Microsoft Dynamics 365 Implementation: Overview & Features
Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a suite of intelligent Business Applications. Microsoft Dynamics 365 covers both- the traditional ERP and CRM functions. Some of the key components of Dynamics 365 include - D365 Finance, Supply-Chain, Sales, Service, Field Service, PSA, Business Central, and some others.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 solutions can be customized to suit the business process needs of any customer. While the solutions by themselves are very rich and powerful, there are tools and development platforms available to make changes needed to custom fit them to suit any business needs.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 was initially introduced in 2016 in two editions: Business Edition and Enterprise Edition. On the one hand, Business Edition is for the small to medium-sized enterprises. It includes all the financial applications. Whereas on the other hand, the Enterprise Edition is for medium to large-scaled enterprises which includes field services, sales services, customer services, project service automation, human resources, business central and marketing automation solutions.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Implementation Features
Some intelligent tools are also available with Microsoft Dynamics 365 as Microsoft is increasingly embedding significant AI capability into its products. Various features of these products are drawing upon the power of AI - sometimes even without the user realizing so.
Features like Customer Insights, Sales Insights etc. are AI leveraged analytics and predictions. The Power Platform has several components that use Azure Cognitive Services. Microsoft has largely succeeded in democratizing AI.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 can benefit your business as several reasons will influence your decision in favour of Dynamics 365. The Microsoft Business Applications suite, which includes Dynamics 365 and Power Platform, together with Azure and Office 365 | Microsoft 365 - provide unparalleled power and experience to customers.
The ease of integration with Office365 | Microsoft 365, the seamless hybrid cloud options, and the Power Platform brings are stunning. Microsoft keeps bringing technical innovation to its products, and the vast network of partners is unparalleled.
Dynamics 365 enables seamless integration between components of Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and Office 365 | Microsoft 365
Fully loaded with artificial intelligence in various functions
The rich functionality of Microsoft Dynamics business platform
A huge set of intelligent business applications
Secured and easily accessible Microsoft Cloud technology
Collect data from all applications at one place
Options like on-premises deployment and to run on cloud
Easily to access and run: Run on mobile, tablets, desktop
Great extensibility possible with various apps on the market place
Pay as you go licensing and deployment options
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Suite Of Products:
Business Central (NAV): Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a complete ERP from Microsoft for the SMB segment. The product is part of the Microsoft Dynamics family and is the successor product to Microsoft Dynamics NAV. The ERP is available in a SAS and On-Premises model.
Finance: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations is Microsoft's enterprise-scale ERP that's suitable for mid-sized and large organizations. The product is now two separate applications - Dynamics 365 Finance, and Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management.Â
D365 Finance enables you to automate and modernize your global financial operations. You can monitor performance in real-time and predict future outcomes. The D365 Supply Chain Management enables you to manage your global operations, supply chain and manufacturing. It gives you the ability to integrate IoT, mixed reality and AI.
Sales: Dynamics 365 Sales is designed to support automation of the sales process from lead acquisition to close of sales. As leads are identified and qualified the system enables you to create an Account, Contacts, and convert them into Opportunities.Â
Progress on the lead, including all communications, and development stages can be tracked to a point of converting them into an Order. You can also generate an Invoice, or integrate with one of the ERP systems, e.g. Dynamics 365 Finance or Dynamics 365 Business Central, to generate invoices.Â
Customer Service: Dynamics 365 Customer Service provides features & tools for organizations to manage the services they provide to customers. Customer issues are tracked through cases and all interactions related to a case are recorded. You can create queries, and route cases to the right channel. Service-level SLA can be created and tracked, service schedules can be created, and performance & productivity can be managed.Â
Field Service: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Service helps organizations in the management of delivering onsite services at customer locations. You can define service locations, customer assets, predictive & preventive maintenance, work order management, product inventory, resource management, scheduling and dispatching, customer billing etc. The application combines workflow automation, scheduling algorithms, and mobility for mobile workers. Â
Project Service Automation: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Service Automation (PSA) is for organizations providing project-based services. You can define, track, and deliver project services, with the ability to manage right from the sales stage to invoicing.Â
Marketing: Dynamics 365 Marketing is a marketing automation application that enables you to not only manage the core marketing functions like email marketing, customer journeys, behaviour tracking, and lead scoring etc., it also gives you the ability to do event management functions, manage surveys, and more.
Human Resource: Dynamics 365 Human Resources enables you to build data-driven employee experiences for areas like - compensation management, benefits, leave & absence, compliance, payroll integration, performance feedback, training & certifications etc. It enables you to transform employee experiences, optimize your HR programmes, increase organizational agility and discover workforce insights.
Retail: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Retail is now known as Dynamics 365 Commerce. It brings you comprehensive omnichannel commerce-enabling you to give your customers an exceptional, insightful shopping experience. Â
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Implementation needs to be licensed through a Microsoft Partner. The partner must be a Cloud Solutions partner, or be able to enter into Enterprise Agreements. It is available for an on-premises deployment. There are however features/ functionality which may not be available in the on-premise version.