Business applications on the rise – these are the most important developments in April

April also shows that Microsoft is consistently expanding its Business Applications – with a focus on AI, automation and practical added value for companies. Whether in production, sales, customer service or the finance department: new functions, renaming and smart enhancements make Dynamics 365, Power Platform and Power BI even more powerful. In this article, we summarize the most exciting innovations – compact, easy to understand and with clear relevance for decision-makers and users.

Rethinking manufacturing: How Dynamics 365 is reshaping the industry

The signs are pointing to change in the manufacturing industry. Microsoft Dynamics 365 is becoming the key platform when it comes to managing production, supply chains and logistics more efficiently with AI. The focus here is on the use of technologies such as generative AI, agent-based systems and digital twins, which network all production data. For companies, this means greater transparency, faster decisions and better responsiveness – especially in times of volatile markets and a shortage of skilled workers. Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management shows how modern production can be rethought – with concrete added value for decision-makers.

AI support in sales: the new Sales Research Agent is here

With the new Sales Research Agent, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales brings AI directly into day-to-day sales work – where it counts: in the fast, well-founded preparation for customer meetings. The agent, developed as part of Project Sophia, searches through relevant information from internal data sources, CRM systems and public sources in a matter of seconds. What used to be tedious research is now done by an intelligent assistant that significantly reduces the workload of sales teams. For managers, this means greater efficiency, less preparation time, better customer experiences – and a clear step towards AI-first sales.

Copilot becomes more concrete: New names for service functions in Dynamics 365

Microsoft is bringing more clarity to the AI-supported service world and renaming key functions. The previous Customer Service workspace is now the Copilot Service workspace, and the Customer Service admin center is now called the Copilot Service admin center. The renaming shows the importance that Microsoft Copilot now has in Dynamics 365 Customer Service – not as an add-on, but as an integral part of daily service work. For companies, this means a more consistent user experience, a greater focus on AI functions and a clearer positioning towards automated customer service.

Confirmation from an independent body: Microsoft once again CRM leader in Forrester

Microsoft Dynamics 365 was once again recognized as a leader in the latest Forrester Wave™: Customer Relationship Management, Q1 2025. The comprehensive AI functions, seamless integration with Microsoft 365 and strong platform strategy were particularly highlighted. This is an important signal for companies that rely on a future-proof CRM system: Dynamics 365 combines proven functionality with the speed of innovation – especially in combination with Microsoft Copilot. Anyone who wants to strategically develop customer experiences will find a solid basis here that has been confirmed by analysts.

More insight, less guesswork: Financial reports with telemetry in Business Central

Dynamics 365 Business Central is being enhanced with an exciting new feature: financial reporting with integrated telemetry. This finally provides users with in-depth insights into how financial reports are used – e.g. which reports are opened, edited or exported most frequently. This transparency helps companies to optimize their financial processes in a targeted manner and to better adapt reporting to actual requirements. For CFOs and controllers, this means more informed decisions with less effort in analysis. Another example of how Business Central delivers real added value in detail.

Self-Service auf neuem Level: Chatbots in Dynamics 365 Finance

Until now, anyone who wanted to access financial data often had to click through reports or ask questions. This is now much easier with the new AI chatbots in Dynamics 365 Finance. Companies can develop their own chatbots that interact with the system using natural language – for example to ask about budget utilization, open invoices or forecasts. The basis for this is Microsoft Copilot technologies and Azure OpenAI, combined with data from Dynamics 365 Finance. This saves time, reduces queries to the finance team and improves data availability for all departments.

Power BI in transition: transition phase to Microsoft Fabric and changes to the mobile app

Important changes are coming to Power BI that companies should keep an eye on. Firstly, a grace period has been announced for the switch from Power BI Premium to Microsoft Fabric – customers have until September 1, 2025 to migrate their workloads. This gives scope for planning and testing. At the same time, support for ADFS 2016 in the Power BI Mobile app will be discontinued. Anyone using this authentication should switch to modern login methods in good time. Both changes show: Power BI continues to evolve – with a focus on integration, security and future viability.

Would you like to use the new functions for your company?

The possibilities of Microsoft Business Applications are developing rapidly – now is the right time to rethink your processes and leverage potential in a targeted manner. Whether Dynamics 365 Finance, Sales or Supply Chain Management, Power BI or Copilot – we will be happy to support you in finding the right setup for your company. Contact us for a personal consultation or demo.