Top 5 Ways to Integrate Microsoft Dynamics 365 with Other Systems 

When it comes to Microsoft Dynamics 365, one of its biggest strengths—and challenges—is how many ways there are to integrate it with other platforms. Whether you’re syncing with an ERP, pushing data to a data lake, or triggering notifications in Teams, the real question becomes: 

Which integration method should you choose? 

In this blog, we’ll break down the top 5 tools used by teams around the world to integrate Dynamics 365 with other systems. Each has its strengths, and each fits a different type of use case. 

1. Power Automate – Best for Quick, No-Code Automations 

What it is: A low-code platform built into the Power Platform suite. 
When to use it: Internal automations, approvals, email notifications, basic integrations. 

Lesser-Known Tip: Power Automate runs on two plans—per user and per flow. If you have dozens of similar flows, the “per flow” plan can be more cost-effective than individual licenses. 

Advanced Feature: You can call Azure Functions or hosted APIs directly within a flow, effectively turning it into a lightweight integration framework. 
Pros: 

• User-friendly 

• No code needed 

• Native D365 connectors 

Cons: 

• Not ideal for heavy data loads 

• Limited control over retries and error handling 

Example: When a new lead is created in D365, send an email alert and create a task in Outlook. 

2. Azure Logic Apps – Best for Scalable Integrations 

What it is: A cloud-based workflow engine for system-to-system integrations. 
When to use it: Large-scale or backend integrations, especially when working with APIs. 

Lesser-Known Tip: Logic Apps come in two flavours—Consumption and Standard. The Standard tier offers VNET-integration, local development, and built-in connectors at a flat rate, which is ideal for predictable, high-throughput scenarios. 

Advanced Feature: Use Logic Apps’ built-in “Integration Account” to manage schemas, maps, and certificates for B2B scenarios (AS2, X12). 
Pros: 

• Highly scalable 

• Supports enterprise connectors (SAP, Oracle, SQL, etc.) 

• Better exception handling and logging 

Cons: 

• Requires Azure subscription 

• Slight learning curve compared to Power Automate 

Example: Sync Dynamics 365 opportunities with a SQL database in real time. 

3. Data Export Service / Azure Synapse Link – Best for Analytics 

What it is: Tools to replicate D365 data into Azure SQL or Azure Data Lake. 
When to use it: Advanced reporting, Power BI, historical data analysis. 

Lesser-Known Tip: Data Export Service is being deprecated in flavours of Azure Synapse Link, which provides both near-real-time and “materialized view” patterns. You can even write custom analytics in Spark directly against your live CRM data. 

Advanced Feature: With Synapse Link, you can enable change data feed (CDC) and query Delta tables in Synapse, unlocking time-travel queries for historical analysis. 
Pros: 

• Near real-time sync 

• Great for Power BI and AI analysis 

• Optimized for large data volumes 

Cons: 

• Read-only scenarios 

• Requires Azure setup 

Example: Export all account and contact data to Azure Synapse and visualize KPIs in Power BI. 

4. Dual-write – Best for D365 F&O Integration 

What it is: A Microsoft-native framework to connect D365 CE (Customer Engagement) and D365 F&O (Finance & Operations). 
When to use it: Bi-directional, real-time sync between CRM and ERP. 

Lesser-Known Tip: Dual-write leverages the Common Data Service pipeline under the covers—so any customization (custom entities, fields) you add to Dataverse automatically flows through to F&O once you map it. 

Advanced Feature: You can extend dual-write with custom Power Platform flows to handle pre- or post-processing logic before records land in F&O. 
Pros: 

• No code 

• Real-time updates 

• Supported by Microsoft 

Cons: 

• Limited to F&O scenarios 

• Configuration-dependent 

Example: Automatically sync customer and invoice records between D365 Sales and Finance. 

5. Custom APIs & Webhooks – Best for Complex, Real-Time Needs 

What it is: Developer-driven integrations using HTTP APIs or Dynamics 365 webhooks. 
When to use it: External systems, fast processing, custom business logic. 

Lesser-Known Tip: Dynamics 365 supports registering multiple webhook subscribers on the same event. You can chain independent systems (e.g., call your middleware, then a monitoring service) without writing code. 

Advanced Feature: Combine webhooks with Azure Event Grid for enterprise-grade event routing, retry policies, and dead-lettering. 
Pros: 

• Maximum flexibility 

• Real-time triggers 

• Full control over data flow 

Cons: 

• Requires development 

• Maintenance overhead 

Example: Trigger an API call to a shipping provider when a case status changes to “Ready to Ship.” 

To conclude, Microsoft Dynamics 365 gives you a powerful set of integration tools, each designed for a different type of business need. Whether you need something quick and simple (Power Automate), enterprise-ready (Logic Apps), or real-time and custom (Webhooks), there’s a solution that fits. 

Take a moment to evaluate your integration scenario. What systems are involved? How much data are you moving? What’s your tolerance for latency and failure? 

If you’re unsure which route to take, or need help designing and implementing your integrations, reach out to our team for a free consultation. Let’s make your Dynamics 365 ecosystem work smarter—together. 

We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com.