What does the solution architect own on a project?
The architect owns the shape of the whole solution. Microsoft's implementation guide describes the job as working with business and IT teams on requirements, scope and budget, then building and maintaining the solution blueprint. In practice that means you run the fit-gap and decide what is standard, what is configured, and what gets built. You also decide how Dynamics 365 connects to the ERP, payroll, data warehouse or legacy systems around it.
You also own the cross-cutting design. Security roles and data access, the data model and migration approach, the environment strategy for development, test, UAT and production, and the ALM pipeline all come back to you. When a workstream lead wants a customization that will hurt performance or upgrades, you are the person who says no and offers an alternative. Every design decision with a cost or a risk attached should carry your name.
Where does Success by Design fit in?
Success by Design is Microsoft's framework for running Dynamics 365 implementations, drawn from its FastTrack program. It splits a project into five phases: Discover, Initiate, Implement, Prepare and Operate. The Solution Blueprint Review should start in Discover and is mandatory. Implementation Reviews then go deeper on data model, security, integration, ALM and testing. A Go live Readiness Review, also mandatory, comes before cutover.
The architect usually leads these reviews. Microsoft's own example has the project architect running the blueprint review and asking the steering committee to put performance testing back into scope. After each review, a FastTrack solution architect or partner architect updates the project's success measures as red, yellow or green. The framework now also covers agent scope and a responsible AI review of the solution design.
How is an architect different from a lead consultant?
A lead consultant owns one workstream. A Finance lead, for example, runs the finance design workshops, configures or directs the configuration, and manages the consultants in that area. The architect sits above all the workstreams. Their job is to make Finance, Supply Chain, integrations, reporting and data migration work as one system, and to settle the trade-offs between them.
The day looks different too. A lead consultant spends a lot of time in the product configuring and testing. An architect spends more time on design documents, integration patterns, review boards, risk logs and steering committee papers. Most architects were lead consultants or senior developers first. Clients expect you to have been through several full go-lives before they trust you with the design.
Which certifications matter for architects now?
Microsoft retired the two older architect certifications on June 30, 2026: Dynamics 365: Finance and Operations Apps Solution Architect Expert (MB-700) and Power Platform Solution Architect Expert (PL-600). Both pages say you can no longer earn or renew them after that date.
The current expert route is Microsoft Certified: Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect Expert. You must pass Exam AB-100 and hold at least one associate certification from Microsoft's list. The certification page lists 13, including MB-310, MB-330, MB-500, MB-800, MB-820, MB-230, AB-210, AB-250, AB-620, AB-410 and the Power Platform Developer Associate, which the page labels PL-400. The exam is heavily about AI and agents, and its English version updates on November 16, 2026.
Pay
USD a year, before tax. Source: D365 Market advertised pay, US adverts that state pay, snapshot 2026-11-05 (solution architect: 13 adverts from 11 employers, a small sample; lead and senior rows from the wider Dynamics 365 category). These are advertised salaries, not earnings, and they lean toward states with pay transparency laws. Refer to the Solution & Technical Architect salary guide for figures from live adverts.
What you need
- Delivery experienceYou need several full implementations behind you, ideally as a lead consultant or senior developer. Clients and partners want to see that you have taken projects through go-live and support.
- Breadth across the stackYou need working knowledge of the Dynamics 365 apps, Power Platform, integration options, security and data. On the AB-100 page, Microsoft adds Copilot Studio and its AI services to that list.
- An associate certificationAB-100 counts only alongside one of the listed associate certifications, such as MB-310, MB-500, MB-800 or MB-230. Associate certifications renew every 12 months, free, by passing an online assessment on Microsoft Learn.
- Exam AB-100The passing score is 700. The exam covers planning (35 to 40 percent), designing (30 to 35 percent) and deploying (20 to 25 percent) AI-powered business solutions.
- Success by Design fluencyYou should be able to run a Solution Blueprint Review and the follow-up Implementation Reviews. Microsoft offers free Success by Design training on Microsoft Learn.
- Communication with executivesYou will write design papers and argue for scope or budget changes in front of steering committees. A technically right design still fails if you cannot get it approved.
How to get there
- Years 1-3Learn one app deeplyStart as a functional consultant or developer on one product area, such as Finance, Customer Service or Business Central. Pass the matching associate exam.
- Years 3-6Lead a workstreamRun design workshops and own configuration and testing for one area. Get through at least one full go-live and hypercare.
- Years 5-8Work across workstreamsTake on integration, data migration, security or environment design that touches more than one area. This is where your architecture judgment builds up.
- Years 6-10Architect a projectBecome the design authority on a smaller project, or deputy architect on a large one. Lead the Solution Blueprint Review.
- Any time afterEarn the expert certificationPass AB-100 on top of your associate certification to hold the Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect Expert certification.
Open now on D365 Market
Questions people ask
Can I still take MB-700 or PL-600?
No. Microsoft retired both on June 30, 2026, along with their renewal assessments. Their certification pages say you can no longer earn or renew them after that date.
What do I need for the AB-100 expert certification?
You need to pass Exam AB-100 and hold at least one associate certification from Microsoft's list. The certification page lists 13 options, including MB-310, MB-330, MB-500, MB-800, MB-820, MB-230 and several AB-series AI associates.
Is AB-100 only about AI?
Mostly. Its skills cover planning, designing and deploying AI-powered business solutions, including agents, multi-agent orchestration, ALM and environment strategy for AI solutions. It still expects broad knowledge of Dynamics 365 and Power Platform, so a Dynamics architect with AI experience is the target candidate.
What do UK solution architects earn?
IT Jobs Watch shows a median advertised permanent salary of £96,250 for Dynamics 365 Architect roles, and a median contract rate of £575 a day for Dynamics 365 Solution Architect roles, in the six months to November 5, 2026. Both are advertised figures.
Do I need to code to be a Dynamics 365 architect?
You do not need to write production code, but you must understand what developers build and what it costs. Many architects come from development, and the rest learn enough about integration, ALM and the data model to challenge a technical design.
Sources
- Microsoft Learn: Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect Expert certification
- Microsoft Learn: Exam AB-100
- Microsoft Learn: Finance and Operations Apps Solution Architect Expert (retired)
- Microsoft Learn: Power Platform Solution Architect Expert (retired)
- Microsoft Learn: Introduction to Success by Design
- Microsoft Learn: Solution architecture design pillars
- D365 Market: advertised salaries
- IT Jobs Watch: Dynamics 365 Architect permanent salaries
- IT Jobs Watch: Dynamics 365 Solution Architect contract rates
