Microsoft Dynamics 365: Everything You Need to Know

Whether you are looking for an integrated CRM-ERP solution or some important business applications, Microsoft Dynamics 365 is the answer to all your questions. 

A Microsoft product, Dynamics 365 combines a number of Software-as-a-Service applications and services into one. It consolidates the capabilities of a CRM and an ERP solution to streamline data integration, business logic, and other processes. It eliminates the need for separate sales and marketing functions as it is fully capable of efficiently connecting, prioritizing, and converting leads into customers. 

Built on top of Microsoft Azure, Dynamics 365 gets the best of the trusted platform, along with its native integration with Microsoft 365’s productivity applications. 

What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 “Common Data Model”? 

Most enterprise software often has foundational components, such as data handling methods and database formats, that are unique to the applications with which they will be utilized; this limits an application’s interoperability with other external apps that you may want to use. 

Microsoft appears to be taking a step forward towards standardized and uniform database architecture since customized databases are difficult to integrate and upgrade. Any new solution Microsoft introduces under the Dynamics 365 umbrella is accessible to all customers. The only distinction is that users can browse these applications only through Microsoft AppSource, a brand-new marketplace. 

The Common Data Model, thus, enables integration with all applications that have a standard API, in addition to all the Microsoft apps. 

Utility of Microsoft Dynamics 365 

Microsoft Dynamics 365 offers several benefits. Some of the most significant ones have been discussed below: 

Microsoft Dynamics 365 brings your business together as a cohesive unit. It does so by connecting processes, data, and people across numerous applications, such as Microsoft Dynamics 365, Office 365, and LinkedIn, among others. 

Microsoft Dynamics 365 helps users make smarter decisions, thanks to the built-in AI, analytics, and guided action suggestions. 

With Microsoft Dynamics 365, you do not have to change your business methodology to meet your needs, instead, the application adapts to your needs. You can integrate most applications, and even use Microsoft Power Platform to customize applications. 

Microsoft Dynamics 365 promotes progressive business innovation by enabling you to modernize your approach through its mixed reality, AI, and other capabilities. 

The following Microsoft Dynamics 365 capabilities and applications are available to organizations:  

Customer Insights 

This module combines customer data from Office 365, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and external data sources to aid the users in deriving useful insights from the data. Additionally, Power BI is included in the module for data analysis and visualization. Predictive data can also be obtained by using artificial intelligence algorithms. 

Consumer Assistance 

Dynamics 365 provides multichannel customer interaction capabilities, self-service/self-care portal tools, community engagement tools, and support agent tools. 

In-Field Support 

Dynamics 365 component is utilized largely for resource planning and scheduling, contract management, inventory management, insights into items connected to the internet of things, and customer communication capabilities. 

Operational and Financial 

Dynamics 365 provides financial management along with all the reporting and analytics options in this module. It also offers manufacturing tools for supply chain management, warehouse and inventory control, and project, production, scheduling, and cost management. 

Marketing 

Dynamics 365 integrates Adobe Marketing Cloud with Dynamics CRM to offer campaign management and customized targeted marketing capabilities. 

Service Automation for Projects 

Automate resource scheduling, time and cost management, service analytics, and project planning all at once. It gets the while simultaneously streamlining management. 

Retail 

Integrated business tools, staff and retail management, inventory control, and operational insights. 

Sales 

The sales module offers information on potential customer sources, service personalization, and client interaction. Dynamics Magento and Dynamics Shopify are some of the products that support these metrics. 

Talent 

You can manage all the aspects of HR using human resource cloud services connected with LinkedIn. You can attract, hire, and onboard new employees, in addition to managing HR programs. 

Different Editions of Microsoft Dynamics 365 

Currently, there are two main versions of Microsoft Dynamics 365: Business Edition (for small and medium-sized enterprises) and Enterprise Edition (for medium to large-sized organizations). 

Enterprise Edition 

The enterprise edition is a well-defined combination of Dynamics CRM applications and Microsoft PowerApps. It is also inclusive of Dynamics 365, Microsoft’s top-of-the-line ERP solution. 

The Enterprise Edition of Microsoft Dynamics 365 comes with 6 integrated modules: finance and operations, sales, marketing, customer service, project service, and field service. The remaining two modules, talent, and retail can be purchased separately. 

Business Edition 

The Business Edition of Microsoft Dynamics 365 comes with three modules: finance and operations, sales, and marketing. This edition is largely an evolution of their cloud-based ERP/CRM, project Madeira. 

Will Dynamics 365 Replace Other Microsoft Dynamics ERP or CRM Products? 

The majority of the new applications that are part of Dynamics 365 are built on earlier Dynamics products, however Dynamics AX, NAV, GP, SL, and CRM cannot be replaced by the newest apps in any way. All the older apps continue to be used in their current state. Dynamics 365 is merely another option for licensing and using business apps, but one with a lot more features. 

Microsoft Dynamics 365: Pricing 

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a reasonably priced product, which helps it rank above its competitors, such as Salesforce, Oracle, and SAP. It has bundle licensing as well as role-based licensing to simplify purchases. 

The best thing about Dynamics 365 is you can start with any plan and eventually upgrade as and when required. 

Currently, there are three plans you can pick from. 

Why Choose Microsoft Dynamics 365 Modules? 

Users receive an integrated and intelligent perspective of data about customer records, transactions, behaviors, and preferences when Dynamics 365 and ERP’s CRM and ERP modules are combined with Microsoft’s productivity tools. For decision-makers who still need more, Dynamics 365 includes great functionality and additional analytical insight capabilities. The robust interaction Dynamics 365 offers with other Microsoft business apps is by far its most important benefit. In comparison to most other CRM systems, Dynamics 365 offers a more advantageous union with sister products for companies that primarily rely on Office 365 or Outlook (most rely a great deal on third-party plug-ins). Through the AppSource marketplace, Microsoft is also growing its selection of external applications that integrate with Dynamics 365. 

A CRM or An ERP – What is Microsoft Dynamics 365? 

It is safe to say that Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a combination of both. Microsoft has successfully created a product that caters to the needs of customers as well as the organization. Instead of looking at it as a giant software, it needs to be perceived more like a collection of applications integrated as one unit. 

Microsoft Dynamics 365 earlier existed as two separate entities – Dynamics AX and Dynamics CRM; these were repackaged in the year 2016 for the creation of Dynamics 365 – an all-inclusive application package. 

Microsoft Dynamics 365: Cloud-based or Desktop/App-Based Application 

Microsoft Dynamics 365 fully operates on a cloud-based architecture. It doesn’t only help it with real-time monitoring of data changes, but it is also a great approach to increasing system control and standardization. 

Although Dynamics 365 Enterprise Edition, which delivers infrastructure and processing resources on-site to make you feel more secure, is an option if you do want to keep all of your data on-site. Even though Dynamics 365 will be operating on a separate cloud that is specific to your organization, you won’t lose internet connectivity as a result. 

Final Thoughts 

While ERPs concentrate on the business, and how it runs, CRM focuses on the customer. However, both kinds of platforms enable information sharing across the entire organization. ERP enables businesses to prepare for issues before they materialize. The analytical thought process can be hampered by operational obstacles, which prevent businesses from concentrating on the data rather than the operations. ERPs provide the greatest method for organizing core company processes in this way. 

Therefore, Microsoft Dynamics 365 is an incredibly well-designed toolbox that has all the necessary tools. According to how well the tools themselves work and how well they suit your organization’s needs, management software may either spell catastrophe for or catapult a business, just as the tools can make or destroy an artisan. This is where Dynamics 365 comes in. There will never be any doubt about whether Dynamics 365 is the appropriate fit for you because the software will be customized for your needs.