Next steps on Dynamics NAV for mid-size companies, fine enough?

Last march a new Statement of Direction (SOD) was issued by Microsoft for its Dynamics NAV solution. On that document, Microsoft updates for customers and partners on the broad strategy for NAV and specifies the roadmap for its next NAV release (“7”)  on 2011 and the next expected ones (“8” and “9”).

As any of the previous SOD, this one has a huge strategic component with some expected news long ago demanded and no surprises. Microsoft strategy will still focus on simplicity, productivity, user experience, taking advantage on the rest of Microsoft technologies and  rapid time-to-value. A clear message is sent by Microsoft, everything will be “Rapid”-“Quick” for mid-size enterprises for developing a successful experience based on the elapsed time between choose NAV and its starting up.

For achieving those strategic goals will provide improved functionality across the whole solution and adding key point such:

• Removing Classic client, native database and forms. Microsoft suggests SQL server (also said on previous SOD) and role tailored philosophy.
• Introducing web services as previous step for cloud computing upgrade.
• Connector between Dynamics CRM and NAV.
• Software-plus-services plan for hosted NAV.
• Easy interaction among the whole Microsoft Technology platform (SharePoint, SQL Server, CRM, . NET, BizTalk, Office,….)

Is Microsoft Quick answer to mid-size companies a definitive strategic goal against their competitors? Definitely I believe in it. My opinion is based on a clear trend against current on-premise infrastructure bought for NAV and its maintenance, and “Role Tailored” allow easy and cheaply a closed work process (avoiding problems of unused forms, out of the process screens and not allowed access forms). I bet as well, Dynamics NAV will suit in this year reduced budgets fitting up on their current IT staff or even simplifying it.

CRM connector is a good and waited notice but, after reading, I do not feel like a strong and powerful merge tool which is actually wished by NAV customers (“only some well known scenarios”).  

At the following link you will see a Microsoft case of study about its huge success Software-plus-Services plan with Coca Cola (http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Case_Study_Detail.aspx?CaseStudyID=4000004569).

Moral: “Microsoft arrives late on SaaS but with a good plan which can fit up on current budges for NAV and mid-size companies. Still remain a lot of things on NAV like mobile features, web services, IFRS, electronic signatures and so on, but Microsoft is building up the strategy from the base and in realistic market situation.”

Will Microsoft increase its numbers? Will improve its customer experience?What do you think?