As we all look to take stock in relation to how we can use technology more effectively in light of COVID-19 and the possible long-term implications of social distancing and working from home, it is important for businesses plan and prepare accordingly what may lie ahead.
Although none of us could have imagined the impact COVID-19 is having across the world, now has never been a more appropriate time to think of new ways of working and collaborating with colleagues, partners and customers, to help reduce the problems we all face.
Technology - as a lot of you are aware - is the enabler to help relieve some of the pressures we face. Mobility, integration (across other Microsoft Products) and access anywhere at any time are pre-requisites of what business systems of the future should deliver. As April fast approaches, Microsoft continues to deliver simply the best business system on the market for SMB, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
Microsoft delivers twice yearly updates to Business Central, since October '18, with over 200+ enhancements on the already leading ERP for SMB's across the world.
This April sees a further 50+ enhancements which span across the following areas:
When you regularly sell or purchase specific items/expenses, these can be inserted automatically onto a sales or purchase order.
The notification functionality has been extended to update the original requestor to be advised via email that an approval request on sales or purchases have been authorised or declined.
You can now receive a quantity higher than the ordered quantity on purchase orders according to an over-receive policy. This functionality can also be included in approval workflow.
New function to enable named resources on a temporary basis, such as for a project or job. The ability to purchase resources allows you to track and process such transactions.
Users will have the ability to optimise their workspace for reading and entering data through sales and purchase documents.
With the Edit in Excel and Open in Excel actions, users can quickly get an excel spreadsheet with Business Central data for further processing. However, some organisations have strict data control rules with restrictions on having data sets in Excel. Administrators can now specify which users can export data to Excel.
Mobile connectivity and accessibility are standard requirements for any user who needs quick access to all relevant information without having to manipulate the device or scroll extensively. Native phone and tablet apps allow users to be more productive with easy access to related information such as fact boxes and additional cues on role centers.
When entering large amounts of data into journals, sales or purchase documents new features have been added to allow users to use the left and right arrow keys when in editable fields.
Microsoft have also introduced the F2 key (like Excel) that toggles between selecting the entire value of a field and placing the cursor at the end of the value. Finally, when typing to fill a row in data, the Tab key no longer sets the focus to the ellipses that bring up the context of the row.
These new features will enable users to become acquainted with Business Central faster. By adding discoverable paths to help walk new users through the start-up process allowing for better discovery of the capabilities as well as accelerating the setup of critical business processes.
Common Data Service is at the centre of the Dynamics 365 suite. Common Data Service enables users to have a 360-degree view of their business as data is available in Common Data Service. This will allow for multiple companies to connect to a Common Data Service instance.
Once data is in Common Data Service, users will have a shared, consistent view of data across the Dynamics 365 solution.
There are many more great functions available to see from the April 2020 release here.
If you would like to see how Business Central can help your business, arrange a demo or a 30 day free trial then please get in touch.