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The Catch Up Podcast

The Catch Up Podcast

Von: Catch Resource Management
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 The Catch Up Podcast brings you candid conversations with industry leaders, consultants, and change-makers from the Microsoft Dynamics and tech ecosystem. Hosted by Phillip Blackmore, Sales Director at Catch Resource Management, each episode dives into the real stories behind business transformation, career pivots, and scaling success. Expect thoughtful interviews, practical insights, and honest reflections. Brought to you by Catch Resource Management, a leading UK recruitment specialist for Microsoft Dynamics and ERP talent, this podcast is your inside track to the people shaping the future of enterprise technology.Catch Resource Management Management & Leadership Ökonomie
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  • Out of the Box Only: ERP Lessons from Programme Director Mark Edwards

    Out of the Box Only: ERP Lessons from Programme Director Mark Edwards
    Dec 18 2025
    Why do so many ERP and Dynamics 365 programmes go wrong, even when the technology is sound? In this episode of The Catch Up Podcast, host Phillip Blackmore sits down with experienced D365 Programme Director Mark Edwards to unpack what really makes or breaks complex transformation. Mark traces his journey from manufacturing engineering and production management into ERP, consulting and programme leadership, showing how hands‑on operations experience shaped his approach to delivery and change.Drawing on decades of work across manufacturing, supply chain, chemicals, retail, rental, charities and more, Mark explains why vague contracts, missold projects and over‑reliance on partners leave clients exposed. He argues that too many organisations only bring in a programme manager after supplier selection, when much of the risk is already locked in. His perspective lands against a backdrop where industry research suggests that a majority of ERP programmes still fail to meet their original objectives, largely due to organisational rather than technical issues.From defining a clear vision and target operating model to insisting on “out of the box” first and investing seriously in change management, this conversation offers a practical playbook for leaders planning their next transformation.(00:00) - Welcome to The Catch Up Podcast (02:17) - Early Career in Manufacturing Engineering at GEC (05:55) - First ERP Project and Discovering MFG Pro (07:20) - Seeing ERP From User, Vendor and Consultant Perspectives (11:18) - Defining Vision and Objectives Before Choosing a System (19:08) - Why Clients Must Own the Programme, Not the Partner (24:48) - Treating ERP as Business Change, Not an IT Project (28:02) - Out of the Box Only and the Risks of Customisation (31:16) - Change Management as a Shared Leadership Responsibility (35:01) - Data Quality, Cutover and Continuous Improvement (37:12) - Tough Projects, Bad News Early and Programme Integrity (44:28) - Key Advice for Leaders Starting a D365 or ERP JourneyMark Edwards: Mark Edwards is a seasoned D365 Programme Director with a career that spans manufacturing engineering, production management, ERP consulting and large‑scale programme leadership. Starting in manufacturing engineering with GEC, he moved through roles in production management and supply chain before leading his first ERP workstream on a mid‑market system. He went on to join ERP vendor QAD as a manufacturing consultant, later moving into pre‑sales, marketing and running a consulting practice back to profitability through value‑based selling. Since then, Mark has delivered and overseen ERP and Dynamics programmes from multiple perspectives: as a vendor, as a management consultant, and as a client‑side programme leader. His experience covers manufacturing, supply chain, retail, rental, third‑sector charities and chemicals, with a consistent focus on clear vision, honest communication, realistic contracts and rigorous change management.Episode Insights:Successful ERP and D365 programmes start with a clear, business‑led vision and target operating model, not with software features or vendor demos.Vague contracts and scopes of work create downstream conflict; precise deliverables and roles protect both client and partner.Clients must own the programme: partners bring solution expertise, but only the client can supply true process ownership and decision‑making.“Out of the box” should be the default; unnecessary customisation quickly multiplies risk, cost and long‑term complexity.Change management is a shared leadership responsibility, not a single person’s job, and must start well before go‑live.Action Points:Define a business‑led vision before talking to vendors: Bring your senior team together to answer why you are changing systems and what success looks like in business terms, not technology terms. Capture the key objectives, from risk reduction to productivity and customer service, and use them as the non‑negotiable brief for any vendor conversations.Tighten contracts and scopes of work: Review existing or draft contracts to check how clearly outcomes, responsibilities and deliverables are defined. Challenge vague language around scope, roles and assumptions, and insist on documentation that spells out who does what, by when, and to what standard.Build a client‑side programme spine: Identify and appoint internal process owners and workstream leads across planning, procurement, operations, finance and other core areas. Make them accountable for defining processes, signing off designs and owning change, rather than leaving all decisions to the implementation partner.Apply the “out of the box” test to customisation: For every requested change to standard D365 or ERP behaviour, ask whether the same business outcome could be achieved using the default process. Treat customisation as an exception that requires a clear business case, not as the default response to “we’...
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    51 Min.
  • Lessons from the Front Line of D365 with Chris Lalley

    Lessons from the Front Line of D365 with Chris Lalley
    Nov 27 2025
    What does it actually take to land a complex ERP or Dynamics 365 transformation without becoming another horror story? In this episode of The Catch Up, host Phillip Blackmore sits down with seasoned programme leader Chris Lalley to unpack the realities of delivering large‑scale finance and D365 projects in the real world. They explore how careers evolve from operational finance into programme leadership, why variety and curiosity matter, and how personal quirks like “dishwasher‑level” OCD can be a genuine asset in delivery.Throughout the conversation, Chris returns to a consistent theme: technology‑enabled transformation is fundamentally about people, not platforms. That message is timely. Recent research shows that while ERP capabilities have advanced, 55–75% of projects still fail to hit their original objectives, with average cost overruns near 189%, largely due to organisational, not technical, issues. Chris explains how he approaches new engagements, from establishing vision and sponsorship to assessing team capability and rescuing “programmes in jeopardy”. For leaders about to embark on a D365 or ERP journey, this episode offers grounded, experience‑led guidance on what success really demands.(00:00) - Welcome to The Catch Up Podcast (01:45) - From Big Five Accounting to Early Transformation Projects (03:40) - Finding the Bug for Large-Scale Change Programmes (05:00) - OCD, Attention Span and the Appeal of Programme Work (07:10) - The Dishwasher Story and Structured Thinking (09:13) - First Steps into Microsoft ERP and Dynamics 365 (13:15) - Greenfield versus Mature Organisations in ERP Delivery (17:03) - Starting a New Programme: People, Vision and Strategy (20:06) - Recovering Programmes in Jeopardy and Rebuilding Confidence (26:43) - Learning from Mistakes and Getting Capability Right (33:32) - Fixed Price vs Time and Materials in ERP Contracts (39:50) - Defining Success and the Role of Executive SponsorsChris Lalley: Chris Lalley is an experienced ERP and finance transformation programme leader with a background that spans Big Five accounting, industry finance roles and large‑scale technology‑enabled change. Starting his career in operational finance at firms such as Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young, he led major internal projects including a global PeopleSoft implementation and the establishment of an offshore shared service centre in Bangalore. That exposure to complex programmes sparked his move into full‑time project and programme leadership, where he has since delivered and recovered high‑stakes ERP and Dynamics 365 initiatives across multiple sectors. Drawing on years of hands‑on delivery, Chris is known for his focus on people, structure and sponsorship as the real levers of success in transformation.Episode Insights:Successful Dynamics 365 and ERP programmes are driven more by people, clarity of vision and sponsorship than by the underlying technology stack.The first weeks on a programme should be spent meeting stakeholders, understanding their motivations and aligning ERP outcomes to business strategy, not rushing into Gantt charts.Change management is usually under‑invested, yet it affects not only employees but also customers when portals and digital channels are redesigned.Capability at the right time is non‑negotiable: under‑resourcing business analysts, architects or change leads early on slows delivery and magnifies risk later.Programme directors must be willing to say when “conditions for success don’t exist” and walk away, protecting both their own reputation and the client’s investment.Action Points:Define success in business terms before you start: Agree a clear vision, outcomes and measures of success with the C‑suite before mobilising your D365 or ERP programme. This includes how the transformation supports overall strategy, what benefits you expect and how you will track them over time. Without this foundation, scope, design and prioritisation quickly drift.Invest properly in change management, not just technology: Treat change, communications and training as a core workstream with its own budget, leadership and methodology. Map who is impacted inside and outside the organisation, from finance teams to customers on portals, and design their journey through the change. Under‑investing here is one of the fastest routes to user resistance and poor adoption.Build the right team and lock in key people: Identify the critical roles across business, partner and contractor resources, then secure the best people you can for a realistic duration. Use contracts and governance to minimise churn in key posts like solution architect, programme manager and lead BAs. Consistent faces and continuity of knowledge are vital for multi‑year ERP journeys.Be honest about risk and willing to make compromises: Accept that large ERP programmes are hard, will involve setbacks and will require compromises on scope or design. Use structured risk ...
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    45 Min.
  • From Contractor to CEO: Steve Snowden’s Journey Building a Dynamics 365 Consultancy

    From Contractor to CEO: Steve Snowden’s Journey Building a Dynamics 365 Consultancy
    Oct 30 2025
    Is the traditional model of ERP implementation truly broken? Host Phillip Blackmore sits down with Steve Snowden, Founder and CEO of Snowden Consulting, for a fascinating look at the evolution of the tech space. Steve recounts his journey from an early role at a pharmaceutical plant during an SAP implementation to becoming a highly sought-after Microsoft Dynamics manufacturing solution architect and, ultimately, a successful business owner. The discussion highlights the seismic shift from on-site camaraderie to remote delivery following COVID-19, and the modern challenge of navigating Microsoft's rapid, AI-driven updates. Steve shares critical insights on project success, emphasising why a "process-first" approach is vital, especially given that more than 70% of recently implemented ERP initiatives fail to meet their original business use case goals.He reveals the two golden rules for a successful global rollout—getting the first template right and meticulously managing data—and how building a relationship-based culture guarantees client loyalty and success. This is a must-listen for consultants, end-users, and business leaders focused on ERP transformation.(00:00) - Welcome to The Catch Up Podcast(01:46) - Steve Snowdon's Jounrey into ERP(05:31) - Contracting and Consulting Adventures(07:49) - Impact of COVID on Consulting(16:45) - Founding Snowden Consulting(25:32) - Initial Project Challenges(28:37) - Cost Implications of Cutting Corners(30:59) - Successful Project Implementation(32:55) - Growth and Challenges of a Consultancy(44:48) - Future Plans and AdviceSteve Snowden: Founder and CEO of Snowden Consulting Limited (SNCL), a Certified Microsoft Business Applications Partner. With a career that spans from Continuous Improvement Manager to a highly-regarded Microsoft Dynamics manufacturing solution architect, Steve is a renowned visionary innovator in integrating AI, ERP, and change management. Under his leadership, SNCL has been recognised as a Partner of the Year multiple times and is focused on delivering exceptional Dynamics 365 solutions with a 100% implementation success rate.Episode Insights:The personal and professional journey of scaling from an independent ERP contractor to the CEO of a successful consultancy.How the role of an ERP consultant has changed since the pre-1995 era and the impact of remote working post-COVID-19.The two fundamental "golden rules" for success in a complex global ERP rollout, relating to the template and data.The primary red flags and biggest challenge Steve faces when scoping a new Statement of Work (SOW) with a client.Why thorough User Acceptance Testing (UAT) is critical and how cutting corners on testing leads to costly issues down the line.Action Points:Prioritise the Global ERP Template: When planning a global rollout, base your first project on your most complex manufacturing or distribution site, not the simplest one like a sales office. This forces you to build a comprehensive template that can be scaled down, ensuring you don't face huge complications when moving to more intricate locations later. Getting this template right makes subsequent rollouts significantly easier for all countries.Focus on Data Quality from Day One: Treat data migration as a critical project component from the very beginning, not an afterthought. You must be absolutely at the top of your game with data governance as you integrate more applications. Get your data right early to avoid a difficult, upward battle with system performance and integrity for years to come.Invest in Thorough UAT: Do not allow the project to skip the essential phase of User Acceptance Testing (UAT). Steve’s golden rule is to aim for the high nineties for UAT completion. The money and time spent on this phase is paid back in spades by ensuring a smooth, successful go-live, preventing costly fixes and dissatisfied users post-launch.Maintain a Human-Centric Culture: For consulting leaders, focus on building a culture of camaraderie and human relationship building, which can be lost in a remote-first world. This not only improves team retention but also increases project success by fostering strong client relationships. This is what drives long-term client loyalty and repeat business.Evolve Your Skill Set with AI: Stay ahead of Microsoft’s rapid, twice-yearly updates and the deep integration of AI (like Copilot) within Dynamics 365. Encourage a learning culture where team members follow their interests to keep their skills up-to-date. As process becomes even more key with the advent of AI, continuous upskilling is essential for job security and competitive advantage.The Catch Up Podcast brings you candid conversations with industry leaders, consultants, and change-makers from the Microsoft Dynamics and tech ecosystem. Hosted by Phillip Blackmore, Sales Director at Catch Resource Management, each episode dives into the real stories behind business transformation, career pivots, and scaling success. ...
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    51 Min.
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