This episode is sponsored by Mazars.

Microsoft continues to support Dynamics 365 mixed reality applications to support training and remote work scenarios, and the products get even more interesting when viewed against the backdrop of the rest of the Dynamics 365 and Power Platform portfolio's evolution.

Our guest, Mazars solution architect and Microsoft MVP Chris Segurado, has been working with the D365 mixed reality hardware and applications for three years, both with Mazars clients and in the development of presentations and other content for the community. He shares an update on how the technology has evolved and what Microsoft customers can do today to get started with planning for mixed reality scenarios in their operations.

Show Notes:

• 2:00 - Chris's journey with mixed reality solutions for D365 Supply Chain Management over the last three years
• 4:00 - Feedback from interesting mixed reality scenarios and use cases in production, asset maintenance, or warehouse
• 7:30 - Why manufacturing scenarios are a good place to start with assessments and investments given what Microsoft has already built
• 11:00 - Tips for putting a mixed reality strategy in place
• 14:00 - The outlook for D365 Guides and Remote Assist
• 18:30 - Promising use cases of the future across the Dynamics 365 product line
• 19:30 - The importance of HoloLens 2 and plans for new demonstrations
• 22:00 - What Microsoft's AI push could mean for the future of mixed reality

Visit mazars.us/microsoft to learn more about MazarsNow! Mixed Reality assessment, or email the team at [email protected]

Rob Jolliffe of Sabre Limited has been adapting fixed-fee services models to suit his Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central clients for nearly five years. At Directions North America 2023, Rob will be helping lead a workshop for Microsoft partners who want to explore fixed-fee models, share experiences, and even work on new strategies and frameworks that suit the Dynamics 365  channel.

On this episode we talk about fixed-fee strategies, expectations for Directions North America 2023 overall, and some signs of where partner sentiment is heading in the space.

Show Notes:

• 1:00 - Rob's history attending and participating at Directions NA events
• 3:15 - Why partners will be talking about fixed fee service models at Directions
• 5:30 - Understanding different fixed fee models being used in the Business Central channel
• 9:00 - The workshop Rob is co-organizing and what they hope to get out of it
• 13:30 - Why fixed fee models are good for clients
• 16:00 - Other themes Rob is watching for at this year's event
• 20:45 - The value for non-BC professionals attending an SMB Business Apps event
• 22:30 - Predictions and observations about partner sentiment heading into Directions NA 2023
• 25:30 - Will Microsoft continue to adapt CPP to make it work better for SMB partners?

This episode is sponsored by Formpipe.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 projects have the potential to impact organizations both in terms of the quality of internal operations and their customer-facing activities. On this episode, Formpipe’s Commercial Director Mike Rogers and Business Solutions Consultant Soren Hjorth join us to share their recent real world experiences working with Dynamics 365 customers. As they explain, solving business document challenges can deliver Dynamics ERP and CRM users with a range of benefits that not only achieve immediate goals but also position them for future needs.

We also discuss some news of the day: Microsoft's recent announcements of Copilot capabilities for Dynamics 365 apps, Power Platform,  Microsoft 365, and beyond. As AI tools scour an organization's content and data, proper access to business documents will be a critical pre-requisite.

Show Notes:

• 2:00 - Why so many Dynamics clients are focusing on deploying connected business systems
• 6:15 - First impressions of Microsoft's Copilot previews and what an AI engine means for document management and structured data
• 11:30 - Why automation is such a popular topic for vendors and customers
• 14:30 - Why integrating Formpipe Lasernet with other ISV solutions that work with Dynamics
• 17:00 - The influence of Power Platform on business application strategy
• 19:00 - Recent industry-related customer stories, including
• 24:30 - A brief update on Formpipe's document management platform

For more information on Formpipe and its document management solutions for Dynamics, please visit: www.formpipe.com or please check out Formpipe content on MSDW.

This episode is sponsored by Cavallo.

On this episode we hear from Cavallo vice presidents Bob McAdam and Joe Alt for the latest guidance on the company's Dynamics GP solution roadmap and partnerships. GP users looking at both the Cavallo Salespad roadmap and their latest partnerships should find comfort in the ecosystem's future, including in the opportunities to modernize order management and build more integrated and automated systems. 

Cavallo's Salespad continues to evolve, both in terms of the core offering and with new partnerships and connectors, Joe and Bob explain. We discuss the addition of more granular controls over orders coming from e-commerce systems. And Cavallo's new partnership with WennSoft (formerly Key2Act) will benefit customers who want better integration of order management with job costing and service management.

Looking ahead, Salespad Desktop is evolving to offer customers a more modular set of capabilities, Joe explains. And the company's spring event plans include a pre-day at DynamicsCon Live in May and their own Panels 2023 event later in the year in the company's home town of Grand Rapids.

Show Notes:

• 2:30 - The Salespad product roadmap
• 5:00 - Why the partnership with Wennsoft (formerly Key2Act) makes sense and how the solutions align for customers in areas including job costing, service management, and inventory management
• 11:30 - Why GP customers have built their solutions around advanced solutions
• 12:30 - How the GP roadmap drives Cavallo's product planning
• 15:15 - More details on Salespad's GP roadmap
• 19:00 - More plans for connectors and automation
• 21:30 - Cavallo's plans to offer Salespad Desktop capabilities in more individual modules, including process analytics

For more on the DynamicsCon pre-day, visit https://cavallo.com/scottsdale. If you have other questions about what you heard today, please email [email protected].

This episode is sponsored by Resco. 

Resco.net CEO Andrew Lorraine joins us to break down what’s next for mobile workers in 2023. We discuss the technology trends with long term potential, how to maximize your mobile worker experience, and Resco’s new developments for the Microsoft Dynamics 365 community. 

Show Notes:

• 1:30 - Andrew's career journey at Resco and becoming CEO
• 2:30 - Highlights of the last year at Resco
• 5:30 - How customers have faced Microsoft's changes to the D365 Field Service mobile app
• 8:00 - Industry and technology trends for 2023 that Andrew is focused on
• 12:30 - Has Power Platform accelerated opportunities for ISV solutions?
• 15:30 - How to help customers find ways to differentiate through technology
• 17:00 - Resco's approach to D365 apps and Power Platform going forward
• 20:30 - Company outlook for 2023: product management, client management, and beyond

Test drive the Resco Mobile App now. Get a feel for key functions, and use sample data - there is no need to upload your own. Get the app:

• iTunes Store
• Google Play

MSDW and MSCN Editors Jason Gumpert and Eamon McCarthy Earls discuss recent developments in the Microsoft channel, highlighting recent news and features, as well as ongoing trends and upcoming Microsoft Dynamics events.

Show Notes:

• Microsoft Business Applications sales exec Vahé Torossian departing
• Microsoft reveals 2023 Release Wave 1 plans for Power Platform, Dynamics 365.
• Azure outage takes down Dynamics 365 Business Central in Southeast Asia.
• Event Preview: Defining successful a Dynamics AX to Dynamics 365 user journey
• Event Calendar:
  • DynamicsCon Virtual 2023 – March 15-16
  • Directions NA – April 16-19
  • Directions ASIA 2023 – April 27-28
  • DynamicsMinds 2023 — Slovenia—May 22-23
  • DynamicsCon Live 2023 – May 22-25
• Features from subject-matter experts and upcoming coverage:
  • Empowering Dynamics 365 F&SCM ISVs to move to AppSource
  • Import your TD Bank Statement to Bank Reconciliation in Business Central with a Data Exchange Definition
  • Financial Tags in D365 Finance: A long-awaited feature is finally here

This episode is sponsored by Provance.

Power Platform is rapidly maturing as an application development platform, giving professional developers more ways to use it to build advanced solutions. For Microsoft ISVs, those advances have opened up opportunities to build first class solutions for on the platform where they can overlay their unique technology and expertise.

In the area of ITSM and ITAM, Provance has launched its own Power Apps-based solution, ServiceTeam ITSM. Two experts from the firm, Jennifer Grassen and Brian Field, join us to discuss the company's approach to Power Platform, some of the challenges they have solved with ServiceTeam ITSM, and how Provance's work in the Microsoft channel has informed their own work to take their ITAM and ITSM vision further.

Show Notes:

• 2:00 - What Provance is doing in the ITAM and ITSM space today and how Brian and Jennifer got involved in the space.
• 3:30 - Working as a specialized vendor in the Microsoft ecosystem, including the decision to get involved with Power Platform
• 5:30 - How ServiceTeam ITSM has evolved to help more parts of an organization than just IT
• 10:00 - Why does Power Platform make sense for the future of ITSM at Provance?
• 13:30 - Doing ITSM and ITAM product planning alongside Microsoft's technology roadmap
• 18:30 - The benefit to customers of building on Power Platform benefit customers?
• 22:00 - What's exciting in Microsoft's roadmap as it relates to Provance's plans?

For more information on ITSM and ITAM Solutions from Provance, visit Provance.com

The Canadian National Dynamics 365 CE/CRM User Group has a long tradition of bringing members of the community together, both virtually and in-person. The group paused its activities during the pandemic, but they are back with new events, new plans, and a new organizing platform with the support of Dynamics User Group (DUG).

Two of the organizers of the Canadian National group, Microsoft MVPs Malcolm McAuley of C5 Insight and Rick McCutcheon, update us on building new momentum among Canadian users and how they see the group moving forward at both a regional and national level.

Group members come from a variety of organizations, Rick and Malcolm tell us. Often these users are the lone CRM experts in their organizations, so the connections to other users can be invaluable when planning how to enhance skills and learn about new technology.

Malcolm and Rick also discuss the challenges of offering content that resonates with others while also working toward their goal of increasing the volume of meetings, aiming for a monthly cadence. Malcolm also explains what the group has planned for the future, like more roadmap guidance, additional perspective on related Microsoft products, and helping foster direct connections between members.

This episode is sponsored by Evenica.

Manufacturers have made a lot of progress on their e-commerce journeys in recent years, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Commerce offers some interesting ways for these companies to achieve sales and broader customer experience goals. Our guest, Stefanie Richter of Evenica, explains how manufacturers are approaching commerce  plans today and how those decisions influence technology investment.

Stefanie shares her takeaways from this year's NRF BIG Show, a retail-focused event that also offers interesting perspective for other industries. And she tells us about some specific Dynamics 365 Commerce scenarios Evenica is working on with clients, making the product a hub for the organization that brings together ERP and CRM.

Show Notes:

• 1:00 - An introduction to Evenica and their role in the Microsoft channel
• 2:45 - What the manufacturing industry is doing with e-commerce broadly today?
• 4:30 - What are manufacturers' priorities when Evenica works with them?
• 6:30 - NRF BIG Show takeaways and the expectations of B2B digital commerce experiences
• 8:30 - How Dynamics 365 Commerce adapts to different industries
• 10:30 - Do we still need to talk about "e-commerce" and isn't it all just commerce now?
• 11:30 - How Evenica positions D365 Commerce to clients
• 13:30 - What it means to position commerce as a hub for ERP and CRM while maximizing customer engagement
• 14:30 - How Evenica is engaging with manufacturers and other industry-focused partners in the Microsoft channel
• 17:45 - Extending the capabilities of D365 Commerce for more specific manufacturer needs

Evenica specializes in Dynamics 356 Commerce implementations, and they have a growing portfolio of their own IP that extends and amplifies the capabilities of Commerce. With a unique industry-specific approach, Evenica is able to offer custom solutions for brands in retail, manufacturing, healthcare, beverage & cannabis, government and more. For more information, please visit evenica.com.

This episode is sponsored by KwikTag by enChoice.

The world of work has changed in recent years, and today's AP departments find themselves working to meet both the performance demands of their businesses and the career interests of employees.

Our guests on this episode, Mary Miller and Sean Fitzgerald of KwikTag by enChoice, share their perspective on recent research on the impact of remote work and the implications on enterprise software investment. They share their own experiences working with companies to embrace the digital world and making sense of the marketplace and their employees' needs.

We also discuss why the profile of a company adopting AP automation is changing and the outcomes that finance departments are seeking from their software investments.

Show Notes

• 2:00 - New findings on the sentiment toward remote work
• 6:00 - The priority of AP before and after Covid and a real customer's experience ramping up quickly
• 11:15 - Customer and employee expectations of an AP automation project today
• 15:00 - Perception vs reality of what kinds of organization invests in AP automation
• 19:15 - How a single dad managed AP during the pandemic while working from home and making time for his children
• 24:30 - Implications of AP technology investment for companies moving ERP to the cloud
• 30:00 - Why Business Central customers want solutions that allow them to be more proactive on budgeting, planning, analysis, and process improvement
• 35:45 - Looking at the hiring and talent retention landscape

KwikTag by enChoice leads digital transformation as the one system for AI-powered invoice capture and workflow automation. With 20+ years of experience in the Dynamics community, KwikTag offers intelligent, cloud AP automation solutions for Dynamics GP and Business Central that provide a completely digital, touchless workflow and automatic transaction creation in your ERP. Visit kwiktag.com to learn how AP automation could benefit your business.

To learn more about the reasons companies are automating accounts payable, read this whitepaper: 5 Reasons Companies Are Automating AP. Watch this video to learn how a company using Dynamics GP transformed their AP process as a result of the pandemic and the work-from-anywhere era: Customer Spotlight: American Software.