Tom Patterson, a partner at BDO who manages the firm’s business applications practice, says Community Summit North America offers something Partners can’t find elsewhere: direct collaboration among Microsoft, customers and the channel.
“The conference seems to get better and better every year,” Patterson said in a PartnerTalks interview. “Microsoft’s participation in it seems to go up every year and it’s really a collaboration that you can’t get at other events.”
A hub for AI conversations
AI will be front and centre at the 2025 Summit. Patterson said BDO has spent the last several years investing in AI and Copilot solutions, not only for clients but across its own global workforce.
“We’ve built a lot of Agents around the Dynamics 365 and M365 solutions from a Copilot perspective,” he said. “We see this as a big area over the next three to five years with Microsoft and with others in this space as well.”
For Summit attendees, that focus translates into practical sessions on AI adoption, Copilot implementation and industry-specific use cases. Patterson said that BDO will share lessons from sectors such as manufacturing, wholesale distribution, retail and not-for-profit, industries where tailored AI solutions are already creating measurable returns.
More than a virtual connection
Client work has had a hard time shaking off pandemic patterns, Patterson said. Most of it still takes place remotely, with meetings being held through video chat. Summit, however, restores the human element.
“I really look forward to seeing our clients, Microsoft team and the other Partners in person,” he said. “That face-to-face interaction is a huge win for everyone.”
What to expect in Orlando
Community Summit North America, taking place Oct. 19–23, 2025, will feature Partner showcases, technical deep dives and customer sessions. BDO’s presentations will cover AI and Copilot, Business Central migrations and environment management for Dynamics 365 F&O.
In addition to its conference sessions, BDO’s booth will feature a golf simulator designed to spark conversations with attendees.
But for Patterson, the draw of Summit is simpler: it’s where the community reconnects.
“Being able to meet with your clients in person, have the Microsoft team there in person for a lot of these sessions or discussions, is a real win,” he said. “That’s what makes Summit so important.”
