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What is Microsoft Dynamics 365?
Dynamics 365 is Microsoft’s business application platform. It consists of cloud-based apps for your CRM and ERP, and can be seamlessly integrated with other Microsoft tools such as Power BI and Microsoft 365 (Office 365). The result: a future-proof foundation for business growth.
In the old days, Microsoft used to make software solutions such as Dynamics AX, Dynamics NAV and Dynamics CRM available as separate business apps with compulsory integration options. With Dynamics 365, all that has changed: everything is now offered as a cloud solution that meets all your digital needs. And the best part: you only pay for what you actually use.
Is there only one form of Dynamics 365 for organizations of all sizes?
Any organization can benefit from Microsoft Dynamics 365 – from SMEs to multinationals. The ecosystem was built to cater to all sizes. For example, Dynamics 365 Business Central and Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations are two separate ERP solutions, respectively benefitting small to medium and large organizations.
[Webinar] Discover more about the difference between Business Central and Finance & Operations
Is Dynamics 365 available on-premise?
All ERP- and CRM-related solutions in Microsoft Dynamics 365 are available on-premise. However, with the ever-increasing digitization, cloud-based Dynamics 365 is highly recommended. In the cloud, the applications show their full potential, since Dynamics 365 is housed on the Business Application Platform. Here, you will find an impressive arsenal of tools, like Microsoft Power Automate (formerly known as Microsoft Flow), Power BI and Power Apps.
The biggest advantage of Dynamics 365 is that all its applications are connected – and updated automatically. Without the cloud, connecting this data becomes more difficult, which results in less insight into your business processes. If you really want to stick with an on-prem solution, choosing a hybrid option may be the way to go.
Does Dynamics 365 grow alongside my company? How scalable is Dynamics 365?
Dynamics 365 is extremely scalable, thanks to its pay-as-you-go model and modularity. You only pay for the applications that you need before deciding on your growth rate. Do you find you need to add tools along the way? No problem: activating an additional application is as easy as pie. The same goes for integrating external tools into your ecosystem or purchasing additional applications in AppSource.
[Blog] 3 steps towards the best data integration strategy for your business
How do I maintain my Dynamics 365 environment?
If you’re looking for a platform that allows for continuous improvement, Dynamics 365 is the way to go. All applications are regularly – and automatically – updated, so you’re always working on the cutting edge. And of course, you can count on support after go-live if you need it.
Learn more about our Application Managed Services offering
Why should I use Dynamics 365?
- Productivity: By merging productivity tools with general business software and leveraging familiar tools like Outlook, Excel and Power BI, you seamlessly connect data from various sources: your business processes, Microsoft 365 (Office 365) and more.
- Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence provides you with practical data and insights to streamline all your business processes and proactively guide your employees towards optimal business results.
- Flexibility: Thanks to Microsoft PowerApps, people within the organization with little to no coding skills can build new applications on the business platform or adapt existing apps. No matter how big your business gets, Dynamics 365 has all the answers.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 lets you start small and build your way up. Focus first on your key business processes, those that give you a competitive edge. From there, determine your own growth rate, expand effortlessly and reap the benefits of the cloud and Dynamics 365.
What’s the difference between Dynamics 365 and Dynamics AX, NAV & CRM?
Before the release of Dynamics 365, Microsoft offered a whole range of individual business solutions such as Dynamics AX, Dynamics NAV and Dynamics CRM. How did these translate into the new ecosystem? And how do you make a smooth transition from the old system to Dynamics 365?
Dynamics AX & NAV
Dynamics AX was Microsoft’s previous ERP solution for large enterprises who wanted to automate a lot of business processes. Today, this software is found in different applications within Dynamics 365: Dynamics 365 Finance, Dynamics 365 Operations and Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management.
Dynamics NAV was its counterpart for small to medium-sized businesses. Like Dynamics AX, it allowed for business process automation. Its present-day equivalent is Dynamics 365 Business Central.
Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations and Dynamics 365 Business Central bundles all the capabilities of Dynamics AX and NAV respectively, but also add some new smart functionalities.
On a single, central cloud-based platform, Dynamics 365 combines:
- ERP and financial software
- Dynamics CRM
- Workflow tools to demolish the walls between ERP and CRM solutions
- A tool to develop your own mobile applications without overly complex code
Dynamics CRM
Dynamics CRM was Microsoft’s previous CRM solution, a powerful tool for managing customer relationships. Today, you can find this software in three different applications within Dynamics 365: Dynamics 365 Sales, Dynamics 365 Marketing and Dynamics 365 Customer Service.
Microsoft’s mission is to tear down the traditional walls between internal information (ERP) and external information (CRM). With Dynamics 365 Sales, Marketing and Customer Service, employees get tools tailored and adapted to their role – each available individually and working perfectly in conjunction with another.
Dynamics 365 provides a comprehensive view of your customer base with much deeper insights – allowing you to be proactive, meet and even exceed customer expectations and create greater value than ever before.
[Blog] 6 reasons why Microsoft Dynamics 365 is the ultimate business platform
Can I transition to Dynamics 365 smoothly?
If you are switching over from an older version of Microsoft Dynamics, you have two choices:
- Reimplementation: The core of the business platform is retained and given a make-over. Most business processes can be transferred one-to-one, which means that a lot can be automated. Only new functions or customizations need to be added separately. This is preferable if you have a fairly recent version of Dynamics AX, NAV, or CRM. The more recent, the smoother the transition.
- Clean slate: For those who want to start anew or haven’t used Dynamics 365 before. Together, we look at your current application landscape, future objectives and the role of Dynamics 365 in the framework of that organization. The transition to Dynamics 365 is gradual and differs from company to company.
Whichever option you go for, an ERP project takes Two To Tango. Check out our deep-dive into tackling an ERP project here.
What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations?
Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations was the name for Microsoft's ERP system aimed at medium to large enterprises. Today, it has been split and renamed as Dynamics 365 Finance and Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management.
Modernize operations from finance to manufacturing and supply chain and generate new growth thanks to a solid administrative foundation. Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations is also an ideal tool for project administration: it helps with project planning, execution and analysis.
The applications of Microsoft Dynamics 365
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales
The older Dynamics CRM platform split into three applications when it transitioned to Dynamics 365: Dynamics Sales, Marketing and Customer Service. This way, each employee can work with a tool tailored to their role.
With Dynamics 365 Sales, your organization gets a comprehensive picture of your customers combined with in-depth insights. By proactively responding to your customers’ needs, you can create even greater customer value and go above and beyond their expectations.
[Blog] Microsoft Dynamics 365 updates: what’s in it for sales?
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Marketing
Dynamics 365 Marketing goes beyond the ordinary marketing tool. Search and nurture potential customers by taking your marketing efforts to the next level: automate your marketing processes, launch e-mail campaigns, create web forms or other targeted content to spearhead your lead generation.
[Blog] Microsoft Dynamics 365 updates: take marketing to new heights
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Service
Customers want fast, personal and relevant answers on every available channel. Dynamics 365 Customer Service gives you the tools you need to exceed customer expectations.
[Webinar] Find out how Dynamics 365 can help you build out omnichannel service.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance
The modern version of Dynamics AX, Dynamics 365 Finance allows you to automate your organization’s financial processes and modernize your business operations. Build a solid base for forecasting, closing and budgeting, and keep track of your corporate finances at any time.
[Blog] Microsoft Dynamics 365 updates: finance and operations
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management
With Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, you can consistently deliver products on time, optimize resource planning, adapt to changing business models, and help ensure business continuity while staying profitable.
[Blog] Microsoft Dynamics 365 updates: supply chain management
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations
With Dynamics 365 Project Operations, you can deliver projects on time and on budget. Prioritize sales opportunities on a project-by-project basis with built-in intelligence and plan for successful outcomes.
[Blog] Microsoft Dynamics 365 updates: project operations
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Service
With Dynamics 365 Field Service, your organization can be of better service to your customers through proactive maintenance and predictive scheduling. With built-in intelligence, you are able to reduce operating costs, deliver positive on-site experiences and resolve issues before they even happen.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Commerce
Most businesses contend with complicated sales processes, particularly since the rise of e-commerce. It’s important to have a comprehensive picture of your business, so you can keep up with trends and the never-ending changes in buying behavior.
By bringing together digital, store and back-office processes with Dynamics 365 Commerce, you can create a more personal connection with your customer and improve their shopping experiences, all the while making your employees more productive.
[Webinar] Generate a Customer 360° view with a fully-integrated Microsoft stack.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Human Resources
Hiring the right person can be a challenge. How do you find the right future employee? Which channels are you targeting? Can you trust someone just by taking their word for it?
Dynamics 365 Human Resources streamlines your company’s HR processes. Through seamless onboarding, you’ll bring in the right people, engage them, and let them develop their talent.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Dynamics 365 Business Central bundles all the capabilities of Dynamics NAV – and then some. It combines ERP and financial software with, among others, Dynamics CRM, workflow tools (to demolish the walls between ERP and CRM solutions) and a tool to develop your own mobile applications without too complex code. And all that on one central cloud platform.
[Blog] Microsoft Dynamics 365 updates: What's new for Business Central?
How Dynamics 365 drives innovation
Microsoft strives for meaningful innovation. With Dynamics 365 and Power Platform, innovations like artificial intelligence (AI) and mixed reality (MR) can be implemented faster and more accurately, forever impacting and changing the way you look at your business.
Curious to see how Microsoft translates ‘meaningful innovation’ into exciting and readily available technology? And how you can use that tech to boost your business?
Check out Techsplained!
What is Dynamics 365 Sales Insights?
Dynamics 365 Sales Insights empowers salespeople and executives with AI insights to drive more revenue, increase efficiency and reduce costs. Use machine learning to prioritize potential customers and sales opportunities based on the likelihood of a purchase.
What is Dynamics 365 Customer Insights?
Dynamics 365 Customer (Service) Insights helps you build a deeper understanding of your customers. Connect data from various transactional, behavioral and observational sources to create a 360-degree view of your customer base. Customer Insights enables any organization to unify and understand their customer data and use it for intelligent insights to drive customer-centric experiences and processes.
What is Dynamics 365 Fraud Protection?
Dynamics 365 Fraud Protection protects you against payment fraud and fake account creation. It enables an e-commerce merchant to reduce fraud losses, increase bank acceptance rates to generate higher revenues and improve its customers’ online shopping experience.
What is Dynamics 365 Layout?
Dynamics 365 Layout allows the user to visualize room layouts through holograms in the physical world (mixed reality) or in virtual reality. You can even take a walk through holograms with a proposed layout to make changes in real time.
What is Dynamics 365 Guides?
Dynamics 365 Guides can be seen as the umbrella term for things regarding holograms and mixed reality. Using a HoloLens device, it can helps your employees learn new skills much faster. It speeds up the learning process with step-by-step instructions in mixed reality and guides employees with the tools and components they need in real-life situations. Dynamics 365 Guides also lets you retrieve employee performance data in Power BI dashboards, showing you where additional training is needed.
What is Dynamics 365 Remote Assist?
Dynamics 365 Remote Assist, paired with a HoloLens device, lets your technicians solve problems faster and more efficiently. Dynamics 365 Remote Assist brings your employees together with a real-time view of a problem to solve it efficiently and reduce costs while they work in multiple locations.
[Blog] Learn more about Remote Assist
What is Microsoft Power Platform?
Power Platform combines the robust power of PowerApps, Power BI, Power Automate and Power Virtual Agents into one powerful enterprise application platform - for fast and easy app building and data insights. Each component of the Microsoft Power Platform is built on the Common Data Service for Apps.
Each component is dynamic on its own, but only really comes to its tremendous strength when combined. The Microsoft Power Platform brings all your data together in a common data model.
What is Microsoft Power Automate?
Microsoft Power Automate is cloud-based software that allows employees to create and automate workflows and tasks across multiple applications and services without developer assistance. Automated workflows are called flows. To create a flow, the user specifies what action should take place when a specific event occurs. Microsoft Power Automate automates everything from simple push notifications and content management to complex business processes with defined steps.
Once a flow is built, it can be managed on the desktop or through an app on a mobile device. Power Automate integrates with several Microsoft services and apps, including Power BI, PowerApps, Dynamics 365 and Microsoft 365 (Office 365).
Microsoft Dynamics 365 can propel your business into tomorrow. Ready for what’s next? Let’s connect.
