Across industries, organizations are pressing ahead with cloud ERP projects, but many are finding themselves at a standstill.
Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management (F&O/SCM) solution architects and senior functional consultants are in short supply, creating backlogs that stretch delivery timelines and frustrate leadership teams. For employers, securing these professionals has become one of the most pressing hiring priorities in the Microsoft ecosystem.
Backlogs slowing transformation
Cloud ERP adoption is no longer experimental. Businesses are replacing legacy systems that cannot keep up with global supply chain pressures, rising compliance requirements, and the need for integrated financial oversight. Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain offers advanced automation and predictive insights that appeal to executives.
Despite this demand, many initiatives remain delayed. Employers consistently report that projects cannot begin on schedule due to a lack of senior expertise. With budgets already committed, the shortage of talent is the single biggest obstacle slowing transformation. According to Nigel Frank’s Microsoft Cloud Careers and Hiring Guide, hiring managers now expect it to take an average of six and a half months to fill a Microsoft cloud role — a lag that directly explains why backlogs are compounding across ERP programs.
👉 Struggling to hire senior Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain architects? Nigel Frank connects you with top-tier talent to help you reduce project backlogs and accelerate delivery.
Why these roles are so important
F&O and SCM architects, together with senior functional consultants, provide leadership throughout the entire ERP lifecycle. They are responsible for:
- Scoping and discovery: Running workshops with finance and supply chain teams to capture accurate requirements.
- Solution design: Translating requirements into system blueprints that balance capability, compliance, and scalability.
- Implementation leadership: Coordinating development, testing, and training to ensure each stage aligns with the business case.
- Stakeholder communication: Bridging the gap between technical delivery teams and senior leadership.
Without these roles, projects often run into scope creep, poor adoption, and budget overruns.
Scarcity driving competition
The market for senior Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain experts is highly competitive. Hiring managers report that F&O and SCM architects are among the most difficult roles to fill.
Contractors with these skills are commanding high day rates. At the same time, permanent salaries are rising as companies try to secure talent long term. Partners delivering multiple projects at once are being forced to decline new work because they cannot field enough architects or functional leads.
👉 Want to see how hiring timelines and salary benchmarks are shaping the Microsoft ecosystem? Explore our Microsoft Cloud Careers and Hiring Guide for the latest data.
Risks of delay
ERP projects delayed by six months or more can create multiple risks. Legacy systems may fail compliance checks, cybersecurity threats grow as platforms age, and disconnected reporting systems make it harder for executives to steer the business. Competitors that secure the expertise they need and move forward faster will benefit from modern forecasting, integrated financials, and improved supply chain resilience.
Preparing for success
Organizations that want to reduce their ERP backlog must place senior Finance and Supply Chain roles at the center of their hiring strategy. This means allocating budget, planning recruitment timelines carefully, and competing aggressively for a limited pool of candidates.
