Microsoft just released their plans for 2024 Release Wave 1 of Dynamics 365 and Power Platform, and the Finance and Operations suite will be adding a range of process and data-themed capabilities. Generative AI is part of that roadmap too, of course, but our guest on this episode, Microsoft VP Georg Glantschnig, shares that his broader focus is on improving automation, solution composability, and data-centric capabilities.

 

Georg discusses some of the highlights of the current release wave and, while this is not an "all AI" conversation, he explains that Copilot will continue to be a priority for the Dynamics 365 team in the future. His team's approach of bringing customers and partners into preview and GA cycles should help Microsoft launch new AI-based capabilities that users want, he believes. And he shares his outlook on how Copilot could become more advanced over time, from today's productivity tools toward a future where autonomous systems handle end-to-end processes, asking users for help only in exceptional cases. 

 

Show Notes:

• 1:30 - Georg's background in the ERP space going back to the 1990s
• 3:30 - Microsoft's ERP position (and dividing Finance & SCM) at the time Georg joined the team in 2019 and how priorities have evolved
• 5:15 - How Georg positions Microsoft's ERP progress over the years
• 7:45 - Setting priorities in product planning
• 9:30 - Top level themes of 2024 Release Wave 1 plans
• 13:45 - What to expect from the launch of the D365 Finance Premium license option
• 15:30 - One Version updates for the product and what it means for customers
• 18:00 - How have customers adapted to the cloud, especially those who have been on D365 in the cloud for several years
• 19:15 - Automation and composabilty scenarios in the new release wave
• 22:30 - Domino's UK story: Inventory planning at scale with D365 and AI-driven demand planning
• 26:00 - Looking ahead to F&O product planning priorities:  operational process improvement and generative AI
• 29:00 - The journey for AI advancements - low stakes to high stakes
• 31:30 - Microsoft's product management approach to approach planning for future AI-related scenarios for F&O products
• 35:30 - How much will D365 F&O AI capabilities cost users?
• 38:30 - How is the One Dynamics One Platform (ODOP) initiative progressing?
• 41:30 - How F&O scenarios will expand their use of Power Platform
• 43:30 - Approaching concerns over cost of Dataverse usage
• 45:30 - The trend of building custom capabilities on Power Platform
• 46:00 - Other 2024 plans for Georg's team

Conferences play a key role in many Dynamics and Power Platform professionals' training plans. On this episode, Julie and Jason talk about the types of educational content that are gaining popularity at Microsoft-focused events, how sessions are selected, and how to get the most educational value out of the next event you choose to spend your time at.

 

Julie gives an update on planning for the next Power Platform 24 virtual event on March 20 and 21 and their call for speakers. We also talk about Jason's recent trip to the NRF Big Show 2024 event, why AI could become a bigger part of event attendees experiences soon, balancing structure and spontaneity in an event schedule, and whether session selection teams are doing a better job encouraging participation from a diverse range of presenters.

 

Show Notes:

 

• 6:30 - Push toward beginner content at events
• 14:15 - Julie's experience with conference session selection processes
• 18:45 - Planning your next conference experience and setting fair expectations with session presenters
• 23:30 - Why Julie believes AI has a role to play in all future conferences for session planning
• 26:30 - Jason and Julie's event plans for 2024 so far

The latest updates to Metafile's AP Automation solution blend improving AI-based capabilities with their trusted capabilities around process and data efficiency. Company veteran Doug Bertram talks with Biz Apps Buzz host Amiee Keenan about his experiences watching the company's AI tools evolve before his eyes, with extraction and error handling capabilities improving almost before his eyes. Doug tells the story of a demo thrown off when the solution's AI engine learned to correctly interpret an invoice field that had been failing a few weeks earlier. And he explains how improvements in understanding documents raises the bar for AP fundamentals like automating 2-way and 3-way PO matching and for approving invoices without a PO. 

To learn more about the latest updates from Metafile, contact them at [email protected].

About Biz Apps Buzz Biz Apps Buzz is the newest podcast series from MSDynamicsWorld.com, focusing on breaking news and announcements from Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform channel partners. The conversation is broadcast live on LinkedIn and YouTube, and the recording is then made available as a podcast. 

Julie and Jason are talking about goals and goal setting. While neither of them is a self-described goal setter, they both acknowledge that taking a goal-oriented approach can be a helpful tool for professional development.

 

Using the SMART(ER) model as a reference point, they talk through different ways professionals in the Dynamics 365 and Power Platform space can set goals for their own professional development. They note examples of various people in the Microsoft community who have modelled great goal-setting behaviors for the rest of us, and they identify tools and programs that listeners can look at for further guidance and inspiration.

 

References:

• All episodes of Biz Apps Classroom - https://msdynamicsworld.com/biz-apps-classroom
• Lisa Crosbie - https://www.youtube.com/@LisaCrosbie
• Mark Smith's mentoring program - https://ako.nz365guy.com/
• April Dunham - https://www.youtube.com/@AprilDunnam
• Reskill program for Business Central partners - https://msdynamicsworld.com/story/microsoft-launches-reskill-help-dynamics-365-business-central-partners-add-services-capacity
• My Digest - https://mydigest.365.training/MyFeed
• Julie's email: [email protected]
• Jason's email: [email protected]

This episode is sponsored by Vertex.

 

Larry Mellon , Tax Director – Chief Tax Office at Vertex, joins us to shed light on potential risks that businesses grapple with when they rely on their ERP's native tax functionality rather than a dedicated tax engine.

 

Larry tells us about his history with Vertex, working both internally and with both customers and jurisdictions on tax matters. He discusses some of the reasons why tax accuracy is so important to an organization and how any shortcomings can interfere with compliance, lead to audit risk, and affect staff allocation. He also explains the role a trusted tax engine can have in improving the auditor's role and optimizing staff allocation.

 

Show Notes:

• 1:00 - Larry's professional history at Vertex, in their tax office and working on the software
• 1:45 - Why does tax automation software differ from native ERP tools?
• 2:45 - Common challenges of accurate taxation
• 3:45 - Changing rules for sales and use tax assessment
• 5:30 - Top challenges in staying compliant
• 6:15 - How reporting to tax jurisdictions works with a tax engine
• 7:10 - Have tax jurisdictions adapted to receiving data from tax engines?
• 8:30 - Reporting for auditors
• 9:45 - How tax engine deployment improves staff allocation

 

Vertex integrates with Dynamics 365 F&O, Business Central, Sales, and  Commerce. To learn more about Vertex’s integrations with Dynamics 365, visit https://vertexinc.com. 

 

Email: [email protected] to discuss your specific tax needs.  Vertex integrates with F&O, Business Central, Sales & Commerce.

In our inaugural episode of the Biz Apps Buzz, host Amiee Keenan speaks with Cavallo’s head of strategic partnerships, Bob McAdam, about the company’s latest product updates. He shares updates on new solutions for Dynamics 365 Business Central and Dynamics GP focused on business performance and profitability, as well as new integrations and enhancements.

Topics include:

• Cavallo's Profit Analytics beta has begun 
• The debut of Profit Scan for Business Central
• Plans to combine Order Management Dashboard + Workflow for Business Central
• Recent enhancements and integrations to their Dynamics GP product offerings 

About Biz Apps Buzz

Biz Apps Buzz is the newest podcast series from MSDynamicsWorld.com, focusing on breaking news and announcements from Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform channel partners. The conversation is broadcast live on LinkedIn and YouTube, and the recording is then made available as a podcast. 

Julie Yack has years of experience with Microsoft certification exams, whether taking them herself, helping others prepare to pass them, and even helping Microsoft develop new ones. On this episode she talks with Biz Apps Classroom co-host Jason Gumpert about her certification experiences over the years, both good and bad, and what Microsoft has done to improve their approach in recent years by transitioning toward a role-based model and taking steps to make exams and exam prep somewhat more accessible.

 

Special offer: Listeners can support the podcast and get a discount on an annual plan for 365.training by visiting  https://365l.ink/MSDW.

 

Show Notes:

• 3:25 - Certification development is not a black box - what goes into it
• 6:30 - How Microsoft has shifted their approach based on community feedback
• 7:45 - Power Platform roles that align with certifications
• 9:00 - What will Microsoft do next to update its approach to certifications: roles, processes, and resources
• 10:20 - Interactive experiences on Learn for Power Automate
• 12:45 - Barriers to taking a certification exam, and some options from Microsoft to help
• 14:00 - Why better study materials and more relevant exam questions lead to better results
• 17:45 - Training and prep options, from free to paid
• 19:15 - What should you do if you fail an exam?
• 22:30 - More Microsoft practice assessments.
• 23:30 - Getting support from the community

 

More about Practice Assessments: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/practice-assessments-for-microsoft-certifications

We are kicking off our new podcast series, the Biz Apps Classroom, and our hosts, Julie Yack of 365.training and Jason Gumpert of MSDynamicsWorld.com, discuss how this project arose and where it will be going in future episodes. They chat about some of the training and learning themes influencing the Power Platform and Dynamics 365 landscape today and trade notes on recent conference experiences and Microsoft product announcements. Julie also shares some observations from her most recent classroom training work.

Stay tuned for upcoming episodes of the Biz Apps Classroom, where we will examine topics like the influence of AI, Microsoft certifications, training resources, classroom and teaching styles, the evolution of the Microsoft business applications products, and more.

Special offer: Listeners can support the podcast and get a discount on an annual plan for 365.training by visiting https://365l.ink/MSDW.

Show Notes:

• 1:00 – How to make sense about training in the Microsoft Biz Apps ecosystem today
• 3:30 – Julie’s history with developing training content in the Dynamics space
• 4:15 – How the hosts will develop new episode ideas and how listeners can get involved
• 7:00 – Why some training materials have remained valid for several years while other topics change frequently
• 8:00 – Addressing different types of learners, learning needs, and learning resources
• 9:30 – Why certifications still matter
• 11:00 – Why in-person training remains important in some scenarios
• 13:30 – Training digital immigrants versus digital natives
• 16:00 – How will AI impact training?
• 19:30 – Julie’s experience leading in-person labs at Ignite 2023
• 22:00 – Can Power Platform remain a platform both for citizen developers and pro devs?
• 23:15 – More Ignite 2023 in-person experiences

Contact our hosts:

• Julie Yack – [email protected]
• Jason Gumpert – [email protected]

The analysts at Everest Group have published their latest ratings of systems integrators in the Microsoft Dynamics 365 ecosystem, and changes in the space reflect both product trends and attitudes toward enterprise software investment.

 

Our guest, Everest Group practice director Abhishek Mundra, discusses the factors that his time uses to assess service providers in terms of partnership with Microsoft, types of engagements, project outcomes, attitudes toward value realization, and more. And he explains why some firms have risen to become major contenders based on factors like geography or industry.

 

Learn more about the Everest Group report here.

 

Show Notes:

• 1:45 - Goals of Everest Group's assessment and the factors that impact it.
• 4:45 - What has changed since their last assessment, both in terms of Microsoft's portfolio and the provider results
• 10:30 - Why more global enterprises are deploying Dynamics-based solutions
•  13:45 - Emerging types of engagements
• 15:15 - What do customers say that service providers need to improve on?
• 18:15 - How to realize value from very expensive enterprise software engagements and how providers manage
• 19:30 - New entrants to the Dynamics 365 service provider market (and some removed from the report)
• 23:00 - The range of Sis - how are midmarket firms competing alongside larger ones?
• 24:30 -  How SIs manage their relationships with Microsoft
• 29:30 - Why customers engage with multiple Microsoft partners
• 32:45 - More plans in Everest Group's report calendar

This episode is sponsored by enVista.

 

The speed with which Microsoft has introduced various Copilot capabilities has challenged even the most dedicated channel professionals to keep up. Updates across Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and beyond have signaled a new era at Microsoft, with the company's product teams all putting AI-based capabilities at the forefront of their planning and messaging.

 

To get more perspective on how Microsoft's Copilot brand and tools are evolving, we are joined by Nathan Bench and Hillary Schwartzbach of enVista. They have been paying attention to Microsoft's updates, both the new Copilot announcements and the adjustments and rebranding that are still going on. They offer perspective on the AI capabilities that Microsoft customers have responded most favorably to already in work scenarios like code development, meeting management, and sales. We also discuss the close relationship between deploying AI workloads and having a strong base of IT fundamentals in an organization like data management and security policies. And they share some perspective on how champions can bring Microsoft Copilot tools back to their teams and win over skeptical or less educated colleagues to begin putting some of these capabilities to work.

 

Show Notes:

• 2:00 - Which copilots customers have shown an early interest in, and why they need guidance in many areas
• 5:30 - How Sales Copilot has influenced the perception of newer Dynamics 365 Copilot tools
• 7:15 - How data management and data hygiene are so critical for getting value from AI
• 11:30 - The challenge of correctly assigned security and access
• 14:30 - Why access to documents and enterprise content flowing through enterprise systems will be important to Copilot scenarios
• 17:00 - Recommendations on how champions in an organization should be bringing AI discussions back to their teams today
• 23:00 - Why understanding user roles or personas will be critical for rolling out the right copilot scenarios in any organization
• 25:30 - The role that Dynamics ISVs will have in the Copilot story
• 30:00 - How enVista is starting to prepare their clients
• 33:15 - Why interest is so high inside organizations already

 

enVista is a Microsoft Solution Partner with designations in Business Applications, Data & AI (Azure), Digital App & Innovation, and Modern Work. With two decades of experience in Microsoft consulting, implementations, development, technical support and operations for manufacturers, distributors and retailers, Microsoft business users benefit from having a single partner that can address all needs across the Microsoft platform.

 

Check out enVista’s D365 Copilot 1-Day Readiness Workshop:

https://appsource.microsoft.com/en-us/marketplace/consulting-services/envistacorp-2249752.d365_copilot_1day_workshop