When an SME considers implementing an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system, the question of cost is unavoidable. However, there is no single price: the cost depends on many factors, ranging from licenses to implementation services. How much does an ERP system cost?   The various cost items to be taken into account An ERP is not just software: it is a comprehensive solution that structures your processes. Its overall cost generally includes:  User licenses, billed per user per month. Additional modules, which add specific features.  Implementation and configuration, to adapt the ERP to your organization. Support and training, essential for successful adoption. Support and maintenance, to ensure continuity and updates. These items vary depending on the size of your company, the complexity of your processes, and the level of customization you want. How does ERP licensing pricing work? Most modern ERPs, such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, use a SaaS (Software as a Service) model with a monthly subscription per user. For Business Central, prices start at CHF 8 per month for a Team Member license, which is ideal for users who view data without performing complex operations. For active users, Essentials or Premium licenses start at CHF 70 per month, including key features such as accounting, sales management, purchasing, and inventory management. The cost of licenses therefore depends on the number of users and the type of license. An SME with 10 active users will pay a proportional monthly subscription fee.   Additional modules and ERP customization A standard ERP covers essential needs: finance, sales, purchasing. But if your company has specific needs, for example in production, logistics, or transport management, you will need to add paid modules or develop custom extensions.    At Almakom, we offer business applications such as AlmaTrack (TMS) and Production App, which are fully integrated with Business Central to meet the needs of industrial and logistics SMEs.   ERP pricing: Why do implementation costs vary? Implementation is often the most significant expense, but it is also the most variable. This phase generally includes needs analysis, configuration, data migration, training, and sometimes customization.    Each project is unique: an SME with simple processes and little data to migrate can deploy its ERP in a few weeks, while a company with complex flows and multiple integrations will require several months of work. Several factors influence the time and cost: The number of processes to be integrated.  The volume and quality of the data to be migrated. The level of customization and interfacing with other tools. Change management support. Rather than giving a fixed figure, it is preferable to carry out a preliminary audit to estimate the budget based on your specific situation. Timeframes: How long does it take to implement an ERP system? On average, for an SME, deploying an ERP system such as Business Central takes between two and four months, but this is only an estimate. A simple project can be completed in a few weeks, while a complex project can take several months or even years.    What determines the overall cost of an ERP system? The ERP budget depends mainly on:  The number of users and the type of licenses. Additional modules and features. The complexity of business processes. The level of customization and integrations. The time spent on training and support. Why choose Business Central ERP with Almakom, your partner in French-speaking Switzerland? Deploying an ERP such as Business Central is not just a matter of clicking "install." Every SME has its own specific characteristics.     At Almakom, we support companies in: Choosing modules and configuring them according to your business needs. Integrating with your other tools (CRM, transport management, etc.). Migrating data  Training teams for successful adoption. Compliance with local standards (nLPD, GDPR, Swiss and French taxation). The result: an ERP system perfectly suited to your SME, without wasting time or money.

Automating marketing campaigns is no longer just for large companies. Sales and marketing teams in SMEs often face the same challenges: lack of time, manual lead tracking, marketing actions that are poorly coordinated with sales, and difficulty measuring return on investment.  The good news is that Pipedrive is not just a sales CRM, it's also a powerful tool for automating your marketing campaigns, improving collaboration between teams, and accelerating the conversion of opportunities. In this article, we offer a practical, step-by-step guide to understanding how to launch automated campaigns with Pipedrive and, above all, how to reap real business benefits from them.   Why automate your marketing campaigns with Pipedrive? Marketing automation has a simple goal: 👉 Do better, faster, with less manual effort. With Pipedrive, automation allows you to: automatically trigger actions based on a prospect's behavior, ensure consistent and regular follow-up, avoid oversights on the part of sales reps, align marketing and sales around the same pipeline.  Thanks to Pipedrive CRM and its automation system, your teams are more responsive, provide a better customer experience, and the sales cycle is shorter.   How Pipedrive helps marketing teams save time Pipedrive includes features designed for marketing teams that are often underestimated and, above all, underused. 1. Smart contact segmentation  With advanced filters, you can create dynamic lists of prospects: by industry, lead source, maturity level, past interactions. And you can even create your own filters based on your business. These segments serve as the basis for targeted campaigns, which are much more effective than generic mailings.  2. Automated email campaigns (Pipedrive Campaigns) With the Pipedrive Campaigns module, you can: create professional marketing emails,  schedule automatic sequences, track open and click-through rates, and link each campaign to sales opportunities. Concrete example: A prospect downloads content → they automatically receive a series of emails → the sales rep is notified at the right time. 3. No-code automations   Pipedrive allows you to create simple scenarios: if a lead changes status → send an email, if an opportunity is created → assign a sales rep, if an email is opened → create a follow-up task.   Better collaboration between marketing and sales: finally aligned One of the great advantages of Pipedrive is that it breaks down the divide between marketing and sales. A shared view of the customer journey  All teams work on: the same data, the same communication history, the same indicators, no more need for lengthy meetings, everyone can track the progress of deals and ongoing campaigns Marketing knows what really converts, salespeople know where leads come from and what messages have already been sent. Better qualified leads for salespeople  Thanks to automated campaigns: leads arrive more mature, exchanges are more relevant, sales reps focus on selling, not qualifying. 👉 Less friction, more efficiency.   Ready-to-use tutorial: launch an automated campaign with Pipedrive Here is a simple, concrete example, tailored to SMEs. Step 1: define your objective Examples: marketing nurturing/reactivating inactive prospects, nurturing inbound leads, support/follow-up after initial contact. Step 2: Create your segment Filter your contacts (example: leads with no activity for 30 days, inbound leads from a specific source such as a form on your website),  save this filter as a dynamic segment. Step 3: Create your email campaign Write a clear, value-oriented email. You can also use templates or pre-designed emails available directly on Pipedrive. Add one or more simple calls to action (for example, you can directly attach a link to schedule an appointment with a sales representative or a link to your website via Pipedrive). Schedule the email to be sent or trigger it automatically.  Step 4: Connect automation Define a rule (e.g., opening the email). Trigger an action (task, notification, status change). Your campaign is ready and active. Automation, performance, and ROI: the tangible benefits Automation with Pipedrive allows you to:  reduce the time spent on repetitive tasks, increase lead conversion rates, improve customer follow-up, and accurately measure marketing performance. In short: lower operating costs, more sales, and measurable ROI.   Why work with an integrator like Almakom? Even though Pipedrive is intuitive, it reaches its full potential when it is properly configured and integrated into your ecosystem.  At Almakom, we help SMEs structure their Pipedrive CRM and set up automated campaigns tailored to their business to ensure alignment between marketing and sales. We also guarantee integration with other tools (ERP, marketing tools, reporting).  Our approach is based on proximity, understanding business challenges, and change management to ensure adoption by teams. A well-used CRM is a CRM that creates value.    Automating your campaigns with Pipedrive is not just about sending emails. It's about structuring your marketing, streamlining collaboration with sales, and driving performance in a sustainable way. With the right scenarios, the right tools, and the right support.

Data alone is no longer enough; you need to know how to use it. Today, all companies produce data: sales, finance, inventory, projects, marketing, customer service. But accumulating data does not create value in itself. Value appears when this data is readable, shared and quickly exploitable.  It is precisely to meet this need that Power BI, Microsoft's Business Intelligence tool, has established itself as a standard. Long perceived as an "advanced" tool, it is now accessible to SMEs, thanks in particular to its integration into the Microsoft ecosystem (with tools such as Business Central, Excel, CRM, Microsoft 365, etc.).   What is Power BI used for? Power BI is primarily used to transform raw data into reports, with understandable information that can be translated into actionable insights. The goal is not to produce reports for the sake of producing reports, but to help teams better manage their activities. In short, Power BI allows you to:  centralise data from multiple software applications (ERP, CRM, Excel files, business applications), analyse this data in real time, present it in the form of visual and interactive dashboards, enable teams to share their data and thus give your employees a common vision. What is its everyday use? Power BI is a tool that is part of the daily routine of many SMEs. More than just a reporting tool, it is a management tool. It is used in particular to: track turnover and margins, analyse commercial performance,  manage inventory and the supply chain, track profitability by customer, product or project, anticipate rather than react (trends, discrepancies, alerts). The use of Power BI varies depending on your industry and the needs of your business. What is the difference between Excel and Power BI? Excel: a powerful but insufficient tool for reporting Excel remains a powerful and widely used tool. But Excel and Power BI do not serve the same purpose or meet the same needs; in fact, they complement each other.  Excel is an "individual" tool and is not ideal for collaboration. However, Excel remains a flexible tool, ideal for: manipulating data on an ad hoc basis, performing specific calculations,  creating quick analyses, working independently. But Excel has its limitations, especially when it comes to processing large volumes of data or data from different sources. It is also not a tool designed for collaboration or recurring reports, which, with Excel, must be updated manually, which is a real waste of time. Power BI: the decision-making and collaborative tool Power BI, like Excel, is designed to: automate data updates, manage large volumes of information, guarantee a "single source of truth",  share secure dashboards, and analyse data over time. Where Excel is often manual and individual, Power BI is automated and collaborative. This is why Microsoft positions Power BI as the natural extension of Excel in a business management context.   Est-ce que Power BI est difficile à utiliser ?  Power BI was designed to be used by non-technical users. It is a tool with simple logic, a visual interface and even a drag-and-drop system. The visualisations are designed to be ready to use with native integration with Excel. Users can quickly view dashboards, filter data and understand key indicators. Behind this apparent simplicity, Power BI is a very robust tool because it also allows for: data modelling, DAX language for advanced calculations, rights and security management, integration with Azure and other applications. Power BI addresses current challenges in responsiveness, reliability, collaboration, and data governance. This is where support comes into its own: when well structured from the outset, Power BI becomes a sustainable and scalable tool. If poorly structured, it can quickly become unreadable.   Why Power BI will replace Excel (without actually making it disappear) It is not a question of pitting Power BI against Excel, but rather of understanding a natural evolution in usage. Why are companies migrating to Power BI? More and more companies are replacing their Excel reports with Power BI because: data is updated automatically, human error is reduced, indicators are shared with everyone, decisions are made more quickly. 👉 Power BI becomes the decision-making platform, with Excel as a complementary tool.   Power BI and the Microsoft ecosystem: performance accelerator One of the great advantages of Power BI is its native integration with Microsoft solutions. Power BI and Business Central  For companies equipped with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Power BI enables them to:  analyse financial data, track sales and purchases, manage inventory, measure overall profitability. No manual exporting, no data loss. Power BI, Microsoft 365 and l'AI Copilot  Power BI also integrates with: Teams (sharing and collaboration), Excel, SharePoint, and now Copilot, Microsoft's AI.  With Copilot, it is now possible to: ask the AI questions about the data, obtain automatic analyses, detect trends.   Is Power BI suitable for SMEs? Yes, definitely. In fact, that's one of the reasons for its success. Power BI is particularly relevant for SMEs because:  the cost remains manageable, deployment can be gradual, the tool evolves with growth, it does not require a dedicated IT team. An SME can start with a few key indicators and then gradually expand its uses.   Almakom, your Power BI and Microsoft partner At Almakom, we support SMEs in:  implementing Power BI, connecting with Business Central, CRM and business applications, defining the right indicators, data governance and security, team adoption.  The goal: to make Power BI a real performance lever, not just a reporting tool. Power BI addresses a key issue for today's businesses: transforming data into quick and informed decisions. Accessible, powerful, connected to the Microsoft ecosystem and enhanced by AI, Power BI is establishing itself as a strategic tool, including for SMEs. The real question is no longer "should we switch to Power BI?" but "how can we use it intelligently?"

How Pipedrive helps your marketing department perform Modern marketing is no longer limited to attracting prospects. It must qualify, nurture, and convert these leads into loyal customers. To achieve this, marketing teams need powerful tools that can centralize data, automate tasks, and measure results. That's exactly what Pipedrive offers, an intuitive CRM designed to streamline collaboration between marketing and sales.    Let's explore how Pipedrive can transform your marketing strategy, focusing on its key features: automation, campaigns, segmentation, and email sequences.   Why does marketing need a CRM like Pipedrive? Today, marketing is data-driven. Every interaction counts: clicks, downloads, forms, opened emails, etc. But without a structured system, this data remains scattered, and opportunities can be lost.    A CRM like Pipedrive allows you to: Centralize all customer and prospect information. Track the entire lead journey, from the first interaction to conversion. Automate repetitive tasks to save time. Analyze campaign performance with clear reports.   Pipedrive's essential marketing features How can a CRM like Pipedrive help your marketing teams generate leads, upsell, and cross-sell? And ultimately, improve your company's performance? 1. Segmentation and organization of contacts With Pipedrive, you can sort your contacts into lists based on specific criteria: lead source, industry, location, behavior (clicks, downloads), etc. This segmentation is essential for: Customizing your campaigns (e.g., sending a special offer to prospects interested in a specific product).  Optimize your open and conversion rates. Easily manage your databases without the risk of duplicates. You create a list called "Prospects interested in CRM" and another called "Active customers." This allows you to send content tailored to each group. 2. Automation of marketing tasks Automation is one of Pipedrive's major strengths. It allows you to:    Trigger automatic actions (sending emails, notifications, updating statuses) as soon as a lead reaches a certain stage. Create smart workflows to avoid oversights. Save time and focus on strategy.    Automation example: When a prospect downloads a guide from your website, Pipedrive can automatically: Add the contact to the "Hot Leads" list. Send a welcome email. Schedule a follow-up call by the sales team.   3. Marketing campaigns and email sequences Pipedrive offers advanced features for sending targeted campaigns and creating automated email sequences. Concrete example: sending a promotional email to a segmented list Create your list: "Premium Customers." Write your email: announce a new feature or promotion.  Schedule the sending: immediately or on a specific date. Add a sequence: if the customer does not open the email, a reminder is sent 3 days later. This allows you to track your KPIs in real time, such as: open rate, click-through rate, and conversions generated by the campaign. 4. Reporting and performance analysis With Pipedrive dashboards, you can: Measure the effectiveness of your campaigns. Analyze marketing ROI. Adjust your strategies in real time. 5. Connection with your marketing and communication tools One of Pipedrive's great advantages is its ability to integrate with a multitude of tools that are essential for your marketing team. This interconnectivity allows you to centralize your data and automate your processes without having to use multiple platforms. Among the most useful integrations:   WhatsApp: to communicate directly with your prospects and customers via instant messaging. Outlook and Gmail: synchronization of emails and calendars for seamless follow-up. Your website: integration of contact forms and incoming leads directly into Pipedrive.  Mailchimp: to manage your email marketing campaigns and newsletters. Google Ads & LinkedIn Ads: track advertising performance and lead attribution. Online chat tools (e.g., LiveChat): to convert visitors into qualified leads. Why is this important? These integrations allow your marketing team to work in a connected ecosystem, where every interaction is tracked and every piece of data is used to improve conversion. No more juggling multiple tools everything is centralized in Pipedrive. How does Almakom maximize the value of Pipedrive for your marketing? At Almakom, we go far beyond simply installing CRM software. We help you:    Set up pipelines tailored to your marketing strategy. Create smart automations for your campaigns. Connect Pipedrive to your existing tools (ERP, e-commerce, BI). Train your teams for quick and effective adoption.   The tangible benefits for your business Time savings: fewer manual tasks, more strategy. Better marketing and sales collaboration: a single tool, a shared vision. Increased conversion rates: accurate lead tracking. Data-driven management: clear and actionable reporting.   FAQ Pipedrive Is Pipedrive suitable for Swiss SMEs? Yes, Pipedrive is designed to be simple, flexible, and affordable, ideal for small and medium-sized businesses. Can Pipedrive be connected to an ERP such as Business Central? Absolutely. Almakom performs CRM-ERP integrations for a 360° view. Does Pipedrive offer marketing automation? Yes, through its workflows and integrations with tools such as Mailchimp. Our teams will work closely with your marketing department to tailor Pipedrive to their needs.   Contact us today for a personalized demo and discover how we can transform your marketing strategy.

For years, Microsoft Dynamics NAV has been the ERP system of choice for thousands of SMEs. Reliable, robust, and tailored to business needs, it has enabled many companies to structure their processes. But in 2025, the question is crucial: is NAV still viable? The answer is simple: not really. Sticking with an outdated version not only hinders innovation, it also poses a major risk to your business. Why? Because Microsoft support has evolved, regulatory requirements have become stricter, and cybersecurity has become a vital issue. End of Microsoft support: a risk for your NAV ERP system Microsoft announced several years ago that it would gradually phase out support for its Dynamics NAV ERP system. In practical terms, this means: No more major updates: your ERP system will no longer benefit from functional upgrades.  Limited security patches: every vulnerability becomes a potential gateway for cyberattacks. No official support: in the event of a bug or incident, you are on your own... or dependent on a service provider who cannot guarantee compliance.  In 2025, NAV will be officially considered obsolete. Microsoft is focusing its efforts on Dynamics 365 Business Central, its latest-generation ERP, a scalable, secure cloud solution that is interconnected with the Microsoft ecosystem (Power BI, Copilot AI, Microsoft 365).   Security: a growing threat for SMEs As we know, cyberattacks are skyrocketing. According to the latest studies, 80% of SMEs that fall victim to an attack use outdated systems. Hackers target known vulnerabilities in obsolete software.  With an outdated management system, you are exposed to: Unpatched vulnerabilities because the systems are no longer updated: without patches, every vulnerability remains active.  GDPR/Nlpd risks: a data attack can result in financial penalties but also damage your reputation. Ransomware: older ERPs are prime targets for blocking your business. In short: staying on NAV puts your data, your customers, and your business at risk. Compatibility: a barrier to innovation and growth The world is changing fast: e-commerce, automation, AI, interoperability, etc. Companies need to connect their ERP to modern tools (Shopify, logistics platforms, CRM, BI). Problem: NAV can no longer keep up.    Limited integrations: modern APIs are not compatible with older versions. Blocked digital projects: impossible to automate your flows or leverage AI. Loss of competitiveness: your competitors are moving forward, while you remain stuck.    With Business Central, you get a cloud-based, open ERP system that is interconnected with Microsoft 365, Power BI, Copilot AI, and can be integrated with your business tools.   Regulatory developments: a legal and financial risk Legal requirements are changing rapidly: electronic invoicing, VAT, tax reporting, accounting standards. An outdated ERP system cannot keep up with these changes, and the consequences can be serious: Non-compliance: risk of fines and penalties.  Hidden costs: you have to opt for specific development in order to remain compliant, which ultimately incurs more costs. Increased complexity: each update is complicated. Business Central, on the other hand, is updated several times a year and automatically incorporates regulatory changes, ensuring ongoing compliance. Why migrate to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central ERP? Migrating isn't just about avoiding risks. Above all, it's about seizing a strategic opportunity. Key benefits: Enhanced security: automatic updates, cloud protection.  Mobility and collaboration: access anywhere, integration with Teams and Microsoft 365. Business Intelligence: advanced reporting with Power BI. Automation and AI: Copilot to accelerate your processes. Interoperability: easy connection with your business tools. Business Central is not just an update, it is a digital transformation, a change in management system, a leap forward.   How to make your migration a success? At Almakom, we support Swiss SMEs in their transition to Business Central with a consulting + proximity + expertise approach. Our methodology:  ERP audit: analysis of your NAV ERP and your needs. Migration plan: customized strategy. Integration & training: rapid deployment, user adoption. Ongoing support: local assistance, future developments.     SEO FAQ: Everything you need to know about NAV in 2025 Will NAV still be supported by Microsoft in 2025? No, support is limited, and Microsoft recommends migrating to Business Central. What are the risks of staying on NAV? Security, regulatory compliance, incompatibility with modern tools. Is Business Central suitable for SMEs? Yes, it is a flexible, scalable solution that is perfectly suited to SMEs. How does migration work? Find out how the ERP change process works on our dedicated page on the subject. Act now to avoid being left behind In 2025, staying on NAV is no longer a viable option. Staying on an outdated version means taking risks that could be avoided: cybersecurity, compliance, competitiveness. Migrating to Dynamics 365 Business Central is the only solution to guarantee the sustainability and performance of your business.

In French-speaking Switzerland, many SMEs start out using Excel to manage their sales. It's simple, familiar, and "free." But as soon as your business grows, Excel quickly becomes a hindrance. A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) , It's much more than just a tracking table. It's a tool that helps you save time, avoid mistakes, and boost your sales. So, which CRM should you choose? Pipedrive, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales, or Salesforce? Here is our comprehensive comparison, designed for Swiss SM Pipedrive: Simplicity for Sales Efficiency Pipedrive is often highlighted for its clear philosophy: putting sales back at the center of the process. Designed by salespeople, for salespeople, it stands out for its simplicity and effectiveness. It is a sales-oriented CRM. Pipeline First and Maximum Intuitiveness The central element of Pipedrive is the visualization of the sales pipeline. This visual approach allows your teams to see where they are and what remains to be done at a glance. Your teams are operational from the very first hour. The interface is streamlined and focused on concrete actions: calling, sending an email, scheduling a meeting. This ease of adoption is a significant advantage in Switzerland, where time is a precious resource. Action and Predictability Pipedrive doesn't just store data. It acts as a digital assistant: It reminds you of overdue tasks. It tells you what actions are coming up. It ensures that every opportunity moves forward. It is also a valuable support tool for your marketing teams: sequencing, automation, email templates, etc. Ideal for Swiss SMEs Pipedrive is an ideal CRM for fast-growing SMEs and startups looking for a CRM that is easy to deploy, requires little training, and focuses on rapidly increasing conversion rates. At Almakom, we particularly appreciate Pipedrive for its ability to help you quickly implement a flexible sales strategy. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales: Integration and Artificial Intelligence Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales is an essential component of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. It is the solution for companies that want a CRM integrated into their digital ecosystem and have ambitions for growth and customization. The Power of the Microsoft Ecosystem The main advantage of Dynamics 365 Sales is its native integration with the tools you already use: Outlook, Teams, Excel, SharePoint, and Power BI. Your sales reps can manage their opportunities directly from Outlook or Teams. Less friction, more productivity. Intelligence and Automation (AI) Dynamics 365 Sales integrates advanced AI features: Recommendations on business relationships to follow up on. Alerts on at-risk opportunities. Predictive analytics for reliable forecasts. It's the tool that transforms your data into actionable insights, allowing managers to refine their forecasts with precision. Microsoft CRM also supports your marketing teams with add-on modules. With Dynamics 365 Sales, unlock the collaborative potential of your Smarketing teams. Scalability and Customization Designed to handle massive data volumes and complex processes, Dynamics 365 Sales is highly customizable. At Almakom, we unlock the full potential of Dynamics 365 Sales, tailoring it precisely to your business requirements. Salesforce Sales Cloud: The SaaS Giant Salesforce remains the standard for large international companies. It stands out for its comprehensive platform and vast ecosystem. The Global Market Leader Salesforce offers a very wide range of features that go beyond simple sales management, including marketing, customer service, and application development. Functional Richness The level of detail and functionality is impressive. However, this richness comes with complexity in implementation and maintenance. This CRM often requires a dedicated team or specialized consultants, which can represent a significant cost for an SME. Which CRM should an SME choose? The final choice should not be based on technical specifications, but on alignment with your corporate culture and objectives. Choose Pipedrive if: Your priority is quick implementation and adoption by the sales team. You are looking for excellent value for money. You are an SME that wants to digitize without complexity. Choose Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales if: You use Microsoft 365. Your sales processes require customization. You need the power of AI for accurate forecasting. You are looking for a solution that can scale with you. Choose Salesforce if: If you have a substantial budget Relevant for companies with highly complex needs. The "Excel" Reflex: How Long Can We Keep Using It? Many professionals still manage their customer relationships using Excel. This is understandable: Excel is flexible, familiar, and "free." But the reality is that Excel is an accounting tool, not a CRM. The Limitations of Excel No 360° view: A CRM shows you the complete history (emails, calls, documents). Cost of error: "Final-final-v2" files are costly in terms of missed opportunities. Zero automation: Excel will never remind you to follow up with a prospect. If you need reliable forecasts, real-time collaboration, and standardization, it's time to switch to a CRM. FAQ comparatif CRM pour une PME What is the best CRM for an SME in Switzerland? For a Swiss SME, Pipedrive is ideal if you are looking for simplicity and speed. Microsoft Dynamics Sales is perfect if you already use Microsoft 365 or Business Central. Salesforce is more suited to large companies. Pipedrive or Microsoft Dynamics Sales: which one to choose? Choose Pipedrive if you want a simple and efficient CRM. Choose Dynamics Sales if you need advanced integrations with Microsoft and a scalable solution. Why abandon Excel for a CRM? Excel does not allow you to track your sales in real time, automate follow-ups, or collaborate efficiently. A CRM saves you time and secures your data. How much does a CRM for SMEs cost in Switzerland? Pipedrive starts at a few dozen francs per month. Microsoft Dynamics Sales is more complete and scalable, with a cost adapted to growing SMEs. What is the role of an integrator in the implementation of a CRM? Our role is: Process Audit: Understand precisely your current sales cycle. Guide you towards Pipedrive or Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales based on your real needs and your infrastructure. Implementation: Configure the tool (whether it’s the simplicity of Pipedrive or the complexity of Dynamics) to match your business processes perfectly. Training and adoption: Ensure the training of your teams to ensure rapid and maximum adoption. User adoption is the keystone of any successful CRM project. Local support: Offer you local support and expertise, in line with the realities of the Swiss market. Based in the canton of Vaud, at Almakom, we support Swiss companies with solutions designed for their specific needs. Attentive and always by your side, our passionate experts understand your challenges and work hand in hand with your teams to ensure the success of your projects.

The Microsoft Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate, Power Pages, Dataverse, Copilot Studio) is undergoing significant changes with the Wave 2 2025 release, with new features available between October 2025 and March 2026.     For SMEs, this is a major opportunity: increased automation, artificial intelligence, enhanced governance, and easier construction of business applications without code. Power Apps: Create business applications faster with AI integration The new version of Power Apps emphasizes collaboration between business users and agents (assistants) and accelerates application creation using AI. Among the major new features are:   Integrated "Agent feed" to monitor the actions of intelligent agents (e.g., filling out a form, viewing data, generating a summary). AI application: upload an image or text description to generate an automated app or interface (low-code).  Better integration with Power BI, Dataverse, and agents to build end-to-end solutions. For example, for an SME: imagine that your logistics, field, or sales teams have a customized app in just a few days that is connected to your ERP or CRM. Power Pages: smart and secure portals With this update, Power Pages enables developers to create external business websites (such as customer and/or supplier portals) more quickly and securely, thanks in particular to the new features introduced in this update: Accelerated site building   Built-in security agent features to monitor and protect your portals. Suitable for external use cases: customer portal, supplier access, employee portal. An SME will thus be able to launch a customer or supplier portal without outsourcing, with a solution connected to Dataverse and the back office.   Power Automate: intelligent automation at scale This version brings major new features in automation: native AI, Human-in-the-loop (HITL), advanced approvals, and governance control.   Generative Actions to automate tasks via AI. Intelligent Document Processing (IDP): invoices, delivery notes, emails to be processed. Governance center to monitor, secure, and control automations (Automation Center).    With these new features, companies can free up their teams from repetitive tasks; for example, an email arrives → automatic quote/delivery note creation task → notification to the relevant team. Copilot Studio and intelligent agents: the "brain" of the platform The launch of Copilot Studio enables the creation and management of intelligent agents that work together, leveraging Azure AI & Microsoft Graph, particularly in:   Building "agent teams" that cooperate (e.g., a data entry agent, a validation agent, a reporting agent). Deep integration with Azure AI Foundry and Microsoft Graph to leverage your data. Dedicated governance to ensure security, accountability, and traceability.    For example, imagine an agent that reads customer requests, creates a ticket, assigns it, and generates an automatic report - all without manual intervention. Dataverse and data storage/processing: the intelligent foundation Dataverse is strengthening its position to become a true low-code/AI-ready data platform with integrated agentic capabilities: “Dataverse for Agents”: support for intelligent agents connected to data.  Highly optimized intelligent search (Dataverse Search). Integrated AI business logic: automatic rules, scoring, recommendations. As a result, customer, transactional, and operational data are now ready to feed applications and agents without over-development. Governance & administration: mastering AI, agents, and automation One of the major challenges for SMEs is mastering the digital ecosystem. This wave specifically targets governance, in particular through: A unified hub for governing agents, apps, and workflows.  Security controls, compliance, visibility on agent usage. Simplified management of environments, features, and rights. For Swiss SMEs (or those operating in Switzerland/the EU): nLPD/GDPR compliance becomes easier to manage, even with AI and agents.   Why is this update an opportunity for your business? These new features bring together three key drivers: Increased productivity thanks to automations, agents, and apps that save time. Innovation becomes even more accessible with low-code and AI, which accelerate business value creation. And compliance and control are guaranteed with enhanced governance and greater security. For SMEs, this allows them to catch up with (or even surpass) large companies in terms of agility and speed of adaptation, a real operational lever. Key takeaways from Microsoft Power Platform 2025 Wave 2 The new features in Microsoft Power Platform 2025 Wave 2 mark a turning point: AI, automation, intelligent agents, and governance are becoming central to digital solutions. To get the most out of this update: Identify the business processes to be automated (sales, customer service, back office).  Set up data management (Dataverse) and agents for your priority cases. Ensure governance: access rights, traceability, compliance. Enlist support to ensure successful user adoption. Almakom, the choice of proximity At Almakom, we integrate and customize Microsoft solutions. We develop specific business applications (transport, distribution, healthcare, etc.). We support Swiss SMEs so that they have solutions that are compliant, efficient, and adapted to their reality in the field. At Almakom, we act as an integrator and publisher: We define requirements in order to select the right ERP modules. We customize solutions for specific industries (healthcare, transportation, distribution, finance, etc.).  Regulatory compliance: compliance with the GDPR, nLPD, and industry standards. Training and support for teams to ensure adoption. Support and scalability: the ERP grows with your business. 👉 It is this pragmatic and hands-on support that makes all the difference.

The second wave of Microsoft Dynamics 365 releases in 2025 doesn't just bring improvements; it marks a major revolution by placing generative artificial intelligence and autonomous agents at the heart of the sales and customer service experience. These new features will be gradually rolled out between October 2025 and March 2026. The new features presented in this article relate to Dynamics 365 Sales and Customer Engagement applications (Customer Service, Customer Insights, etc.). Microsoft's goal is clear: to transform salespeople into strategic advisors and service agents into super agents by automating most of the administrative and prospecting work that adds little value to the business using AI and Copilot. The Copilot revolution and autonomous AI agents at the heart of Dynamics 365 Sales The main strength of wave 2 of the 2025 update lies in the integration of AI capabilities that go beyond simple assistance. These are now autonomous agents capable of acting independently. The Sales Qualification Agent: The 24/7 virtual salesperson This AI agent operates autonomously to search for, qualify, and engage prospects. It is capable of performing actions independently:  Search and Prioritization: Uses internal CRM data and public sources to provide comprehensive summaries of leads and accounts. Validation and Matching: Automatically validates email addresses, searches for relevant contacts, and matches existing records (accounts, contacts).  Intent Analysis: Assessing fit, intent, and engagement to assign a score and high-priority status.  Automated Engagement: Automatic generation of personalized emails with relevant talking points (but still subject to human approval or with control mechanisms to maintain the central role of the salesperson). This allows salespeople to focus solely on the hottest and most qualified leads, significantly reducing the time spent on manual qualification. Boosted productivity thanks to Copilot AI tackles tedious data administration tasks: Embedded Copilot Summaries : Summaries generated by Copilot are now more prominently integrated at the top of records (Opportunities, Leads, Accounts). These summaries provide a concise overview of context, recent activities, and emerging risks, enabling instant decision-making. Smart Paste and Form Fill Assist: Smart Paste: Paste structured information (from an email or document) into a form, and Copilot automatically maps and fills in the relevant fields.  Form Fill Assist: Supports file uploads (PDF, images, DOCX) so that AI can extract key information (name, address, phone number) and insert it into CRM forms. Say goodbye to manual data entry!   Natural Language Search and Filters (Smart Grid) : Users can now query their record lists (the data grid) using natural language, for example: "Show me high-value opportunities with no next steps scheduled for next week." Model Context Protocol (MCP): Connecting AI to D365 data MCP is a new protocol server that allows AI agents (such as Copilot in Microsoft Copilot Studio, or even third-party tools) to interact directly and securely with Dynamics 365 Sales data.  This opens the door to much more complex automation and integration scenarios, where agents can read CRM data, perform actions (such as creating a lead or sending an email), and connect to other applications without heavy integrations. Improvements to the sales experience: Focus on ergonomics and sales rep productivity Wave 2 of 2025 brings significant improvements to make the interface more intuitive and powerful, aligned with the Microsoft 365 suite. Redesigned user experience and alignment with the Microsoft D365 suite New Header and Streamlined Navigation: A visual redesign of the applications provides more screen space, increased clarity, and faster access to frequently used actions. The goal is to reduce cognitive load and align with the familiar design of other Microsoft 365 suite solutions.    Improved Visual Hierarchy: The hierarchical relationship visualization tool has been updated to be more powerful. It allows you to view links between multiple tables at once (Accounts, Contacts, Opportunities, and custom entities) on a single visual graph. This helps salespeople quickly identify key decision makers and relationship paths.    Optimized Integration with Teams and Outlook: Microsoft continues to integrate to minimize context switching. CRM tasks can be managed more and more directly from everyday communication and collaboration tools (for example, D365 actions initiated directly in a Teams discussion). Optimized sequence and activity management Sequence Improvements: The tool for automating activities and engaging leads has had its capabilities expanded. Multiple Sequence Management: Ability to attach and manage multiple sequences to a single record, providing flexibility for more nuanced engagement strategies.  Step Overview: Sales reps get a clear view of all steps (completed and upcoming) in sequences associated with a record, simplifying planning for next steps. Accelerating opportunities and preventing risks Searching for More Relevant Information: The AI Agent can now improve the relevance of its searches by using customized web sources defined by the user or administrator. This ensures that the information collected is perfectly suited to the industry or specific characteristics of the company.  Focus on the Best Actions: AI continues to guide salespeople toward the actions most likely to accelerate transactions and close sales. Dynamics Customer Engagement: What's new for customer service Customer Engagement applications, including Dynamics 365 Customer Service and Contact Center, also benefit from Wave 2 updates, particularly in terms of agent efficiency and customer experience. Agentic capabilities and copilot for customer service The central theme here is to equip agents with the tools to resolve cases faster and more accurately. Copilot in the Service Workspace: Copilot is increasingly integrated, offering:  Real-Time Summaries: Instant conversation summaries and case histories, even when taking on a new case. Response Drafts: Intelligent, contextual response suggestions based on knowledge bases and customer history.    Custom Productivity Tools: Administrators and developers can integrate custom low-code tools directly into the Copilot Workspace, allowing agents to access business-specific functionality without leaving the interface. Improvements to routing and case management Improved Unified Routing: Continued optimizations to AI-based routing to ensure customer requests are directed to the most qualified agent (in terms of skills, language, and availability) on the first try.    Bulk Actions for Supervisors: Supervisors can now perform bulk actions, such as moving conversations, sending messages, or closing multiple cases at once, improving team management efficiency.    Session Restore: A simple but essential feature: after refreshing the browser, agents can automatically restore session tabs and open case information, avoiding loss of context and time. Knowledge Management and Omnichannel Self-Building Knowledge Base: AI facilitates the creation and updating of the knowledge base. Analysis of successful interactions can automatically generate draft knowledge articles, reducing the workload for knowledge administrators. Simplified Channel Management: Native support for new channels, including WhatsApp via Azure Communication Services, simplifies the integration and management of omnichannel conversations.   The must-have release: Dynamics 365 Sales 2025 wave 2 The second wave of Dynamics 365 releases in 2025 is more than just a series of updates; it is a strong signal of the direction Microsoft is taking: autonomy and artificial intelligence are the new norm in CRM and customer service.  The features in Dynamics 365 Sales 2025 wave 2, including Autonomous Qualification Agent, Smart Paste, and Copilot tools, promise to free up a massive amount of time for sales teams, allowing them to refocus on what really matters: building relationships and closing deals.  For businesses: Adopting this wave is essential to maintaining a competitive advantage by improving operational efficiency and delivering a more personalized and responsive customer experience. Action plan: It is crucial to plan for the adoption of features and train teams on how to use the new AI-powered tools, as the impact on productivity is immense. The days when CRM was a simple record-keeping system are over. With this release, Dynamics 365 becomes a true intelligence and action system, powered by AI. Why choose an integrator like Almakom for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales and Customer Engagement integration ? Updating or deploying an ERP such as Business Central or a CRM Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales and Customer Engagement is not just a matter of clicking "install." Every SME has its own specific characteristics.  At Almakom, we support companies in: Choosing modules and configuring them according to your business needs. Integrating them with your other tools (CRM, transport management, etc.). Migrating data. Training teams for successful adoption. Compliance with local standards (nLPD, GDPR, Swiss and French taxation). The result: an ERP system perfectly suited to your SME, without wasting time or money.

Every year, Microsoft enhances Dynamics 365 Business Central, its ERP system, with new features. Wave 2 2025 places particular emphasis on AI Copilot, document management, supply chain, sustainability, and much more. Whether you are an SME in distribution, transportation, manufacturing, or services, these new features can transform your daily life. Copilot and intelligent assistants: AI at the service of SMEs With this latest version, Copilot becomes even more central to Business Central: Automatic generation of invoice and purchase order proposals.  Creation of financial or commercial summaries based on your data. Assistance with information searches (for example, to quickly find a customer, product, or document in your ERP).  Suggestions for optimizing your inventory or detecting anomalies. This latest version of Copilot saves time and reduces human error, which is a real asset for SMEs. Documents électroniques : simplifier vos échanges avec vos partenaires  Electronic invoicing and standardized exchanges are becoming mandatory in many countries (including France in 2026). Business Central Wave 2 2025 goes further with: Automated generation and receipt of electronic invoices in compliant formats (PDP, Factur-X, PEPPOL, etc.). The ability to share structured documents with your partners, suppliers, and government agencies. Better integration with government platforms. For SMEs, this is a real asset, meaning less paperwork, fewer errors, and guaranteed compliance with legal obligations that are gradually coming into force. Financial management: even more precise control Microsoft continues to improve the finance and accounting aspects of Business Central by introducing: Simplified accounting closing and automation of recurring entries.  Improved cash flow monitoring with more accurate forecasts. Multi-company and multi-currency consolidation tools. The result: increased productivity for your accounting teams and a clear view of your finances to make better strategic decisions.   Governance and administration: greater control for SMEs Administrators now have new tools to: Manage user rights and data security more precisely. Track actions in the ERP system.  Simplify multi-environment deployment (useful for international companies). These developments strengthen security and compliance, two major challenges for Swiss and French SMEs in light of regulations (nLPD, GDPR).   Report generation and data analysis The new release improves reporting and analysis capabilities: Faster generation of customized reports.  Greater integration with Power BI to create dynamic dashboards. Predictive analysis using AI to anticipate sales, purchases, or labor requirements. This provides SMEs with real-time management tools that are essential for remaining competitive. Supply chain management: fluidity and efficiency Business Central makes everyday life easier for industrial, logistics, and commercial SMEs:  Optimization of inventory and replenishment thanks to Copilot suggestions. Better management of customer and supplier orders. More accurate tracking of transport and delivery flows. Fewer stockouts, fewer delays, and greater customer satisfaction. Sustainability management: an ERP system focused on the future Microsoft introduces sustainability-related features: Tracking of carbon emissions related to your activities (transportation, production). Tools to measure and analyze your environmental impact.  Reports that comply with CSR standards and regulatory requirements. An asset for SMEs that want to comply with regulations but also highlight their commitments to customers and partners.   Why work with an integrator like Almakom? Updating or deploying an ERP system like Business Central is not just a matter of clicking "install." Every SME has its own specific characteristics.  At Almakom, we support companies in: Choosing modules and configuring them according to your business needs. Integrating with your other tools (CRM, transport management, etc.). Migrating data. Training teams for successful adoption. Compliance with local standards (nLPD, GDPR, Swiss and French taxation). The result: an ERP system perfectly suited to your SME, without wasting time or money.   FAQ – Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2025 Release Wave 2 When will the new version of Business Central be released? ➡️ Wave 2 2025 is scheduled for gradual rollout starting in October 2025. Why use an integrator? ➡️ Because an integrator like Almakom adapts the ERP to your specific needs, ensures local compliance, and trains your teams. Is it mandatory to update your ERP? ➡️ Yes, if you are using SaaS (cloud), updates are automatic. With On-Premise, you can decide how often to update, but it is strongly recommended that you stay up to date.

What is Pipedrive ?    Pipedrive is a sales-focused CRM, originally created by salespeople for salespeople. Since its inception, it has established itself as an intuitive platform that helps you visualize your sales pipeline, track your contacts, manage your deals, and automate repetitive tasks.    Designed for sales teams and SMEs, Pipedrive stands out for its ease of use, intuitive interface, automation capabilities, and modern features, particularly those powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Why choose Pipedrive over other CRMs? Pipedrive is a particularly attractive CRM for SMEs, mainly because: Its interface is very intuitive and its pipeline is visual and very clear, making this CRM easy to use.  Pipedrive grows with you; it is a scalable and flexible CRM that adapts to the size of your business (from a few users to dozens of sales team members). It has numerous integrations: email, calendar, mobile phone, external API.  Pipedrive has added AI and automation features, as well as advanced prospecting tools (LeadBooster/Prospector), making it a modern CRM that is evolving rapidly. Pipedrive's pricing is tailored to the budgets of SMEs, without overly complex configuration or heavy licensing from the outset.    This CRM is particularly suitable when you want a lightweight but powerful tool that can adapt to your growth and support more structured sales processes. Who is Pipedrive for?   Pipedrive is ideal for: SMEs with a sales team looking to structure their sales process (prospecting, quotes, follow-up).  Companies with an average sales cycle (a few weeks to a few months) and a need to automate follow-ups by prioritization. Mobile teams: use on phone/tablet, calendar/call/mobile synchronization. Companies that don't want an ultra-complex CRM, but want powerful business features (automation, reporting, AI). AI & automation in Pipedrive for SMEs Pipedrive now includes several useful AI features (depending on your subscription plan). The AI sales assistant analyzes your current deals , detects inactive tickets or opportunities with no recent activity, reminds you of points to check, and suggests smart task prioritization. The Prospector/LeadBooster tool is based on AI prospecting : it is an AI-powered lead generation tool that allows you to identify potential prospects. You can then enter this information into your contacts by adding it to your prospect list. AI-powered personalized email creation : PipeDrive's AI generates email drafts for you, allowing your teams to speed up their communication and spend less time on time-consuming tasks. Automatic email summaries : to lighten the message flow and help your salespeople quickly grasp the essentials. Automation/marketing sequences : with automatic follow-ups, scheduled email sends, and sequences linked to leads/proposals in the pipeline. These features reduce the time spent on manual and repetitive tasks, lower the risk of errors, and allow you to keep prospecting even outside of office hours. Pipedrive for marketing Another strength of Pipedrive CRM is its ability to support your marketing teams, particularly through its "sequence" feature, which allows you to:  You can create email sequences to send a series of messages according to a schedule, add a trigger (follow-up after a lead is created or follow-up after a quote is opened). Email tracking: open rate, response rate, click rate.  Automate reminders or tasks related to interactions with your prospects. Direct link to your calendar (Outlook/Google) to schedule tasks, appointments, or follow-ups from the CRM. This helps structure sales follow-up and ensures that no opportunity is missed.   Pipedrive, a powerful CRM that boosts productivity In concrete terms, how does Pipedrive support teams in their daily work, saving them time and allowing them to focus on their performance?  Automated follow-ups → fewer human errors and oversights. Smart prioritization of opportunities → focus on high-potential deals, reduce the sales cycle. Better visibility for management (real-time reports) → faster decision-making.  Reduced administrative time for sales reps → more time spent on contact and negotiation. Mobile/calendar synchronization → smooth workflow even when on the go. Almakom, your local partner At Almakom, we support Swiss SMEs in their digital transformation by integrating ERP and CRM solutions tailored to their business. Our approach is based on proximity, understanding real needs in the field, and pragmatic change management to ensure long-term adoption and performance. Whether you are considering implementing Pipedrive as your sales CRM or connecting your CRM to an ERP such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, our experts will help you build a coherent, secure, and scalable ecosystem. We don't just deploy tools: we help your teams understand them, master them, and get the most value out of them, thanks to ongoing support, from design to hypercare. 👉 Choosing Almakom means choosing a trusted, agile, and committed partner that puts people and performance at the heart of every project.

What is a Sales Order Agent? The Sales Order Agent is an AI-based intelligent agent (Copilot/Agent framework) in Business Central, designed to automate the management of quote requests and customer orders received by email.  It is one of the preview features of Business Central. Specifically, it monitors a dedicated mailbox (Microsoft 365/Exchange), analyzes customer requests using AI, automatically creates quotes or orders in Business Central, manages email exchanges for clarification, checks item availability, and converts the quote into an order after approval. Why is Microsoft betting on the Sales Order Agent, and what is its vision for the future? Microsoft is integrating this agent as a first step toward automated, AI-driven sales processes to reduce manual tasks, increase responsiveness to customer requests, and improve operational efficiency. The agent is also an example of what could be called "Copilot Agents" in the Microsoft ecosystem: it paves the way for other features that AI Copilot could fulfill in the coming years (e.g., supplier orders, credit agents, service agents).  This direction shows that Microsoft wants to drive a transition from ERP as a simple data manager to an interactive, proactive ERP capable of communicating with users and customers via AI, particularly for SMEs seeking to be efficient and effective while remaining agile.   Key Features of Sales Order Agent Here is an overview of the features that AI can perform today (still in its test version): Mailbox monitoring : it automatically reads incoming emails from a dedicated mailbox (Microsoft 365 mailbox or shared mailbox).  Customer identification : the agent automatically searches for the email address in the Business Central contact database to identify the customer. Checking item availability : the agent can check whether the requested items are available according to the requested delivery date and the location of the item (if this setting is enabled).  Quotation and order creation : the agent generates a quotation, sends it by email, and can convert it into an order after receiving a response from the customer and internal validation. Human review and approval : depending on the configuration, certain steps require validation by a user (e.g., sending a quotation or order).  Timeline/trace : the agent provides a history of exchanges and actions taken for each task, which allows their actions to be traced and therefore provides transparency.  Permissions/dedicated profiles : the agent has their own account and profile and therefore has permissions in Business Central (limited to necessary and predefined actions).   What is its practical use, what are the benefits for SMEs? The Sales Order Agent saves time and reduces errors in the processing cycle for incoming sales requests. For an SME in distribution or e-commerce, here's what it offers: Reduced customer response time : a quote request email can be processed automatically without manual intervention.  Less risk of data entry errors (quantity, product code, price) because the agent uses existing data in Business Central. Improved team efficiency : sales representatives or order managers spend less time on repetitive tasks and can focus on negotiations or customer follow-up.  Standardized & traceable process : each quote/order goes through a traceable workflow (history, approval, logs), which is essential for quality and compliance.  24/7 availability : the agent works in the background (with scheduled tasks) to monitor the mailbox, which is ideal if customers work outside business hours or in a different time zone. For an SME, this translates into better customer satisfaction, reduced administrative costs, and a smoother sales cycle. Use case & typical scenario Specifically, for an SME in the distribution sector based in France or Switzerland: A customer sends an email saying, "I would like a quote for 10 units of product ABC, delivered mid-month."  The Sales Order Agent automatically reads the email, identifies the customer in BC, and checks stock availability. They create an attached PDF quote and send a provisional response to the customer (with a request for validation if necessary). The customer replies "OK" to this quote → the agent automatically converts the quote into an order in Business Central.  Everything is logged: date, approving user, email trail, visibility for managers. This saves several hours per week on manual processing of emails/quotes. → The team saves time and can track and analyze the performance of the quoting process.   Limitations to anticipate and precautions For the moment, the agent is only available in preview and in a geographically limited version This requires the mailbox to be configured correctly (with "Read & manage," "Send as," etc. permissions). If you have extensive customizations in Business Central or specific business extensions, test the integration with custom fields (some fields may not be recognized correctly by the agent). How to leverage Sales Order Agent with Almakom If you are an SME and you use (or are considering using) Dynamics 365 Business Central, Sales Order Agent can be integrated into your digitalization strategy to improve responsiveness and productivity.  At Almakom, we can help you: Check the compatibility of your Business Central instance with Sales Order Agent (version, region). Set up mailbox settings, permissions, and security.  Configure settings: trigger verification, availability, request user approval, monitor tasks. Train your teams in the use of the agent and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for the number of automated quotes, time saved, and errors avoided. Adapt settings to your business (distribution, transportation, logistics).

What is hypercare and why is it essential? Hypercare refers to the intensive support phase that follows the deployment of an ERP, CRM, or business application project. This is the period during which the project teams (integrator, publisher, IT department, business units) closely monitor users to ensure the stability, performance, and adoption of the solution. In short, this is when the following takes place: Rapid detection and correction of post-go-live anomalies.  Direct response to user questions. Adjustment of settings if necessary. Additional training and change management support. Without this hypercare phase, the solution risks losing its effectiveness. In addition, teams that are not properly supported during this phase may not use the solution to its full potential.   The ERP project lifecycle: understanding where hypercare fits in An ERP project generally follows five main stages: Analysis and scoping: definition of requirements and processes. Development and integration: technical implementation. Testing and acceptance: validation prior to deployment.  Go-live: switch to production. Hypercare and ongoing support: stabilization and improvement. Hypercare occurs immediately after going live. This is a crucial period when teams transition from project mode to operational support mode. It is the phase in which the solution is launched.   Support vs. Hypercare: What's the difference? Many companies confuse hypercare with support. However, the two serve different purposes: Hypercare Support Immediate post-deployment period Long-term support Strong mobilization of project teams Support provided by the support service Maximum responsiveness, continuous monitoring Ticket management and SLAs Objective: stabilize the solution Objective: maintain, develop, and optimize Hypercare is therefore a transitional stage towards support. Once the solution has stabilized, the baton is passed to the support team, often via a centralized tool such as Azure DevOps. What is support service (and why you shouldn't do without it) An integrator's support service allows you to: Manage incidents and change requests (via tickets) for the software. Answer questions from end users about how the solution works, the solution itself, or new updates.  Deploy new features (modules, connectors, automations). Maintain legal and technical compliance (such as Microsoft updates, taxation, nLPD/GDPR).  Good support is not limited to simply "fixing" the solution: it develops the information system in line with the pace of the business and user needs. Without structured and responsive support, an SME risks: Prolonged business interruptions.  A deterioration in data quality. Unforeseen costs related to emergency interventions. A decline in tool adoption (and therefore in the project's ROI).   Integrate support into a change management process Support and hypercare are not just technical aspects. They are also levers for driving change: Train users on new features. Answer questions from the field. Collect feedback to improve processes.  Maintain team motivation and engagement. At Almakom, support is an integral part of our comprehensive service. We don't just implement ERP and CRM solutions: we help your teams adopt them for the long term, in a secure and scalable environment.   What tools are needed for effective support? (Azure DevOps) Modern support relies on collaborative tools such as Azure DevOps, which enables: Tracking of tickets and user requests. Planning of upgrades. Complete traceability of corrections and deliveries.  Automation of deployments (CI/CD). Thanks to these tools, support becomes a lever for continuous improvement, rather than just a cost center.   Why choose Almakom for your hypercare and ERP support? Because ERP doesn't stop at deployment. At Almakom, we combine: Expertise in Microsoft Dynamics 365 solutions, Personalized on-site support,  Support processes integrated with DevOps, Ongoing user training. Our "integrator and publisher" approach allows us to adapt tools to specific industries (transportation, distribution, production, technical services, etc.) while ensuring the performance, security, and scalability of our solutions.