How to get the most out of Community Summit North America
What is Community Summit?
Community Summit North America is where Microsoft users – from finance pros to IT leads to supply chain managers – come together to learn and connect. Community Summit North America is the largest independent Microsoft business app conference, connecting users, Partners, ISVs, and business application experts across all industries and experience levels.
It is held annually in various cities across America. This year, Summit will be held from October 19th to the 23rd in Orlando, Florida. If you have not yet registered, don’t worry, there is still time!
There are so many things to do during the conference, so let's dive into how to prepare to get the most out of your experience at Community Summit 2025.
Why attend Summit?
First, one of the best reasons to attend the community summit is the community! There will be over 5,000 attendees, including Microsoft users, partners, and MVPs (Microsoft most valuable professionals). With so many people from the Microsoft ecosystem attending the same conference, there will be many opportunities to connect and meet someone new in your profession and field using the same app as you.
Summit revolves around opportunities for learning and growth, offering over 600 education sessions with tips, tricks, and tutorials. If you have questions about Microsoft apps and tools, this is the place to get those questions answered and grow your knowledge.
The Expo Hall
The expo floor is another great place to interact while attending Summit. Featuring hundreds of solutions and partners, all in one location. This is a great chance for you to connect and meet leaders in the Microsoft space, as well as other attendees who may have similar business needs, use cases, or questions as you. The three days of expo floor hours are an opportunity to meet the exhibitors and speakers at Summit, allowing you to connect with the experts within the Microsoft business application ecosystem.
Be sure to stop by Booth 1301 to meet with the Syvantis team →
Academy Classes
Another way to get the most out of your time at Summit is by enrolling in Academy Classes. This expert-led session offers topics such as Dynamics ERP platforms and Power Platform tools to Copilot, Fabric, and more. These classes are tailored to your skill level, so whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro, you will be able to get the skills you need.
Many Academy Classes are CPE-eligible, which is a great way to add major value to your attendance. There are single and multi-day options available, so be sure to check on the courses you would like to take and schedule ahead of time. Keep in mind that separate registration is required for each Academy Course, so be sure to secure your spot prior to the session beginning.
Hubs & Tech Medic Desks
When you break your arm, you go to the doctor’s office, but what about when your integration fails or your new tech breaks? Well, there are medics for that as well! Throughout Summit, User Hubs and Tech Medic Desks are your on-site doctor's office for solutions and quick fixes. There you will find staff who are seasoned experts who can help support you with issues you are facing and have been eager to get fixed. Available Monday – Thursday, there will be posted hours to connect with these specialists on various topics, including Dynamics 365 Business Central, Finance & Operations, Dynamics GP, and much more.
GP to BC Migration Preconference
If you’re still using Dynamics GP, attending the GP to BC Migration preconference should be a priority when planning out your Summit experience. This preconference is a focused, 8-hour session dedicated entirely to organizations using Dynamics GP that will discuss strategic insight directly from migration experts, along with real-world case studies from organizations that have successfully transitioned from GP to BC and the Partners that helped them achieve the results they needed.
Attendees will gain a clear understanding of key differences between GP and BC, explore available solutions, and learn how to navigate organizational change. This event is exclusively for GP customers. Separate registration is required to attend this preconference, so again, be sure to plan ahead.
Syvantis at Summit
Another bonus to attending Summit? We will be there! Syvantis is thrilled to once again exhibit at Summit, and this year, we have several exciting speaking sessions lined up. You do not want to miss out on our experts discussing how Microsoft and the Dynamics 365 stack can support your efforts to improve your systems.
We will again host a booth where you can interact with us and see how we go above and beyond with our booth design. Last year, our Tuscan Vineyard booth hit it out of the park with free-flowing Italian wines and expert-led conversation. And you won’t want to miss this year's booth theme!
Syvantis’ Tuscan Vineyard-themed booth at Community Summit 2024 in San Antonio, Texas
Odds are, if you are attending Summit, it is because you have very specific questions and concerns with your Microsoft business stack that you are hoping to solve when you get home from the show. We use the show floor hours as dedicated time to meeting with attendees in the user community and engaging in conversation to understand the needs that brought you to Summit—offering real-time feedback and consultation from our expert consulting team. We are here to listen to your concerns and offer real, lasting solutions. We want you to be there with us so much that we are also giving away a discount code for 10% off all access registration.
This session will give you the chance to hear from Syvantis CEO Janelle Riley discuss the benefits of transitioning from GP to BC. Janelle has been using BC for the past 8 years and has overseen dozens of migrations from GP to BC. This session will be a part of the Preconference that requires a separate registration so make sure you secure your spot now!
When: Sunday, October 19th, 1:30 pm – 2:00 pm ET
*This is a preconference session that requires separate registration
Where: Coastal A – Convention Center, Level 2
Speaker: Janelle Riley
CEO, CPA
Partner Solution Showcase: A Better Order Management Solution for D365 Sales and Business Central
We will showcase our integrated Order Management solution for Business Central and Dynamics 365 for Sales. We decided to use this experience to create a solution that delivers the same results without building each integration from scratch every single time. This allows us to offer Order Management at a price point within reach of businesses of all sizes.
When: Monday, October 20th, 11:00 am-12:00 pm ET
Where: Desoto 2 – Convention Center, Mezzanine
Speaker: Kellen Riley
Director of Product Development
What happens to my integrations when I migrate from GP to Business Central?
You have integrations between GP and other applications and want to migrate to Business Central. Get a behind-the-scenes understanding of the best practices for managing highly integrated Business Central projects. We'll walk you through what you should prioritize before, during, and after your project to maximize success.
When: Tuesday, October 21st, 10:20 am – 10:45 am ET
Where: Coastal 10 – Convention Center, Level 2
Speaker: Ken Riley
COO
Speaker: Kellen Riley
Director of Product Development
20 Surprising Differences between Business Central and Dynamics GP
Working in Dynamics GP compared to Business Central is not a 1-1 experience – so if you're considering an eventual move to Business Central from GP, this session is a must! Join our experts Janelle Riley and Todd Froemming for a fast-paced deep dive into user interface, terminology, and reporting differences.
When: Wednesday, October 22nd, 8:00 am – 9:00 am ET
Where: Coastal 6 – Convention Center, Level 2
Speaker: Janelle Riley
CEO, CPA
Speaker: Todd Froemming
VP Corporate Communications
The Biggest NAV to BC migration fears (and what you should REALLY worry about)
Even though migrating from NAV to Business Central helps you maximize your investment, you may be apprehensive about how the migration will impact your business and workflows. In this session, we'll address these concerns and more, so you can confidently plan for your move to Business Central. We will also tell you about some crucial concerns you may not have considered.
When: Wednesday, October 22nd, 9:45 am – 10:45 am ET
Where: Coastal 6 – Convention Center, Level 2
Speaker: Michael Brodie
Lead Developer
Speaker: Julie Shoemaker
Practice Director
Don't just migrate to Business Central! Update Your Business Processes Too!
Migrating from GP or NAV to Business Central is a significant change, so why not use it to your advantage? Join us to learn more about essential planning tips and tricks to prepare yourself for the new features, automated processes, and improvements that even the most reluctant migrators will enjoy!
When: Thursday, October 23rd, starting at 10:45 am – 11:45 am ET
Where: Coastal 8 – Convention Center, Level 2
Speaker: Todd Froemming
VP Corporate Communications
Speaker: Julie Shoemaker
Practice Director
How to get the most out of Summit
Now that you know about Summit and its many opportunities, let's discuss how you can maximize your time there. In many ways, Summit is like other conferences you’ve been to, but it does have unique qualities to consider as well.
Plan and schedule ahead of time
Part of being prepared is planning your schedule ahead of time. What training do you want to attend? Which speakers were you planning to hear from last year but didn't have the time to catch? Research how you would like to spend your time so you can be sure that you can see everything that will be of value to you.
Remember that with over 500 training sessions and speaker sessions, it will be easy to get overwhelmed and miss stuff. With a simple agenda of your own, you will surely catch what you want. Be sure to add Syvantis’ speaking sessions to your agenda to learn how we can help support you with our solutions.
If you are attending a session and realize that you already know the information or would prefer to join another, please do not hesitate to leave a session that is not serving you. In order to make the most out of your experience, you need to attend and prioritize the sessions and events that will help drive you forward, rather than wasting time on a topic you are already a master at.
Network and Connect
There is no better time to connect with your peers than at a conference full of like-minded individuals. You never know who you will find, whether it be a new LinkedIn connection that introduces you to a network of people to move your career forward, or a master of a specific craft you have been trying to learn and get familiar with. This is an opportunity to be outgoing and interact with people you may not have encountered elsewhere. Go to social events, and if you connect with a peer, share email addresses and invite them out to dinner to continue your discussion. You never know where the conversation might lead! Learn and Take Notes
While at Summit, explore different training sessions to fill in knowledge gaps. The conference's many speakers and tutorial sessions can teach you a lot. We recommend bringing something (notebook, computer where you can take notes quickly to record everything you have learned. You might also find it helpful to review those notes at the end of each day to reinforce key takeaways. Engaging with other attendees during breaks or at social events is a great way to gain valuable insights and perspectives.
Overall, your experience at this year's Community Summit will be amazing. Be sure to plan and schedule your time, network and connect, and learn and take notes to get the most out of your experience there. Most importantly, be sure to have fun and enjoy your experience! Summit is a great time of year to come together for learning, growth, and community.