Fifty-seven years ago today, a routine training exercise turned tragic, claiming the lives of nineteen people. On March 30, 1967, Delta Air Lines Flight 9877 departed from New Orleans International Airport for what was supposed to be a straightforward training flight. Two engines were to be shut down, and the trainee pilot would navigate the aircraft using the remaining engines, circling the airport before landing.
But the exercise took a devastating turn. Critical errors by the trainee pilot led to the aircraft crashing just short of the runway, striking power lines, demolishing two homes, and causing extensive damage to a nearby motel. The crash resulted in the loss of thirteen innocent lives on the ground, along with all six crew members.
This tragic event underscores the importance of effective training and supervision. In an era before sophisticated flight simulators, real aircraft were sometimes used for training exercises, as was the case here. However, the investigation revealed lapses in supervision and improper use of flight controls by both the instructor and trainee.
This story serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of inadequate training and oversight, offering valuable lessons for projects involving Dynamics 365 and beyond. It's a sobering reminder of the critical role of proper instruction and supervision in any endeavour.
Are you ready to soar with Dynamics 365 and Power Platform training? Strap in as we uncover the secrets to success in harnessing these powerful tools.
Imagine having your own flight simulator for training, a virtual playground where users can explore, experiment, and learn without risking real data. It's not just about avoiding disaster; it's about unleashing creativity and innovation without boundaries. This is what you get when you invest in a training environment.
Too often, organizations gamble with their production environment for training, risking data integrity and reporting accuracy. But why roll these dice when setting up a dedicated training environment costs next to nothing? Don't let shortcuts sabotage your success.
Quality training is the fuel that propels your team to greatness. Expert trainers ignite the spark of learning, catering to diverse learning styles and ensuring every question finds an answer. Picture an interactive session where participants engage, collaborate, and thrive, leaving behind the monotony of one-way lectures.
Don't settle for mediocrity. Elevate your training experience, and watch as your investment in knowledge pays dividends. It's time to buckle up and embark on a journey where learning knows no limits!"
Training is the lifeblood of a successful CRM / Microsoft Dynamics 365 project. Effective training ensures that users fully understand and effectively use their CRM system to its fullest potential. Effective training also ensures that good technical decisions are made throughout the project.
If you have any questions about your Microsoft Dynamics 365 training, please contact us by email at
In the fast-paced and competitive business landscape, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) has become a cornerstone for any organisation striving to build lasting relationships with their customers. True CRM gives you an all-round picture of the entire relationship from prospect to customer to raving advocate, including information from marketing, sales, customer service, including their interactions in all of these areas. It also provides automation, to make your team members’ life easier, and reporting across all of the above so you can track progress and your successes.
Organisations that embark on a CRM usually do so with the expectation of increased profit and revenue, lower customer churn and / or more profitable marketing. The positive return on investment (ROI) is the ‘pot of gold’ that justifies the project’s cost and effort and these benefits are are eagerly anticipated.
While these benefits are undoubtedly achievable, the failure rate of many projects demonstrates that for many they are about as elusive as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!
Finding the pot of gold at the end of your CRM project requires that the project stays on time and on budget as well as delivering the expected results. These goals are usually easier said than done.
Finding the pot of gold might be the definition of a successful CRM project!
However, following these seven simple steps fully will show you your pot of gold.
Read more: seven steps to find a pot of gold at the end of CRM project
Most businesspeople in Australia are very aware of the debacle caused by the recent Optus 14+ hour outage. You may be one of those businesses or people who suffered financially or personally from the catastrophe - nearly half of Australians were unable to use their phones (mobile and landline), internet, EFTPOS machines to take payment from customers and more.
Now, about 35 hours after it started, Optus has not yet published the cause of this outage. It may not be known, even internally.
However, this post is not about Optus nor the devastating fallout of the outage for both Optus and the millions of affected clients. Rather, I want to share a key lesson from this disaster for CRM projects.
Read more: An important lesson from the Optus outage for your CRM project
That may seem like a peculiar comment from me – a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), Business Applications Most Valuable Professional (MVP) and someone who loves helping people achieve business success with Microsoft Dynamics 365.
I think that Power Apps has certainly added a layer of confusion for people selecting team members for a Dynamics 365 project. Let me explain.
Read more: Power Apps and Power Platform have muddied the waters?
Opsis is an expert Microsoft Dynamics 365, Microsoft Power Platform and CRM strategy consulting company. Our focus is your CRM success, with Microsoft Dynamics 365 / Microsoft Power Platform or any CRM technology - not licence sales or billable hours. As Principal CRM Success Catalyst, Gill oversees all business operations, strategic planning and execution, yet she still believes in offering personal attention to each and every client, so as to understand their needs and offer tailored solutions. We are based in Sydney, with clients in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane and across Australia. Gill is the creator of SuccessRM - your blueprint for CRM success. We offer: