This time we will cover more Dynamics 365 and its possibilities. And we will prove you that you can build an information system the way you build modular house – out of with a frame and prefabricated modules (of course, you can build it traditionally, brick by brick up to the roof).
As we mentioned, new Dynamics 365 is a combination of CRM and ERP systems. Unfortunately, ERP modules are not yet available in Poland. But the integration with ERP is not the only extension to the existing CRM. The idea of the new Dynamics 365 was not to combine two systems (CRM and ERP) but integration with the surrounding – using the existing tools to create one platform.
Acquisitions and partnership
IT industry is not just built of giants such as Oracle, Microsoft or SAP. Management information systems are created also by smaller providers. Well prepared solutions that are popular among clients and fulfil their requirements (usually exceeding the standard functionality of CRM or ERP system) are being integrated with Microsoft products. Or, they can be acquired by Microsoft.
And that is what happened to FieldOne Systems LLC (“FieldOne”) in 2015. The company created Field Services add-on to CRM and now it is a part of Microsoft family product. Today, by purchasing a licence for Enterprise Dynamics 365 Plan 1, you get:
- Dynamics 365 for Sales
- Dynamics 365 for Customer Service
- Dynamics 365 for Field Service
- Dynamics 365 for Project Service Automation
What does the Field Services offer? Well, among others:
- Work order management,
- Resource management,
- Service management,
- Customer billing.
You can also buy licence for Field Service separately, independently on the Dynamics 365 licence and add it to the system you use.
This year, Microsoft announced a partnership with another software giant – Adobe. The result of cooperation will be, slowly approaching and anticipated for long, proper marketing module for Dynamics 365 – Adobe Microsoft Cloud. Unfortunately, neither Dynamics CRM nor Dynamics 365 offer marking tool good enough to fulfil Marketing Departments’ needs. Adobe Microsoft Cloud is to change that by allowing user to plan and create omnichannel marketing campaigns, landing pages or form.
AppSource
The cooperation with serious market player and acquisitions of those who offer complex, fully functional and tested solution is nothing surprising. It doesn’t exclude other providers from the market nor limits the total amount of solution on the market to these used by majority.
AppSource is a marketplace for add-on to Dynamics 365 (and Power BI, Office 365 and Azure). It is a place where you can find solutions adjusted to the unconventional business needs.
What is the value added for the customer? It offers him an access to the wide range of solutions. It gives him a chance to choose (although this might be a little overwhelming). If your business is uncommon and you need an unconventional approach, the AppSource may be a place you can find a proper solution.
Of course there is a bait for the providers too: no need to reinvent the wheel and possibility to offer our product and services to the companies on the other hemisphere.
MS Flow and PowerApps
The newest Dynamics is integrated with MS Flow and PowerApss – ones of Microsoft youngest babies.
MS Flow is a solution similar to the IFTTT (If This Then That) – it allows us to plan a flow of actions. Its usage exceeds the scope of Dynamics 365 and that means that we can easily integrate Dynamics with external systems and tools (such as Twitter, Google Drive, Youtube, GitHub, Sharepoint or Jira).
PowerApps is a platform for creating apps available for everyone. It allows us to make applications integrated with Dynamics 365 (and other systems like MS Flow, Sharepoint) without learning how to program. Depending on our needs we can create our own application adjusted to our business needs.
What does it mean to you?
First of all, the flexibility of system has increased. Microsoft offers us a set of tool that can help us to run our business. Dynamics 365 differs from CRM and gives us a possibility to create a bespoke system out of already created components. The standard, OOTB solution is only a solid base and it only depends on us what we will build on it. We are moving away from a traditional approach and placing brick by brick up to the rafter and the roof. We buy prefabricated modules depending on our needs. Should we need a kitchen in our house – we buy a kitchen module. A living room? We buy a living room. What about a bedroom or library?
Officially released Licencing Guide, that is supposed to give you the insight of licences packages and what you should choose to obtain what you need at the best price possible, may not seem friendly. If you happen to have spent weeks or months analysing yours company, collecting requirements and business needs, you don’t want to spend another days or weeks choosing a package and modules you need. This is why we are here for you – do not hesitate to contact our Sales Department!
