If you’ve heard about the Dynamics 365 platform, then chances are you’re keen to know what Dynamics 365 really is and what its functionalities and benefits are. According to Microsoft, “It’s how you become more agile to delight your customers”, but what does that really mean?

We’re here to break down the features and functionalities offered by Dynamics 365 and to show you how your business can use Dynamics 365 right.

What is Microsoft Dynamics 365?

Dynamics 365, in essence, is a cloud-based enterprise software platform, with the primary aim of bringing together ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and HCM (Human Capital Management) products into a single package. Add Power BI reporting functions and you will find yourself with an all-in-one streamlined package.

Often referred to as the Microsoft family of business applications, this software presents its ERP and CRM capabilities broken down into several apps, allowing users to add new apps and functionalities whenever needed. Dynamics 365 will allow you to combine your data and processes, offering you an automated and intelligent solution to both your sales and marketing functions. The software also gives users the ability to slowly build their knowledge and add more apps over time, making it easier for professionals to learn as they go, creating an intuitive system that can adapt to the user’s progression over time.

From a technical perspective, Microsoft Dynamics 365 is based on Azure, the Microsoft cloud platform designed to “build, run and manage applications across multiple clouds” and, like Azure, this will also be accessed through a web browser. As opposed to software that is installed on individual computers, Dynamics 365 will be accessible from virtually anywhere (as long as there is an internet connection) and will undergo regular updates and fixes automatically applied by Microsoft.

As a set of interconnected Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications, this new Microsoft product is designed to streamline and transform core business activities, making it easier to make improvements, scale your business and care for your staff and customers.

Key strengths of Microsoft Dynamics 365

Now that we have a better understanding of the new Dynamics 365, let’s break down its key strengths to analyse exactly what added value it can bring to the table.

• Autonomous ecosystem – As briefly mentioned above, Dynamics 365 offers a complete and streamlined “ecosystem” of software applications to help businesses function more efficiently, without needing APIs, workarounds, or dedicated machines to run individual functions like reporting, supply chain management or financial management
• User-friendly – The opportunity to add more apps as you learn is a very valuable one from a growth perspective, as Dynamics 365 has been designed to be very user-friendly and be familiar to users of other Microsoft products.
• Efficient automation – Thanks to the Native AI employed, this intelligent software will offer knowledge-based articles and drive decision making, identifying opportunities for further automation.
• Competitively priced – If we consider all the functionalities offered by this new Microsoft software and compare them to other products on the market, Dynamics 365 positions itself as a very competitive product.

Which Dynamics 365 apps exist?

To streamline and unify processes, this cloud-based enterprise software platform uses a variety of apps, covering multiple business processes – from customer relationships to logistics. These apps can share data with each other thanks to Dynamics 365’s common data model, which also allows users to make better use of their business data.

Here are the apps that currently exist covering the relevant business areas within Microsoft Dynamics 365.

• Sales – Build customer relationships and track your data with in-depth insights that can help you generate better leads and drive more sales.
• Marketing – Using connected marketing tools, businesses will be able to segment contacts and measure campaign results mor efficiently.
• Customer Service – Dynamics 365 users will be able to deliver fast and personalised service to customers, exceeding expectations and ultimately generating more sales.
• Project Management – Dynamics 365 Project Service Automation will enable users to oversee and manage projects from start to finish, binding all aspects of it, from resource management to contract handling.
• Operations Management – The Microsoft Dynamics 365 app designated to the management of operations will allow users to oversee all aspects within one platform, from manufacturing and supply chain management to reporting and financial planning.
• Field Service – This app will likely prove to be a great asset for businesses who want to optimise their mobile workforce – it will comprehend inventory management features, intelligent scheduling, and remote monitoring.

What are the benefits of Dynamics 365?

Thanks to the multitude of apps and add-on features available, Dynamics 365 has the main benefit of being flexible and adaptable to the specific requirements of each individual business. The cloud-based software will provide users with the right tools to increase productivity, no matter the size of their business or organisation.

As Dynamics 365 will be used differently by each individual member of a business, having the right support is important to guarantee adoption and correct usage. The UK-based Microsoft Gold Partner Preact has created a new package to reflect this, called “Elevate 365 Managed Service Support”, with the aim to provide users with something more than a support contact. The package is based on the premise that it will help businesses continuously improve their performance using Microsoft Dynamics 365, maximising the value of the cloud-based software, and providing exclusive access to expertise, support, training, prebuilt solutions, and eLearning.

Dynamics 365’s biggest value is that it will bring together sales, marketing, operations and customer service, creating consistency and unifying the customer experience across all channels. Thanks to its unified Power Platform, users will be able to access business processes and Office productivity apps all in one, with enhanced access to all CRM capabilities.

What support is there to implement or improve Dynamics 365?

As Dynamics 365 is cloud based and covers all aspects of running and improving a business, CRM specialist agency Preact offers on a comprehensive package – the Elevate 365 Managed Service Support – that will help users make the most of the software with easy access to support and intuitive help tools. This handy cheat sheet created by Preact will help you better understand the ins and outs of their new ‘Elevate 365 Managed Service Support Package for Dynamics 365’ offering.

The main support that can be used to improve the Dynamics 365 performance is:

• Phone support – A valuable asset when looking for quick answers
• Extended capabilities – Allowing users to keep track of expenses, integrating with an accounting software
• Training opportunities – Users have the opportunity to learn new technical skills and make the most of Dynamics 365 via exclusive eLearning courses
• Consultancy – Ideal to explore new ways of improving business processes and overall performance

Users can decide to take an independent approach to Microsoft Dynamics 365 or phase the implementation through a support package like the one offered by Preact. With strong support and so many different benefits and capabilities, it is clear that Dynamics 365 is an obvious solution for businesses looking to automate and streamline their processes.