Microsoft has been enhancing Dynamics 365 regularly for years, and the company is showing no signs of slowing down. Partly because it is generally considered to be a smaller player in the enterprise ERP software solutions compared to other solutions out there.

However, some of its competitors have been focused on acquiring other companies to keep the innovation engine going, Microsoft has been busy with inhouse innovation and Dynamics 365 expansion.

The software giant debuted a slew of new features and capabilities recently, giving attendees a glimpse of what’s to come in the next release wave. And, Microsoft is leaving no stone unturned to make it bigger. That could also be because recent financial results have shown significant revenue growth for the D365 platform.

Some of the areas that Microsoft looks to focus on are:

Automation

One of the big trends in enterprise software today is the use of AI-powered features to reduce friction in business processes.  So, as part of their plans for the next release wave, Microsoft is looking to take automation to the next level with the help of AI and machine learning. The plan is to ensure that all the employee-oriented functions within D365 have AI-based features that can boost productivity.

From automating routine tasks to predictive analytics, the new release wave will bring in a range of powerful capabilities for sales, customer service, and finance departments. In addition to AI-enabled features such as Intelligent Order Management (IOM) launched specifically for retail and consumer-centric businesses.  The IOM allows the retailers to forecast demand and optimize inventory levels, minimize costs, and improve customer experience.

Collaboration

One of the areas where Microsoft has been lagging behind its competitors is collaboration. The company is now looking to make some serious inroads with the help of their collaboration and productivity tool — Teams. With their Teams software solution, Microsoft is hoping to lure more businesses with the promise of a single tool for collaboration and communication.

With the integration of Teams into the D365 platform, the users can stay connected with their coworkers, customers, and partners. And that communication will be available across devices, making it possible for enterprise users to access their data and discussions from anywhere.

But it does not end there. Some of the other features as part of their plan to improve collaboration include the ability to share customer history, offer knowledge and information to customers in real-time, and insightful reporting. However, it would be accompanied by privacy features that would allow businesses to invite, share and give access to a particular record only to relevant users.

That would make it possible to keep customer data secure while still providing the necessary information to employees who need it.

Also, a record includes communications and collaboration items. And that is what Microsoft thinks this new generation of software will enable. The Teams software has evolved into a platform for Dynamics.

More Planned Features

Apart from the above two key areas, Microsoft has several features planned for each sector. For example, they have dedicated features planned for the some of the below sectors:

• Finance sector will have a subscription billing solution for organizations with a recurring revenue business model. It could include things like milestone billing, customer contract management, and the ability to manage complex pricing structures.
• Supply chain management sector would have features to enhance operational resilience, execute agile planning, grow fulfillment ability, etc.
• Sales sector will get several powerful tools and features to leverage the power of intelligence and data for sales teams.

This is just a glimpse of what’s in store for Dynamics 365 users in the upcoming release wave.

Overall, the future of Dynamics 365 looks very promising with several features around the above two areas. The software giant is not only looking to enhance its core offering but also diversify into new avenues through acquisitions or in-house innovation.

Are You Looking to Leverage Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Your Organization?

If you are looking to implement Dynamics 365 at your organization, then our D365 implementation professionals at Oblige IT can help you. With years of experience in delivering successful D365 projects, we can help you get the most out of your investment.

Get in touch with us today to learn more about our services.