As we approach Microsoft’s first biannual update of 2024 for Dynamics 365, known as Release Wave 1, anticipation is high for the innovative enhancements to the business platform. These updates signify a commitment to continuous improvement, infusing the Dynamics 365 platform with fresh features and capabilities designed to elevate your business performance.
In this blog post, we’ll delve into the core updates and enhancements to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
Reflecting on the significant improvements made in 2023, where Dynamics 365 Business Central received a multitude of enhancements, we’re eager to explore how these advancements will further empower businesses. For a comprehensive look at what was introduced in Release Wave 2 2023, check out our dedicated blog post here.
What is Dynamics 365 Business Central?
Dynamics 365 Business Central is an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) application tailored for small and mid-sized organisations, serves as a comprehensive business management solution. With its automation and streamlining of business processes, it empowers companies to efficiently handle finances, supply chain management, manufacturing, shipping, projects, services, and beyond. Highly scalable and adaptable, Business Central equips businesses with a rich array of capabilities to navigate diverse operational challenges, fostering growth and resilience in today’s dynamic marketplace.
Microsoft’s Investment Areas for Release Wave 1
As we delve into the updates coming to Dynamics 365 Business Central’s in Release Wave 1, let’s explore the areas Microsoft continues to invest in and focusing on with this set of updates.
Adapt faster with Power Platform
Business Central’s integration with Power Platform facilitates efficiency improvements within your organisation by automating repetitive tasks. Leveraging Power Automate templates enables the automation of workflows, tailored to your business’s unique requirements.
Microsoft’s commitment to seamlessly integrating with Power Platform ensures enhanced functionality, empowering you to leverage business data more effectively.
For instance, Copilot capabilities in cloud flows within Power Platform products facilitate the creation of interconnected business workflows and experiences, all achieved through intuitive natural language expressions.
Application
Over the past few releases, Microsoft have invested efforts towards enhancing multicompany capabilities, recognising the growing trend of businesses operating across borders and managing multiple entities.
Continuously improving the multi-company management experience within Business Central remains a priority. Improved experiences are being introduced to refine inventory management, service and project management functionalities, alongside bolstering integrations with other Dynamics 365 applications.
Copilot and AI innovation
Recent surveys on business trends reveal nearly 9 out of 10 workers hope to use AI to reduce repetitive tasks in their job. However, for many small and medium-sized businesses, access to AI has been limited until now.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Copilot transforms day-to-day work by providing professionals with cutting-edge AI support. Within Business Central, Copilot empowers users with intuitive AI tools, fostering increased productivity without necessitating extensive data science expertise.
Ongoing enhancements to Copilot capabilities aim to extend productivity benefits across a wider spectrum of SMB roles.
Country and regional
Business Central’s availability continues to expand globally, largely facilitated by partner-led localisations. Partners develop and maintain country-specific apps published on AppSource, augmenting Business Central’s accessibility across over 155 countries and regions worldwide. Additionally, in regions where Microsoft oversees localisation, updates encompass all regulatory features, ensuring compliance with local requirements.
Development
To bolster AL developers’ productivity, we’ve laid the groundwork for namespace support within the platform and application. Namespace support simplifies app structuring, enhances object naming conventions, and mitigates identifier conflicts. Additionally, facilitating the transfer of table ownership and data between extensions streamlines app maturity processes. Enhanced debugging features, such as data variable protection, ensure secure handling of internal data during debugging sessions.
Data analysis and reporting capabilities have also received notable enhancements, granting developers greater control over analysis modes and Power BI content embedding. Seamless integration with Visual Studio Code facilitates efficient troubleshooting and code management across extensions.
Governance and administration
Business Central administrators are equipped with enhanced tools for managing environments, apps, and data migrations. Granular administrator roles provide greater control over access permissions, ensuring efficient management of administrative tasks. Improved processes for minor update releases and seamless integration with Power Platform environments further enhance the administrative experience.
Legislation compliance
Business Central continually updates regulatory features to meet evolving compliance requirements. Automation streamlines compliance processes, ensuring adherence to governmental regulations. For instance, automated voucher generation and retention policies simplify transaction tracking and audit trail maintenance, alleviating compliance burdens for accountants.
Standardising regulatory features across relevant countries and regions remains a focus, with modules like E-documents providing foundational support for invoicing processes, easily extendable by partners to accommodate local e-invoicing requirements.
Reporting and data analysis
In today’s data-driven landscape, leveraging AI and advanced analytics tools empowers organisations to derive actionable insights from complex datasets.
The critical insights gained from data analysis empower organisations to optimise their strategies, enhance customer experiences, identify potential risks, gain unprecedented insights into the details of their operations and environments, and innovate in ways that were once inconceivable.
Microsoft’s reporting strategy centres on seamlessly integrating BI and analytics content within Business Central, facilitating informed decision-making and driving innovation.
User experiences
Business Central offers a selection of user interfaces, including desktop, web, and mobile apps, ensuring accessibility and flexibility for users across devices. Continuous enhancements to usability and performance aim to optimise user experiences, facilitating efficient data entry and analysis.
In this release wave, we’re boosting efficiency when you’re working with actions across selections in lists of records and viewing summarised data to help you easily fix data entry mistakes.
Full list of 2024 Release Wave 1 Changes
Below shows the full list of every upcoming change and update being introduced to Business Central in the 2024 Release Wave 1 updates. This comprehensive list is planned to be scheduled for release between April 2024 and September 2024. Please click any of the links for further detail.
Adapt faster with Power Platform
Application
- Archive projects
- Usability improves for service and pojects
- Use deferral codes in purchase and sales journals
- Define a service invoice posting policy for various users
- Define default location for project or project phase
- Block item, item variant, or service item from use in service management transactions
- Connect Business Central with Shopify B2B
- Set up financial consolidation runs more efficiently
- Simpler Shopify connection
- Use General Ledger account revaluation for more accurate financial statements
- Get more productive while entering time sheets
- Create projects that you can invoice to multiple customers
- Assemble to project
- Invoice a customer for multiple projects
- Use new Excel layouts for 35 selected reports
- Use standard terminology for project management
- Use currencies when posting employee transactions
Copilot and AI innovation
- Introduce Power Automate Copilot integration with Business Central
- Map e-documents to purchase order lines with Copilot
- Create sales lines easily with Copilot
- Extend Copilot using richer development tools
- Get to insights faster with Copilot generated analysis tabs
- Complete bank account reconciliation faster with Copilot
- Create product information faster with Copilot
- Learn more about fields with Copilot
Country and regional
Development
Governance and administration
Legislation
Reporting and data analysis
User experiences
Exciting enhancements are on the horizon for Business Central, promising significant benefits for organisations. With its extensive array of improvements, Business Central emerges as the ultimate ERP solution for businesses looking to future-proof their operations.
Haven’t experienced the power of Business Central yet? Don’t miss out! Arrange a personalised demo today by simply filling out the contact form below. Unlock the potential of Business Central and transform your business processes.
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