19 January 2017

Microsoft Dynamics 365 – the company’s new cloud service that “enables businesses to address specific needs and start small with the assurance that the solution can grow along with needs” – is now available to buy.

The solution’s pricing page assures us that “choice extends to pricing with Microsoft Dynamics 365”. For those that saw the pricing leak back in September, the plans won’t come as much of a surprise.

However, as ZDNet notes, Microsoft's pricing and licensing scheme for Dynamics 365 is “not simple”, as the pricing page’s description would suggest: “Get monthly plans—with apps packaged for savings—or standalone applications. Opt for full or light use. And select the edition that meets the needs of your large or small business, now and down the road.”

Bundles take the form of an Enterprise edition for large organisations and a Business edition for SMBs, with varying deals on per app/per user subscriptions.

ZDNet attempts to simplify the tiered pricing structure Microsoft's hybrid CRM + ERP suite, explaining that Microsoft will reward users with more seats with lower prices per user.

The tech website draws our attention to the Financials module in the Business Edition, which is the Microsoft Financials as a service offering codenamed "Project Madeira". It also reveals that the Sales and Marketing modules in this edition aren't coming until mid-2017, but in the meantime, Microsoft are offering interested customers the ability to get the same Sales and Marketing modules that are part of the Enterprise Plan for a discounted rate.

Microsoft is doubling up Adobe Marketing Cloud as its Marketing Module in its Enterprise Editions of Dynamics 365.

Meanwhile, first-time Dynamics Online customers should note that they will only be able to purchase Dynamics 365 – Dynamics CRM Online and the online ERP offerings from Microsoft won't be made available.

Existing Dynamics customers will still be able use their existing Dynamics (CRM and ERP) offerings if desired, but must transition to Dynamics 365 upon renewal.

To convince people to switch from Salesforce, SAP and Oracle, Microsoft is offering a “20% Switcher” deal, while existing customers will be tempted by several “transition offers”.