Microsoft’s Craig Crescas on Leaning into the Power of Advanced Cloud Applications

<p>Craig Crescas, Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft, and Mathew Batterbee, Global Head of Business Applications at Ingram Micro Cloud, join Changing Channels host Larry Walsh to discuss how partners can leverage the benefits of advanced cloud applications and help customers do the same.  </p> <p>As the digital transformation continues to barrel ahead, with no signs of slowing down, advanced cloud-based applications are increasingly imperative in helping organizations to automate processes, maintain accurate records, and facilitate better customer experiences.  </p> <p>The challenge many businesses face is setting up and operationalizing that cloud-based software. When customers don’t have the expertise or resources to bring their cloud vision to life, their quest for digital transformation fails. That’s why customers need partners with the skills and know-how to help them get the most out of their cloud investment.  </p> <p>It turns out that partners face the very same challenge as customers – a lack of experience and resources. Building practices that go beyond the deployment of simple, common cloud applications takes time, money, and, most important, the acceptance of risk. But the truth is that advanced cloud applications represent a big opportunity for solution providers given partners’ under-penetration in that area and customers’ need for support there. As the saying goes, where there’s mystery, there’s margin.  </p> <p>Vendors need to better prepare partners to offer more advanced cloud applications such as CRM and ERP. Doing so is a win-win. While customers get the help they need to address business challenges, partners get a chance to capitalize on this cloud market opportunity. </p> <p>A vendor at the forefront of dispelling the mystery of how partners can break into advanced cloud services is Microsoft. With Microsoft Dynamics 365, the company has developed a set of advanced applications designed to help take organizations’ digital transformation capabilities to the next level. More significan