Ms Dynamics 365 Quote Est Analysis
A cost estimate of £30,000 for implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 for an agricultural supplies and servicing business suggests that the quote includes several elements beyond just licensing. It’s important to break down what is likely included in that figure to understand if it’s reasonable or if there are ways to optimise costs.
Likely Components of the £30,000 Quote:
1. Software Licensing Costs (Annual or Multi-Year)
• If the quote covers multiple user licenses (e.g., 10+ users) for Business Central and/or Field Service over a 1-3 year period, it could contribute significantly to the cost.
• Example estimates:
• Business Central Essentials (£70/user/month) for 10 users over 3 years: £25,200.
• Field Service (£105/user/month) for 5 users over 3 years: £18,900.
2. Implementation and Customisation Services
• System setup and configuration tailored to agricultural business processes.
• Customisation of workflows, reports, and dashboards specific to servicing schedules, inventory management, and customer relationships.
• Third-party integrations, such as accounting software (Xero, QuickBooks), logistics tools, or payment processing.
• Estimated cost: £5,000 – £15,000, depending on complexity.
3. Data Migration
• Transferring existing data (customer records, equipment logs, inventory, etc.).
• Cleaning and structuring data for compatibility with the new system.
• Estimated cost: £3,000 – £8,000, depending on data volume.
4. Training and Support
• Training for staff to use the system effectively (on-site or remote).
• Ongoing support during the initial rollout to address any issues.
• Estimated cost: £2,000 – £5,000.
5. Project Management and Consultancy
• A dedicated project manager and consultant to oversee deployment and ensure business needs are met.
• Process optimisation and best practice advice.
• Estimated cost: £5,000 – £10,000, depending on duration.
6. Hardware and Infrastructure (if applicable)
• On-premises hosting (servers, backups) if cloud-based deployment is not chosen.
• Mobile devices for field service teams.
• Estimated cost: Varies, but could be £5,000+.How to Evaluate If £30,000 Is Reasonable:
• Scope Review: Does the quote include unnecessary features or services? Ensure the proposal covers exactly what the business needs and nothing extra.
• Phased Approach: Can the implementation be broken down into smaller phases to reduce upfront costs?
• Partner Comparison: Get quotes from other Microsoft Dynamics partners to compare pricing.
• Self-Implementation Consideration: Some simpler aspects like user setup and basic configuration could be done in-house to save costs.Potential Cost-Saving Measures:
• Consider Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Essentials as a starting point rather than Premium.
• Use Microsoft’s built-in guides and training materials instead of premium partner training.
• Leverage Microsoft Power Automate for simple workflow automation instead of extensive custom coding.
• Start with a smaller number of users and expand over time.