LEAD365: A Dynamics 365 Training Framework for UAT and Adoption

When Microsoft introduced Success by Design, it reframed how partners approach cloud implementations. The framework is not a checklist of technical tasks but a philosophy of delivery, one that insists on strategy before execution.

If strategy is indeed necessary to roll out business applications, training and adoption also require a strategic approach. nevertheless, the traditional approach to user training has always be train-the-trainer, not users.

How can IT leaders and Microsoft partners adopt a strategic apporach to user training that goes beyond the templated train-the-trainer approach? Is there a way to merge Success by Design with a training strategy? In this post, we will learn about LEAD365 our training delivery framework

Success by Design: The Framework Behind Successful Cloud Implementations

At the heart of Success by Design lies a simple premise: successful projects are designed, not improvised.

Every stage, from solution blueprint to cutover is guided by structured planning, quality gates, and proactive risk management. In that context, training cannot be not an afterthought. It must be an essential part of the delivery process, enabling users to understand, adopt, and operate the system long after go-live.

However, many projects still treat training as a final milestone, often condensed into a few hurried sessions near the end. This approach ignores the human side of transformation which is an essential factor that determines whether technology investments deliver value.

Why Training Strategy Is More Important Than Training Delivery

Success by Design recommends defining a user teadiness and training strategy early in the project lifecycle. This is where many implementations falter.

The traditional "train-the-trainer" model is easy to deliver but it rarely gives users conficence is the new solution. This approach assumes that super users who are already stretched by their day jobs and the additional workload required to implement the solution can absorb complex changes and then pass that knowledge to their teams.

The outcome is predictable. Training becomes generic, process variations are lost, and critical insights never reach the end user.

As a consequence, users test without understanding what they are validating. UAT tickets increase, consultants are forced into reactive support, and deadlines slip.

Without a structured strategy, training becomes a liability rather than an enabler.

Turning Training into Adoption

I developed LEAD365 to address this challenge. It is a structured adoption framework that fits directly into Microsoft's Success by Design methodology, ensuring that training supports strategy rather than interrupts it.

The framework follows four progressive phases, each aligned with a key stage of implementation:

• Learn: Introduces users to the system during analysis and fit-gap. They understand scope, business context, and the "why" behind the change.

• Engage: Focuses on role-based training during design and configuration. Users validate the solution and develop a sense of ownership.

• Adopt: Provides process-based training before and during UAT. Users test effectively and raise fewer non-issues, allowing UAT to progress smoothly.

• Drive: Ensures reinforcement after go-live through continuous learning. Adoption becomes sustainable, reducing reliance on hypercare and consultant time.

Each phase can be implemented independently or as a complete adoption strategy, depending on the partner's delivery model.

The Benefits of LEAD365 and the Results

LEAD365 transforms training from a cost centre into a measurable advantage for both partners and clients.

For Microsoft Partners

Partners who adopt LEAD365 gain operational and commercial benefits:

• Protect project margins by reducing rework and free-of-charge fixes.

• Increase consultant efficiency by removing repetitive user sessions from their workload.

• Enhance client relationships through a structured, branded adoption framework.

• Standardise delivery across projects, creating consistency and predictability.

These benefits directly impact profitability. By reducing UAT escalations and minimising hypercare, partners can deliver more projects with the same team capacity.

For Clients

For end customers, LEAD365 creates a smoother and more predictable implementation experience:

• Confidence during UAT: Users understand what they are testing and why it matters.

• Reduced disruption: Teams transition faster because training is built around real processes, not theory.

• Faster ROI: The business reaches full system adoption earlier, maximising the investment in Dynamics 365.

Clients experience less frustration and gain a more profound sense of trust in their implementation partner, the foundation of long-term success.

The Future of Training in Cloud Implementations

ERP and CRM systems evolve continuously and adoption can no longer be treated as a one-off event. It must be designed into the implementation process.

LEAD365 provides that foundation. It translates Microsoft's Success by Design principles into practical, repeatable steps that partners and clients can apply with confidence. Training, when treated as a strategic pillar, becomes the link between configuration and value, the point where delivery meets adoption.

Take the Next Step

D365 Training helps Microsoft Partners and SMBs deliver projects that finish stronger — with confident users, predictable UAT, and measurable ROI.

To explore how LEAD365 can integrate into your delivery model, book a discovery call below.

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