Microsoft Business Application News – Don’t miss the highlights from the 1st release wave in 2021

Dynamics Release Wave 2021 – Microsoft has been releasing new functions for Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform step by step since April. All functions will be available to the end users by September 2021. The first functions are already available and we as AlfaPeople would like to give you a preview of the innovations for Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform that are waiting for you.

The 1st wave of releases continues to focus on the integration of the Power Platform with Microsoft Dynamics 365

With the new functions that Microsoft is providing it is clear that the Power Platform is playing an increasing role and will remain an important building block for interaction with Microsoft Dynamics 365. In order to keep an overview, Microsoft separates its release notes for Power Platform and Dynamics 365. 

Power Platform

Power Apps:

• In-App-Notification:In thefuture, userscanbenotified via pop-upif, for example, thereis an update on an accountthattheuserisfollowing. But also thirdpartysystemscanusethisfunction.
• Quick-Search:The functionisnowevenmore intelligent and showsyouyour last usedsearchqueries and datasetsalreadybased on yourinput. 
• Quick-Search:Soon you will beabletodirectly perform interactions on proposedrecords, such assendingemailstocontactsorcompletingongoingtasks via one-click
• Business-Process-Flow: This cannow also beeditedacrossitsvariousphasesinsidetheapp, makingworkingremotelyevenmoreefficient.
• Microsoft Teams: In thefuture, you will beabletoprovideyouruserswithentireappswithinteams so thattheycanaccess relevant dataevenfaster.

Power Automate:

• Cloud-Flows: Administrators cannowaccesslicensereportsinsidethe Admin Center toview API usageofflows and users.
• ProcessAdvisor: Processescannowberecorded in ordertoaddcommentstothem. This will allowthemtobebetternormalized in thefuture.

Power Virtual Agents:

• Bot-Configuration: In thefuture, policies will ensurethatdatausedbyconnectors and functionsisproperlymanaged and authenticated.
• Microsoft-Teams: Using Power-Automate workflows, bots cannowproactivelymessageuserswhen an answerto a questionhaschangedwithoutrequiringtheusertoaskthequestionagain.

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Marketing:

• Channels: Create and send personalizedmessages via the SMS editoraspartofcampaigns
• Push Messages: Send customizednotificationstousersofthe Microsoft Dynamics 365 app, includingimages and videos.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales:

• Mobile App: Microsoft nowprovidesits own app in the App Store for the Sales module, whichisoptimized for distribution. This canbeused, for example, totransfer online conferencesorphonecallsdirectlyfromthedevicetotheapp.
• Pipelines: A newinteractivedashboardallowssalesstafftoaccessthe deal manager. All importantdealsaredisplayedhere. Fromhere, furtheractioncanbetakenwith just one–click.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Service:

• Knowledge Management: Customers canintegrate external searchprovidersintothesearch via connectors. These includeSharepoint and Microsoft Search, toname just a few. Microsoft planstointegratemoreconnectorshere in thefuture.
• E-Mail:The personal settings will get their own section in the main menu where you can configure personalized email templates and signatures, which will be automatically applied in the system. 

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Service:

• Knowledge Management: For thefieldservice, theembeddingofknowledgemanagementis a usefultooltobeableto link orderswithknowledgearticles, for example. The functionis also madeavailable for offline access in theapp.
• Power Virtual Agents: Support for techniciansthroughtheintegrationof virtual agentsreducesthe time and operatingcosts for findingsolutions

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations:

• Finance Insights:Withthenewbudgetproposalfunction, youcanautomaticallycreateproposals for budgetplansfromtheinventorydata
• Supply Chain Management: The new mobile apphasbeencompletelyredesigned, which also increasestheergonomics and efficiencyofyourprocesses.
• Human Resources: A newabsencemanageruses alternative hierarchiestoautomatically manage theapprovalprocesses for leaverequests.

Microsoft listenstothevoicesofitscustomers and not onlyimpresseswiththeintroductionofnewfeatureswithinthe Power Platform and Dynamics 365, but also consistentlyimprovesexistingfeatures and alwayscreatesnewbridgestogiveyoutheuniqueuserexperienceevenacrossapplicationboundaries. Wouldyou like tolearnmore? ThenweasAlfaPeople areavailabletoyou at any time.

Dynamics Release Wave 2021