Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Discover Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Functional Consultant certification

Are you a functional consultant with an understanding of supply chain management manufacturing industry standards and experience configuring and implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing to meet the needs of your organization? If so, you should consider the Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Functional Consultant Associate certification. A globally recognized Microsoft Certification validates your skills and abilities and can help keep you competitive. It lets the world know that you have these skills—whether you’re just starting out and growing your career, looking to use your skills to advance, or wanting to change to a new, in-demand consulting role.

 

Functional consultants need to know how to support business requirements by implementing and configuring new technologies. IDC white paper Business Value of Digital Transformation and the Contribution of a Growth Mindset in IT[i] notes that the skills of its people can make or break a high-performing IT organization. As IT professionals assume new roles and configure new solutions, this continuous evolution of skills requires a program of continuous learning and development, sometimes called a growth mindset. Many professionals who pursue certification and grow in their career have this mindset.

 

You can add skills and certifications to your résumé and your LinkedIn page to alert organizations to your expertise. In this post in our series on discovering your career path, we explore the benefits of earning the Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Functional Consultant Associate certification. Plus, we suggest other certifications that can be useful for functional consultants who want to call attention to their broad variety of professional skills. 

 

The Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing functional consultant role and certification

These professionals are key resources who work with developers, solution architects, project managers, and functional consultants in finance, commerce, and supply chain. In this role, you need experience with both Dynamics 365 core finance and operations apps and Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing, so you’ll take two exams to earn this certification:

 

Benefits of certification

Companies are investing in evolving technology, so technical professionals who understand business and finance applications need to find a way to highlight their skills. In fact, 74 percent of respondents in the 2020–2021 Microsoft Dynamics Salary Survey from Nigel Frank listed “understanding business models” and “having business acumen” as hard skills that would make them more attractive to employers. Plus, 80 percent believe that Dynamics 365 certifications are important for increasing earning potential.

 

As companies evolve, they notice that there’s a gap not only in skills but also in roles. Organizations need agile and flexible professionals who can creatively use capabilities they already have to help build new technical solutions. According to a Microsoft white paper on role-based tech training and certifications, 91 percent of IT professionals with certifications believe that the effort employees put into acquiring new skills strongly contributes to their success in digital transformation.

 

As noted in a Pearson VUE Value of IT Certification report, the top motivation for people seeking certification is a desire to upskill and stay ahead of technological advances. It found that 73 percent of candidates pursued certification to obtain necessary skills and enhance job performance. Certification itself is an accomplishment, but for many survey respondents it also brings other benefits that can be tangible, such as pay raises and promotions, or intangible, such as increased respect from peers and higher job satisfaction.

 

Having a certification on your résumé can set you apart. It’s a way to distinguish yourself from your colleagues. The Global Knowledge 2020 IT Skills and Salary Report found that IT professionals with certifications, on average, earn more than their peers. This survey indicates that over half of global IT decision-makers report that they expect their organization to invest in Microsoft technology this year. The survey uncovered that IT professionals don’t lack opportunities to boost their pay. Those who earned a certification or learned a new skill could see an increase of upwards of $12,000 a year.

 

Other certifications for you

Depending on the direction you want to take your career, you should investigate the different Microsoft Certifications available to you to help you take the next steps.

 

If you’re new to Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365, check out Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals (pass Exam PL-900) and Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (ERP) (pass Exam MB-920).

 

If you want to deepen your skills and open up your career options in related areas, consider exploring these other Dynamics 365 associate certifications:

 

Depending on your experience and interest, later in your career, you might consider pursuing an advanced certification for solution architects, such as Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations Apps Solution Architect Expert (complete a prerequisite and pass Exam MB-700).

 

How do I get started?

Supply chain management manufacturing expertise, business acumen, and technical ability characterize these professionals. As a functional consultant, you’re skilled at configuring process and discrete and lean manufacturing and you can manage manufacturing processes.

 

However, if you don’t feel ready to take the required exam just yet, we have a few suggestions for you. Try working with an experienced manufacturing functional consultant in a manufacturing workstream. Find a mentor, tour manufacturing lines, and learn how things are made. Study the Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing modules on Microsoft Learn, and complete the hands-on practice. Explore other training opportunities, or take an instructor-led course. No matter where you are on your journey, we have training that can help you get underway.

 

To get started with this certification, check out our Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Functional Consultant Associate certification journey map. You can also find the journey map in the resources section on the Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Functional Consultant Associate certification and exam pages.

 

D365 Supply Chain Management Manufacturing FC.PNG

 

To map out your journey, follow the sequence on the Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Functional Consultant Associate journey map. Start at the beginning by deciding whether this certification is a good fit for you.

 

Next, choose the training you’ll need to be prepared. To understand what you’ll be measured on when you take the required exam, review the Exam MB-300 and MB-320 skills outline. Then sign up for the training that fits your learning style and experience:

 

After you pass the exam and earn your certification, you can continue to add to your technical expertise by taking one of the other certifications described in this blog post or by exploring other certification offerings. Consider our associate and expert certifications when you achieve the next milestones on your career journey. Use this diagram to map out the possibilities: Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 certification paths.

 

Where’s my community?

Join other supply chain management, manufacturing functional consultants in a community with other finance professionals. Share your career journey with colleagues who have similar interests in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing, and related technologies. Here are some places where you can share and gather information and learn from your peers and others.

 

Celebrate with the world: Post your badge on LinkedIn

When you earn a certification or learn a new skill, celebrate your accomplishment with your network. It often takes less than a minute to update your LinkedIn profile and share your achievements, highlight your skills, and help boost your career potential. Here’s how:  

  • If you’ve earned a certification, to share your badge, follow the instructions in the congratulations email you received. Or find your badge on your Certification Dashboard, and follow the instructions there to share it. (You’ll be transferred to the Credly website.)
  • For more information on badges, check out the Certification Badges FAQ.
  • To add specific skills to your LinkedIn profile, go to your profile page and update the Skills and endorsements section. Tip: We recommend that you choose skills listed in the skills outline guide for your certification.

 

It’s easy to renew your certification

When your Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Functional Consultant Associate certification expires, we’ve got good news. You can renew your current certifications by passing a free renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn—anytime within six months before your certification expires. For more details, read our blog post, Stay current with in-demand skills through free certification renewals.

 

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and other resources

 

Ready to discover your career path?

You’re a skilled supply chain management, manufacturing professional. Are you ready to explore where Microsoft Certification can take you on your career journey? See how a functional consultant certification can validate your skills in planning, managing, and implementing manufacturing processes and can help you make the most out of your Dynamics 365 career path.

 

 

[1] IDC white paper, sponsored by Microsoft, Business Value of Digital Transformation and the Contribution of a Growth Mindset in IT, #US46245620, May 2020.

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