Better of 2021: Microsoft Dynamics 365 skilled insights
Material consultants wrote a spread of excellent articles in regards to the Microsoft Dynamics ecosystem this 12 months. The twice-yearly launch waves and the packed consumer engagement schedules of Dynamics professionals present loads of worthwhile materials to share with the neighborhood, however little time by which to put in writing about it, and we on the editorial staff are grateful as at all times to those that labored with us to place out tons of of articles this 12 months.
Let us take a look at among the hottest of these articles on MSDW from 2021. The primary 4 sections beneath signify particular person Dynamics 365 product areas, together with the most important Dynamics 365 ERP and CRM-related purposes in addition to D365 Venture Operations. The ultimate part highlights two of our hottest items inspecting the broader Microsoft business ecosystem from each an trade and a horizontal perspective.
Enterprise Central
My Dynamics 365 Enterprise Central priorities for Microsoft in 2021
Microsoft MVP and entrepreneur James Crowter adopted up his 2020 priorities record (which means the “strategic imperatives” he hopes Microsoft will prioritize) with a brand new one in Might 2021. The record covers a variety of themes like R&D, branding, channel gross sales help, information administration, and rather more. For instance, he writes of the transition to utilizing Energy Automate for workflow:
I dream of the day once I can simply outline a Energy Automate workflow to approve any piece of grasp information, transaction (primarily based on versatile validation standards), and even safety privileges request.
And there may be the long-running promise of monetization in AppSource:
…I feel Microsoft perceive the necessity however are simply serially failing to repair it. I couldn’t go away it off, although, as a result of the record wouldn’t be full with out it. I hear that there could be progress, however sorry Mike, if it isn’t until 2029, that isn’t humorous for these ISVs lacking out and can rank as the most important Microsoft fail because the Nokia acquisition.
To go a step again in historical past, try Crowter’s assessment of his 2020 Enterprise Central priorities. He rung up a formidable rating, although with a notable miss or two combined in.
The associated fee variations between upgrading to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Enterprise Central SaaS and on-premises
The actual value of an improve is a troublesome quantity to supply, and Jonas Mikalkėnas of 1ClickFactory helps us perceive why. Utilizing an iceberg as a metaphor, he explores the software program operating prices, the technical improve choices, and methods to make sense of the comparability. Prices could be deceiving if a enterprise seems to be solely on the first 12 months, and even the primary two. After three years, SaaS fashions start to point out their worth, and he notes much more financial savings in upgrades to SaaS over six years.
EFT in Dynamics 365 Enterprise Central & Dynamics NAV: 11 classes discovered the laborious method!
EFT (Digital Funds Switch), needs to be one thing straightforward to arrange in Enterprise Central, however that’s not at all times the case. However with a couple of key classes, Cynthia Priebe believes any BC buyer could make EFT a actuality for his or her group. Her classes cowl fee journals, producing EFT information, information alternate definitions, and financial institution assertion file setup.
Cynthia provided much more for our readers on this matter with each a webcast and a podcast.
Managing objections in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Provide Chain Administration implementations
Keep or go? That’s the determination that Dynamics AX prospects face as their ERPs proceed to age. Prospects voice quite a lot of objections to an improve, wrote Žydra Tubelyte, with typical themes associated to worth, worth, and previous experiences.
For a staff championing a transfer to D365, it is very important deal with the issues of particular person employees, managers, and executives with the precise stability of understanding, experience, and a sensible plan to maneuver ahead. Tubelyte additionally critiques three of the most typical objections and methods to beat them.
Christmas in April for Dynamics 365 Enterprise Central customers: Enhancements to monetary dimensions
Cari Corozza’s pleasure was palpable as she reviewed updates coming to Enterprise Central monetary dimensions in 2021 Launch Wave 1. For 2 key instruments, she critiques Microsoft’s official description, what it means for customers, and why it should profit finance leaders. She inspired customers to learn up on the small print so that they might be prepared to advertise the upcoming enhancements to their groups.
What an ideal alternative to be sure you are taking full benefit of the capabilities and options within the system you already personal! My suggestion? Have somebody out of your staff be the purpose individual to assessment the notes, then share and focus on with the remainder of the staff.
Finance & Provide Chain Administration
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Coaching Insights, Session 11: e-Commerce
Dynamics 365 F&O coaching skilled Elif Merchandise lately concluded a 12-part article and video collection on methods to practice numerous customers on vital modules of the programs. Partially 11, she explored the challenges associated to launching e-Commerce. She said:
e-Commerce covers a specialised space inside D365 together with web site design, on-line retailer administration, and the end-to-end on-line order administration course of.
e-Commerce coaching ought to begin after the foundational and gross sales coaching. To leverage the built-in information construction and processes, the core staff must first perceive how merchandise, stock, prospects, gross sales orders, and so forth. are managed inside D365. e-Commerce coaching can then introduce the web options to the learners. The upfront e-Commerce coaching is essential to constructing a beautiful and easy-to-use web site.
Why microservices matter to the way forward for Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations
Johan Persson famous that, as D365FO has developed away from its AX roots, the product staff has constantly been transferring new and up to date function units out of the core product and into numerous exterior cloud providers. He notes among the first steps that Microsoft in transferring options out of core like useful resource planning and information export providers.
Persson believes Microsoft’s strategy provides a number of benefits for the product’s future and for the well-being of buyer programs. For instance:
These providers could be up to date with out having to “respect” customizations made by prospects and companions outdoors of Microsoft’s management. With only a light-weight interface for all events to respect, Microsoft is free to iterate even quicker than the month-to-month cadence of One-Model.
Easy methods to arrange two-bin “Buying Kanban” system in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Provide Chain Administration
Veteran answer architect and MSDW contributor Evert Bos defined on this article that he lately needed to check out a really previous D365/AX module {that a} buyer was asking for. He knew sufficient to get began, however as he progressed, he discovered extra in regards to the setup, the method steps, and the Kanban switch board. The results of the answer labored completely “when mixed with a Provider portal (or Provider workspace)”, he reported.
2021 Launch Wave 1 Plans: Rely on some new and helpful Dynamics 365 provide chain capabilities
Rahul Mohta and Yogesh Kasat of Actual Dynamics described 2021 Launch Wave 1 for D365FO as a “function powerhouse” throughout a broad vary of purposeful areas. They take a look at preview and GA options from Launch Wave 1 associated to planning optimization, stock, logistics, superior warehousing, and even combined actuality.
Buyer Engagement
Why Azure Synapse Hyperlink for Dataverse improved the Dynamics 365 information evaluation story
Following Construct 2021, information and analytics skilled Kirk Donahoe dug into the significance of Microsoft’s preview of Azure Synapse Hyperlink for Dataverse. Whereas it might have appeared like a rebrand of the present “Export to Information Lake,” the was actually extra to be enthusiastic about, he defined.
The capabilities…add one other extraordinarily useful layer on high of the earlier performance: the automated linking of the configured storage account with Azure Synapse Analytics and the creation of T-SQL views within the Serverless endpoint that queries from the information lake. This extra layer tremendously simplifies the method of accessing your information to create a Logical Information Warehouse via writing extra SQL Views or via different Azure providers together with Azure Machine Studying and Azure Cognitive Providers.
Donahoe discusses the methods Azure Synapse Hyperlink will modernize information export, decrease prices, and change into part of Microsoft’s total technique for enhancing and broadening information evaluation choices within the Microsoft cloud.