Training
Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O Certification: Good for Business?
4755 
Dec
Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O Certification: Good for Business?
To reach your business goals and consolidate a strong workforce, you must keep up with the latest trends (Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O Certification) in the world of technology. Without doing so, there is very little chance that your business will succeed.
However, we understand how difficult it is to keep track of the changes in terms of new products or the additions, modifications, and withdrawals of existing ones.
For that reason, we have decided to compile the latest information you need about Microsoft’s role-based certifications, especially those pertaining to Dynamics 365.
What is a Microsoft Role-based Certification?
As the name implies, Microsoft role-based certifications test technical professionals to ensure they have the necessary skills and knowledge to perform job-specific tasks.
In the past, Microsoft certificates revolved around Microsoft products more than anything else. While they were useful at the time of release, these certifications failed to keep up with the rapid evolution of technology.
Seeing that, Microsoft knew that they had to come up with something better – a new, more technical, role-oriented path towards certification that satisfied the market’s needs.
And that is exactly what they did. In September 2018, Microsoft announced that they would be focusing on role-based training and certifications in the future.
Microsoft Role-based Certifications Evolve
What started as a small number of role-based certification paths grew in size to meet the demands of the increasingly competitive nature of the cloud-based world.
There are now more than 30 role-based certification paths on the Microsoft website.
Furthermore, Microsoft’s pursuit of excellence did not stop with the addition of new certification paths.
They also phased out certifications and exams that they felt no longer met current demands. For example, they recently announced the retirement of the following certifications:
-
Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA)
-
The Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD)
-
A Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE)
There is a reason why Microsoft phased out these certifications. These learning paths do not match how skills are organized in the tech industry. According to Microsoft, “companies now hire based on job roles rather than product knowledge.”
Does Microsoft Role-Based Certifications Expire?
However, starting in June 2021, Microsoft is updating the validity for role-based certifications to one year from the date they were earned.
Regardless of the time before renewal, Microsoft does not set expiration dates with the intent of having IT professionals retake the exams and become certified over and over again.
Microsoft sets expiration dates to help tech professionals stay current.
In the words of Alvin Toffler, technology is “the great, growling engine of change.”
That is especially true for cloud-based technologies. Their rapid evolution demands that professionals train to keep up with them.
For that reason, Microsoft expects certificate holders to update their certificates within a defined time frame.
These new and up-to-date certifications guarantee they have skill levels to match the current trends in the industry.
Now, let’s see how these certificates can improve your business.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O Role-based Certification Benefits
Microsoft’s role-based certifications for Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations help prepare tech professionals for the most sought-after job roles in the Tech industry.
Those certified in these roles are in charge of developing and implementing solutions that connect all of your processes and departments in the cloud, enabling your company to make swift, effective decisions.
How Do Microsoft-certified Professionals Establish These Connections?
Using Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations (D365 F&O), previously known as Microsoft Dynamics AX, Microsoft D365 F&O is a one-of-a-kind cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution.
It offers a complete set of adjustable capabilities that cover manufacturing, supply chain, retail, and finance. On top of that, D365 F&O uses predictive analytics and built-in intelligence to give you real-time insight into your business’ performance.
Three ways certified professionals use Dynamics 365 F&O to help your business
- They provide you with a unified view of your company’s data
- By collecting all of the company’s data in one place, they allow you o track performance
- Professionals also use Dynamics 365 to make your business both cost-effective and scalable
1. Get a Unified View of Your Company’s Data
High-quality ERP solutions like D365 F&O give business owners a real-time view of the processes across the company: helping collect, process and analyze data.
Just think about it, if you were the CEO of a company and you had all the data beautifully compiled in front of you, what would you do? Make quick, data-driven decisions that boost performance, of course!
2.Efficient Performance Tracking
D365 F&O gives you a visual representation of how the company is faring against the defined operational and financial key performance indicators (KPIs). Depending on the performance results, business owners can take action to address the problems in time.
3. Can Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O Professionals Help Your Business Grow?
Every business owner wants the same thing – cutting down costs where possible without compromising performance and business growth.
A cloud-based ERP like D365 F&O helps companies cut down on the investment required to maintain IT infrastructure.
D365 F&O also supports the expansion of any company. It does not require any additional hardware and software investments to install it in new locations.
The capabilities of Dynamics 365 F&O are great all-around, but remember that even the sharpest blade is dull in the wrong hands.
Why are Microsoft Dynamics 365 Professionals More Efficient?
Without Microsoft-certified professionals in D365 F&O, a company will never reap the seeds it sowed when it invested in Dynamics 365 business applications.
While it’s true that any developer can handle D365 F&O to some extent, it was reported that compared to their peers, Microsoft-certified developers are 90% more productive and nearly 60% more efficient.
Pearson VUE also reported that 36.9% of IT professionals claimed that certification helped them perform complex tasks more confidently.
Why Does Your Business Need Microsoft-certified Professionals?
Without a doubt, equipping your team with the necessary tools and expertise to evolve along with the market is as needed as any other step towards achieving success.
But it’s not just about adaptation; it’s about having in-house experts that help build trust and expedite processes.
Microsoft certificates train tech professionals to help you elevate your business and leverage your business data, and that is not something the average developer can do.
But what kind of Dynamics 365 F&O certifications can your team opt for?
Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O Certification Road
The road towards D365 F&O certifications is pretty simple. Depending on their level of expertise, your team members must go through three different levels of certification.
“To facilitate your understanding of the process, we will only address the certification road towards the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations App Developer Associate Certificate.”
Certification levels
1. Beginner Certifications
As the name implies, these certifications are for beginners or professionals who are thinking about switching careers. Beginner certifications are a great way to start a journey towards excellence. They include the following:
Something worth noting is that the MB-901 will retire on June 30, 2021. It will be replaced by the MB-920, which will be available in February 2021.
Like we mentioned before, Microsoft adjusts its certifications to fit roles. Unlike the MB-920, the MB-901 does not give or test clear-cut information about the elements and processes of D365 F&O.
While these certifications are helpful, they are not a prerequisite for intermediate-level certifications.
2. Intermediate Certifications
These credentials are for tech professionals or developers who have been part of the industry for at least two years.
They cover numerous areas of D365 F&O, but we’re going to focus on the Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations App Developer certificate.
To become certified as a D365 F&O Apps Developer Associate, developers must pass the exam MB-300 and the exam MB-500.
On the one hand, the MB-300: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Core Finance and Operations exam tests the candidate’s ability to use, configure, and implement D365 F&O business applications to fulfill business requirements.
Microsoft updated the content of the exam recently.
The score on some of the sections changed, and they added a new section to the Manage Finance and Operations data functional group.
On the other hand, the MB-500: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations Apps Developer exam tests the candidate’s ability to handle the back-end of D365 F&O.
The Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations App Developer Associate certificate proves very useful to companies in need of optimizing their processes.
If that is what you need for your company, this certificate is the right fit for your team.
3. Advanced Certifications
These certifications target IT specialists who have been performing a specific job role in IT for at least five years. The candidates must have at least one associate certificate before taking the test.
Passing the test awards applicants with the Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations App Solution Architect Expert certificate.
Advanced certifications are currently the highest level of role-based certification a tech professional can achieve. If a tech professional with an associate certificate can go miles to improve your company, imagine where an expert would land you.
Are Microsoft Certifications Hard?
We get it: Business owners probably think the certification process is a drag.
They start measuring the time it would take to certify their team members, and they begin sweating.
They also start thinking about how difficult it might be, and how the difficulty would affect the time their employees take to complete the process.
Luckily, the certification process is nothing like that.
Each exam offers a detailed list of its contents and the skills they test, allowing candidates to prepare for every step.
Additionally, there are plenty of online resources that facilitate the learning of the required skills. Whether your team needs the latest thorough tutorial covering the ins and outs of Dynamics 365 or mock tests, the internet has them.
Training With Microsoft is Now an Option for You
Microsoft offers candidates two different ways to prepare.
The first is through free learning paths, but how much information the candidates retain and understand is dependent upon them.
There will not be any instructors measuring their progress, nor telling them about the areas they can improve.
Learning paths are ideal for self-learners, but not for those that struggle to handle complex concepts on their own.
Microsoft also offers instructor-led courses through Microsoft partners as their second option. All instructors are Microsoft certified trainers that offer training in Microsoft technologies.
There is, however, a downside to most Microsoft-certified instructor-led courses. They rarely offer the training your team needs to be at their best.
“Both these options seem to have flaws. Is there a way to guarantee your team receives thorough, timely training?”
Custom Hands-on Training Helps Your Team Grow Faster
Transitioning from concepts to executing practical solutions is difficult. That is why your team should have access to enhanced courses that offer extra content and hands-on training labs.
Is your team struggling to learn how to Use Data Management or Perform Data Migrations on their road to a Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations Developer Associate certification?
Have them consult the modules in our Development Bundle for MB-300T00 and MB-500T00.
In there, we detail how to perform these tasks with custom-taught sections and hands-on practical learning.
To schedule a demonstration of our integrated hands-on learning experience, contact us.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O Certifications: Worth it?
Grasping the concepts and practices needed to obtain a D365 F&O is not a simple task.
For that reason, having Microsoft-certified professionals in your team adds tons of value to your company.
This is not one of those cases where changing how your team operates will yield negative results.
It’s the opposite!
Not only do Microsoft’s Role-based D365 F&O certifications offer you an exciting opportunity to grow your business, they also help you:
- Maximize your ROI
- Optimize processes and operations
- Keep up with current trends in the field of technology
- Have a reliable team that handles every task efficiently and effectively
Conclusion: Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O Certification: Good for Business?
Your team is the core of your company.
The way they approach every process determines the quality of the outcome. For that reason, you must make sure they have proper training.
Fortunately, Microsoft role-based certifications exist.
Not only are they a way to upskill your team; certifications also ensure they perform their job roles according to today’s best business practices.
Now that you know it, it is up to you whether you decide to stay updated and lead.
Thank you for reading. If you found our blog post on how you can ‘Improve Your Business with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations Role-based Certifications’ helpful, let us know in the comments below.
Do not forget to browse our blog section to keep up with the latest news about Microsoft technologies. Learn more about Dynamics 365 and other ways to improve your business by visiting Instructor Brandon.
As the name implies, Microsoft role-based certifications test technical professionals to ensure they have the necessary skills and knowledge to perform job-specific tasks. In the past, Microsoft certificates revolved around Microsoft products more than anything else. While they were useful at the time of release, these certifications failed to keep up with the rapid evolution of technology. Seeing that, Microsoft knew that they had to come up with something better – a new, more technical, role-oriented path towards certification that satisfied the market's needs.
Currently, all of Microsoft’s role-based certifications expire two years from the date the certification was earned. However, starting in June 2021, Microsoft is updating the validity for role-based certifications to one year from the date they were earned. Microsoft sets expiration dates to help tech professionals stay current.
Microsoft’s role-based certifications for Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations help prepare tech professionals for the most sought-after job roles in the Tech industry. Those certified in these roles are in charge of developing and implementing solutions that connect all of your processes and departments in the cloud, enabling your company to make swift, effective decisions.
Without a doubt, equipping your team with the necessary tools and expertise to evolve along with the market is as needed as any other step towards achieving success. Microsoft certificates train tech professionals to help you elevate your business and leverage your business data, and that is not something the average developer can do.
Luckily, the certification process is nothing like that. Each exam offers a detailed list of its contents and the skills they test, allowing candidates to prepare for every step. Additionally, there are plenty of online resources that facilitate the learning of the required skills. Whether your team needs the latest thorough tutorial covering the ins and outs of Dynamics 365 or mock tests, the internet has them. What is a Microsoft Role-based Certification?
Does Microsoft Role-Based Certifications Expire?
Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O Role-based Certification Benefits
Why Does Your Business Need Microsoft-certified Professionals?
Are Microsoft Certifications Hard?
