Dynamics 365 F&O partner: do you still need one?
For the initial ERP rollout, a partner still helps. For day-to-day X++ changes, Skalp AI delivers specs, code, tests and a pull request your CIO approves.
What does a Dynamics 365 F&O partner actually do?
Microsoft says it plainly: customers determine the ERP configuration "supported by their implementation partner", then define, develop, test and operate their own extensions (source at the end of this article). A Dynamics 365 implementation partner therefore plays three roles, often sold together:
- Implementation: scoping, configuration, data migration, testing and go-live of Finance & Operations.
- Changes and development: X++ extensions, reports, data entities and integrations requested by the business over time.
- Support and run: handling incidents on your customizations, often under an AMS contract.
These roles are filled by different kinds of players: large systems integrators, specialist Microsoft Dynamics partners, IT services firms, freelancers or an in-house team. The real question is not "who is the best Dynamics 365 partner" but: for which of these three roles do you still need a partner billed by the day?
How do D365 partners charge?
Three models dominate. The figures below are benchmarks observed by Skalp AI in the market (2026), not a study: a Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations partner bills €1,000–1,500 per day, and time-and-materials F&O support runs at around €1,000 per day.
| Billing model | Unit | Benchmark | Who carries the risk? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time and materials | Person-day | €1,000–1,500 per day (F&O partner) | The customer: every extra day is billed |
| Fixed price | Project or work package | Quoted from estimated days | The provider, within the signed scope |
| AMS contract | Monthly retainer or T&M | Around €1,000 per day in T&M (F&O support) | Shared, depending on the contract's commitments |
| Skalp AI | Credit per developed ticket | See the Basic, Pro and Max plans | The credit is only consumed when the code is generated |
At Skalp AI, AI chat, qualification and design are free. A smart contract consumes 1 credit only when the code is generated: ≈ €400 on Basic, €200 on Pro (with a €2,000/month subscription per environment), ≈ €200 at best on Max (custom quote), degressive in packs on Pro and Max. The ticket-by-ticket comparison is in classic SI vs Skalp AI, and the full budget structure in Dynamics 365 implementation cost.
How to choose the best Dynamics 365 partner
There is no objective ranking of Dynamics 365 partners, and we will not publish one. There are, however, verifiable criteria to put to every candidate, whether a large systems integrator, an IT services firm, a freelancer or Skalp AI:
| Criterion | The question to ask | Good sign |
|---|---|---|
| F&O references | Have you shipped extensions on Finance & Operations, not only Business Central or CRM? | X++ developments comparable to yours |
| Code and repository ownership | Where does the code live: in our Azure DevOps or yours? | The repository is in your Azure DevOps organization |
| Reversibility | What do we get back if we change provider? | Code, specs and documentation already on your side |
| CIO sign-off | Who approves what goes to production? | A pull request approved by your CIO before merge |
| Lead time | How long from request to code? | A measured lead time, not just availability |
| Billing transparency | Do we pay for time or for a result? | The billing trigger is written down |
| Data security | Where is our data hosted? Is it used to train models? | Identified hosting, no training on your data |
If you are already under contract and several answers disappoint you, read changing your Dynamics 365 partner.
When you no longer need a partner for development
For everyday changes (forms, reports, data entities, parameters), the "one consultant, many days" model is no longer the only one. Skalp AI, an AI-powered D365 F&O agency, produces your developments with its AI platform and its experts:
- the AI analyses your ERP context and generates the specification, the X++ code and the unit tests;
- delivery is a pull request in Azure DevOps, and your CIO approves it before merge;
- average delivery time: 2 h on Pro and Max, 4 h on Basic;
- chat, qualification and design are free; the credit is only consumed when the code is generated (smart contract);
- data is hosted on Azure in Europe and is never used to train models.
Basic hands a package over to your IT team, built on a standard context. Pro adds analysis of your Azure DevOps repository, build and CI, and deployment to your instance. To find your fit: which Skalp plan to choose, then the detailed pricing.
What you still need an expert for
Let's be honest: the initial implementation of an ERP is still an expert project. Process scoping, configuration, data migration and change management cannot be generated.
For the steps AI does not automate, the Max plan covers tests/UAT, documentation, training and go-live, handled by an expert from the Skalp AI network, in-house or partner. And if you keep your partner for advisory or architecture work, Skalp AI works alongside them, in the same repository.
For production support, the options (Microsoft support, AMS, in-house team, Skalp AI) are compared in Dynamics 365 F&O support: options and cost.
Sources
- Microsoft Learn, "Service description for finance and operations apps", updated 26 Mar 2026, accessed 8 Nov 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my partner and use Skalp?
Yes. Skalp AI delivers through pull requests in the customer's Azure DevOps repository, approved by your CIO. Your partner can keep advisory, architecture or project steering.
How much does a D365 F&O partner cost per day?
Benchmark observed by Skalp AI in the market (2026): €1,000–1,500 per day for a Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations partner.
How much does D365 F&O support cost?
Benchmark observed by Skalp AI in the market (2026): around €1,000 per day on a time-and-materials basis. The options are detailed in Dynamics 365 F&O support: options and cost.
What does Skalp charge?
Chat, qualification and design are free. 1 credit is consumed when the code is generated: ≈ €400 on Basic, €200 on Pro (€2,000/month subscription per environment), ≈ €200 at best on Max (custom quote), degressive in packs. Details on the pricing page.
Ready to transform your D365?
Join the CIOs who develop their D365 tickets in 2–4 h for 1 credit (≈ €400 on Basic, €200 on Pro).