Introduction For companies operating in diverse countries or regions, managing business transactions and financial reporting in multiple currencies is essential. Due to frequent fluctuations in exchange rates, it’s necessary to update these rates regularly in Business Central. Microsoft recently released a new feature you can now see how an exchange rate adjustment will affect your records before finalizing it. Just use the “Preview Posting” option on the Exch. Rates Adjustment report (Report 596). You can choose to see either detailed or summarized results and decide how dimensions are managed for gains and losses. Steps to achieve the goal:  – Enable the New Feature: – Access Exchange Rate Adjustment: – Choose Dimension Settings: – Preview Posting View:   Note: Due to local regulations, it’s not recommended to enable the “Enable use of new extensible exchange rate adjustment, including posting review” feature in the Swiss (CH) version.  Conclusion The steps outlined in this blog, you can effectively utilize this feature to maintain accurate records and enhance your organization’s financial management capabilities. Whether you’re adjusting for a specific period or managing multiple dimensions, this feature streamlines the process and helps you stay compliant with local regulations. Implement these practices to ensure your business remains responsive to currency fluctuations. 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

Introduction AL developers can now manage multiple file uploads at once in Business Central, significantly increasing flexibility. The AllowMultipleFiles property lets developers configure the FileUploadAction to accept either a single file or multiple files simultaneously. They can also specify acceptable file types using the AllowedFileExtensions property. This enhancement makes the file upload process more efficient and user-friendly. Pre-requisites Business Central (OnPrem/Cloud) References Handle Multiple File Uploads Configuration Here, for an example, a page extension that extends the “Resource Card” Page, adding a new list part to display uploaded files. File Upload Action: – AllowMultipleFiles: This property allows users to upload more than one file at a time. In the code example, it is set to true, enabling multiple file selection.AllowMultipleFiles = true; – AllowedFileExtensions: This property restricts the types of files that can be uploaded. In the code example, it allows only .jpg, .jpeg, and .png files.AllowedFileExtensions = ‘.jpg’,’.jpeg’, ‘.png’; – OnAction Trigger: Manages file processing: – Retrieves the highest entry number from the “Uploaded Files New” table. – For each file: The “Uploaded Files New” table stores the uploaded files’ metadata and content. It includes fields for entry number, resource number, file name, and file content. List Page for Uploaded Files The “Uploaded Files List” page displays the uploaded files in a list format, making it easy to view all files associated with a resource. In the above screenshot you can see the list of images which are uploaded. Conclusion This extension enhances the “Resource Card” by integrating a multi-file upload feature, making it easier to manage and access image files related to resources. The AllowMultipleFiles property lets users upload several files at once, while AllowedFileExtensions restricts uploads to specific file types like .jpg, .jpeg, and .png. It’s a simple yet powerful addition that improves usability and efficiency in Business Central. 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

Introduction In D365 Business Central, developers or system administrators have multiple user accounts. To ensure they are logged in with the correct account, they need to see the full username instead of just the initials displayed on the navigation bar. Let’s explore how to display the full username on the navigation bar. Pre-requisites Business Central onCloud Step-by-Step Guide to Configuring Username Display: Upon logging in to Business Central, the user’s profile photo will appear in the upper right corner. If the profile photo is not customized, it will automatically display the user’s initials. Open admin center Choose org settings under settings option Then click on Organization profile> Custom themes and then add new theme In Default theme you can see option to shows username on navigation bar Once above setting is done you can refresh your browser, now you can see full name on navigation bar. Conclusion For administrators and developers who oversee numerous accounts, specifically, personalizing the way usernames are displayed in D365 Business Central is a straightforward yet powerful method to improve user experience. You can quickly set up your navigation bar to display your full username, which will add clarity and guarantee that you are logged in with the correct account, by following the instructions in this guide. This minor modification can streamline your workflow and lower the possibility of errors, greatly improving your daily interactions with Business Central. 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

Introduction:  As a business owner, you might have come across a situation where you want to upgrade your current systems with renowned ERP solutions available on the market. One of the ERPs you would consider is Microsoft Dynamics. However, even choosing this would require a lot of brainstorming from all decision-makers because Microsoft Dynamics comes with two ERP platforms, i.e., Dynamics 365 Business Central and Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain. I assume this brainstorming itself would have probably landed you on this article. Let’s dive into the key differences and use cases for each platform. Hopefully, by the end of the article, you will be able to make a decision and choose the right platform for your business.  Below are the key factors differentiating Dynamics 365 Business Central and Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain: Company Size: When determining company size, the usual factors that are considered are revenue and employee count. The definition of which can change based on the country you are located in. Here, for reference, we would consider the following: – Revenue: a. SME: Having revenue between 0 and 1 billion USD. Business Central is ideal for this size of company. b. Large companies: Having revenue above 1 billion USD. Finance and Operations is the ideal platform for large organizations. – Employees: a. SME: having employees between 0 and 500. b. Large companies: having more than 500 employees. Number of Entities: If your company has multiple legal entities in multiple geographical locations across the world,a. Business Central is ideal for companies with a single legal entity or multiple legal entities in the same country. Business Central allows you to create and manage individual products and accounts for each legal entity; however, it cannot be managed centrally. b. Finance and supply chain are ideal for companies with multiple legal entities across the world. Finance & Supply Chain allows you to manage products and accounts centrally and release them centrally to each legal entity across the world. Business Operations: Does your company have streamlined and simple operations? a. Business Central can handle operations for companies with streamlined and simplified operations that do not require very detailed data capture or sophisticated reporting. b. Finance & Supply Chain captures detailed data, covers a lot more processes than Business Central, and hence can provide robust and detailed reporting. Future Growth: It is also important to consider what the growth plans are for your company. If you currently have 2–3 legal entities, you may be tempted to go with Business Central, as it comes with low implementation and operating costs, ease of use, and faster implementation timelines. However, ERP projects are not done frequently, and it is important that you consider future organizational plans. Let’s say you intend to expand over the next three to five years into multiple different geographical areas. You should think about finance and supply chain as your organization’s go-to platform since this will be a big, long-term investment. You might want to consider the following factors while making the decision: – Licensing: a. Since finance and supply chain are for large companies, they come with a minimum licensing requirement of 20 licenses. b. Business Central is perfect for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) because it only requires one license and has no minimum licensing requirements. – Implementation timelines:a. Finance and Supply Chain has a typical implementation timeline of 6 months or more, considering the size of the implementation and global rollout.b. Business Central can be up and running in 3–6 months.    Conclusion:  Choose Business Central if: You’re an SME seeking an easy-to-use, all-in-one solution with a lower upfront and operating cost.  Choose D365 Finance & Operations if: You’re a large enterprise requiring extensive functionalities, deep customization, and global capabilities.  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

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

Introduction  Dynamics 365 Project Operations (PO) is a project management application within the Dynamics 365 suite. It is designed to manage project-related tasks, schedules, resources, and budgets. While they may include some financial functionalities, they often lack the comprehensive financial management capabilities that dedicated financial platforms offer.  In this article, we will explore several functions that Project Operations (PO) cannot perform as effectively as financial platforms like QuickBooks (QB) or Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC).  We will also discuss how to bridge this gap and create a seamless integration between Project Operations and these financial platforms.  Let’s first look at what Project Operations falls short of and what financial platforms like QuickBooks or Dynamics 365 Business Central can offer.  Accounting Functionalities  General Ledger Management: Financial platforms provide robust general ledger management, allowing for detailed tracking and reporting of all financial transactions across the entire organization.  Accounts Payable and Receivable: They manage accounts payable (AP) and accounts receivable (AR) efficiently, including invoicing, bill payments, and collections.  Tax Compliance: Financial platforms are equipped with tools to manage tax calculations, filings, and compliance with local and international tax regulations.  Financial Reporting: Financial platforms offer extensive reporting capabilities, including profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and customizable financial reports.  Audit Trails: Financial platforms maintain detailed audit trails of all financial transactions, which are crucial for internal audits and external regulatory audits. To leverage the Project Management features of Project Operations and the above-discussed features of financial platforms, businesses often choose to integrate both systems.  Integration Approach  Custom integration offers the utmost flexibility when connecting Project Operations with QuickBooks or Business Central. Several key considerations and entities are important to ensure a seamless integration: Data Mapping:  Tables: Identifying the key entities (Tables) such as projects, expenses, invoices, customers, vendors, contacts, and accounts that need to be synchronized between project operations and financial platforms.  Mapping: Map the fields and attributes of these entities between the two systems to ensure accurate data transfer and synchronization.  Tip: The best practice is to create mapping Excel for maintaining the table and column mappings between the systems.   Chart of Accounts (COA):  Chart of Accounts: Proper alignment between the chart of accounts in Project Operations and the financial platforms is necessary to facilitate accurate financial reporting and reconciliation.  Tip: Creating custom tables for your Chart of Accounts (COAs) and designating the financial systems as the source of truth for COAs is recommended. This approach offers flexibility to associate COAs with expenses, materials, roles, etc.  API Integration:  API Access: Check if the financial platforms offer APIs for integration.  Integration Points: Determine the integration points where data will be exchanged between the two systems, such as project creation, expense tracking, invoice generation, and payment reconciliation.  Data Flow:  Data Direction: Define the direction of data flow between Project Operations and financial platforms, ensuring consistency and integrity of data. The source and the target systems should be defined.  Real-Time Sync: Decide whether data synchronization will occur in real-time or through scheduled batch processes to meet business requirements. Currency:  Currency Conversion: Consider currency conversion requirements when dealing with contracts or transactions in multiple currencies.  Error Handling and Logging:  Error Handling: Implement mechanisms to handle data validation errors, inconsistencies, and exceptions during data transfer between systems.  Logging: Maintain logs of integration activities and errors for troubleshooting, audit trails, and compliance purposes.  Security:  Authentication: Implement secure authentication mechanisms to ensure data privacy and integrity during data exchange between systems.  Access Control: Define roles and permissions to restrict access to sensitive data and functionalities based on user roles and responsibilities.  Testing:  Testing: Set up a dedicated testing session to validate the integration setup, data mappings, and synchronization processes before deploying to production.  Integration process flow diagrams:  Create a process flow diagram for all the entities, for example below, is an integration process flow diagram for integrating Accounts, Contacts, Vendors from Project Operations to Quick Books.  In conclusion, while Project Operations is essential for managing the operational aspects of projects, it lacks the depth and breadth of functionalities offered by dedicated financial platforms.   Financial platforms provide accounting, regulatory compliance, advanced financial reporting, cash flow management, and more, which are crucial for the overall financial health and strategic planning of an organization.   Integrating these platforms with Project Operations tools leverages the strengths of both, ensuring efficient project management and robust financial oversight.  Here is our featured Customer Success Story:  Armexa, a leading US-based Industrial Cybersecurity Company, partnered with CloudFronts for Services Automation with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations and Business Central.   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

Introduction By default, Business Central comes with 80GB of storage capacity across three sandbox environments and 1 Production Environment with an additional 3GB/Premium License, 2GB/Essential License, 1GB/Device license. These storage limits depending on your Business volume may run out if the data is not managed properly. Business Central now comes with a one stop view where you can manage (compress or delete) the entries to reduce storage usage – “Data Administration.” Pre-requisites Business Central Cloud/On Prem References Manage Storage by Deleting Documents or Compressing Data – Business Central | Microsoft Learn Configuration In Business Central, we’ve had the option to view the capacity usage from the Admin Center for a while now. Recently, they’ve also added a one stop view to check and manage the capacity usage – Data Administration from within Business Central itself. It can be found directly from the global search. The first time we open this we are greeted with an empty view, the data is loaded after we click on refresh to load the latest data. You can also configure it so that the data is loaded automatically in the background every so often. Here, we get the options for Data Clean up where we can delete data that isn’t required anymore. All of the below options, open a similar processing report where you can set filters which are used to delete the records as needed. The “Delete Detached Media” opens another page which I’ve discussed in depth in another blog. The second action groups hold actions which are meant to compress the ledger entries which can drastically reduce the storage space used. It is important to note that you can only compress entries which are older than 5 years by yourself which belong to Fiscal years that are closed and the entries themselves are closed (Open is set to false). You can configure the compression such that there is one entry per day, one entry per week, one entry per month, one entry per quarter, one entry per year or one entry for the period that is defined for compression. You also have the functionality to delete empty registers from here. If these individual actions seem to be overwhelming, Microsoft also provides for a Data Administration wizard which simplifies this process and allows you to manage the capacity via a wizard. Conclusion Thus, we saw how we can use the standard data administration tools to manage capacity of Business Central environment which can help the system run much more efficiently in terms of both performance and costs. 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

We are delighted to announce that a leading US-based Industrial Cybersecurity Company is partnering with CloudFronts for Dynamics 365 support & maintenance with a Managed Services Agreement (MSA).  The client is based out of Houston, Texas and is an industrial cybersecurity company providing end-to-end digital security solutions that protect critical operational technology (OT) and industrial control systems (ICS) infrastructure against advanced threats. They enable industrial clients with the most effective cyber defense possible and unprecedented situational awareness from the plant floor to the cloud by providing timely, proactive solutions that overcome today’s business, security, and technology challenges. Client’s partnership with CloudFronts began with the implementation of Services Automation with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations and Business Central which enabled them to experience significant improvements in its business processes and system efficiency.  Under this MSA, CloudFronts will provide support & maintenance services for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations and Business Central. Client has doubled their MSA from 20 hours/month to 40 hours/month.  Visit us at https://www.cloudfronts.com/ to learn more about our Dynamics 365 offerings.  About CloudFronts  CloudFronts is a Dynamics 365 focused Microsoft Solutions Partner helping Teams & Organizations worldwide solve their Complex Business Challenges with Microsoft Cloud. Our head office and robust delivery centre are based out of Mumbai, India, along with branch offices in Singapore & the U.S.   Since its inception in 2012, CloudFronts has successfully served over 500+ small and medium-sized clients all over the world, such as North America, Europe, Australia, MENA, Maldives & India, with diverse experiences in sectors ranging from Professional Services, Financial Services, Manufacturing, Retail, Logistics/SCM, and Non-profits.  Please feel free to connect with us at transform@cloudfronts.com 

Introduction:  Many Businesses supports buying and selling items with different unit of measures. How to configure this in Business Central without showcasing your inventory in decimals. Let’s take an example: We will be buying the goods always in dozen whereas we can sell the items in PCS or CARTONS. Steps to achieve the goal: 2. Once the base unit of measure is set to PCS. Go to the Item Unit of Measure page by click on Related-> Unit of Measure. 3. By default PCS line would be set to 1. Add new line enter DOZEN and next right 6 which means 1 dozen has 6 PCS. 4. Next line add CARTONS and enter the qty per unit of measure as 72. which means 1 Cartons has 72 PCS in it. 5. Once the above lines have been set. Let’s pass Item journal where will be increase the inventory by dozen and sell the items in PCS and CARTONS. Ideally the inventory would be shown without any decimal value. 6. Below is the explanation how system would calculate into PCS as when you buy and sell in different items. 7. Purchase 100 dozen which is 600 PCS. This would be converted by Business Central itself. As we have defined 1 dozen as 6 PCS. 8. Sales 7 Cartons which is 702 PCS. This would be calculated by Business Central itself as per the Item Unit of Measure configuration where 1 cartons is 72 PCS. 9.Once the above transaction is posted the inventory would be whole value without any decimal. Conclusion:    Thus, we saw how we can use alternative Unit of measure in Business Central. 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

While going through some sales documents, I noticed that the page that appears when I click on “Show Details” in the notification for low inventory has been updated! When we click on “Show Details” now, we’re taken to the page named “Item Availability Check”. Furthermore, it includes options to directly create a Purchase Order or a Purchase Invoice from this page.  If a Vendor is specified in the “Vendor No.” field of the Item Card, the Purchase Order/Invoice is automatically generated with that Vendor. In the scenario where multiple vendors are selected in the Item Vendor Catalog instead of the Vendor No., all the vendors are displayed, and the one selected by the user is utilized to create the Purchase Order/Invoice. In both cases, the Purchase Line will reflect the shortfall as the Quantity. If the Item has any substitutes available then the “Substitute Exists” indicates the same and clicking on it opens the Item Substitutions page. Further, if you click on the “All Locations” then the “Item Availability by Location” page is opened. That’s all! Just wanted to share something new I learned recently. 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