Choosing a Microsoft Dynamics 365 partner in the United States is not a contest to find the largest firm or the company with the most prominent Microsoft badge. The right partner depends on the applications you are implementing, your industry, the complexity of your operating model, the people assigned to the project and the support you will need after go-live.
This guide profiles eight firms that US buyers can include in a Dynamics 365 shortlist: Avanade, Hitachi Solutions, MCA Connect, Sunrise Technologies, Armanino, Crowe, RSM and Sikich. It is a research-based shortlist, not a ranking, paid placement or endorsement. Each firm should still be assessed against your own requirements and the specific team proposed for delivery.
How these Dynamics 365 partners were selected
The starting point was Microsoft’s published FastTrack Portfolio Partners roster for the Americas. Microsoft describes these firms as having established global or regional Dynamics 365 Centers of Excellence and a commitment to applying FastTrack and Success by Design practices across their project portfolios. The roster is a useful ecosystem signal, but it is not a customer review score, a ranking, a guarantee of project outcomes or proof that every listed firm is suitable for every Dynamics 365 workload.
The eight firms below were selected from that wider roster to give buyers a mix of enterprise integrators, Microsoft-focused specialists and professional-services-led consultancies. Their descriptions reflect publicly stated services and examples; they should not be read as independently verified performance ratings.
Microsoft’s FastTrack Portfolio Partners roster can change, so confirm current programme status and regional coverage directly before procurement.
Eight Microsoft Dynamics 365 partners in the USA to evaluate
1. Avanade
Consider Avanade when: the programme is part of a broader Microsoft cloud or enterprise transformation.
Avanade is a Microsoft-focused services business with a broad consulting and technology delivery model. Buyers considering Dynamics 365 alongside Azure, data, security, Power Platform and organisation-wide change may want to assess whether its broader capabilities match the programme’s scope.
What to validate: the exact Dynamics 365 applications and industries covered by the proposed team, the level of senior architecture involvement, delivery locations, subcontractor use and how programme governance will work across workstreams. Ask for references from projects with comparable complexity rather than relying on the firm’s overall scale.
2. Hitachi Solutions
Consider Hitachi Solutions when: industry-focused implementation capability and enterprise delivery experience are important.
Hitachi Solutions positions itself as a global Microsoft solutions integrator with industry-focused solutions and intellectual property. Its profile may be relevant to organisations seeking a partner that combines Dynamics 365 delivery with broader business transformation and industry knowledge.
What to validate: which industry accelerators are relevant to your business, whether they are standard product extensions or project-specific assets, how they are maintained across releases, and what portion of the proposed solution requires customisation. Request a demonstration using your own operating scenarios.
3. MCA Connect
Consider MCA Connect when: manufacturing, distribution or supply-chain processes are central to the ERP programme.
MCA Connect describes its work around manufacturers and distributors and has a long-standing Microsoft business applications practice. Its public announcements also identify participation in Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 FastTrack ecosystem. Buyers with complex production, planning, distribution or operational requirements may want to test its sector knowledge against their own process scenarios.
What to validate: experience with your production model, planning constraints, warehouse processes, quality requirements, integrations and reporting. Ask for the named functional leads and customer references that match your manufacturing or distribution environment.
4. Sunrise Technologies
Consider Sunrise when: retail, apparel, distribution or supply-chain execution is a major part of the programme.
Sunrise publicly describes Dynamics 365 implementation, upgrade, development, business intelligence and support services. Its Sunrise 365 offerings extend the platform for supply-chain and retail scenarios. The firm also publishes customer examples involving Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations, distribution and multi-location operations.
What to validate: whether a Sunrise 365 extension is necessary for your requirements, what functionality is delivered by standard Dynamics 365 versus partner intellectual property, how upgrades are handled and how support is priced. Review its Dynamics 365 services and solution overview alongside a detailed scope discussion.
5. Armanino
Consider Armanino when: finance, reporting, multi-entity accounting or professional-services requirements have significant weight.
Armanino combines technology consulting with accounting, tax and advisory capabilities. Its published Business Central case material includes a multi-entity organisation that needed improved financial reporting and integration across systems. That type of experience may be relevant where ERP design must align closely with finance processes, consolidation and management reporting.
What to validate: the exact Dynamics 365 products in scope, the team’s experience with your entity structure and reporting requirements, and how accounting advisory work is separated from implementation delivery. Ask which named consultants will own solution design, migration and finance sign-off.
6. Crowe
Consider Crowe when: industry-specific business processes, controls and advisory requirements are important alongside Microsoft implementation.
Crowe identifies Microsoft as a strategic alliance and describes services across Dynamics 365, Power Platform and Azure. Its stated industry areas include manufacturing, metals, financial services, public sector and leasing. This may be relevant to organisations where regulatory, operational or financial controls are closely connected to the ERP design.
What to validate: the depth of the specific Dynamics 365 delivery practice being proposed, which industry specialists will participate, and whether the project team has implemented the relevant applications at a similar scale. Do not assume that broad advisory capability automatically means deep expertise in every Dynamics 365 module.
7. RSM US
Consider RSM when: a mid-market organisation wants Microsoft business applications alongside industry, finance and advisory services.
RSM describes a Microsoft practice spanning Dynamics 365 applications, Power Platform, Azure and related services. Its public materials cover Business Central, Finance, Supply Chain, Sales, Customer Service and other business applications. RSM also publishes customer examples involving Dynamics 365 implementations and business-process integration.
What to validate: the relevant product team, implementation methodology, named resources, industry experience and availability of post-go-live managed application services. Ask how the proposed delivery model uses RSM’s broader advisory capabilities without adding unnecessary programme overhead. See RSM’s published Microsoft business applications portfolio and ask the firm to map its current capabilities to your project scope.
8. Sikich
Consider Sikich when: you need ERP or CRM implementation, modernisation or recovery support and want to assess a professional-services-led provider.
Sikich describes CRM and ERP implementation work across multiple industries, with services that include implementation, migration, integration and support. Its published customer examples include Dynamics 365 projects in sectors such as construction and manufacturing. Buyers evaluating a troubled implementation may also want to ask about its ERP rescue and recovery approach.
What to validate: the proposed team’s experience with your Dynamics 365 applications, the approach to reusing existing configuration and data, the scope of any rescue assessment, and how delivery ownership is established when another partner is involved. Review its ERP and CRM implementation services as a starting point.
Quick comparison: which firms belong on your shortlist?
| Firm | Potential evaluation angle | Questions to prioritise |
|---|---|---|
| Avanade | Enterprise Microsoft transformation | Programme governance, architecture, global delivery model |
| Hitachi Solutions | Industry-focused Microsoft integration | Industry IP, accelerator maintenance, customisation |
| MCA Connect | Manufacturing and distribution | Production, planning, warehouse and supply-chain depth |
| Sunrise Technologies | Retail, apparel and supply chain | Partner extensions, deployment scope, ongoing support |
| Armanino | Finance and multi-entity requirements | Consolidation, reporting, integrations and finance controls |
| Crowe | Industry and advisory-led requirements | Relevant product delivery team and sector expertise |
| RSM US | Mid-market Microsoft applications | Product fit, methodology, staffing and managed services |
| Sikich | ERP/CRM implementation and modernisation | Migration, integration, recovery and delivery ownership |
This table is a shortlist aid, not a scorecard or ranking. The best match can change significantly depending on whether you are deploying Business Central, Finance and Supply Chain Management, Sales, Customer Service or a combination of applications.
Understand Microsoft’s partner designations before comparing firms
Microsoft’s partner programme has evolved. Buyers should avoid relying on outdated references to Gold or Silver status as if they were the current primary designations. Microsoft’s Solutions Partner designations are tied to solution areas and capability requirements, while specializations provide additional recognition for specific customer scenarios.
For Dynamics 365 work, examine the relevant Business Applications capabilities and any specializations that match the actual scope—such as Finance, Supply Chain, Sales, Service or Small and Midsize Business Management. The appropriate designation is a useful screening signal, but it does not replace project references or an assessment of the assigned team. Microsoft’s Solutions Partner designation guidance explains the programme and its capability model.
How to evaluate a Dynamics 365 implementation partner
1. Match the partner to the exact Dynamics 365 application
Do not accept a general claim of Dynamics 365 expertise as sufficient. Business Central, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Sales, Customer Service, Field Service and Commerce have different functional and technical demands. Ask for recent projects involving the applications and capabilities in your scope.
2. Test industry knowledge using real operating scenarios
Prepare two or three scenarios that reflect your actual work: a production schedule change, a multi-warehouse replenishment decision, a month-end consolidation, a customer service escalation or a project-cost overrun. Ask the partner to explain how it would design the process, which standard capabilities it would use and where extensions may be required.
3. Meet the delivery team—not only the sales team
Request names, roles, locations, allocation and relevant experience for the solution architect, functional leads, technical lead, data migration lead and project manager. Confirm whether those people are committed to your project and how substitutions will be approved.
4. Verify customer references
Speak with at least two customers whose project size, industry, Dynamics 365 applications and integration landscape resemble yours. Ask about scope changes, data quality, staffing continuity, testing, go-live readiness, post-launch support and what the customer would do differently.
5. Compare the full commercial model
Normalise proposals against the same scope baseline. Include discovery, configuration, customisation, integrations, migration, testing, training, travel, licensing, partner extensions, internal staff time, support and future upgrades. A low implementation fee is not necessarily a low total cost of ownership.
6. Confirm support and product-update responsibilities
Define hypercare, support hours, severity levels, response targets, escalation routes, release validation, regression testing and knowledge transfer. Ask who owns the environment after go-live and how the partner will help manage Microsoft’s regular cloud updates.
Questions to ask before signing
- Which Dynamics 365 applications and versions have you implemented for organisations with a similar operating model?
- Who will be assigned to our project, and how much time will each key person commit?
- Which parts of the proposed solution use standard Microsoft functionality, partner extensions or custom development?
- Can we speak with customers who have completed a comparable implementation?
- How will data migration, reconciliation and business sign-off be managed?
- Who owns each integration, including middleware, third-party vendors and ongoing monitoring?
- What assumptions, exclusions and dependencies sit behind the estimate?
- How are change requests assessed, approved and priced?
- What is included in hypercare and ongoing support?
- What would make you recommend reducing scope or moving the go-live date?
Common mistakes when selecting a Microsoft Dynamics 365 partner
- Choosing a firm because of its Microsoft designation without checking the specific application and delivery team.
- Assuming a large global provider is automatically better for a focused mid-market implementation.
- Comparing proposals with different assumptions, exclusions and migration scope.
- Accepting a partner’s industry claims without speaking to comparable customers.
- Underestimating internal resource requirements for data ownership, testing and change management.
- Leaving post-go-live support, release management and knowledge transfer until after contract signature.
Final recommendation
Use these eight firms to build an initial shortlist, not to make the decision for you. Start by defining the Dynamics 365 applications, operating locations, industry requirements and integration scope. Then assess the actual team, delivery evidence, customer references, commercial assumptions and support model. A partner that is a strong fit for a global Finance and Supply Chain programme may not be the right choice for a focused Business Central deployment or a Sales implementation.
For a broader selection framework, read SeerOmega’s ERP implementation partner selection guide, ERP partner red flags checklist and regional partner vs global system integrator comparison. If your programme is specifically focused on Business Central, also review our Business Central licensing guide.
Editorial note: This article is an independent buyer-evaluation resource. Inclusion does not indicate paid placement, Microsoft endorsement or a guarantee of delivery quality. Partner programme status, capabilities and geographic coverage can change; verify details directly with Microsoft and each provider before procurement.
