Dynamics 365 Resolutions for the New Year
“May auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind…”
2022 is here! In the past year, the world has learned to adapt and move forward with an ever-present and ever-evolving “new normal”. As another January is in full swing, we all turn our attention once again toward what lies ahead personally and in our professional lives. Resolutions, goals, objectives… whatever you call them, let’s talk about where Dynamics 365 fits into your 2022!
Get to Dynamics 365
If your organization is still on Dynamics AX and/or Dynamics CRM, this is your first resolution. We said it last year and we’re saying it again this year. Dynamics 365 “officially” turned 5 last year and has proven time and time again that it is worth the investment. If the potential positives aren’t enough to sway you, at least make sure you keep an eye on your support end dates that are coming up in fall of this year.
Maybe you’re not sure where to start with an upgrade/migration, or maybe just the thought of trying to unpack Dynamics 365 licensing is already giving you your first migraine of 2022, the first step to relieving that headache (aside from some ibuprofen) is talking to your Partner to get your game plan together. If the licensing is one of your hang-ups, signing up for this webinar is a great idea as well. We hear these guys are experts:
“Ok cool, I’m already on D365 (or will be soon)… What now?”
Keep on keepin’ on… with Continuous Updates
Ideally, you’re already well on your way here as your Partner helped you prepare during and after your D365 implementation. Up to 8 updates per year means your business always has the latest and greatest cloud solution at your fingertips, but it can also be a bit overwhelming. So how can you be more prepared? Having a healthy library of BPMs and task recordings, properly setting up the regression testing suite, and staying in sync with Microsoft (and your Partner) will go a long way. We’ll shamelessly plug our Dynamics 365 Update Autopilot service here, because frankly it’s awesome and will have you updating like a pro in no time.
If you’d like to know more about how the automated testing works for continuous updates check out these blogs and a recording from our Dynamics Digital Academy:
Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations – Regression Suite Automation
Dynamics 365 – Acceptance Test Library (ATL) Code Generation Wizard
Dynamics 365 – Acceptance Test Library (ATL) Code Generation Wizard
Do not ignore new functionality
To be clear, Dynamics 365 encompasses A LOT. When new features and functionality are introduced across the solution, your organization may not need them. In the “old days” it’s entirely possible you wouldn’t bother with them even if you DID need them, as it might just be one of those things you wait until the next big upgrade for.
Now though, we’re in the continuous update world. Staying in the know about the new stuff is worth your time because it’s within your reach. Keeping a close relationship with your Partner, user community, and of course Microsoft in general is a must. Some of you may salivate at things like Project Operations when they are added to the fold, while some of you may not care in the slightest, but it’s best to know!
Make Dynamics friends
As mentioned above, getting involved with the Dynamics community around you is a great resolution. While COVID-19 continues to leave a lot of live events in limbo, there are still tons of ways to connect:
- The new Microsoft-hosted local user groups site
- Dynamics User Group meet-ups
- Ellipse Solutions on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube
- LinkedIn Groups and really LinkedIn in general!
Get closer with your Partner
The cool thing about this resolution is that you can take at as far as you want to. What are the wants/needs of your business? How can Dynamics 365 and related technologies help? Keeping a closer relationship with your Partner can get you the answers you need, even if you aren’t seeking active “support” at the time. Most of us don’t bite and we’re happy to talk you through your options even if you’re not ready to make any major commitments just yet.
Of course, if you do need Dynamics support, you should not hesitate to reach out to your Partner. If they can’t help you out, ask us about our Help Desk Support. 2022 is as good a year as any to be proactive when it comes to your Dynamics solution.
You’re doing great
The past couple of years have been rough for just about everyone in some way shape or form, but that doesn’t mean they have been without good things. Those good things (personally or professionally) will continue in 2022, and with a little bit of luck and perseverance, they will outweigh whatever challenges accompany them.