
What are the licensing requirements, editions and modules under Microsoft Dynamics 365?
An organization looking for a Microsoft offer or software that can bring together all aspects of your business management into one integrated platform, hosted on the cloud, can consider Microsoft Dynamics 365.
It combines the functionalities of both ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and CRM (Customer Relationship Planning) systems into one comprehensive solution, providing businesses with a unified platform to manage operations, sales, marketing, and finances.
After its first introduction onto the market, Microsoft Dynamics 365 has undergone significant updates and enhancements offering capabilities that cater to the evolving needs of businesses. New features and functionalities have been consistently added, making it a tool for organizations of all sizes to use.
Working with Dynamics 365 as an organization makes the connection between customers, people and processes quite easy to decipher as it breaks down large data collections gathered between marketing, finance and sales.
What can your organization do with Dynamics 365?
Instead of disjointed sales and marketing processes which can lead to confusion and slowing down work, Dynamics 365 offers automated, integrated, and intelligent tools. These tools link, prioritize, and convert leads into customers you can do business with.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 operating on the back of Microsoft Azure, further enables your organization to manage users who are offering services to your customers to do so at one place. Users get better insights using a single platform that helps satisfy customers’ experiences and improve engagement whiles they are able to plan decisively with available organizational resources. There is also the link to Microsoft 365’s productivity apps further offering flexibility in use and resources availability.
Some key features of Dynamics 365
- Unified Platform: By combining ERP and CRM functionalities, Dynamics 365 eliminates the need for multiple systems and provides user experience across all business functions.
- Scalability: As a cloud-based solution, Dynamics 365 offers scalability benefit to an organization. It can accommodate the changing needs of your organization as it grows and expands.
- Customization: Dynamics 365 allows businesses to choose the specific modules on the back of its modular structure capabilities allowing for customization according to unique requirements.
- Integration with Microsoft Office: Being part of the Microsoft ecosystem, Dynamics 365 integrates with other tools such as Outlook, Excel, and SharePoint, making it easier for users to work within familiar environments.
- Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) app: Your organization only pays for what you will use on a subscription basis as it is hosted in the cloud, rather than being installed on individual computers or servers.
- It is built on Microsoft Azure: A robust and secured platform offering a safe environment and enabling a wide array of other software services integration.
Key benefits of Microsoft Dynamics 365 to your organization
- Increased Efficiency: With all functions integrated into one platform for your organization, your employees can access real-time data and collaborate more effectively, leading to increased productivity and efficiency.
- Better Customer Management: By combining CRM functionalities with ERP capabilities, Dynamics 365 provides a complete view of customer interactions, enabling your organization to enhance customer relationships.
- Cost Savings: As a cloud-based solution, Dynamics 365 eliminates the need for expensive hardware and maintenance costs associated with traditional on-premises systems.
- Data-driven Decision Making: With the ability to collect and analyze data from various business processes, Dynamics 365 empowers your businesses to make informed decisions based on accurate insights.
- Flexibility and Agility: The modular structure of Dynamics 365 allows your organization to choose the specific functionalities you need and adapt them as their needs change over time, providing flexibility and agility in operations.
What industries use Dynamics 365?
Some major industries rely heavily on Dynamics 365 to meet their daily operational needs.
Manufacturing
An organization dealing in the manufacturing industry will use Dynamics 365 in managing complex production processes, tracking inventory, and automating manual tasks. It can further offer features like predictive maintenance and supply chain management.
Retail
Dynamics 365 offers solutions for inventory management, sales forecasting and customer loyalty programs. This allows retailers to streamline their operations and provide a seamless shopping experience across different channels.
Finance
Dynamics 365 provides solutions for financial planning, budgeting, accounting and cash flow management. With its robust security features and real-time insights, it helps financial firms make informed decisions and stay compliant with regulations.
Healthcare
The healthcare industry is highly regulated and requires strict data privacy measures. Dynamics 365 offers HIPAA-compliant solutions for patient data management, electronic medical records, and appointment scheduling. Its AI capabilities also aid in providing personalized healthcare services to patients.
Education
Dynamics 365 has also made its way into the education sector. It offers solutions for managing student information, academic programs, and admissions processes. With its integration with Microsoft Teams, it enables seamless communication and collaboration among students and faculty members.
Government
Government agencies deal with a vast amount of sensitive data that needs to be managed effectively and securely. Dynamics 365 provides solutions for case management, citizen services, and document management. Its analytics also help in detecting fraud and improving government processes.
Professional Services
For professional service firms such as consulting or legal firms, managing client relationships and projects is essential for success. Dynamics 365 provides solutions for CRM, project management, time tracking, and invoicing to improve efficiency and profitability.
What are the modules under Dynamics 365
1. Customer Service
The MS Dynamics 365 customer service module empowers your team of users to resolve customer issues more quickly and efficiently. This builds and fosters stronger client relationships. You save valuable time for both your employees and clients, boosting customer satisfaction and loyalty. This module enables customer service teams to deliver high-quality, personalized services across various channels. Integrated into the CRM system, it allows your support staff to create cases and direct them to the appropriate specialist within the organization. All records of customer issues and solutions are meticulously maintained within the organization’s system.
2. Human Resources (Talent Management)
These modules streamline and optimize the hiring process, enhance employee management, and foster professional growth within the organization. Key features include employee profile storage, tracking of vacation days, sick leaves, and other absences, as well as payroll management.
3. Commerce
Microsoft Dynamics 365 under commerce empowers brands to offer unique shopping experiences. This module enables you to analyze customer behavior, habits, and needs, allowing for the personalization of your brand messaging and delivery of relevant information. Additionally, it provides tools to manage inventory, access customer order history and shipment records, and swiftly adapt to changing customer preferences and market demands.
4. Marketing
MS Dynamics 365’s marketing module allows your organization to align marketing strategies with the specific needs of key customers, ensuring deliverables are precisely what clients desire. The module allows the creation and customization of marketing campaigns across multiple channels, providing valuable insights into their performance. It also automates repetitive tasks, minimizing the risk of human error. Whether your company utilizes emails, cold-calling, or social media to engage with customers, this module equips your marketing team with the tools they need to succeed.
5. Finance
It includes a suite of financial management tools, ranging from accounting and budgeting to bank and asset management. These tools facilitate crucial business activities such as revenue planning, forecasting, and automated billing and reporting, making financial operations more efficient and streamlined.
6. Project Operations
This is a robust project management module designed to automate and streamline your business processes while reducing operational costs. It offers features like contract management, resource planning, task management, and time tracking. Additionally, it includes built-in real-time reporting, providing valuable insights into your current business state and enabling informed strategic decisions.
7. Supply Chain Management
This is usually a module used among manufacturing businesses, providing comprehensive oversight of operations—from product and asset management to warehouse operations and final delivery. It delivers centralized, real-time data across all monitored locations, facilitating efficient inventory and resource planning. Furthermore, it coordinates and optimizes all logistical processes within the supply chain, enhancing overall performance.
8. Business Central
Dynamics 365 Business Central is a cloud-based ERP solution designed to offer a comprehensive view of all your business activities. It seamlessly integrates features from multiple modules, including project management, financial management, supply chain management, and manufacturing management. This powerful tool enhances process automation, budget tracking, resource optimization, and analytics, ensuring efficient and effective business operations.
9. Field Service
This module serves as a unified communication channel connecting customers, on-site workers, and contractors. It is designed to deliver high-quality field services by assigning the right technical specialists to specific problems, managing inventory and maintenance schedules, and tracking support and repair histories. Additionally, the module can predict and prevent potential issues, enabling your field service team to provide the proactive services your clients expect.
10. Sales
This streamlines the entire sales management process, from lead generation and qualification to closing deals and final reporting. It empowers your sales teams with tools to gather and analyze sales data, automate routine tasks, and efficiently convert leads into sales. Key features of the MS Dynamics 365 sales module include automation, AI-powered reporting, and a smart notification system. Consequently, sales representatives can focus more on engaging potential clients and increasing sales, thereby enhancing productivity and driving growth.
What are the editions of Microsoft Dynamics 365?
The Enterprise Edition
This can be considered by large businesses and industry-leading companies. The Enterprise edition offers advanced applications, tools, and services to meet your organization’s CRM needs. This solution includes modules for sales, finance, customer care, HR, and integration with Microsoft PowerApps. Additionally, it incorporates ERP solutions that can help to ensure your organization’s sustainability.
The Business Edition
The Business Edition is tailored to support small to medium-sized companies needing essential tools and applications. It predominantly offers cloud-based solutions focusing exclusively on finance, sales, and marketing.
Licensing types of MS Dynamics 365
User licenses
This offers a user in your organization access to Dynamics 365. The license granted cannot be shared with other users.
Full users license
This is intended for members who require regular, full access to the core functionalities of Dynamics 354. Roles such as Admin and IT professionals need this access to efficiently handle daily tasks and manage larger projects in your organization.
Team members
This applies to members assigned multiple jobs or responsibilities, as well as those who need system access for light tasks such as timesheet entries and reporting.
Talk to our team of Microsoft licensing experts on costs and your use of MS Dynamics 365
There are factors that need to be considered which will influence costs. Based on the specific edition and modules you want to use in your organization, the number of users accessing the system, and any additional features or add-ons required are all factors to be considered.
Each edition has its own pricing and licensing model based on the functionality it provides. With our years of experience working with different organizations in various industries, we know how to assist you.
We will help you determine the number of users that should be licensed to use MS Dynamics 365 after looking at your specific needs. We will look at whether your users will include external stakeholders, then advise accordingly.
Also are your users going to require basic user access with limited access to features and data or are they an advanced user with full access.
Send our team of experts an email today at info@q-advise.com to look at your organization’s specific modules need and what available industry-specific solutions the MS Dynamics 365 can offer.