Navision Independent Freelancers Unite!!!

TallMikeyTallMikey Member Posts: 40
edited 2011-02-09 in General Chat
(Posted with Permission of Webmaster / Luc)

Hello, this message is for everyone who works with Navision and are Independent / Freelance consultants - i.e. work with the product but aren't really tied to an NSC. Also it may be of interest to anyone who is thinking of going the independent route.

I work independently and have joined up with some other freelancers here in the USA and we thought we can help each other out. There are many of us who either support our own clients and / or work through other organizations. The money is usually great working like this, but there are some drawbacks that we are trying to get around. We thought by working together we can all benefit!

Also, if there are end-users or NSC's that need very experienced people to help them, we are compiling a good group of veryexperienced Navision people.

Since MBS doesn't really cater to us, here are some things that by working together our group been able to overcome:

NAVISION LICENSES - How to get a (legal and current) Navision developer licenses to work with.

PARTNERSOURCE / INTRANET - How to get our own (again legal) login to all the internal MBS Navision resources.

I HAVE TOO MUCH WORK / MY CLIENT IS ASKING FOR SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT - For those of us who service our own clients, sometimes we get overburdened or a customer wants a module that we don't know so well. For example, a friend who supports a few Manufacturing and Distribution clients
had one of his clients ask him to implement payroll - luckily I knew someone who had this skill, I put them in touch, and after a few conversations, they worked together to have a happy customer.

I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WORK - Sometimes we may be between projects with our customers and want to put some extra money in our pocket (or we are just bored!)

ORDERING NEW MODULES - Most of us are supporting clients that have a bad relationship with their NSC, and it is awkward when they want to order new things for their license (users, granules, etc.) We have a good way around this - which also brings in more money!

EVENTS LIKE THE PARTNER CONFERENCE AND TRAINING - Working independently, we sometimes don't know about the upcoming events, and if we want to attend one of those or some training classes, it is difficult to attend.

NEED SALES HELP - Sometimes an existing client may want to look into a big new project (rolling out to other locations, new modules, integrations, etc.) but sales may not be your thing. Me and a few others that I know are technical people that are used to the sales cycle (we are _NOT_ the normal sofware sales people - don't ever call me that!! :> )

LEVEL 2 PROBLEM SOLVING - Sometimes the message boards just aren't enough! Since I have started working with and trusing a few other really good Navision freelancers, they have helped me with at least two complex problems that I was struggling with alone. It's nice to have someone to help work through a problem with.

WORKING IN A GROUP - I really like working for my self and being able to service my own clients, but sometimes it is nice to have other people that are in the same situation.

GO ON A VACATION - Since I met some other independents, I can actually go away for a few days! I call one of the other people I know, and they can help out one of my customers if I go away for a few days and the customer has a show-stopping problem. Then I do the same for them when they go away.

HEALTH INSURANCE, ETC. - If we have enough people that are in the same boat, we could even see about having group health insurance, which is one thing that I really miss from working for an NSC!

If you run across any of these, please send me an e-mail and we can talk further. I have been working with Navision since 1995, and I like working for myself, but am much more comfortable now that I am working with others that have the same goals and challenges that I do.

If there are going to be enough people interested, maybe we can all get together one night during the WW Partner Conference - and if you want to go but don't know how to get yourself a ticket, let me know!

Thanks Everyone,
Michael Anderson
michael@it-force.com
+1-858-405-7172

Comments

  • vanrofivanrofi Member Posts: 272
    Great idea!

    I work for an NSC myself and I am happy with that.
    NSC themselves encounter problems regarding experience in a module or in finding experienced personnel.

    For this reason they look for resources within other partners. Once you unite it could be helpfull to have a website where we can place a demand for resource, and where you guys can reply to...

    Maybe usefull to integrate this in Mibuso...

    Good luck!
  • Timo_LässerTimo_Lässer Member Posts: 481
    vanrofi wrote:
    Great idea!

    [...] it could be helpfull to have a website where we can place a demand for resource, and where you guys can reply to...

    Maybe usefull to integrate this in Mibuso...

    Good luck!
    That would be a great platform.
    Just like MBSgurus.com for MBS Professionals, something (e. g. MBS-Ressources.com or something like that) could be the worldwide MeetingPoint for sharing MBS Professionals.
    There could be something like the business directory here on mibuso.com with more details of their knowledge (Products (Axapta, Navision, CRM, ...), Versions, Modules, AddOns (e. g. Payroll, ...), Special Solutions (CTI, ...), ..., ..., ...).
    Perhaps it could be possible to create a business network where you can see which partner / freelancer cooperate with which partner / freelancer.
    This could be very usefull if you need more than one freelancer for one of your projects. Then you can see that this freelancers are working together which results in a more efficient work for your project.
    Timo Lässer
    Microsoft Dynamics NAV Developer since 1997
    MSDynamics.de - German Microsoft Dynamics Community - member of [clip]
  • Luc_VanDyckLuc_VanDyck Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 3,633
    See my questions in the Feedback forum regarding this subject, dated august 2002 & december 2002:

    http://www.mibuso.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1000
    http://www.mibuso.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1216
    No support using PM or e-mail - Please use this forum. BC TechDays 2024: 13 & 14 June 2024, Antwerp (Belgium)
  • TallMikeyTallMikey Member Posts: 40
    Yes I guess there are two situations here. The one I am in, and many of people I know are in, are that we have our own companies that we support on our own, and aren't tied to an NSC. Some of the people I know do work for NSC's from time to time, but most just want to service their own customers the best they can. I do know of a lot of NCS's that are looking for resources.
  • dick11dick11 Member Posts: 60
    Dear Michael

    Yes I'm interested too. I sent you my email address.
    Let's give it a try.
    Dick van der Sar

    www.dasautomatisering.nl
  • davmac1davmac1 Member Posts: 1,283
    Sounds like a great idea. Sent you an email too with my details.
    I am an independent, but with full MS credentials - Certified Partner and MBS partner.
  • brettibretti Member Posts: 15
    Hi Guys - have been following this post and agree that it would be a great idea. We have been kicking around some ideas on how to cater more effectively to Freelancers on mbsgurus.com. Many Freelancers use our site successfully now for finding work but we are always open to suggestions on how we make this work better for everyone.

    We are in the process of developing our next release of mbsgurus.com now so if you have any suggestions on what we can do for all you Freelancers out there then please do let me know. We could even look at adding in a completely separate section specifically for Freelancers and companies who need/use them.
    Let us know how we can help!

    Brett Iredale
    www.mbsgurus.com
    www.mbsGurus.com
    The Global Employment Portal for Microsoft Business Solutions Specialists
  • ShenpenShenpen Member Posts: 386
    And how do freelancers get a licence?

    Do It Yourself is they key. Standard code might work - your code surely works.
  • Marije_BrummelMarije_Brummel Member, Moderators Design Patterns Posts: 4,262
    Shenpen wrote:
    And how do freelancers get a licence?

    NOT Possible.
  • ShenpenShenpen Member Posts: 386
    This is why freelancing is dubious to me - I think it is not possible to answer anything but the simplest questions without looking at the code, and customers usually don't buy development granules.

    Do It Yourself is they key. Standard code might work - your code surely works.
  • Marije_BrummelMarije_Brummel Member, Moderators Design Patterns Posts: 4,262
    Shenpen wrote:
    This is why freelancing is dubious to me - I think it is not possible to answer anything but the simplest questions without looking at the code, and customers usually don't buy development granules.

    If you have report/dataport designer you have the debugger and codecoverage.

    I know it is not much, but it's a start.

    And if a customer thinks hiring a freelancer is cheaper or better he will have to purchase the application designer granule. This will enable the freelancer to do his job.
  • ShenpenShenpen Member Posts: 386
    Well, maybe you are right. Maybe I am just too accustomed as an NSC employee to the easier way of troubleshooting, such as inserting messages in codeunits to find out where the data gets strange etc. But its possible.

    Actually, if I were a customer, I would hire a freelancer as an employee for two years, and buy no implementation services, and only report/dataport designer, because if a company is flexible, then an amazing amount of customization is possible only by writing batch-mode reports and nothing else. Actually, it can be quite possible that this is the correct answer for the usual "customisation vs. upgradability" question, - it is so easy to write "wizard" reports that generate items, customers, orders,invoices... without changing the standard system.

    As an NSC, I can't do it as customers expect to "repair" the software instead of adding the " 6th little transfer order generator batch job especially for Joe", but if a customer has a freelancer hired as an employee working as an internal consultant, I think it is possible to convice people that this is a better way than hackin' everything.

    It might work.

    Do It Yourself is they key. Standard code might work - your code surely works.
  • Marije_BrummelMarije_Brummel Member, Moderators Design Patterns Posts: 4,262
    Actualy, this is becoming a normal thing here in holland.

    After you have 'finished' your implementation with your NSC, and you cannot afford to train your own Navision guru, you can hire a freelancer to fine-tune Navision to your orginasation. This has a few good things to it.

    A NSC mostly simply does not have the time to let its good people stay at old customers,

    Most NSC employees want to implement new projects, not play help-desk

    If you hire a freelancer you most of the time hire one person you can call every time you need him, if you call your NSC you can only hope for 'that guy who knows my company' to be sent to you.

    Freelancers are generaly more flexible and cheaper

    Freelancers and small navision service centers are poping out of the ground here in NL faster than you can see.

    At the end you have a more sattisfied customer and a NSC-Customer relationship that lasts longer.

    As for me personal I just like to develop add-on software for navision and don't want contact with end-users at all.

    I only use this forum because they don't let me out much... :mrgreen:
  • ShenpenShenpen Member Posts: 386
    Beware, development without contact to end users can lead to disasters. The longer the communications chain, the more misunderstandings appear...

    Do It Yourself is they key. Standard code might work - your code surely works.
  • Marije_BrummelMarije_Brummel Member, Moderators Design Patterns Posts: 4,262
    Shenpen wrote:
    Beware, development without contact to end users can lead to disasters. The longer the communications chain, the more misunderstandings appear...

    I'll tell my boss :mrgreen: (or not :wink: )
  • DenSterDenSter Member Posts: 8,304
    I think your boss already knows Mark :mrgreen:
  • David_SingletonDavid_Singleton Member Posts: 5,479
    DenSter wrote:
    I think your boss already knows Mark :mrgreen:

    Yeah, but it took him nearly 2 years to find out.
    David Singleton
  • Alex_ChowAlex_Chow Member Posts: 5,063
    If the group is really good, then we'd be all in a group right now.

    The problem in the end is that the people who forms the group will usually want to charge for their "group" services. The reason is they need to make a profit, and it's only natural since there are certain overhead associated when forming an entity.

    I'm still waiting for a non-profit group to start to unite the developers and implementors.
  • vanrofivanrofi Member Posts: 272
    And I'm currently looking for a freelance NAV developer with .net, VB knowledge in Belgian Area (Area Geel) :-k and can't find any?
  • Alex_ChowAlex_Chow Member Posts: 5,063
    vanrofi wrote:
    And I'm currently looking for a freelance NAV developer with .net, VB knowledge in Belgian Area (Area Geel) :-k and can't find any?

    A person with that skillset and not charging you an arm and a leg... Welcome to our world.
  • ara3nara3n Member Posts: 9,255
    How much is an arm and leg these days?
    Ahmed Rashed Amini
    Independent Consultant/Developer


    blog: https://dynamicsuser.net/nav/b/ara3n
  • Alex_ChowAlex_Chow Member Posts: 5,063
    ara3n wrote:
    How much is an arm and leg these days?

    Just ask Mark or Erik how much they charge. :D
  • KarenhKarenh Member Posts: 209
    bretti wrote:
    Hi Guys - have been following this post and agree that it would be a great idea. We have been kicking around some ideas on how to cater more effectively to Freelancers on mbsgurus.com. Many Freelancers use our site successfully now for finding work but we are always open to suggestions on how we make this work better for everyone.

    We are in the process of developing our next release of mbsgurus.com now so if you have any suggestions on what we can do for all you Freelancers out there then please do let me know. We could even look at adding in a completely separate section specifically for Freelancers and companies who need/use them.
    Let us know how we can help!

    Brett Iredale
    http://www.mbsgurus.com

    I clicked on your link and see a website titled Zulu trade and some rubbish. Have you changed your website?
  • kapamaroukapamarou Member Posts: 1,152
    Karenh wrote:
    I clicked on your link and see a website titled Zulu trade and some rubbish. Have you changed your website?

    It's a post from 2005 :whistle:

    http://replay.waybackmachine.org/200502 ... x?Loc=Home
  • dick11dick11 Member Posts: 60
    Most of the time I am hired by a NSC so the license key is not a problem.
    One client of me has its own license key, so I can develop there within his license range.

    That's how it works for me.
    Dick van der Sar

    www.dasautomatisering.nl
  • SuhailSuhail Member Posts: 23
    Great
  • TallyHoTallyHo Member Posts: 383
    edited 2019-06-24
    BlackTiger wrote: »
    NAV freelancing is a dead market zone. It never actually existed because of dev licensing model.

    True. Extension development could bring some change
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