Education and work experience are in Food and as a Food-lover love working in the kitchen and love statements from certain chefs.

When looking to AppSource I think of what Gordon Ramsay would say, “This isn’t a menu, it’s a bloody encyclopedia!

Microsoft AppSource, the marketplace for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central applications, has experienced significant growth in recent years. This expansion offers users a diverse selection of apps to enhance their Business Central experience. However, this abundance has led to challenges, including app redundancy, one-off solutions tailored for specific customers, and difficulties in identifying best-of-breed applications.

AppSource figures

• 6800+ apps listed for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
• 1350+ apps listed for BC when filtered on “manufacturig”
• 930+ apps listed for BC when filtering on “warehouse”
• 500+ apps listed for BC when filtering on “quality”
• 300+ apps listed for BC when filtering on “mobile”

Proliferation of Similar Apps

A notable issue within AppSource is the presence of multiple apps offering overlapping functionalities. For instance, a search for “quality control” yields several applications, each aiming to address quality management within Business Central:

• Easy Quality Control: Designed to help cloud-based Business Central companies implement best quality control practices efficiently.
• Quality Control: Automates and optimizes quality control management, allowing users to define QC parameters, inspect materials, and generate QC documents seamlessly.
• Quality Management: Enables automatic creation of measurements as part of business processes or ad-hoc incidents when non-conformities occur, also serving as a complaint handling system.

While these apps aim to enhance quality control, their overlapping features can confuse users seeking the most suitable solution for their needs.

One-Off Solutions

Very specific extensions brought to AppSource. Probably made for a specific process and for just one customer.

Presumably the builder thinks it can make more money.

But how to monetize and implement via the Microsoft partner eco-system?

Is it scalable?

And even more important, can other companies use this?

Identifying Best-of-Breed Applications

With numerous apps available, users often struggle to identify the most effective and reliable solutions. To address this, Microsoft provides several resources:

• AppSource Filters and Ratings: Users can filter apps by name, publisher, install state, popularity, average rating, number of ratings, and last modified date. Detailed app descriptions and user reviews offer insights into app performance and reliability.

• Best Practices for AL Code: Developers are encouraged to follow best practices when developing extensions in AL (the programming language for Business Central) to ensure consistency and discoverability. This includes adhering to naming conventions and code readability standards.

• Application Development Training: Microsoft offers training paths to guide developers through recommended processes for publishing apps to AppSource, emphasizing best practices and quality standards.

Partners in Crime

There is a Microsoft Partner eco-system in place.

Partners help with implementations, are used to work with apps from other partners and have their preferences. Here they look at what is easy and quick to implement and where the consultants don’t have to spend much time and where the vendor provides good documentation and support.

Okay, forgot something: MARGINS

Partners get a certain margin, do they look at what the customer needs or the money they make from it?

Recommendations for Users

To navigate the extensive selection of apps and identify best-of-breed solutions, users should:

1. Utilize AppSource’s Filtering and Rating System: Leverage filters and reviews to assess app popularity, user satisfaction, and reliability.
2. Evaluate App Documentation and Support: Review the documentation provided by app publishers to understand the app’s capabilities and limitations. Assess the availability and responsiveness of support channels.
3. Engage with the Community: Participate in forums, user groups, and communities to gather insights from other Business Central users regarding their experiences with specific apps.
4. Consider Trial Versions: Many apps offer free trials. Utilizing these can provide hands-on experience to determine if the app meets your organization’s requirements.

Recommendations for Developers and Partners

To mitigate redundancy and enhance app quality, developers and partners should:

1. Conduct Thorough Market Research: Before developing a new app, research existing solutions to identify gaps and avoid duplicating functionalities.
2. Adhere to Development Best Practices: Follow Microsoft’s guidelines for AL code and app development to ensure high-quality, maintainable, and discoverable applications.
3. Collaborate with the Community: Engage with the Business Central developer community to share knowledge, discuss challenges, and collaborate on solutions that benefit the broader user base.
4. Focus on Scalability and Reusability: Design apps with scalability in mind, allowing them to cater to a broader audience rather than a single client, thus reducing the need for redundant solutions.

By implementing these strategies, both users and developers can contribute to a more efficient and user-friendly AppSource ecosystem, minimizing redundancy and enhancing the overall quality of applications available for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

This isn’t a menu, it’s a bloody encyclopedia!

Choose the apps that follow your processes and that support your processes.

Make sure that you get a trial period and that a Microsoft partners helps toget the setup correct to do a proper trial.

Search for references, ask for references on the apps you want to use.

Check if there is a documentation wedsite and support for you region.

Good luck with trimming the menu down!