Latest Microsoft Dynamics 365 Blogs | CloudFronts - Page 3

Dynamics 365 Business Central: Setting Up an Approval Workflow with Flexible Approvers

Introduction In today’s busy work environment, having a smooth approval process is important for keeping things running efficiently. Dynamics 365 Business Central makes it easy to set up workflows that help manage approvals effectively. One great feature is the option to allow approval from “one of” several chosen approvers. This was one of our clients’ requirements to avoid delays and allows different team members to take part in the approval process. By letting any of the designated approvers approve requests, your organization can work faster and better together. In this guide, we’ll show you how to create a simple approval workflow in Dynamics 365 Business Central that requires just one approver from a group, making your approval process quicker and more efficient. Scenario: The purchase order has two approvers but if any one of them approves the approval workflow will be fulfilled. Hence, if one approver approves, all open approval entries will be closed. 1. Workflow user group As shown below the workflow user group, sequence no. 1 has been assigned to both the users. 2. Open the workflow for which this user group needs to be assigned. 3. Add the Workflow User Group to the Workflow – Open the response “add record restriction” – Add the workflow user group as the approver type and select the workflow user group created earlier. 4. Modify the events and conditions – Remove the “on condition to always” – Remove the third step 5. Additional response To close open approval entries after receiving a single approval, you must edit the second step and add the response, “Approve the approval request for the record.” – Click on the response of 2nd line ” remove record restriction” – Add response, ” “Approve the approval request for the record.” Conclusion In conclusion, setting up an approval workflow with flexible approvers in Dynamics 365 Business Central can significantly enhance the organization’s efficiency and responsiveness. By allowing any designated approver to handle requests, one can streamline the approval process and reduce potential delays. This approach not only fosters collaboration among team members but also ensures that important decisions are made quickly. We hope you found this article useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com

Share Story :

Track Emissions with Ease: Sustainability Accounts in Dynamics 365

Introduction How effectively are you tracking your company’s environmental impact? As sustainability becomes a growing priority, businesses need the right tools to monitor and manage their emissions. Dynamics 365 Business Central offers powerful features like the Chart of Sustainability Accounts (CoSA) and the Sustainability Ledger to help organizations streamline their sustainability efforts. In this guide, we’ll take a deep dive into how you can leverage these tools to enhance your environmental performance. What is the Chart of Sustainability Accounts (CoSA)? The Chart of Sustainability Accounts (CoSA) in Dynamics 365 Business Central is a specialized framework designed to manage emissions data, similar to a traditional chart of accounts but tailored for sustainability metrics. Key Features: Question: Have you already identified the key areas of your business that contribute to emissions? Think about where CoSA can help you focus on reducing your environmental impact. Managing Sustainability Accounts – Adding and Modifying Accounts Tip: Be cautious when deleting accounts. If they have existing ledger entries, you’ll need to resolve those before deletion to maintain data integrity. Interactive Element: Understanding Account Categories – Purpose and Setup Pro Tip: If your organization needs specific calculations, you can create custom formulas. This ensures that emissions are tracked accurately, even for complex or unique activities. Calculation Foundations The system uses different methods to calculate emissions based on the emission type and category. Here are some examples: Interactive Question: Have you considered which scope of emissions contributes the most to your environmental footprint? Scope 1, 2, or 3? Account Subcategories – Purpose and Setup Did You Know?: You can also set up renewable energy-related subcategories. By marking the Renewable Energy field, you can easily track the impact of renewable energy use in your operations. Interactive Element: Have you considered using renewable energy in your business? Start tracking it separately in CoSA to measure its impact on your emissions. Sustainability Ledger Entries – Purpose and Management Correcting Errors Once data is posted, it cannot be deleted. To correct errors, simply post a reverse transaction with the same details but a negative amount. Interactive Tip: Worried about data entry mistakes? Start with a test entry in the ledger to familiarize yourself with the system before posting live data. Conclusion The Chart of Sustainability Accounts and Sustainability Ledger in Dynamics 365 Business Central are invaluable tools for businesses aiming to reduce their environmental impact. By properly configuring CoSA, setting up categories and subcategories, and using the sustainability ledger, you can gain deeper insights into your emissions and improve your sustainability practices. We hope you found this article useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com

Share Story :

Optimize Your Sustainability Strategy with Dynamics 365 Business Central: Emission Management Made Easy

Introduction Are you looking to enhance your business’s sustainability efforts? Dynamics 365 Business Central’s Sustainability Management feature helps businesses monitor, manage, and report their environmental impact, with a focus on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. With this tool, you can track your emissions across various scopes to align with your company’s sustainability goals. But how can you ensure this tool is properly configured to maximize its benefits for your organization? Key Features and Capabilities 1. Emission Tracking Imagine being able to track emissions across multiple dimensions. Here’s how the tool categorizes them: Tip: Start by listing all the potential sources of emissions in your business. Can you think of ways to reduce emissions in Scope 1 or 2 right now? 2. Setup and Configuration Setting up this feature correctly is key to getting meaningful data. Pro Tip: If you’re unsure where to begin with emission factors, consider consulting with a sustainability expert to ensure you’re using accurate numbers. 3. Data Management Question: Which areas of your business could benefit most from detailed emission tracking—your supply chain, your operations, or perhaps both? 4. Reporting and Insights Call to Action: Ready to see how these reports can help streamline your sustainability goals? Schedule a demo today to explore the full reporting capabilities! Benefits Still wondering if this feature is right for your business? Here’s what you stand to gain: Example: One of our clients reduced their Scope 2 emissions by 15% after better understanding their energy consumption patterns using Business Central’s data management features. Step-by-Step Setup Guide To configure the Sustainability module in Dynamics 365 Business Central, follow these steps carefully. Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with all the terms—we’ll guide you through each section: 1. General Fast-Tab Configuration Tip: Choosing the right level of precision can make a big difference in how your data is interpreted. 2. Calculations Fast-Tab Configuration Pro Tip: If your emissions are mostly related to transportation, focus on fine-tuning the distance and fuel data. 3. Reporting Fast-Tab Configuration (Note: This section is for future reporting capabilities) Did you know? Although this feature isn’t available in version 24.0, it will be in future updates. Stay ahead by configuring the settings now! Conclusion The Sustainability Management feature in Dynamics 365 Business Central provides critical tools for managing your environmental footprint. By configuring units of measure, decimal places, and reporting parameters, you can tailor the system to meet your business’s sustainability goals. We hope you found this article useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com

Share Story :

Reports in Business Central ERP That Set You Apart From the Competition

Introduction Are You Quick Enough with Your Decision-Making? 73% of Businesses Say No. In today’s data-driven landscape, a whopping 73% of businesses confess they find it tough to make quick, informed decisions because their reporting tools are outdated or just not cutting it. Are you in the same boat? If yes, it might be time to rethink your strategy for gaining business insights. Meet Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central—a real game-changer for companies looking to turn their data into actionable insights. While many ERP systems come with basic reporting options, Business Central shines with its customizable reports that offer real-time data, greater flexibility, and predictive insights. In this blog, we’ll take a look at five standout reports in Business Central that not only provide essential insights but also empower your business to make quicker, smarter decisions. These reports are crafted to keep you ahead of the competition and help you hit your business targets—without the hassle of complicated customizations. Let’s jump in and see how these powerful reports can revolutionize your operations! 1. Dimension-Based Reporting: Custom Insights Without the Complexity Business Central makes that easy with dimension-based reporting. It allows you to slice and dice data across custom dimensions such as department, product line, project, or location. You don’t have to adjust your chart of accounts for every new need—you just define dimensions and filter reports accordingly. Imagine the insights: Want to know how profitable a particular product line is in a specific region? Or how a department is performing across multiple locations? With dimension-based reporting, you can quickly analyse performance across all these areas. 2. Account Schedules: Build Custom Financial Reports Without External Tools If financial reporting feels rigid or limited with your current system, then you’ll love Business Central’s Account Schedules. Picture this: You’re able to customize income statements, balance sheets, or cash flow reports to match your exact business needs. Whether you want to compare actuals vs. budgets by department or break down profitability by project, Account Schedules gives you the flexibility to design these reports yourself. 3. Seamless Integration with Power BI: Turn Data Into Visual Dashboards Are you tired of static reports that don’t tell the full story? Business Central’s seamless integration with Power BI allows you to transform raw data into rich, visual dashboards that offer deeper insights. You can create interactive, real-time dashboards that not only display your data but also allow you to drill down for detailed analysis. 4. Embedded Excel Integration: Collaborate and Update in Real-Time Do you find yourself constantly exporting data to Excel, only to struggle with re-importing it back into your system? Business Central solves that with its embedded Excel integration. Imagine this scenario: You export your financial data to Excel, update it with your team, and then push the updated data back into Business Central—with no data loss or formatting issues. The integration keeps all your financial and operational reports intact, so collaboration is seamless. 5. Cash Flow Forecasting with AI: Predict the Future of Your Finances How accurate are your cash flow forecasts? With Business Central, you get AI-driven cash flow forecasting that goes beyond simple historical analysis. The system uses machine learning to predict future cash flows based on past data, outstanding receivables, and planned expenses, giving you a clearer picture of your financial future. Ready to See These Reports in Action? These reports are just the beginning. With Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, you have a powerful tool that helps you make smarter, quicker decisions and stay ahead of the competition. Interested in learning how Business Central can transform your reporting? Reach out to us today for a personalized demo or consultation at transform@cloudfronts.com, and let’s explore how we can tailor these reports to fit your business’s unique needs.

Share Story :

Utilizing Business Central for Effective Project Management: Insights from a Functional Consultant

Introduction Effective project management is essential for business success, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central provides robust tools to improve project management practices. As a functional consultant, I’ve witnessed the transformative impact of Business Central on project oversight, workflow efficiency, and overall productivity. In this blog post, I will offer insights on how to effectively utilize Business Central for successful project management. An Overview of Project Management in Business Central D365 Business Central features a wide array of project management tools that assist businesses in overseeing projects from start to finish. These resources facilitate efficient planning, execution, and monitoring, ensuring that projects are delivered on schedule and within budget. Key Features and Functionalities Practical Applications Implementation and Configuration Benefits and ROI Adopting Business Central’s project management capabilities can lead to notable improvements in efficiency and project results. Clients frequently benefit from: Conclusion Leveraging D365 Business Central for project management offers numerous advantages, from improved visibility to enhanced financial control. By taking advantage of the platform’s powerful features, businesses can streamline project workflows, optimize resource allocation, and achieve superior project outcomes. We hope you found this article useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com

Share Story :

Issuing a Customer Refund in Dynamics 365 Business Central

Introduction In Dynamics 365 Business Central, processing a customer refund is a simple yet important task that ensures accurate financial management and customer satisfaction. Whether a customer has overpaid or requires a refund for another reason, Business Central provides a straightforward process to handle these transactions efficiently. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to issue a refund, including verifying customer details, applying the refund, and processing the payment. Steps to Process the Refund Issuing a refund in Dynamics 365 Business Central is straightforward, but it’s important to ensure you select the correct document type. 1. Verify the Customer: Start by confirming the customer who will receive the refund. Access the customer list and click on the balance amount to view the customer ledger, which displays only the open or outstanding items. Note the customer number and the amount to be refunded. 2. Navigate to the Payment Journal: Open the Payment Journal and select the appropriate batch to use. Add a line for the refund to the customer, ensuring that the Document Type is set to “Refund.” 3. Apply the Refund: To apply the refund to the outstanding payment, click on “Apply Entries” in the Action Bar. Select the line you want to apply the refund to, then click on “Set Applies-to ID” in the Action Bar. This will fill in the Applies-to ID field for the chosen line. Click OK to close the page. 4. Process the Payment: Finally, process the payment. Whether you’re using a computer check or an electronic payment, follow the same steps as you would for paying a vendor. Once everything is completed, post the payment. 5. Customer ledger entry for the refund showcased above Conclusion Processing customer refunds in Dynamics 365 Business Central is a straightforward process that enhances financial accuracy and customer satisfaction. By following the outlined steps—verifying customer details, applying the refund, and processing the payment—you can ensure that refunds are handled efficiently and correctly. We hope you found this article useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com

Share Story :

Introducing the Page Scripting tool in D365 Business Central.

Introduction: The 2024 Wave 1 release of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central introduces a new feature called Page Scripting. This tool is designed to enhance User Acceptance Testing (UAT) by allowing users to record and replay their actions within the Business Central. This capability streamlines the UAT process by automating repetitive tasks and ensuring consistency across tests. Capabilities and Usage: The Page Scripting tool, records user interactions such as opening pages, entering data, and navigating through the system. These interactions can be saved and replayed, making it easier to validate the system’s behavior under various conditions. The tool records actions in a YAML file format, which can be shared and reused, promoting collaboration and efficiency. Let’s get started with how page scripting works: – Setup: To use the Page Scripting tool, users must have specific permission sets assigned. – Once these permissions are in place, users can access the tool by navigating to Settings and selecting the Page Scripting (Preview) action. The tool pane appears on the right side of the screen, allowing users to start a new recording or open an existing one. – When the user clicks on Page Scripting action, following screen opens up: – In that, user have an option to start a new recording or open existing recording. – User can start a recording by clicking on “New recording” or “Start new” button. – When user clicks on ” Start New/New recording” following page displays: – When new recording is started it captures every user action and input, including interactions with custom or third-party extensions. Users can track their steps, such as opening the Customer List page, selecting a customer record, and entering new sales prices. During the recording, users can delete the last recorded step if needed and can stop and resume recording as necessary. For Example: – Once all the steps are completed, user can stop the recording and save the file in YML format. – If the user wants to replay the recording, then simply user can click on open recordings, select the saved file and all the recorded script will appear on the right screen. – A recording can then be played, and all the recorded actions are executed in the web client. User will see an indicator if an action is succeeded or not as shown below: – User can Click on “Play” action, the system will automatically run the whole script and indicate (a green tick) if successful as shown in above image. Conclusion: In brief, the Page Scripting tool in D365 Business Central enables advanced customization, allowing users to optimize workflows, enhance user experience, and drive efficiency within the system. This tool offers valuable flexibility for businesses to tailor their operations to their unique needs and goals. We hope you found this article useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com

Share Story :

Restoring an Environment in Business Central.

Introduction: This comprehensive guide provides administrators with a step-by-step process for restoring Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central environments to a previous state within the retention period. Users with Restore Permissions: Only specific users, such as internal and delegated administrators, can restore environments. These users must also have the D365 BACKUP/RESTORE permission set in the relevant environment. Considerations and Limitations: Environments can be restored up to 10 times per calendar month. Restoration is limited to the same Azure region and country as the original environment. Preparation before Restoration: Before restoring an environment, it’s essential to communicate the plan within the organization, restrict user access, and consider renaming the environment to avoid conflicts. Restoration Process: 3. Click on Restore 4. In the restore environment window select date and time to which you want to restore the environment. 5. Select the type of environment such as sandbox or production. 6. Name for restored environment. 7. Click on restore. Important point: You can restore your production environment into a new production environment even if doing so results in exceeding your number of environments or database capacity quotas. You can however only exceed this quota by one extra production environment, regardless of how many production environments you have available for your subscription. This capability is provided as an exception, to ensure that you can always restore your production environment in critical situations. You must return within your quota within 30 days following the restore by either removing the original production environment or by purchasing an additional production environment. Once the data in the restored database meets your expectations, activate the users, initiate the work queues, and notify your organization that the environment is once again available for use and that the restoration procedure is now complete. Hope this helps!

Share Story :

Opportunity to Sales cycle – Part 2

Introduction: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Opportunities and Processing Sales in Business Central Pre-requisites for creating Sales Opportunities: Create Sales Opportunities You can create opportunities from the Opportunity List page. Typically opportunities are created from a specific contact or salespeople. Globally search “Salesperson” and select related link. Select the salesperson from the list for whom you want to create an opportunity. On the salespeople card page, select opportunities action –> selected salesperson opportunities page will open up –> user can create new by clicking on New action. If opportunity is created through salespeople then salesperson code is automatically generated. Globally search “Contact” and select related link. Contacts list page will open up, user can select the contact for which opportunity has to be created. Click on Home –>Create Opportunity for new opportunity. Click on Contact–> Open Opportunity (To view existing opportunity of selected contact) If opportunity is created through contact then contact name is automatically generated. No. – This field is auto generated based on the set no. series. Description – Description of the opportunity. Contact no. – User can select existing contact or create new. Contact name: Contact name is auto generated based on contact no. Phone/mobile/email: Auto generated from contact card page. Contact company name: This field is auto generated from contact card page Salesperson code: if opportunity is created through salesperson then this field is auto populated, if not then user can manually select the salesperson. Campaign no. User can select specific campaign to link with the opportunity. Priority: The default priority is set as normal. Other priorities are Low and High. Sales Cycle code: This is a setup. (To know more refer part 1 of this blog) Status: The status field is updating automatically. Closed: Specifies if the opportunity is closed. Creation date: Opportunity creation date  Date Closed: Specify the date the opportunity was closed. Segment no.: User can link segment to the opportunity. (If any) Sales cycle stages To start the sales cycle, user can click on “Activate first stage” To move an opportunity through sales cycle stages: Sales cycle stage is automatically updated Fill in the rest of the details as necessary. To Close opportunity When the negotiations are finished, you can close the opportunity. When closing an opportunity, you can specify whether it was won or lost, as well as why it was closed. To specify a reason, you must set up closed opportunity codes. To Create Sales Quote To Create Sales Order To Delete Opportunities After you have deleted an opportunity, it is removed it from the Opportunity List page. Conclusion Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central provides a robust framework for creating opportunities and processing sales seamlessly. By following this step-by-step guide, you can harness the full potential of Business Central to optimize your sales processes, enhance customer relationships, and drive business growth. Hope this helps!

Share Story :

Opportunity to Sales Cycle – Part 1

Introduction: In this blog I will demonstrate the set ups for opportunities. The sequence for setting up opportunity to sales cycle is as follows: Opportunities: Any inbound lead could be viewed as a potential sales opportunity. You can make opportunities and link them to certain salespeople to keep track of possible sales. You must first build up sales cycles and sales cycle stages before you start working with opportunity management. When creating opportunities, you should include details such as the contact, salesperson, sales cycle, and dates as well as your estimates of the opportunity’s sales value and success odds. Set up Opportunity Sales cycle Codes: Set up Opportunity Sales cycle Stages: On the Sales Cycles page, select the line for which you want to set up stages, and then choose the Stages action. The Sales Cycle Stages page opens. Stage: Specify the stage number. Description: A description for particular stage Completed %: Specifies the percentage of the sales cycle that has been completed when the opportunity reaches this stage. Chances of Success %: Specifies the percentage of success that has been achieved when the opportunity reaches this stage. Activity Code: User can select the activity Code for particular stages. (Activities have to be created separately) Quote Request: this check box puts a validation on that particular stage to request quote. Allow Skip:  this check allows user to skip that stage. Date Formula: Specifies how dates for planned activities are calculated when you run the Opportunity – Details report. Comment: Specifies if comments exist for the selected stage. (To add comment on any stage, navigate to Related –> Sales cycle –> Comments) Set up activities with task: You can combine multiple task, in an activity. A task represents a step in the activity. You can assign activities to opportunities, salespeople, or contacts. Assign tasks or activities of tasks to opportunities. The following procedure describes how to assign activity tasks to opportunities. The steps are similar when you assign tasks to salespeople and contacts. I will be demonstrating how to create Opportunity and Process sales Opportunities in part 2. Hope this helps!

Share Story :

SEARCH BLOGS:

FOLLOW CLOUDFRONTS BLOG :


Secured By miniOrange