There’s a first time for everything, and 2025 marked ERP Mechanics’ first Community Summit booth experience! Last month, we packed our bags and headed for Orlando, Florida, not knowing what to expect. We can confidently say that we’ll be back next year!
Our Community Summit exhibit experience feels like a big moment for the team. This last year has been defined by growth, as we’ve recently launched operations in two new markets: the US and the UK. With lots of exciting things happening for team ERP Mechanics, it was nice to step away from the screen and spend some time reconnecting with so many familiar faces. Getting to spend quality time with our customers and partners in person was a real highlight – there’s no substitute for these in-person conversations. It’s where the real connection and collaboration happen!
We came back from the Community Summit feeling invigorated and excited – feelings we’re sure other exhibitors and attendees shared. Now that we’ve had some time to unpack (both our suitcases and our thoughts on what we learned), we wanted to share what really stuck with us.
1. Attendee turnout was strong
With over 5,500 people in attendance, the summit was energetic and lively. The summit was packed with a great combination of insightful sessions, plenty of networking opportunities and a healthy amount of fun on the exhibition floor.
The breadth of the agenda was particularly impressive – sessions covered all things Dynamics, ranging from deep dives on creating multi-agent AI systems and autonomous agents, to managing tariffs and trade volatility within the Dynamics ecosystem. There really was something for everyone to get their teeth into.
2. People love a challenge
To bring some extra energy to the exhibitors’ hall and give everyone a break from all things Dynamics for a short time, we set up a basketball hoop at the ERP Mechanics booth. This certainly piqued people’s interest, with many keen to try their luck and win the ultimate prize: a signed basketball from Shaquille O’Neal!
It was fantastic to watch people line up to show off their skills, and we were thrilled by the response! By the end of the Summit, we had tallied over 200 shots taken by attendees. It was a great way to meet people and have a few laughs in between all of the insightful sessions the conference had to offer.
3. Buzz around document management was noticeably stronger than anticipated
While the halls were brimming with excitement about all things AI (particularly Copilot), we couldn’t help but notice that interest in document management was noticeably stronger than anticipated. We believe it shows a clear shift in how companies approach their ERP journey.
More companies are quickly realizing they need a proper document management solution much sooner in their ERP development journey than ever before. What previously may have been an afterthought is now at the front of Dynamics users’ minds. This closely aligns with our views, as we firmly believe that a strong document foundation is vital to maximizing their D365 investment.
Document management and AI
Additionally, the continued interest and questions about AI-driven document automation were clear. Attendees were eager to see how the latest AI tools can handle everything from intelligent data extraction to invoice processing.
But, amid all these conversations about how AI will impact the Dynamics community, it’s clear that human skills and insight still really matter. During one AI-focused session, speakers delivered a strong message to the audience: in an AI-driven market, collaboration is the new edge. Building on this point, IAMCP’s Paul Soski explained that “most partnerships fail not because of technology, but because of lack of structure and trust.”
The sophisticated AI tools showcased at the conference, while undoubtedly impressive, are only as powerful as the data and workflows they can access. It’s clear that practical pressures, including increased compliance requirements (such as the expansion of e-invoicing mandates in Europe and beyond), and a growing list of cyber threats, are also accelerating reliance on AI tools. Companies understand that getting their data house in order is a critical first step in making D365 work for them.
This sentiment captures the overall message of the conference perfectly, and it’s why being here in person matters. No one is doubting that AI will have a huge impact and will continue to significantly influence the Dynamics environment, but a lot still rides on strong structures and mutual trust between partners and customers.
ERP Mechanics’ focus on developing mutually beneficial partnerships is exactly how we are expanding our operations in the US and UK this year. Implementing technology successfully requires a mix of close human collaboration and deep technical expertise.
4. Dynamics Users + Partners = an important relationship
Conversations about compliance, security, and the need for document management software, as well as Soski’s point about the importance of trust and structure, point to the fact that the partner relationship is very important to the customer/user’s success.
Many Dynamics users rely on partners to get the most out of their platforms, and for good reason. Partners provide deep industry expertise, helping users get it right the first time. In an environment defined by regular updates and advancements, this specialist knowledge helps users navigate a platform that’s prone to change. Instead of trying to figure out everything on their own, companies turn to partners who live and breathe D365.
Extending D365’s document management capabilities
But these partnerships go beyond D365 – partners step in to help Dynamics users extend the platform’s capabilities. This comes in many forms, such as simplifying document management. While D365 is an impressive ERP system, its native document management capabilities don’t go far enough for companies with complex document requirements.
Ultimately, customers and partners come to us because they want better results quickly. When you work with a partner, you’re significantly extending the capabilities of the systems you rely on to give your operations a welcome boost.
ERP Mechanics: Our people-centric approach
Everything we learned and experienced at Community Summit confirmed what we’ve always believed: technology is only as powerful as the people and partnerships behind it. At ERP Mechanics, we’re big team players – a ‘partner’s partner’ if you like. Our goal is to help everyone we can within our field of expertise and ensure that projects are successful, delivering tangible, real-world benefits.
How do we achieve this? Our not-so-secret sauce is focusing on people. We find and retain high-quality talent. We’ve brought together a group of experienced people who know their stuff and stick around. Our very high employee retention rate means the person you start your project with is the one who gets it over the line – because who you trust your project with really matters.
It may be a year away, but we can’t wait for the next Community Summit. Roll on Nashville 2026! We hope to see you there.
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