Employee stories: Cross training into D365

After spending years working with ERP systems and eight years specialising in Infor M3, I was looking for a new challenge. I wanted to keep learning, continue developing my skills and move into a technology area that I believe has a strong future. Columbus' reputation played a big part in my decision to make the move.

One thing I quickly realised is that cross-training isn't about starting from scratch. The technology is different, but the business processes are largely the same. My experience in manufacturing, supply chain and ERP consulting gave me a strong foundation that I could build on whilst learning Dynamics 365.

My learning journey has been a mix of self-learning, certifications and hands-on experience. Achieving my Dynamics 365 certification was a big milestone, but the real acceleration came when I started working on customer projects. Applying what I'd learned in real-world situations helped bring everything together and boosted my confidence.

One of the biggest positives has been the support from the people around me. There's a huge amount of knowledge within the team, and everyone is willing to help. Being able to learn from experienced colleagues and subject matter experts has made a huge difference to my development. As I've said before, "It's a great bunch of people. Everybody's really, really helpful."

What has impressed me most is the balance between challenge and support. I was given the time to learn, gain certifications and build confidence before taking on customer-facing responsibilities. That approach has helped me continue growing my career whilst feeling supported every step of the way.