With the April ’19 release of Dynamics on the horizon, we take a look at the new and improved areas of functionality that could affect you and your business.
As with the October ’18 release, Microsoft have released extensive release notes detailing the upcoming changes we can expect to see. There is also a 535-page guide available. However, here is a summary of the more significant changes to look out for:
Dynamics 365 for Sales
- Microsoft Teams Integration – With a new Dynamics 365 App for Teams, Microsoft Teams users can now access and collaborate on Dynamics 365 records from within Teams.
- LinkedIn Profiles – Dynamics 365 for Sales users can now view basic customer LinkedIn profiles out of the box, with no additional configuration required.
- LinkedIn Sales Navigator – Installation and configuration of this tool has now been simplified, with setup now involving just a simple settings toggle.
Dynamics 365 for Customer Service
- Omni-Channel Engagement Hub – Released in preview in the October ’18 release, this hub will now reach general availability, providing Live Chat, SMS and third-party bot support.
- Case Resolution Customisation – Until now, it had never been possible to customise the form that appears when resolving a case in Dynamics 365. This new customisation option will allow this form to be fully customised, including adding, editing and removing fields.
Dynamics 365 for Marketing
- Integration with third-party Content Management Systems (CMS) – Previously, functionality such as Subscriptions or Event Management required the use of a Dynamics 365 Portal. However, Dynamics 365 for Marketing can now integrate with third-party CMS systems such as WordPress, to collect user and visitor data.
- Social Posting – Marketers will now be able to create social network posts directly from Dynamics 365 for Marketing. The initial channels will feature Twitter and Facebook, but further channels will be announced in due course.
Dynamics 365 for Field Service
- Variable resource location optimisation – Enables setting start and end locations for a technician on a daily basis, which can be done by a service manager, dispatcher, or another employee. These locations can also be date-effective, for instance if you have a resource that needs to make a monthly visit to a location.
Dynamics 365 Business Central
- Accessibility improvements – to accommodate the needs of a diverse workforce using desktop and mobile devices, Business Central is now highly accessible.
Dynamics 365 Portals
- Power BI Embedded – Reports and Dashboards can now be displayed in Dynamics 365 Portals to users without Power BI accounts.
Microsoft Forms Pro
A new product, built on top of Microsoft Forms, Forms Pro is an enterprise-grade survey solution that includes a survey designer and powerful integration options.
How can I prepare for the April 19 Release?
As some of the new functionality will be available as a preview prior to its general release, we strongly recommend that you opt in to test and review these new features to prepare your business. Further details on this can be found here. If you are an existing client who wishes to discuss any of the points in this post (including assistance opting in to test the preview), please get in touch. Although the April 19 release will be automatically rolled out to organisations, the apps that run on top of the platform will need to be upgraded by an administrator; if you need assistance with this, just let us know.
