Extending Dynamics 365 Solutions: What ISVs Can Do for Your Business
When you invest in a Microsoft ERP or CRM solution, you’re choosing a platform built to support a wide range of business needs. But every organization has unique processes, and sometimes the standard functionality needs to be extended to better fit specific industries or operational goals. That’s where Independent Software Vendor (ISV) solutions come in.
Why Add an ISV Solution?
ISVs are third-party software providers that create solutions designed to work alongside Microsoft platforms. These add-ons extend the capabilities of your system—whether that means automating a manual process, supporting regulatory compliance, or enabling industry-specific workflows.
Rather than building custom features from scratch, ISVs offer pre-built, tested, and supported tools that solve common business challenges. They help you get more from your Dynamics investment without reinventing the wheel.
What Can ISVs Help With?
ISV solutions are available for nearly every operational area of your business. Here are just a few examples of what they can do:
- Automate accounts payable and streamline invoice processing
- Reconcile credit card transactions and bank statements
- Enable industry-specific billing formats and reporting
- Simplify employee expense management
- Support batch manufacturing, quality control, and compliance
- Manage recurring billing, EDI, or warehouse operations
- Track production schedules and inventory in real-time
- Optimize warehouse layout and automate picking/shipping steps
- Track project budgets and time alongside financials
- Automate order confirmations and ASNs with EDI
- Enhance reporting, dashboards, or data capture
- Sync data between disconnected systems or apps
- Build and send accurate quotes with pricing rules and configurations
- Integrate eCommerce platforms or customer portals
- Improve marketing automation and campaign tracking
- Store and route contracts, POs, and customer docs efficiently
And that's just a few! In addition to functional areas, there are many industry vertical niche ISVs as well.
What Should Clients Know About ISVs?
- They Extend, Not Replace: ISVs build on the core functionality of your Microsoft solution to meet specialized needs, without requiring custom development.
- They Can be Industry-Specific: Many ISVs are developed with a particular industry or process in mind, offering targeted functionality that’s ready to use.
- They Fit Into Your System: The ISVs we work with are built to integrate with Microsoft platforms, helping ensure a consistent user experience.
- They’re Trusted Partners: We maintain long-term relationships with ISV partners we know and trust, because consistency and reliability matter.
- Licensing and Support Are Part of the Picture: ISV solutions may come with separate licensing and support agreements. We help clients navigate these details as part of our implementation process.
- For more on ISV licensing, check out our blog on 3 Ways to Streamline ISV Management.
When Should You Consider an ISV?
If you’re facing a challenge that feels just outside the scope of your current system, whether it’s a manual process, a compliance requirement, or a disconnected tool, there’s a good chance an ISV solution already exists to solve it.
And the best part? You don’t have to figure it out alone. At Stoneridge, we bring ISV recommendations into the conversation early. We incorporate them into our implementation methodology, and our ISV partners follow that same methodology to ensure a smooth experience. But, many times, depending on your business need, ISVs can be added or changed at any point within the lifecycle of your Microsoft Dynamics solution.
Where Do ISV Solutions Come From?
Many ISV solutions have been around for years, filling niche gaps with innovative tools and deep expertise in their respective areas. These aren’t just quick fixes—they’re purpose-built solutions that have evolved alongside Microsoft platforms to meet real-world business needs.
You'll find many ISV solutions are available through https://appsource.microsoft.com/en-us/, Microsoft’s online marketplace for business apps. It’s a curated catalog of tools built to work with Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and other Microsoft products. You can browse by industry, business need, or product type, and find solutions that are ready to plug into your system. AppSource makes it easy to explore what’s out there, compare options, and get started with trials or demos, all in one place.
And while AppSource is a great starting point, your Microsoft partner often brings even more to the table. At Stoneridge Software, for example, we have strategic relationships with trusted ISV partners and the in-house expertise to help clients manage licensing, support, and implementation. That means you’re not just picking a solution—you’re getting a team that knows how to make it work for your business.
We’re Here to Help with ISV Strategy
ISVs are a key part of the Microsoft ecosystem and a key part of how we help clients get the most from their technology investment. If you’re curious about what’s possible, or if you’re wondering whether there’s a better way to handle a specific process, reach out to our team! We’ll help you explore the right solutions for your business, whether that’s out-of-the-box, extended, or somewhere in between.
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