Over three days, we sat in on keynotes, joined technical sessions, and connected with hundreds of partners and industry experts, with one clear mission: come back with the most valuable insights to share with our clients and the broader industry.
Here’s what stood out.
Agentic AI: From Concept to Reality
If one theme dominated all three days, it was artificial intelligence. But we’re no longer just talking about using Copilot for day-to-day tasks: we’re talking about agents capable of handling complete, end-to-end processes without requiring human intervention at every step.
The agents already built into Business Central, covering accounts payable automation and sales order creation, are now available in every region where the platform is deployed. Microsoft also unveiled a preview of the new Expense Agent, which automates receipt capture via email or camera, extracts relevant information, detects duplicates and anomalies, and manages approval workflows, all integrated with Outlook, Teams, and Business Central.
What was striking was the sheer scale of the ecosystem developing around these capabilities. Microsoft spotlighted dozens of agents built by industry partners, covering a wide range of business processes. The platform is no longer limited to what Microsoft delivers on its own: it’s becoming a foundation on which the entire partner community builds targeted solutions.
In practice, that means less time spent on repetitive tasks and more time on what actually creates value. The processes that currently involve multiple people and endless email threads are precisely the ones these agents are designed to simplify. Before thinking about building anything custom, the first question should be: has someone in the community already built what I need? With such an active partner ecosystem, the answer is increasingly yes.
Governance: The Real Success Factor
The excitement around AI was palpable, but the richest conversations centred on what comes after the pilot project. This observation goes well beyond the walls of Directions NA. Regardless of industry or organization size, the pace of AI adoption is highly uneven. Some organizations have already automated their entire operational processes, while others are still running their first experiments.
The barrier isn’t technological, it’s organizational. The message that kept coming up was that without clear governance in place, AI projects struggle to generate lasting value. Microsoft’s vision reflects this: a chain of agents that coordinate and execute, but always with a human in the loop to guide and approve.
Now is the right time to ask yourself: is your organization ready to get real value from these tools? Do you have the processes, the data, and the resources in place to move from pilot to full deployment?
The human becomes the premium layer. AI handles execution and repetitive tasks. What can’t be delegated to a machine is judgment, client relationships, and understanding the business context.
Conversations Grounded in Real-World Challenges
Business Central offers a solid foundation for managing finances and operations, but the reality of professional services firms often goes beyond what the platform covers natively. Project management, professional billing, real-time budget tracking are specific needs that require a solution built with that reality in mind. That’s precisely the space OMZY occupies, extending Business Central where project teams need it most.
Our booth was a great opportunity to see this firsthand. We engaged with professionals who stopped by, asking them which aspect of project management gave them the most trouble day to day. The conversations that followed were rich: whether it was resource planning, budgeting, billing, or task management, behind every exchange was a concrete reality, a frustration or an unmet need. That’s exactly the kind of input that shapes our thinking and drives OMZY’s development. And for those who stopped by, there was a bonus: leaving with a plush of Aurora, our mascot, who clearly won over more than a few attendees!
Business Central: A Platform on the Rise
Beyond AI, Directions NA was also a chance to gauge Business Central‘s growth trajectory. The opening figures set the tone. The Dynamics 365 Business Central user base now exceeds 55,000 customers, a notable jump from the 50,000 milestone reached in November 2025, with a reported return on investment of 209% and perceived value delivered in under six months of use.
The message behind those numbers is clear: if you’re already on Business Central, you’re on a platform that keeps getting stronger and more mature. If you’re still weighing your options, the momentum is unmistakably there. For JOVACO, which has been guiding clients through this transformation for years, this growth confirms that the platform is here to stay.
What We’re Bringing Back
Directions NA 2026 confirmed what we’ve been sensing for a while: the industry is at a tipping point. Tools are evolving quickly, and the organizations that deploy them with a clear methodology will gain a real competitive edge.
For our team, attending this event isn’t just about staying current , it’s a commitment to our clients. What we learn, we bring back into our projects, into OMZY’s development, and into the advice we provide every day. Orlando 2026 is no exception. If you’d like to talk about what these changes mean for your organization, we’re here to help.
