Microsoft's Dynamics 365 Commerce suite is part of this wave, creating experiences that customers love (and increasingly expect) in today’s mobile first world.
While Commerce powerfully bridges online and in-store experiences, businesses face a critical challenge of finding the talent to implement it. This talent shortage isn’t just an inconvenience - we're hearing from clients that finding skilled Dynamics 365 Commerce professionals is increasingly difficult and is resulting in stalled projects and even costly implementation failures.
Dynamics 365 Commerce requires experts who understand everything from e-commerce to point-of-sale systems, from call centres to back-office operations. Candidates with this breadth of knowledge are rare, and as retail races toward digital transformation, the gap between talent supply and demand continues to widen.
Setting up and managing integrated commerce solutions isn’t a simple operation - it requires a deep understanding of how to integrate various systems, manage vast amounts of data across different channels, and deliver personalised experiences to customers whether they're in-store, online, or mobile. Many companies know they need to implement Dynamics 365 Commerce to stay competitive, but they lack the in-house expertise to do so.
What's causing this talent shortage?
Dynamics 365 Commerce is a relatively new player in the field. It's packed with features that integrate e-commerce, point of sale, call centre, and back-office operations and this breadth of functionality is fantastic for businesses but requires a diverse skill set that's hard to come by. Coupled with the rapid pace of digital transformation in retail, you've got a perfect storm of high demand and low supply.
Our Approach to the Talent Crunch
The Empiric Dynamics team has been watching this situation unfold, and we've geared up to help businesses navigate choppy waters with a multifaceted approach.
One of our key strategies is offering flexible "time and materials" contract arrangements when drawing on our global network of Dynamics 365 Commerce specialists. This allows businesses to bring in top-tier experts for specific projects or phases without the long-term commitment of a full-time hire. Companies get the expertise they need when they need it, and the talent being hired enjoys varied and challenging work.
We've also doubled down on our consultative approach. Our team doesn't just match CVs to job descriptions—we dig deep to understand a business's specific e-commerce needs and challenges. This allows us to not only find the right talent but also guide businesses in crafting competitive offers that will attract and retain leading talent in roles for longer.
For larger projects, we can even provide end-to-end support, either augmenting an internal team or fully managing the entire Dynamics 365 Commerce implementation process, a flexibility that has proven crucial for businesses at different stages of their digital transformation journey.
Looking Forward
We’re confident that the Dynamics 365 Commerce landscape is set to become even more exciting with trends from our clients leaning towards more advanced AI-driven personalisation, increased integration of IoT devices in retail spaces, and the rise of AR shopping experiences.
For job seekers in this space, the message is clear: your skills are in high demand. Whether you're a seasoned Dynamics 365 Commerce consultant, a Technical Application Lead, or a Functional Consultant looking to specialise, there are abundant opportunities to shape the future of retail technology. Our clients range from ambitious mid-sized enterprises to global retail giants, all eager to leverage the full potential of Dynamics 365 Commerce and we're actively seeking candidates with expertise in areas such as e-commerce platform implementation, omnichannel retail strategies, and AI-driven customer insights.
Partnering for Success
The Dynamics 365 Commerce talent gap is real and while there's no quick fix, our team is here to help, whether it’s finding the right experts for businesses looking to expand and build teams or connecting professionals with their next big opportunity in digital retail.
Learn more about Empiric's Dynamics capabilities on our dedicated page and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter.
You can also reach out to Hamza Hussain, our Head of Dynamics who is always keen to chat anything in the industry!