“Why DynamicsCon LIVE?” To best answer that question, we’ll answer a different question first…
Why Dynamics User Group (DUG)?
You may or may not know, DUG traces its roots back to the founding year of 1995. We’re talking the year that launched Toy Story, eBay, and Windows 95 (cue the awkward dancing by Bill Gates). Without going too deep in the weeds here, DUG’s original format was an online forum for Navision (pre-Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Dynamics 365 Business Central) users to ask and answer questions, troubleshoot challenges with peers, and stay up to date on the latest news surrounding the product. Before long, that online forum expanded to include the other Microsoft Business Applications like AX, GP, and CRM. Skipping ahead to 2021 DUG’s programs now include webinars, meetups, training, and of course conferences for the Dynamics GP, Dynamics 365, and Power Platform community.
So what do all of these programs, from the earliest version of DUG to now, have in common? In some way, shape or form, everything DUG does is focused on bringing the community of Users, Partners, and ISVs together.
How DynamicsCon LIVE and other DUG programs work together
The world of SaaS makes it possible for businesses to leverage innovative new functionality quickly and without the pain of major implementation and upgrades. With those new capabilities constantly within reach however, comes the need for continuous learning and understanding of how to get the most out of your business applications, year-round.
Imagine this scenario:
You attend a session at DynamicsCon LIVE and discover Dynamics 365 (or GP, Power Platform, Copilot, etc.) functionality of potential benefit to your business.
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Still in the information gathering stage, you check out a local or regional DUG Meetup in your area and continue the conversation with other Users, Partners, ISVs you met at LIVE.
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Getting closer to a decision internally, you post in the DUG Forums asking some final questions.
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Someone responds with a link to an upcoming educational DUG Webinar (or DUG YouTube video) that answers your questions.
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You reach back out to one of the Partners you had an initial conversation with back at LIVE, telling them you’re ready to get the project started.
Some steps may not be needed and some may be needed more than once. The order may be different and the timing may be faster or slower. Whatever your process in networking, learning, or evaluating; Dynamics User Group is committed to fostering community that is there for you when and where you need it.
So, why DynamicsCon LIVE?
While DynamicsCon LIVE is a major part of what we do, we know that a thriving Dynamics and Power Platform community needs support year-round, not just for one week. DUG is a community company that hosts events, not an events company that hosts community.
Our goal isn’t to entertain community members from May 13-16 and then see you next year. LIVE is purposefully built to establish relationships and learning from fellow community members that will carry your Dynamics journey forward, wherever you are on that journey.
Educational Content
The content at DynamicsCon LIVE is truly top-notch, with sessions submitted by the DUG community and vetted by a dedicated programming committee for each track. They took on the tall task of evaluating over 625 submitted sessions over multiple rounds in order to bring you the highest quality agenda. While the full conference agenda will be released in late January, the speaker sneak peek of the agenda is available now!
Session tracks include Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations, Dynamics 365 Business Central, Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement, Dynamics GP, Power Platform, and Cross Product.
Networking
If you have been in the channel for just a short length of time, it’s likely you already know several fellow community members that will be in Denver. Even if you go into DynamicsCon LIVE knowing absolutely no one, you will have the opportunity to meet Users, Partners, ISVs, and Microsoft employees. The across several industries, in both technical and functional roles, and of varying product perspectives. Sessions (see the educational content section above) are great opportunities to network as much as they are to learn, but there are other areas for networking at LIVE as well.
In terms of connecting with fellow attendees, there will be multiple avenues to share your contact info through the Brella app and a traditional “badge scan” at sponsor booths. DUG-hosted receptions, planned parties by Partners/ISVs, informal pop-up happy hours and more offer numerous opportunities to expand your network. Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks!
Support
Finding ‘support’ at DynamicsCon LIVE will often blend in with the educational sessions and networking. It still gets its own section of this post post because those same people you’re networking with and seeing in sessions are also invaluable resources for finding answering all of your burning Biz Apps questions. Maybe it’s a quick question answered by a Microsoft MVP during a panel discussion. Maybe it’s a deeper dive into a specific use-case with a Partner/ISV. Maybe it’s simply wanting to learn more about new functionality you just discovered. Whatever the need, you’ll find the right mix of people ready and willing to do what they can to help you.
DynamicsCon LIVE packs A LOT of education, networking, and support into one conference week. After that, there is a full range of Dynamics User Group (DUG) programs here for you year-round, like community should be.