement solutions using the Power Platform. As with any new certifications, you will have lots of questions. I will attempt to answer the questions you may have below. Q. Is this exam just about canvas apps?A. No, it covers Common Data Service, Power Apps (canvas, model, and portal), Power Automate, Power… Continue Reading Julian...
Business Central Functional Consultant MB-800
If you have been in the Dynamics NAV/Business Central space for some time, you will have know that we haven’t had any certifications for this product, until now. As with any new certifications, you will have lots of questions. I will attempt to answer the questions you may have below. Q. What are the topics in the exam.A. The objectives haven’t been published yet. The exam is aimed at the… Continue Reading Julian...