From Mechanical Engineer to D365 Technical Architect with Phil Mackison

What has to be true before AI is any use inside an ERP system? In this episode of The Catch Up Podcast, host Philip Blackmore speaks with Phil Mackison, D365 F&O Technical Capability Director at HCLTech, about a technical career that started by accident on the Isle of Man and ended up in enterprise Dynamics architecture. Phil explains how he moved from mechanical engineering into report writing, why he backed Damgaard Axapta over SAP against his father's advice, and how the technical architect role changed when Dynamics moved from on-premise to the cloud. He is direct about what AI can and cannot do: applying best practice and checking documents, yes; automating processes on top of poor data, no. Gartner expects AI-enabled tools to account for 62% of cloud ERP spending by 2027, up from 14% in 2024, with data quality still one of the main blockers. There is practical advice too: know why you are replacing the system, get your data catalogue in order first, and take your most respected internal person out of their day job to own it. (00:00) - Welcome to The Catch Up Podcast (03:01) - Falling into IT as a Mechanical Engineer (05:26) - Crystal Reports and the First Real Skill (08:46) - Choosing Axapta over SAP (11:57) - Joining a Partner as a Junior Consultant (14:53) - Why Knowledge Sharing Shaped a Career (19:03) - Bridging the Functional and Technical Gap (22:19) - The Workshop That Went Wrong (29:06) - Navision, Microsoft and Better Documentation (33:12) - Cloud, Data Security and the Architect's Role (42:35) - AI, Data Quality and Best Practice (47:42) - Advice before Starting an ERP Programme Phil Mackison: Phil Mackison is D365 F&O Technical Capability Director at HCLTech, where he owns the technical methodologies used on enterprise Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations implementations and handles recruitment and resourcing across the D365 Finance practice. He has more than 20 years in ERP, starting as a junior engineer on the Isle of Man before moving into report writing, then functional consulting in trade and logistics, then technical architecture. His delivery record spans Damgaard Axapta 2.1 through to Dynamics 365, including enterprise programmes at Capgemini and Hitachi Solutions, and his own specialism has been security and infrastructure. Phil is based in Worcestershire. 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. Tune in for new episodes and stay ahead of the curve. The Catch Up Podcast is produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford, UK.