7-9 May 2025
Directions ASIA 2025
Directions ASIA is expanding to a 3-day conference in 2025, with an even greater focus on learning and growth. Join us again in Bangkok, where you’ll enjoy exceptional hospitality and a culinary experience like no other, for the latest updates from Microsoft and the ecosystem. Connect with the entire Dynamics community, including resellers, add-on providers, Microsoft, CSPs, MVPs, developers, consultants, sales and marketing professionals and business leaders. Fuel your motivation, inspiration, and success through sharing and collaboration.
Microsoft presents: Make Your Business Central Demos & Presentations Captivating and Impactful.
Presentations and software demonstrations are essential in most complex sales, yet they may fall short of audience expectations. When we effectively showcase our solution, we demonstrate our understanding of the audience's needs, leaving a lasting impression.
Fundamental skills can sometimes be overshadowed by a focus on technology and solutions. However, if we can't tell a compelling story and reduce friction, our efforts may be in vain.
This session is designed for anyone in a customer-facing role (either presales or sales) responsible for delivering impactful presentations. In this session, you will learn how to craft a compelling message that resonates with your audience, make your software look intuitive and user-friendly, and build engaging demo scenes that highlight key features you uncovered during discovery.
We will also explore techniques to connect with your audience on a deeper level, ensuring your demonstrations are not only informative but also memorable.
Speakers:
Alex Smith
Asia Solution Lead, Microsoft
Alex Smith leads the Dynamics Commercial Solution Area for Microsoft Asia, where he drives customer and partner success through innovative technology solutions.
A seasoned technologist, Alex joined Microsoft in 2017 as APAC Azure Technical Lead, later founding the region's Customer Success Unit and leading the SMB Azure business across Asia from 2023. Prior to Microsoft, he headed the Media & Entertainment Architecture practice for AWS in APJ. As a regular industry speaker, Alex has delivered keynotes to audiences exceeding 5,000 from across the globe, with a focus on the impact of AI on industry.
He is currently completing an MSc in Information Security at Royal Holloway, with a thesis on LLMs and social engineering.
Alex Smith
Asia Solution Lead, Microsoft
Alex Smith leads the Dynamics Commercial Solution Area for Microsoft Asia, where he drives customer and partner success through innovative technology solutions.
A seasoned technologist, Alex joined Microsoft in 2017 as APAC Azure Technical Lead, later founding the region's Customer Success Unit and leading the SMB Azure business across Asia from 2023. Prior to Microsoft, he headed the Media & Entertainment Architecture practice for AWS in APJ. As a regular industry speaker, Alex has delivered keynotes to audiences exceeding 5,000 from across the globe, with a focus on the impact of AI on industry.
He is currently completing an MSc in Information Security at Royal Holloway, with a thesis on LLMs and social engineering.
Dan Sykes
Asia Business Applications Lead - SMB
Leading Business Applications for Microsoft's SMB and unmanaged customer segment in Asia, Dan is passionate about helping customers and partners transform and grow their businesses.
Having held senior positions in our partner network before joining Microsoft, Dan has delivered impact across roles from Partner Technology Strategist (PTS), Account Technology Strategist (ATS), and in helping establish and scale our ISV Success program globally.
Dan is committed to unlocking the potential of AI as we reimagine a future where technology unlocks creativity, driving innovation and efficiency. His vision is to harness the power of AI to create solutions that not only meet the needs of today but also anticipate the challenges of tomorrow.
Dan Sykes
Asia Business Applications Lead - SMB
Leading Business Applications for Microsoft's SMB and unmanaged customer segment in Asia, Dan is passionate about helping customers and partners transform and grow their businesses.
Having held senior positions in our partner network before joining Microsoft, Dan has delivered impact across roles from Partner Technology Strategist (PTS), Account Technology Strategist (ATS), and in helping establish and scale our ISV Success program globally.
Dan is committed to unlocking the potential of AI as we reimagine a future where technology unlocks creativity, driving innovation and efficiency. His vision is to harness the power of AI to create solutions that not only meet the needs of today but also anticipate the challenges of tomorrow.
Kostadin Solakov
Microsoft ANZ, SMB Business Applications Lead
Kostadin is a technologist with more than 15 years of expertise focused on modernising Enterprise Applications. He has executed transformative ERP and CRM initiatives for clients across Europe, Asia, and ANZ. Currently, Kostadin leads the Business Applications Sales and Growth strategy for Microsoft ANZ's SMB segment. He holds an MSc in FinTech and a BSc in Computer Science.
Kostadin Solakov
Microsoft ANZ, SMB Business Applications Lead
Kostadin is a technologist with more than 15 years of expertise focused on modernising Enterprise Applications. He has executed transformative ERP and CRM initiatives for clients across Europe, Asia, and ANZ. Currently, Kostadin leads the Business Applications Sales and Growth strategy for Microsoft ANZ's SMB segment. He holds an MSc in FinTech and a BSc in Computer Science.