Microsoft Business Applications launch event for Dynamics 365 – What's coming
Today, Microsoft held their Business Applications Launch event for Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform 2021 release wave 1. During this event Microsoft walked through a few of many new capabilities coming to Dynamics 365 apps like Sales, Marketing, Business Central, and more over the course of April through October 2021. Full release notes for the Dynamics 365 release wave 1 can be reviewed here, but let’s walk through the biggest announcements.
Customer journey orchestration in Dynamics 365 Marketing
Microsoft continues to improve the impressive Dynamics 365 Marketing app by increasing capabilities in campaigns (customer journeys) and email marketing designs. With release wave 1, Microsoft is introducing real-time customer journey orchestration meaning users can create campaigns that target customers the instant they take an action. This real-time customer journey capabilities includes a new layout for the customer journey designer and additional tools to make the design process easier. To learn more, check out our full blog on how real-time customer journeys work.
Brand new email design editor in Dynamics 365 Marketing
The marketing email designer in Dynamics 365 Marketing is also getting a face-lift with the coming update. An updated command bar at the top of the email design will make it easier to preview, send tests, and get an email ready to send. A new AI capability helps designs come together by automatically recommending images based on content in the email.
Embedded Teams calling in Dynamics 365 Sales
With Release Wave 1, Microsoft is focused on integrating Microsoft Teams into as many of their business applications as possible. One of the biggest integration points comes into Dynamics 365 Sales with new embedded Teams calls within a lead or opportunity record. Sales team members can easy make internal or external calls regarding a prospect without leaving the Dynamics 365 interface.
Teams will also transcribe the call and keep the transcript for review later. Another helpful integration is the ability to send Teams chats to other team members directly from Dynamics 365. Whether staff are using Teams or Dynamics 365, the chat and call experience will be the same.
New opportunity view in Dynamics 365 Sales
The Sales Hub in Dynamics 365 Sales is a recent UI app addition that provides sales managers with a high level view of sales activities and progress. New views coming to the Sales Hub provide relevant sales information in an easy to understand dashboard. Clicking on single opportunity will expand information regarding that prospect. From this expanded view, sales team members can collaborate on the sale using Microsoft Teams chat and calls.
Interface and feature updates to Dynamics 365 Business Central
Business Central is Microsoft’s premiere mid-market ERP application. Because it is a cloud-based application like other Dynamics 365 apps, Microsoft continues to improve the interface making it easier for accounting staff to do their job effectively from a web browser. With this update, Microsoft is adding features like double-clicking records to easily get to individual records and more responsive windows making it easier to view records in all window sizes. For a full breakdown of features coming to Business Central as part of this release, check out our dedicated blog on the topic.