Directions NA 2026: What Partners and ISVs Need to Know

In this episode of ISV Talks, Carol Livingston talks with Directions North America 2026 Committee Members Mary Miller and Trish Boccuti about what partners can expect at the 2026 conference, happening April 27–29, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando. They walk through the updated tracks for consultants, developers, sales and marketing, and the dedicated “New to BC” learning path, along with this year’s focus on fresh, AI‑infused content.They also highlight one of the biggest draws of Directions NA: direct access to Microsoft. The Microsoft team will deliver 75 sessions, lead multiple keynotes, and be onsite throughout the event to meet with partners and ISVs. Whether you’re looking for roadmap insights, product guidance, or answers to customer‑driven questions, this is one of the best opportunities of the year to connect directly with Microsoft.

In this ISV Talks podcast episode, Carol Livingston, owner of Dynamics Connections, interviews Daniel Chilcott and Jon Milner (JJ), Managers and Co-Founders at Flowgear. They share how AI is reshaping the integration landscape and why trusted platforms with real engineering depth matter more than ever.Daniel and JJ explain how AI is helping non-technical users build clearer prototypes, improving communication between business teams and engineering, and making it easier to connect data across multiple systems. Their message is clear: AI is not replacing integration platforms. It is strengthening them and expanding what organizations can accomplish. They also discuss the growing importance of trust. Many companies are discovering that quick build tools are not enough when integrations touch revenue critical systems. Customers want platforms with proven connectors, deep domain knowledge, and the experience to handle complexity at scale. This episode is a great resource for anyone exploring AI, data connectivity, or the future of cross system intelligence. Learn more about Flowgear:  https://www.flowgear.net/

On this episode of the ISV Talks podcast, Carol Livingston interviews Eric Fabian Humes, MSc. MBA of MetaViewer Paperless Automation from Metafile to discuss the evolving landscape of AP Automation. They dig into what’s changing in AP Automation, including a powerful new trend: ISVs joining forces to deliver stronger, combined solutions for customers.Eric also walked through how MetaViewer Paperless Automation from Metafile is using AI to elevate AP Automation and Document Management across the ERP platforms they integrate with.

On this special edition of ISV Talks, Carol Livingston was able to sit down with Chris Giesbrecht, Manager of IT and Business Analytics at AgriHub Inc during Community Summit NA 2025. Chris manages a very complex GP system with over 13+ ISVs and roughly 200 users. We get specific about what Chris is hunting for at Summit: practical AI and automation that helps people today. We discussed his experience in attending Summit NA as a user over several years and also more recently as a speaker and panelist. Chris explains why AgriHub is taking a year to evaluate options regarding the GP end of life and the path to an ERP migration, learning from peers who have already done GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central migrations, and avoid getting caught in the last-minute rush. We also spend time on the part that can make or break a project: change management, user adoption, and getting people involved early so the new system actually fits how work should happen.He also shares great advice for first‑time attendees—don’t be afraid to introduce yourself, ask questions, and explore. From unexpected lunch‑table connections to learning from peers who share the same challenges, Chris highlights what so many attendees discover each year: you’re never alone in your ERP journey. The best insights often come from simply talking to other users, asking questions in sessions, and stepping a little outside your comfort zone. You never know which conversation or solution will help you solve tomorrow’s problem.

Big growth happens when sales reality meets operational truth, and that’s the heart of this ISV Talks episode with Alex Vandereycken  from XPR365. We dig into their new connector that unifies BigCommerce with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, then close the loop with PayFabric for payments and ShipperHQ for shipping. It’s a cleaner, more reliable order‑to‑cash flow built for real B2B complexity—contract pricing, account hierarchies, approvals, and delivery promises that don’t fall apart once the order hits the ERP.Recorded at the Community Summit New Desk booth, the conversation tracks how far the ecosystem has come since 2018 and why companies are tired of brittle middleware. Alex shares how booth demos showed orders flowing from storefront to ERP with payment and shipping logic intact, generating strong interest—helped by XPR365’s credibility as the team behind the Shopify Connector Microsoft acquired in 2022. We explore why manufacturers and distributors need deep ERP alignment rather than duct tape, and how this connector honors Business Central’s account‑level rules while reducing exceptions and tightening reconciliation. With ShipperHQ adding carrier intelligence to the same flow, sales and operations finally share one version of the promise.We wrap with field notes for Summit sponsors: visibility matters more than booth size, and the real wins come from walking the floor, meeting partners, and showing customers how tight integrations remove manual work and unlock revenue. For anyone building a B2B commerce stack on BigCommerce and Business Central—and wanting payments and shipping to “just work”—this episode lays out the playbook.Follow the show, share it with a teammate who owns B2B commerce or ERP, and leave a quick review to help others find it. Your feedback shapes what we dig into next.

On this episode of ISV Talks, Carol Livingston interviews Shawn Dorward, Tasha Anspach and Beth (Brademeyer) Harvey about their ReQlogic end-to-end procurement solution. They also share about their expanding Dynamics-focused solutions, what's new, future LogicBlocks and what they are seeing across the channel.   www.reqlogic.com 

A fresh name only matters if it solves real problems. We sat down with Rux to unpack how they combined Open Door Technology’s rentals and services products with ERP Connect Consulting’s BC Toolbox apps, and why Community Summit was the moment to reintroduce themselves to the Microsoft Dynamics ecosystem. From a busy 10x20 booth to a packed BC Bash, the team focused on real demos, real conversations, and the relationships that make the channel work.We dig into the product strategy behind the brand: vertical strength for rental and service operations paired with horizontal tools that deepen Business Central. The headline news is telematics. Customers want equipment health and usage data inside Business Central, right where agreements, assets, and service decisions live. Rux details a fall integration with Samsara, with another provider on deck for spring, designed to cut downtime, protect revenue, and tighten maintenance with real-time alerts mapped to everyday workflows.Beyond features, we talk execution. Rux planned weeks ahead to secure strategic meetings, then used the show floor for organic connections and live demos that answered specific pains. They share simple, actionable advice for first-time sponsors: set your targets early, anchor your schedule to a booth, and be ready to adapt in the moment. Along the way, we celebrate the backbone of Summit—the volunteers who teach, prepare labs, and lift the entire community through shared knowledge.If you want a grounded view of how to make a strong showing at events like  Summit, launch a brand, sustain beloved apps like BC Toolbox, and build new value with telematics in Business Central, this conversation brings clarity and energy. Subscribe, share with a teammate who cares about asset uptime and field service, and leave a review with your biggest Summit takeaway.

ISV Talks: Acumatica Summit 2026 RecapIn this ISV Talks podcast episode, I sit down with Sal Buonocore, Marketing Director at Presales Leader, for a candid conversation about our experience at Acumatica Summit 2026 in Seattle, WA. After a week shaped by weather delays, full keynotes and break out sessions, and in-depth conversations, we wanted to capture our own reflections on what truly stood out.We walk through the moments that defined the week for us: the strength of the community, the learning opportunities, the product vision Acumatica shared for the year ahead, and the announcements that sparked the most discussion. From leadership changes to the new Ascent 2026 partner training program, we share the main takeaways that impacted us the most.If you’re looking for a candid, firsthand recap of this year’s Acumatica Summit, this conversation is a great place to start.Watch the full episode here 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_xbFtAzrKs

In this episode, Paystand’s Danny Hosea and Zachary Van Pelt break down how Paystand goes far beyond payment processing with a full AR workflow — automated invoice delivery, payment processing, reconciliation, collections, and now check scanning and a new customer portal. Learn how Paystand is helping VARs deliver more value across the Microsoft and Acumatica ecosystems. Great insights on payments, go‑to‑market collaboration, and what’s driving growth in 2026. If you’re in the Microsoft, Acumatica, Sage, or NetSuite ecosystems, this is a must‑listen.www.paystand.com 

Community Summit NA 2025 was a blast. In this ISV Talks Summit Edition, Carol Livingston sits down with Blake and Mark Rockwell from Rockton Software to get their perspective on the event. Mark has attended every Community Summit since its inception, and both guests share what it means to participate as long‑time sponsors within the Dynamics Communities. They discuss the value of showcasing their solutions for Dynamics ERPs and what they hope attendees will take away from their Summit experience.We talk through the reality of pricing inside manufacturers and distributors: tribal knowledge hidden in a salesperson’s head, fragile spreadsheets, too many price lists, and customizations that break at the worst time. Rockton Pricing Management flips that script with a rules-based system that centralizes logic across Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations, Business Central, CRM, and GP. Think tariffs applied in minutes, rebates booked to the right GL segments, layered discounts that reflect real negotiations, and clean audit trails that finance can trust. No more guesswork, no more hunting through Excel. Just consistent outcomes that turn complexity into margin.What makes this conversation different is how practical it gets. We share the on-the-fly booth demo that ran 45 minutes and answered each curveball with a yes, we can—and then showed how. We dig into how RPM evolves: start with a scripting escape hatch for rare edge cases, then fold proven patterns into the product so upgrades stay smooth. You’ll hear why community matters as much as code—clear messaging at the booth, candid referrals to other ISVs when they’re the better fit, and the kind of trust that speeds decisions faster than any search result.If you run Dynamics and pricing work eats your week, you’ll leave with a clear path to simplify. Subscribe, share this with your ops or finance lead, and tell us: which pricing rule do you want automated first?