An Overview of Cloud Business Central’s April 2019 Major Update Release

Business Central General Overview of Update

Performance, reliability, and scalability enhancements

Data and AI

Business Central - What’s new and what’s planned

Disclaimer: these features are set to be released between April and September 2019.

New Features Learn more here

Productivity enhancements for business users features.

• Application enhancements

• List views

• Rich notes and links

• Document focus mode

• Work date indicator

• Context or system indicator

• Quick Entry

• New keyboard shortcuts

• Autosave indicator

• Improvements to scrolling in lists

• Improved contextual search experience

• Improved all-product navigation

• Personalization enhancements

Self-help and support

• Simplified Help and Support Experience

• Page inspection

Productivity enhancements for administrators

• Hardening the integration between Business Central and Dynamics 365 for Sales

• Enhancements for application lifecycle management

• Enhancements to the intelligent cloud for Dynamics SMB and

Dynamics 365 Business Central

Today we're interviewing Ken Sebahar. Ken is a Microsoft Dynamics ERP Specialist who has 17 years of experience in all the facets of such products as Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Show Notes

Introductions/ERP:

• How did you get involved/started in the business software industry?

• What is ERP?

• Why would a company switch ERP Systems?

o Top reasons you’ve seen

o Follow up question: what are some of the top reasons people have switched to NAV

• How does a business get the most value out of their ERP solution?

Cloud and ERP:

• How has the Cloud impacted ERP over the past 5-10 years? Will on premise ERP systems be a thing of the past in 5-10 years?

• There’s a lot of talk about multi-tenant environments now. What is meant by that?

• Is the Cloud having a positive impact on ERP?

• What are your thoughts on the future of the Cloud in the ERP space?

Dynamics NAV/Business Central:

• What is Dynamics NAV? What is Dynamics Business Central?

• Why use Dynamics NAV/Business Central?

• Are licensing and pricing the same for these solutions?

• How would someone pick between these two solutions?

• How will these solutions help a company grow or be more profitable?

• What are your favorite bells and whistles?

• Do you have a favorite Dynamics NAV/Business Central add on solutions? Are there any necessary extensions you recommend?

• There are many Microsoft Partners out there. Why would someone choose to work with one Microsoft partner over another on their Dynamics NAV or Business Central implementation?

• For a company just beginning to use NAV, what is one tip you would give to…

o A typical end-user

o The Controller or Accounting Manager

o The Sales or Customer Service Manager

o The Inventory/Warehouse Manager

o The Manufacturing or Service Manager

o The IT/ERP Manager

Wrap-up:

• Will artificial intelligence eventually be performing such tasks as ordering, quality control, etc.

• Will robots take over the world?

• Who will win a championship first – Bears or White Sox?

Today we're interviewing Ken Sebahar. Ken is a Microsoft Dynamics ERP Specialist who has 17 years of experience in all the facets of such products as Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Show Notes

Introductions/ERP:

• How did you get involved/started in the business software industry?

• What is ERP?

• Why would a company switch ERP Systems?

o Top reasons you’ve seen

o Follow up question: what are some of the top reasons people have switched to NAV

• How does a business get the most value out of their ERP solution?

Cloud and ERP:

• How has the Cloud impacted ERP over the past 5-10 years? Will on premise ERP systems be a thing of the past in 5-10 years?

• There’s a lot of talk about multi-tenant environments now. What is meant by that?

• Is the Cloud having a positive impact on ERP?

• What are your thoughts on the future of the Cloud in the ERP space?

Dynamics NAV/Business Central:

• What is Dynamics NAV? What is Dynamics Business Central?

• Why use Dynamics NAV/Business Central?

• Are licensing and pricing the same for these solutions?

• How would someone pick between these two solutions?

• How will these solutions help a company grow or be more profitable?

• What are your favorite bells and whistles?

• Do you have a favorite Dynamics NAV/Business Central add on solutions? Are there any necessary extensions you recommend?

• There are many Microsoft Partners out there. Why would someone choose to work with one Microsoft partner over another on their Dynamics NAV or Business Central implementation?

• For a company just beginning to use NAV, what is one tip you would give to…

o A typical end-user

o The Controller or Accounting Manager

o The Sales or Customer Service Manager

o The Inventory/Warehouse Manager

o The Manufacturing or Service Manager

o The IT/ERP Manager

Wrap-up:

• Will artificial intelligence eventually be performing such tasks as ordering, quality control, etc.

• Will robots take over the world?

• Who will win a championship first – Bears or White Sox?

This podcast is a must for someone using Microsoft Dynamics NAV or Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. We'll be exploring must have resources, unknown features, and the importance of the Enhancement Plan.

Show Notes

Business Central, NAV, CRM, etc.

SSI’s website

SSI’s useful resources page: https://www.solsyst.com/useful-resources

Videos, PDF, White Papers, etc.

Webinars

Blog Posts

SSI’s Online University

Training Videos

Business Central

Business Central Video Resources

Introduction to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

What the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Team likes about it

Dynamics 365 Business Central Spring 2018 Release Video

Get Started with Business Central

Business Central Training Videos

Business Central Document Resources

Business Central Capabilities Guide

Dynamics 365 October 2018 Release Notes (begins on page 119)

Business Central Web Resources

Business Central Homepage

Product Suggestions

Upgrade to Business Central from QuickBooks

Solution Systems Business Central Homepage

Dynamics NAV

Microsoft CustomerSource

A complete guide to everything Microsoft Dynamics. Videos, links, training documents, product information, etc.

Microsoft Dynamics NAV Blogs

Learn about updates, planned releases, quick tips, etc.

NAVUG – Dynamics NAV User Group – A user-led, user driven community of 19,000 Microsoft Dynamics NAV Users. Proven to help Dynamics NAV users achieve higher satisfaction with their Dynamics product through education, networking, and events through this join community.

Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2017 Resource Guide – Enhance the power of your Microsoft Dynamics NAV with add-ons tailored to your business. Whether you need warehouse, tax solutions, or payment options, this guide shows you some of the most popular Dynamics NAV add-ons solutions used by businesses just like yours.

Exciting Features

Artificial Intelligence

Business Central has built-in intelligence to save you time and effort and keep an eye on patterns and changes in your business. The smart analytics feature in Power BI is just one example. Business Central also notifies you of actions you may want to tack onto tasks you’re currently completing. If you’re creating a PO to reorder a product from a vendor, Business Central will notify you of other low-inventory items from the same vendor so you can add them to the PO. The AI can also streamline tasks and reduce data entry. When you upload a product image during the product setup process, for example, Business Central reads the image, recognizes the product, and automates some of the setup, filling in fields and offering up suggestions for you.

​[Podcast] Artificial Intelligence & ERP

https://www.solsyst.com/single-post/2017/11/13/Podcast-Artificial-Intelligence-ERP

Favorite Accounts in Business Central

From any screen in Business Central, you can access a list of your favorite accounts. This list is completely customizable, so you pick the accounts you want to have quick access to based on what you’re working on or what you need to see most frequently.

Special Accountant Features

Business Central offers some light AP automation by allowing you to define items that you frequently import or export. Once defined, Business Central will recognize these items and execute follow-up tasks accordingly. For example, recognizing a paid invoice as something to be posted.

Container Sandbox Environment – Hidden Feature – link to blog post

https://www.solsyst.com/single-post/2018/04/16/Dynamics-365-Business-Central-Container-Sandbox-Environment

By running the Sandbox Environment (Container) page you can set up a container-based sandbox that can be Azure hosted or locally hosted. When you run this page, you can choose Host in Azure or Host Locally options. If you choose Host in Azure, you’ve to connect to your Azure subscription, fill the required data and Docker is automatically configured for you. If you choose Host Locally, you need to configure the Docker environment in your system befor

This podcast is a must for someone using Microsoft Dynamics NAV or Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. We'll be exploring must have resources, unknown features, and the importance of the Enhancement Plan.

Show Notes

Business Central, NAV, CRM, etc.

SSI’s website

SSI’s useful resources page: https://www.solsyst.com/useful-resources

Videos, PDF, White Papers, etc.

Webinars

Blog Posts

SSI’s Online University

Training Videos

Business Central

Business Central Video Resources

Introduction to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

What the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Team likes about it

Dynamics 365 Business Central Spring 2018 Release Video

Get Started with Business Central

Business Central Training Videos

Business Central Document Resources

Business Central Capabilities Guide

Dynamics 365 October 2018 Release Notes (begins on page 119)

Business Central Web Resources

Business Central Homepage

Product Suggestions

Upgrade to Business Central from QuickBooks

Solution Systems Business Central Homepage

Dynamics NAV

Microsoft CustomerSource

A complete guide to everything Microsoft Dynamics. Videos, links, training documents, product information, etc.

Microsoft Dynamics NAV Blogs

Learn about updates, planned releases, quick tips, etc.

NAVUG – Dynamics NAV User Group – A user-led, user driven community of 19,000 Microsoft Dynamics NAV Users. Proven to help Dynamics NAV users achieve higher satisfaction with their Dynamics product through education, networking, and events through this join community.

Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2017 Resource Guide – Enhance the power of your Microsoft Dynamics NAV with add-ons tailored to your business. Whether you need warehouse, tax solutions, or payment options, this guide shows you some of the most popular Dynamics NAV add-ons solutions used by businesses just like yours.

Exciting Features

Artificial Intelligence

Business Central has built-in intelligence to save you time and effort and keep an eye on patterns and changes in your business. The smart analytics feature in Power BI is just one example. Business Central also notifies you of actions you may want to tack onto tasks you’re currently completing. If you’re creating a PO to reorder a product from a vendor, Business Central will notify you of other low-inventory items from the same vendor so you can add them to the PO. The AI can also streamline tasks and reduce data entry. When you upload a product image during the product setup process, for example, Business Central reads the image, recognizes the product, and automates some of the setup, filling in fields and offering up suggestions for you.

​[Podcast] Artificial Intelligence & ERP

https://www.solsyst.com/single-post/2017/11/13/Podcast-Artificial-Intelligence-ERP

Favorite Accounts in Business Central

From any screen in Business Central, you can access a list of your favorite accounts. This list is completely customizable, so you pick the accounts you want to have quick access to based on what you’re working on or what you need to see most frequently.

Special Accountant Features

Business Central offers some light AP automation by allowing you to define items that you frequently import or export. Once defined, Business Central will recognize these items and execute follow-up tasks accordingly. For example, recognizing a paid invoice as something to be posted.

Container Sandbox Environment – Hidden Feature – link to blog post

https://www.solsyst.com/single-post/2018/04/16/Dynamics-365-Business-Central-Container-Sandbox-Environment

By running the Sandbox Environment (Container) page you can set up a container-based sandbox that can be Azure hosted or locally hosted. When you run this page, you can choose Host in Azure or Host Locally options. If you choose Host in Azure, you’ve to connect to your Azure subscription, fill the required data and Docker is automatically configured for you. If you choose Host Locally, you need to configure the Docker environment in your system befor

1. The first ever mention of Microsoft was in 1975 in a letter from Bill Gates to co-founder Paul Allen. It was written as Micro-Soft coming from microcomputer and software

2. The favorite food on the Microsoft campus is pizza and the free drink choices are milk and orange juice. Employees drink 23 million free beverages very year. Microsoft has over 37 cafeterias.

3. Microsoft uses code names for all new products and new releases.

4. Microsoft software engineers are known as Softies

5. Microsoft is one of the largest corporate collectors of artwork.

6. The Microsoft campus has a lot of bunnies on it! Somewhere along the lines someone dropped off rapidly reproducing bunnies and they did what they do best.

7. https://mashable.com/2010/07/17/microsoft-facts/#kWatL.AimEqj

8. Microsoft has created three billionaires and as many as 12,000 millionaires.

9. Microsoft employees are expected to bring M&Ms to the office to share on their work anniversaries – The tradition is one pound for every year they’ve been with the company.

10. Microsoft is rumored to hold more than 50,000 patnets.

11. In 1994 Timex and Microsoft designed the Datalink 150 watch together. It was the first smartwatch ever, beating Apple by 12 years. It also wasn’t that great.

12. Microsoft coined the term tablet.

13. https://www.businessinsider.com/18-facts-about-microsoft-2016-3

14. The shortcut Alt-Shift-D will place the date automatically in MS Word

15. Microsoft Office was launched for the Macintosh in 1989 before it was released for windows

16. https://wallstreetinsanity.com/40-facts-you-didnt-know-about-microsoft/

Football

• Top teams in each division – See computer

• Who’s going to be in the super bowl

• Who’s winning the super bowl

• Best team of all time

• Bears Record – on the record

• Will the defense be ranked in the top 5 with addition of Roquan Smith?

1. The first ever mention of Microsoft was in 1975 in a letter from Bill Gates to co-founder Paul Allen. It was written as Micro-Soft coming from microcomputer and software

2. The favorite food on the Microsoft campus is pizza and the free drink choices are milk and orange juice. Employees drink 23 million free beverages very year. Microsoft has over 37 cafeterias.

3. Microsoft uses code names for all new products and new releases.

4. Microsoft software engineers are known as Softies

5. Microsoft is one of the largest corporate collectors of artwork.

6. The Microsoft campus has a lot of bunnies on it! Somewhere along the lines someone dropped off rapidly reproducing bunnies and they did what they do best.

7. https://mashable.com/2010/07/17/microsoft-facts/#kWatL.AimEqj

8. Microsoft has created three billionaires and as many as 12,000 millionaires.

9. Microsoft employees are expected to bring M&Ms to the office to share on their work anniversaries – The tradition is one pound for every year they’ve been with the company.

10. Microsoft is rumored to hold more than 50,000 patnets.

11. In 1994 Timex and Microsoft designed the Datalink 150 watch together. It was the first smartwatch ever, beating Apple by 12 years. It also wasn’t that great.

12. Microsoft coined the term tablet.

13. https://www.businessinsider.com/18-facts-about-microsoft-2016-3

14. The shortcut Alt-Shift-D will place the date automatically in MS Word

15. Microsoft Office was launched for the Macintosh in 1989 before it was released for windows

16. https://wallstreetinsanity.com/40-facts-you-didnt-know-about-microsoft/

Football

• Top teams in each division – See computer

• Who’s going to be in the super bowl

• Who’s winning the super bowl

• Best team of all time

• Bears Record – on the record

• Will the defense be ranked in the top 5 with addition of Roquan Smith?

An organization’s culture may be one of its strongest assets or it can be its biggest liability. The reason culture is so important is that its impact goes far beyond the talent in the organization; it has significant influence on the organization’s goals. Culture drives or impedes the success of an organization. With culture impacting the talent, the product, the clients as well as the revenue, why would a company not measure, review and intentionally nurture something so important and critical to its success?

So what does a good corporate culture influence?

• Improves Productivity

o Employees are more in tune with the needs of their managers, fellow employees and customers

o Entrepreneur, an online resource for business owners, says that employees who work for companies with healthy workplace cultures may be more committed and productive.

• Increases Marketability

o Identity. Culture contributes to the identify and values of your company. For example, if your corporate culture is one that prioritizes setting and meeting goals, your individual workers will be more likely to set and meet goals of their own. It’s a good way to set and maintain the direction of your employees, and without it, it’s hard to keep your company’s values coherent.

o Makes an impact on the type of talent your attract and hire

 In an article for Harvard Business School's, “Working Knowledge,” professors James Heskett and W. Earl Sasser say that companies with well-defined corporate cultures often are recognized as better places to work, causing them to be known among prospective employees.

 Bottom line, a strong company culture attracts better talent and, more importantly, retains that talent.

• Forms Unity Between Employees

o Employees and organization members take cues from management as they form their opinions about the culture of a workplace. Once employees adopt the shared norms of a company, it unifies employees and management.

o Patty Vogan, Entrepreneur.com's “Leadership” columnist, says that corporate culture starts and ends at the top with the business owner and upper management. The unity makes employees feel like they're a part of a team. Entrepreneur online says this feeling makes employees more concerned for the success of the entire business, not their own personal accomplishments.

5 Keys to help create a better corporate culture

• Communicate. Understanding why a company follows a particular process and ensuring that information is properly disseminated are crucial. Another example of good communication is to provide opportunities for customers to visit a particular factory and meet with manufacturing employees. Let the two groups discuss the impact the products have on customers.

• Allow for more control of work. In manufacturing, much of the work is predetermined, based on the nature of the day-to-day process. Each day and hour might be prescribed, with the employee having little say over his or her schedule. Not surprisingly, this could dampen engagement. Great manufacturing leaders figure out the amount of control they can give back to the employees, which allows them some choice in potentially rote procedures.

• Create accountability. Great managers work with employees to establish how "we can all be" accountable to the work. When done right, accountability creates higher engagement. It is important to make sure underperforming employees and managers are held accountable, even in situations where management structures may not lend themselves to performance accountability.

• Make sure people feel like they matter. Perhaps the most important task for a leadership team to figure out -- how to make every associate feel like they matter when they arrive at work every day. This includes making sure every employee understands how they fit into the complex infrastructure of their company. For example, bring customers to the plant to speak with employees about the impact of their products or take "field trips" to customer factories to he

An organization’s culture may be one of its strongest assets or it can be its biggest liability. The reason culture is so important is that its impact goes far beyond the talent in the organization; it has significant influence on the organization’s goals. Culture drives or impedes the success of an organization. With culture impacting the talent, the product, the clients as well as the revenue, why would a company not measure, review and intentionally nurture something so important and critical to its success?

So what does a good corporate culture influence?

• Improves Productivity

o Employees are more in tune with the needs of their managers, fellow employees and customers

o Entrepreneur, an online resource for business owners, says that employees who work for companies with healthy workplace cultures may be more committed and productive.

• Increases Marketability

o Identity. Culture contributes to the identify and values of your company. For example, if your corporate culture is one that prioritizes setting and meeting goals, your individual workers will be more likely to set and meet goals of their own. It’s a good way to set and maintain the direction of your employees, and without it, it’s hard to keep your company’s values coherent.

o Makes an impact on the type of talent your attract and hire

 In an article for Harvard Business School's, “Working Knowledge,” professors James Heskett and W. Earl Sasser say that companies with well-defined corporate cultures often are recognized as better places to work, causing them to be known among prospective employees.

 Bottom line, a strong company culture attracts better talent and, more importantly, retains that talent.

• Forms Unity Between Employees

o Employees and organization members take cues from management as they form their opinions about the culture of a workplace. Once employees adopt the shared norms of a company, it unifies employees and management.

o Patty Vogan, Entrepreneur.com's “Leadership” columnist, says that corporate culture starts and ends at the top with the business owner and upper management. The unity makes employees feel like they're a part of a team. Entrepreneur online says this feeling makes employees more concerned for the success of the entire business, not their own personal accomplishments.

5 Keys to help create a better corporate culture

• Communicate. Understanding why a company follows a particular process and ensuring that information is properly disseminated are crucial. Another example of good communication is to provide opportunities for customers to visit a particular factory and meet with manufacturing employees. Let the two groups discuss the impact the products have on customers.

• Allow for more control of work. In manufacturing, much of the work is predetermined, based on the nature of the day-to-day process. Each day and hour might be prescribed, with the employee having little say over his or her schedule. Not surprisingly, this could dampen engagement. Great manufacturing leaders figure out the amount of control they can give back to the employees, which allows them some choice in potentially rote procedures.

• Create accountability. Great managers work with employees to establish how "we can all be" accountable to the work. When done right, accountability creates higher engagement. It is important to make sure underperforming employees and managers are held accountable, even in situations where management structures may not lend themselves to performance accountability.

• Make sure people feel like they matter. Perhaps the most important task for a leadership team to figure out -- how to make every associate feel like they matter when they arrive at work every day. This includes making sure every employee understands how they fit into the complex infrastructure of their company. For example, bring customers to the plant to speak with employees about the impact of their products or take "field trips" to customer factories to he

Join us as we take a look at some of the most effective ways to spend your leftover ERP budget.