More than just an ERP system

If it wasn’t obvious before, the past two years have clearly shown it: the world is constantly changing. Globalization, changing customer demands, new technologies, and innovative business models require companies that want to remain competitive to adapt their processes. Indispensable here: a high degree of flexibility through agile processes. This article explains how Microsoft Dynamics 365 products can help you digitize your processes.

OVERVIEW

The dos and don'ts in the Microsoft universe

Wasting productivity through software clutter

Optimized processes are half the battle. But the best process is useless if it exists exclusively in rigid, historically grown structures. To design processes flexibly and map them according to customer needs and corporate strategy, the existing IT infrastructure is of great importance. After all, most companies have now leaped into the digital world. With increasing demands and growing amounts of data, handwritten lists and binders have been replaced by Excel folders and numerous programs for various functions – from merchandise management to CRM to field service. Recent studies have shown, however, that in small companies, customer data is stored in an average of 14.3 different systems (redPoint, 2022). The result: a patchwork of insular software solutions that might cover all functions in one way but are redundant among themselves and not integrative. This makes data exchange between individual business areas complicated and time-consuming.

The IT infrastructures of many enterprises resemble a patchwork rug (Shutterstock).

But what if software systems from different departments could communicate with each other without much effort? What if all business areas could access the same data sets without having to double and triple lists, creating redundancies? This not only simplifies the planning and control of business processes. A holistic network also ensures increased productivity.

Efficiency in the Microsoft Dynamics standard – The top benefits

For small and medium-sized enterprises, the Microsoft Dynamics 365 package offers a solid standard product for these requirements as a first step. From procurement and sales to financial accounting and controlling – a wide range of standard processes from all business areas can be mapped with the applications.

Since they are based on the same data as Microsoft 365 products such as Outlook and Teams, Business Central and the other Dynamics 365 applications offer unbeatable opportunities for integration for companies that already have a foot in the door of the Microsoft world. In doing so, Microsoft scores with a particularly simple onboarding. Without complex programming, all functions, views, and dashboards can be individually adapted to the user’s needs in further application.

It’s a match – Take it to the next level with your Microsoft Dynamics partner

And what if certain processes are so specific that they cannot be mapped in the standard? In this case, Power Apps enable additional applications and functions to be created without much effort. This is where your Dynamics 365 partner comes into play at the latest. At best, they will already have supported you in selecting the right applications for your needs. However, the most important tasks are probably the adaptation of the solution to special processes, the addition of industry-specific functions, and the development of customized add-ons.

The choice of Dynamics 365 partner significantly influences further process digitisation (Shutterstock).

So the choice of partner is of great importance right from the start. But what makes a good partner?
The following aspects speak for themselves:

Slow and steady wins the race – Transformation at your own pace

Does a decision for Microsoft Dynamics necessarily mean “all or nothing”? – No! The entry into the world of Dynamics can be flexibly designed. Many companies initially start with a single application – such as the Microsoft Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system Business Central – because modernization is particularly urgent in this area. Once the new system has been implemented and put into operation, the user interfaces adapted, the processes set up, and all users satisfied, the question of expanding the system within the company often arises soon. Thanks to the platform-based structure, integration is straightforward, so that other business areas can gradually be connected as needed and communicate with each other within the familiar Microsoft environment. In this way, the concentrated Dynamics power can be used individually and, depending on one’s own needs, step by step in a targeted manner to generate the most significant productivity benefit.

carolin-jakobson

CAROLIN JAKOBSON
junior project manager

markus-weiland

MARKUS WEILAND
head of microsoft dynamics solutions

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