Microsoft Dynamics: 2024 Business Gamechanger

Microsoft defines Dynamics 365 as "a portfolio of intelligent business applications that delivers superior operational efficiency and breakthrough customer experiences enabling businesses to become more agile and reduce complexity without increasing costs." But what does that mean? Are you ready to move to Dynamics 365 (especially Business Central)? And more importantly, how does it impact your 2024 goals? Spoiler alert: it means lower costs, better visibility and communication across your departments, and AI that automates your tasks and goals. 

Picture this: you just received an email about an unhappy customer. Maybe their phone calls have been ignored or they just received an invoice that was more than they were expecting. Maybe their support ticket has been open for too long or they have a question about their contract with you. 

What's your first action? Do you open multiple applications across a couple monitors to figure out who they are (should always start there, I suppose), which company they're with, and what in the world they're referencing? Maybe your invoices in your Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software won't load or your Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system is lagging or your . If that's the case, your customer is not the only unhappy camper. 

Now, your answer to this question will vary depending on what your role is in the company. For an IT company, someone in Sales will respond drastically different than one of our Technical Consultants...especially if they get an invoice email ("that is not my job" to coin a phrase). But what if it didn't matter? What if the same platform contained all the information you needed to answer that email? Furthermore, what if the same platform could send, receive, and pay invoices, or customize lead generation, or log a customer ticket submission, or even coordinate your calendar, emails, and messages? 

Oh, and the kicker, you do it all from one screen. 

Boost cloud-based performance and 

Eliminate multiple applications

There's a reason SMBs are need to flock to this tool, especially it's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) capabilities. It's unique features solve major pain points directly from one cloud-based application that not only boosts productivity, but gives better visibility to your data across your organization. 

Dynamics 365 Business Central ERP Features Streamline Production 

If you're looking for a complete, cloud-based ERP (or you're still on Great Plains infrastructure) - then Dynamics 365 Business Central is going to change your life. Not only is it a cloud-based ERP with streamlined production abilities, but it arguably the easiest software to migrate to so you don't lose time in the switch. 

Lets take a look at specific features supported in Business Central and how they impact your 2024 goals:

• Cloud-based ERP platforms are integrated.
  This means a seamless system overseeing everything from processing orders to managing shipping and delivery notifications. With scattered invoice data spread amongst disconnected systems, the risk of errors escalates. Balancing multiple financial spreadsheets not only consumes time but also invites inaccuracies. To uphold data coherence and precision, accountants must navigate through various steps to transfer and authenticate alterations across all platforms. For enterprises in pursuit of a singular, accurate data source, cloud-based ERP systems present themselves as the ultimate solution.
• Using cloud-based accounting systems means you have fewer IT issues to worry about.
  Most cloud ERP systems subscription costs cover the software licensing, storage, and automatic software updates. Centre Technologies offers an even more comprehensive service model for Microsoft Business Central that includes implementation, security best practices, management, training and ongoing support for a single monthly cost. By shifting these tasks away from your internal IT department, they can concentrate on core business issues rather than day-to-day maintenance and helpdesk tasks. Cloud-based accounting systems free up limited resources, allowing employees to focus on revenue-generating initiatives.
• Faster access to information.
  With a wealth of reports, business intelligence tools, and interactive dashboards at their fingertips, every team member gains the capability to make informed decisions. This not only allows for data capture and measurement from a managerial standpoint, enabling leaders to strategize for the future, but also grants real-time progress monitoring. Such visibility is truly empowering and fosters a sense of accountability among employees.
• Supports remote and hybrid workforce. 
  Having the ability to access information is crucial whether you're at your office desk, working remotely, or on the go. The convenience of accessing your system or specific functions on a mobile device is revolutionizing how small businesses collaborate across departments and among team members. With the rising trend of remote work, small businesses are increasingly embracing the use of remote workers. For Generation Y employees, the option to work remotely can be a deciding factor in choosing an employer. Embracing this software feature not only benefits employees but also boosts productivity and overall happiness in the workplace.

If any of this sounds interesting, consider these 4 questions about making a change. If you answer yes, contact us today to make the switch. 

One-Stop-Shop: Aggregated Data For Every Department 

Dynamics, at it's core, is a Microsoft tool meant to simplify your business processes. Especially if you already use Microsoft products. This means no matter where your data is logged in a Microsoft product, including Teams, Outlook, cloud stored items through Azure, you can access that information from one screen in Microsoft Dynamics 365. Hopefully you're getting a little excited here when we also mention this platform is both a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool and an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tool which means regardless of whether or not you're checking leads from Sales Hub or sending an invoice from Microsoft Finance, it's all accessible in the same place. 

The irony of the current market is that everybody has a solution for your problem, but the problem is now becoming that we have too many people with solutions. We have to open up seven different applications just to figure out whether or not that meeting booked through your BDR was logged correctly. There are too many vendors that don't sync to one another, causing manual hassles and time consuming copying and pasting just so your systems mirror one another. 

Gone are the days of multiple vendors and partners multiplied across the different departments. Microsoft Dynamics is a one-stop-shop with their Sales, Marketing, and Service CRM coupled with their Finance and Supply Chain ERP. What's even better, Dynamics supports all of these applications but you're not required to subscribe to them all. Choose one, some, or all as your business sees fit. Either way Dynamics is a comprehensive solution personalized to your business's unique pain points. 

Additionally, if you're set on keeping your already in place CRM/ERP platforms, Microsoft Dynamics syncs with most platforms, allowing for an easy transition if you ever decide to make a change. Or if you don't, at least you know you won't have to manually mirror that information. 

I don't need to beat the dead horse with how progressive and useful I think the "all-in-one" screen and application mirroring is, but Dynamics offers so much more. And, as we are all well aware, AI is, hands down, the most talked about innovation in the past year. ChatGPT revolutionized the way we automated our workloads and now everyone is creating their own version of artificial intelligence. With most of Dynamics 365 applications, AI is built in to offer insights or even a complete AI platform to utilize in your lead generation. 

Conclusion 

The point is, Dynamics will change the way your company does business. Tapping into a single-pane-of-glass model that offers insights across your department, utilizes AI, and keeps your information secure with cloud-based ERPs, you're doing more with less. While migrating may sound difficult, we're here to help (or check out this checklist to get you started). 

If you're curious about how Microsoft Dynamics 365 (especially Business Central) can be personalized to your business, contact us today and we'll get you the information you need. Finish this year well.