Why CIOs are switching Microsoft partners in 2025?

Ask yourself, can your current partner keep up?

Microsoft’s ecosystem is evolving faster than ever. AI innovation is accelerating. Dynamics 365 and Azure capabilities are expanding. New licensing models, cost structures, and Copilot-powered experiences are reshaping what’s possible for modern organizations. At the same time, CIOs face growing pressure to deliver more business value, optimize spend, and modernize infrastructure.

In 2026, this combination of rapid technological change and rising expectations is prompting many CIOs to take a hard look at their existing Microsoft Dynamics partners. For some, the partner that once felt like a safe choice has become a bottleneck. For others, legacy contracts and outdated delivery models are holding back strategic initiatives. The reality is that what got many organizations here won’t get them where they need to go next.

CIOs are making bold moves this year. One of the most impactful? Switching to partners that deliver greater agility, responsiveness, and measurable impact.

The Problem with legacy partnerships: Slow, rigid, and costly

For many Dynamics customers, the warning signs have been building for years. Transformation programs drag on. Support tickets pile up. Projects that were meant to accelerate innovation end up consuming more time and budget than planned. When we speak to CIOs, the same themes keep surfacing:

• Slow-moving vendors. Many partners operate on legacy delivery models that can’t keep pace with today’s demands. Response times are sluggish. Implementation cycles stretch far beyond initial estimates. By the time projects go live, the business has often moved on.
• High cloud costs. As organizations scale their Dynamics and Azure environments, cost visibility and control become critical. Yet many partners don‘t provide proactive cost optimization strategies, resulting in escalating bills and wasted resources.
• Inflexible contracts. Long-term, rigid agreements can make it hard for organizations to pivot. CIOs are stuck paying for outdated scopes of work that no longer align with their priorities.
• Limited expertise. Some partners excel in one area of Dynamics but lack the end-to-end view needed to connect ERP, Azure, AI, and analytics into one cohesive strategy. The result is fragmented implementations and missed opportunities.

This combination creates more than just frustration. Slow delivery cycles and uncontrolled costs translate directly into competitive risk. When markets shift quickly, CIOs need partners who help them adapt, not ones who slow them down. And when budgets tighten, every wasted dollar is one that could have fueled innovation.

The shift: CIOs now expect agility and accountability

The CIO role has fundamentally changed. CIOs are no longer just infrastructure guardians; they’re expected to be strategic enablers of growth. That means driving innovation, reducing operational friction, and ensuring technology investments deliver business outcomes. In 2026, this shift is pushing CIOs to demand more from their Dynamics partners.

They’re looking for agility—partners that move at the pace of the business, respond quickly to new requirements, and pivot mid-project when priorities evolve. Agility means more than fast response times. It’s about having flexible engagement models, modern DevOps practices, and cloud architectures that let organizations scale without friction.

They’re also demanding accountability. Too often, CIOs have been left with vague timelines, ballooning budgets, and opaque project scopes. The new expectation is clear: CIOs want partners who view their success as shared success. That means transparent pricing, clear communication, measurable milestones, and a proactive approach to risk management.

And perhaps most importantly, CIOs want strategic alignment. They expect their partners to understand their industry, their business goals, and their technology roadmaps—and to act as co-creators of value rather than service vendors focused on narrow tasks.

The opportunity: Low-risk dynamics partner takeovers

For many CIOs, the idea of switching partners can feel intimidating. ERP and Dynamics environments are complex. Integrations are delicate. Teams rely on stable systems. The fear of disruption often keeps organizations locked into underperforming relationships for longer than they should.

But switching partners doesn’t have to be high-risk. At Intwo, we’ve developed a proven Partner Takeover Framework designed to make transitions smooth, structured, and low disruption from day one.

Our approach focuses on three critical pillars:

1. Rapid knowledge transfer. We prioritize ramping up on your Dynamics environment, integrations, security posture, and business processes quickly. Our structured onboarding process ensures no knowledge gaps, so projects don’t lose momentum throughout the handover.
2. People-to-people connections. Successful transitions depend on human trust as well as technical expertise. We invest early in building strong relationships between your team and ours, creating open communication channels and shared goals from the very beginning.
3. A free, no-risk assessment. We offer a comprehensive partner landscape assessment to identify quick wins in cost reduction, performance optimization, and modernization. There’s no commitment required—just clear insights into what’s possible if you make a change.

CIOs who make the switch often discover that many of their previous blockers—whether slow project cycles, hidden costs, or limited expertise—can be removed faster than they ever expected when working with a partner that’s structured for agility and collaboration.

Why CIOs choose Intwo?

We have a proven track record of turning around stagnant Dynamics projects and unlocking the full potential of Microsoft’s ecosystem. Our team combines deep technical expertise with a modern, responsive delivery model that prioritizes transparency and results.

CIOs choose Intwo because we deliver:

• Comprehensive Microsoft expertise. From Dynamics 365 and Azure to Copilot and Fabric, we know how to bring the full stack together strategically.
• Proven transition frameworks. We’ve successfully taken over Dynamics environments across industries, restoring structure and momentum to stalled situations.
• A global yet agile team. With responsive delivery hubs and clear communication practices, we move fast without compromising quality.
• A collaborative mindset. We treat your goals as our goals. That means owning outcomes together, not just delivering outputs.

Switching partners isn’t about starting from scratch—it’s about choosing a partner who can meet your business where it is today and guide it where it needs to go next.

Make the switch to a smarter partner with confidence

2026 is shaping up to be a turning point for many CIOs. The days of settling for “good enough” partnerships are over. When technology is central to business growth, your partner’s agility, expertise, and responsiveness directly impact your organization’s competitiveness.

If your current Dynamics partner is slowing you down, locking you into inflexible contracts, or driving up cloud costs without adding strategic value, now is the time to act. With Intwo, you can make the switch smoothly, minimize risk, and unlock new opportunities for innovation,  efficiency, and growth.

Book your free Partner Assessment and see how switching partners can give your organization the agility and confidence it needs to thrive in the year ahead.