Microsoft is taking an AI-first stance to its Business Applications portfolio, but what does that really mean for customers, system integrators, and consultants?

Dynamic Communities (DCI) is launching a new event next month that aims to take on the full scope of the Microsoft-centric AI discussion. The AI Agent & Copilot Summit North America takes place from March 17 to 19, 2025 at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines in San Diego.

MSDW is a media partner for the event (register with our link for a $150 discount), and John Siefert, CEO of DCI, joins MSDW editor Jason Gumpert on this episode to talk more about how his team has envisioned and curated this event based on earlier experiences and community feedback.

John discusses some of the key opportunities for learning and networking and how the sessions and tracks are optimized for various roles and scenarios. He also shares the latest news about Microsoft leaders speaking at the event, including CVP Bryan Goode, VP Ray Smith, and Senior Director Cecilia Flombaum.

We also touch on the beautiful setting of this event, Torrey Pines in San Diego, and how participants can get the most out of their time on site.

References:

• Event site: https://copilot.summitna.com/
• Register with MSDW discount: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ai-agent-copilot-summit-na-tickets-936091594157?discount=MSDW150
• Our event preview article: https://msdynamicsworld.com/story/event-preview-ai-agent-copilot-summit-na-2025-spotlight-future-microsoft-enterprise

This episode is sponsored by Resco, hosts of Resco NEXT 2025.

Resco has recently announced their upcoming Resco NEXT 2025 event, taking place in Valencia, Spain from May 19-21 2025. Our guest, Trevor Metcalfe, takes us through some of the plans for the event including speakers and hints at the agenda, which continues the focus on field workers and mobile, deskless scenarios

This year's event is free to attend, and we discuss the history of the Resco NEXT dating back to year one in Boston and other memorable locations where the community has gathered in the past.

Learn more here: https://www.resco.net/next/

This episode is sponsored by SignUp Software.

On this episode, we are exploring how companies approach Procure to Pay and why the concepts, process and technical capabilities surrounding it have gained so much traction.

Procure to pay typically includes accounts payable processes, but that's only part of the story. My guests on this episode, Bob Monio of SignUp Software and Brendan Coffey of Mekorma, explain more about the business case for payment services working together with AP automation software and how that broader vision offers benefits like reduced fraud and improved cash management.

Bob and Brendan share their views on investing to improve procure to pay , including the recently announced joint partnership between Mekorma and SignUp. And they share their experiences working with companies looking to both better automate and optimize financial capabilities.

More from Mekorma:

For more information on how your organization can take advantage of the integrated Procure to Pay system discussed today, add payment processing to your AP environment, or if you’d like to discuss further the solutions offered by SignUp and Mekorma for D365, contact Bob Monio. You can reach him by email: [email protected] or by phone: +1 612.293.8558

This episode is sponsored by Evenica.

On this episode, Kelly Mazur, Marketing Director at Evenica, shares her biggest takeaways from this year's NRF Retail Big Show conference. Mazur details what Microsoft Dynamics 365 Commerce capabilities she and others demo'd for the retailers in attendance, and she shared the two major themes showcased across the Microsoft booth. She  also discusses commerce trends from the expo floor and shares retail predictions for 2025. AI was no doubt a hot topic again this year, but in this podcast episode we give specific use cases that were prominent across the event.

For more information about working with Evenica, please visit Evenica.com.

This episode is sponsored by Evenica.

In this episode, Evenica's Kelly Mazur dives into the world of modern e-commerce technology, breaking down the key differences between Headless Commerce and Composable Commerce. She unpacks these buzzwords, explaining what they mean, how they work, and which strategy might be the best fit for your business.

Mazur also shares real-world examples of third-party applications that integrate with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Commerce to help create tailored, innovative solutions. Whether you're an e-commerce novice or a seasoned pro, this episode provides actionable advice to level up your commerce game.

Tune in to explore the future of e-commerce architecture and learn how to build a solution that works for you!

For more information about working with Evenica, please visit Evenica.com.

This episode is sponsored by enVista.

The devices and applications available to frontline workers continue to evolve. On this episode, Chris Tordi and Mark Laatz of enVista join us for to explore the integration of Microsoft Teams and Dynamics 365, RFID asset tracking, voice automation, and connected worker solutions. You will learn how tools designed for frontline workers enhance productivity, ensure compliance, and drive operational excellence across industries.

We discuss:

• The evolving role of the connected worker
• How D365 can be used to empower frontline workers.
• Advantages of using D365 on various devices, including enterprise mobile devices, tablets, and wearables.
• The latest advances in RFID and voice scenarios for frontline workers
• Meeting industry compliance and customer demands

More from enVista:

• www.envistacorp.com
• Are You Getting the Most Out of Your Mobile Devices? - https://envistacorp.com/blog/are-you-getting-the-most-out-of-your-mobile-devices/
• Benefits of Voice Automation in the Warehouse - https://envistacorp.com/blog/benefits-of-voice-automation-in-the-warehouse/
• The Power of Voice Automation with Microsoft D365 - https://envistacorp.com/blog/leveraging-the-power-of-voice-automation-with-microsoft-dynamics-365/

This episode is sponsored by ERP Mechanics.

ERP projects don't always go as planned. Project delays, technical issues, and user adoption challenges can all create serious risks to an organization.  Our guest on today's episode, Karolis Aleknavičius of ERP Mechanics, tells us how his firm has become a specialist in helping organizations to navigate their way to success after a Dynamics 365 project has experienced a setback.

As a specialist in Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management and an ERP veteran, Karolis has seen projects at every scale and every phase. He shares both his personal history as a Dynamics AX and D365 F&SCM professional and his work since 2017 as the CEO of ERP Mechanics, where his team focuses on Dynamics 365 F&SCM implementations and rescuing troubled ERP projects. Karolis also explains why his team has developed a specialization in deploying document automation solutions with Lasernet by Formpipe. He explains how the capabilities of that platform align with the needs of many Dynamics 365 F&SCM customers.

More from ERP Mechanics:

Whether it’s a new or existing project, ERP Mechanics’ focus as expert D365FO & Lasernet developers, architects and consultants is to minimize risks, reduce costs and deliver your project on time. We offer a free consultation and trial of our services. Learn more about how we can help - https://www.erpmechanics.com/

This episode is sponsored by emfluence.

Marketers frequently lead the charge for better data and more connected systems in an organization, especially as it relates to customer journeys.

On this episode, David Cacioppo, president and CEO of emfluence, joins us to share some of his team's priorities as it relates to marketing automation strategy, especially in the Microsoft ecosystem.

As a firm that delivers both technology and digital agency services, emfluence has been working to align their worldview with the strengths of Microsoft Power Platform, especially Dataverse, David explains. And he discusses ways that emfluence's clients are increasingly looking for ways to bring insights from first-party data to bear across more industry scenarios and in campaigns that blur the traditional lines between B2B and B2C.

More from emfluence:

Sign up for a free 14-day trial of the emfluence Marketing Platform: https://more.emarketingplatform.com/msdw

This episode is sponsored FYIsoft.

In the Microsoft customer ecosystem, companies with complex financial structures often struggle to give their finance professionals the tools they need to create, deploy, and use effective reporting.

Requirements like multiple locations, companies, currencies, or ledgers can quickkly put extra burdens on both finance and IT teams that impact organizational performance and increase risk , says our guest, Jeremy Schaab, VP of software development at FYIsoft.

Schaab tells us about some of the common requirements the FYIsoft team hears from Microsoft users today and what the Microsoft product roadmaps will mean for both customers and ISVs. And he explains how his team has solved key technology challenges in order to offer elegant solutions for customers of different sizes and with different levels of complexity.

And we also discuss FYIsoft's product roadmap, which has important details that align with Dynamics 365 ERP applications, both functionally and technically.

More from FYIsoft:

• Download this whitepaper to learn more about the technology behind FYIsoft's solutions, and how your company benefits: https://msdynamicsworld.com/white-paper/fyisofts-technology-advantages-optimize-your-companys-microsoft-investment
• To request a demo of FYIsoft's reporting software for Microsoft customers, visit the company's website: fyisoft.com.

Microsoft MVP Kuldeep Gupta returns to the MSDW Podcast to help us understand some of the latest Copilot features coming to Dynamics 365 Project Operations. Kuldeep has a list of favorites and honorable mentions that he dives into, including an extra preview feature (they're all linked below).

He also tells us about his newly released digital course for organizations planning a move from D365 Project Service Automation (PSA) to Project Ops and the rapidly approaching deadline set by Microsoft for that transition.

Show Notes:

• 1:00 - About Kuldeep
• 3:00 - What Copilot in D365 Project Operations is all about
• 6:00 - Task Plan Generation Copilot
• 9:30 - Risk Assessment
• 13:30 - Project Status Report
• 17:20 - Resource Recommendation
• 25:00 - Blending assistance and automation scenarios
• 27:00 - Time entry agent
• 29:30 - Outlook on the Project Operations roadmap
• 38:30 - Kuldeep's course on migrating Project Service Automation to Project Operations