Choosing a Business Central Implementation Partner: 3 Must-Ask Questions

Choosing a Business Central implementation partner isn’t just a checkbox decision—it can make or break your ERP project.

In a recent LinkedIn post, Sevi Poblete, a Microsoft recruiting specialist, laid out three essential questions every business leader should ask before choosing a Business Central implementation partner. We couldn’t agree more—and at Elliott Clark Consulting, we’ve built our business around answering those questions with transparency, experience, and proven results.

So if you’re in the process of choosing a Business Central implementation partner, here’s how to spot red flags—and how we stack up.

1. Who’s actually doing the work?

Many ERP firms, especially the larger firms, impress you during the sales process—only to hand your project off to junior staff, or worse, a totally different offshore team. Sure you'll see nice project resumes for your potential team but who is really doing the work when project time hits?

At Elliott Clark Consulting, we keep it simple:

• You're assigned a Your solution architect is working with you during the sales cycle. That gives you continuity and a comfort that you know who's leading your project from the beginning. You know before you sign.

• Senior U.S.-based consultants do the work—no offshore, no juniors.

• We bring decades of Business Central experience to the table.

You deserve to know exactly who’s running your project.

2. What do your first 60 days look like?

This is where most ERP implementations derail—vague roadmaps, weak discovery, and misaligned teams. If your partner can’t explain how they onboard you in the first 60 days, it’s time to walk away.

Here’s what we do during the first two months of a Business Central implementation:

• Weeks 1–2: Executive kickoff, stakeholder interviews, full project planning and alignment

• Weeks 3–4:  Process validation workshops, introductory training, Data quality analysis and migration planning

• Weeks 5–8: configuration and process workshops, data migration tasks - we're in full implementation mode at this point.

This is a rough roadmap from a timeline perspective. Depending on size, complexity, and the implementation package, some projects go faster and some go longer. No matter the size, there is no confusion, no missed steps, no scope creep—just a smart, structured plan from day one. We use this same approach every time to ensure success.

3. What happens when things go sideways?

Every ERP firm has a highlight reel. But what happens when the project hits a snag?

At Elliott Clark Consulting, we’ve handled hundreds of Business Central implementations. And here’s what we don’t do: ghost you when something breaks.

Here’s what we do instead:

• Transparent communication from the actual team—not a faceless PM wall

• Real-time issue tracking and documentation so nothing gets swept under the rug

• Rapid response and resolution, no finger-pointing

  
  

ERP is complex. But the way we manage problems? Refreshingly simple—and proactive.

Bottom Line: Choosing a Business Central Implementation Partner Is a Strategic Decision

You’re not just buying software. You’re choosing a team that will touch every part of your business—from finance and inventory to operations and reporting.

That decision deserves more than a polished demo.

• Know who’s doing the work

• Understand your first 60 days

• Plan for when things get messy

If you’re in the middle of choosing a Business Central implementation partner, let’s have a real conversation. Or if you're in a project and it's chaos - it's time to regain control. We're here to help.

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Bonus: Want more inside stories from the ERP front lines? Subscribe to ERP Gone Wild—our founder, Stephanie Clark's LinkedIn newsletter packed with true tales of transformation, chaos, and control. You won't believe some of these stories - all true, all with lessons learned.