As a Business Central functional consultant, I often come across clients who want to stretch the system just a little further than what the standard product offers. And honestly? That’s the fun part of my job, taking a real business problem and making Business Central work for it. Recently, one of our clients came to us with an interesting ask. They were using Projects in Business Central (note: not full-blown Project Operations, since BC’s project functionality is more limited) just to track their internal projects. For them, it wasn’t about billing customers or external reporting, it was about managing their own internal tasks in a structured way. But soon, they hit a snag: “We want task dependencies. Unless Task A is done, Task B should not be editable. And while we’re at it, can we also forecast task timelines automatically?” The Customization: Task Dependency + Forecasted Dates We built a customization with two powerful features: This combination turned their static task list into a dynamic project plan inside Business Central. Why This Feature Made a Big Difference Here are a few ways it improved their day-to-day working: A Small Customization, A Big Win Sometimes, it’s not about adding a huge new module, it’s about adding the right control and visibility at the right place. This customization gave our client confidence that their internal projects would stay on track, with dependencies and timelines automatically adjusting in Business Central. And that’s the beauty of Business Central: it gives you a strong foundation, and with a little tailoring, it can adapt perfectly to your unique business needs. I Hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com.

Service Management in Dynamics 365 Business Central supports companies that provide after-sales services such as repairs, maintenance, installation, and support. It allows users to manage service agreements, quotes, orders, invoicing, and even loaner equipment, ensuring full control of service delivery and customer satisfaction. This article outlines the entire flow of managing service operations in D365 Business Central—from quote to invoicing and everything in between.  Create Service Quotes A Service Quote is the initial estimate given to a customer before approving or scheduling the actual service. Steps: Once accepted, convert it directly into a Service Order. Create Service Orders A Service Order is used to record and execute the actual service work. Types of Services: Key Components: Once created, the order acts as the central document for planning, execution, and billing. Create Service Invoices or Credit Memos After the service is completed, a Service Invoice or Credit Memo is generated. Invoice: Credit Memo:  Allocate Resources Assign technicians or engineers to perform the work: This ensures the right person is assigned to the right task with visibility for planning teams.  Work on Service Tasks Each Service Order can include multiple Service Tasks: Technicians can: These tasks provide visibility for both field and back-office teams. Service Posting Service Posting involves updating financial and inventory records after service execution. Items/Resources Posted: System ensures all services are financially accounted for and supports audit trails. Post Service Orders and Credit Memos Once the work is completed and verified: Posted documents are archived and accessible under: Lend and Receive Loaners D365 BC allows you to lend temporary replacement items (Loaners) while the customer’s equipment is being serviced. Loaner Process: This boosts customer satisfaction during long repairs and keeps service transparent.  Service Management Features Here are some of the advanced features D365 BC provides in the Service Management Module: Feature Purpose Service Contracts Recurring maintenance or warranty-based agreements Service Items Registers customer equipment and service history Fault/Repair Codes Standardize service documentation Service Pricing Price groups, discounts, and warranty handling Response Time Setup SLAs based on service priority or zone Service Dispatching Schedule and manage field technicians  To Conclude, service Management in Dynamics 365 Business Central enables complete control over the entire lifecycle of customer service, from the initial quote to the final invoice. With integrated features for resource allocation, task execution, inventory tracking, and loaner control, the system enhances service efficiency and customer satisfaction. We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com.

Budget Control in D365 Finance allows organizations to enforce spending discipline by validating transactions against defined budgets. Here are the steps to set it up. 1. Navigate to Setup Go to: Budgeting > Setup > Budget control configuration. 2. General Settings 3. Define Dimensions Select the financial dimensions to apply budget control against, such as: If Department + Cost Center are selected, every transaction is validated against that combined budget. 4. Approval Rules Determine the actions when a budget is exceeded: 5. Documents & Journals Specify which transactions should be included in budget checks, such as: It is best practice to include unposted documents (e.g., open POs) to ensure commitments are accurately reflected. 6. Activate Once the configuration is complete, activate Budget Control. From this point, all relevant transactions will be validated against the assigned budgets. Example To conclude, budget Control in Dynamics 365 Finance is straightforward to configure but highly effective in preventing overspending. With the right setup, organizations can gain real-time visibility and strengthen financial governance. For Finance consultants, system admins requiring guidance with setup or optimization, CloudFronts can help you design the right Budget Control configuration for your business. Get in touch with CloudFronts Technologies at transform@cloudfronts.com for assistance.

In Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, users frequently need to generate and review Purchase Order (PO) documents. Traditionally, this process involved downloading PDF files locally and then opening them with an external PDF viewer. While functional, this workflow can be inefficient, especially when reviewing multiple purchase orders. With recent enhancements in the AL language and web client capabilities, it is now possible to preview PDF documents directly within the browser, eliminating unnecessary steps and improving user experience. Additionally, Business Central continues to support direct file downloads for scenarios where saving a copy locally is required. This article presents a customization to the Purchase Order List page, allowing users to select multiple purchase orders and either preview or download their PDF documents using AL code. Functional Overview The proposed solution introduces a new action on the Purchase Order List page titled “Preview Selected Purchase Orders”. This action performs the following tasks: Role of Report Selections Report Selections play a vital role in ensuring flexibility and modularity. Instead of hardcoding specific report IDs, the system determines the report to be used for each Purchase Order based on vendor configuration. Example AL Snippet: This method respects configurations made in the Report Selection – Purchase page, allowing different vendors to use different report formats or layouts for the same document type. AL Implementation Below is the complete AL code for the pageextension object: File Handling Options: Preview vs Download Depending on business needs, developers can choose between two methods: 1. File.ViewFromStream 2. File.DownloadFromStream Output This customization provides two ways to handle PDF outputs for Purchase Orders: 1. For a Single Selected Document When a single purchase order is selected and the action is triggered: 2. For Multiple Selected Documents (Merged into One PDF) Business Benefits To Conclude, by leveraging AL capabilities such as Report Selections, Temp Blob, and the File data type methods, developers can significantly enhance document handling processes in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Offering both in-browser preview and direct download options provides users with flexibility and improves overall productivity. This customization is a practical example of how small enhancements can deliver substantial value in day-to-day business operations. We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com.

Teams is one of the best forms of notifying users about a form submission, in this blog let’s see how we can post new Microsoft Form responses into a team’s channel.  Step 1: Go to https://make.powerautomate.com/  -> Click on Environments on the top left and select the environment you want to create your flow in if you don’t have any environments you can select the default environment.  Step 2: Click on My flows -> New flow and select Automated cloud flow.  Step 3: Name your flow and search for “When a new response is submitted trigger”  Step: 4 Select the form for which you want to send the notification  Step 5: click on new step and search for Forms -> under Actions select “Get response details”  Step 6: Reselect the same Form in the first column of the Get response details action and in the second column you need to add the Response Id which is coming from the first step, you will get through the dynamics content just by clicking on the column.  Step 7: Now add a new step and search for Send Email V2 action. (We are using this action so that we can make our post content in Rich Text Format)  Step 8: You will get all the form files which are coming from the Get response details step, you can add them using the dynamics contents.  Step 9: In the Send Email V2 action you can create your message style it using the Rich text editor, once you are done styling your message click on code view button as shown in the below image.  Step 10: In the code view you will get the rich text message in HTML, copy this code and Delete the Send an email (V2) step.  Step 11: Click on new step and search for compose   Step 12: Rename this compose to Message body and paste the HTLM code of the message body from step 10  Step 13: Now click new step and search for Post message in a chat or channel action.  Step 14:  Fill in the details as shown below, you can post this as user or a flow bot select the teams and the teams channel and paste the output of compose in the message.  Output  Hope this helps 😊!  We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com.

For years, Microsoft Dynamics GP has been a reliable ERP system, helping businesses streamline financial operations. But the world has changed. Markets move faster, customer expectations are higher, and technology is no longer just a support function – it’s the backbone of growth. This is why the transition from Dynamics GP to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central isn’t just another upgrade. It’s a strategic leap forward. The Real Question: Maintain or Evolve? In today’s world, standing still is the same as moving backward. The choice is simple: maintain what works or evolve to what’s next. What Businesses Gain with Business Central A Transformation Story We’re currently working with a mid-sized client who has been running Dynamics GP for nearly 3 decades. While GP had served them well, the leadership team realized that GP will be obsolete in just a few years. Continuing with GP would only add more risk and cost. That’s why they made a strategic decision: migrate to Business Central, ensuring they move to a platform built for the future. Their goals for the migration are clear: This migration is underway, and the client sees it as the foundation for their next decade of growth. Why Now Is the Right Time Postponing migration might feel safe, but it carries hidden risks: increasing IT costs, reliance on outdated processes, and missing out on innovations competitors are already leveraging. Business Central is more than an ERP—it’s a platform for growth, intelligence, and resilience. The Takeaway Migrating from GP to Business Central is not a technical move – it’s a business transformation. It means: With GP reaching its end of life in the coming years, now is the time to make the transition confidently and strategically. Feel free to reach out. You can contact us at transform@cloudfronts.com. Let’s work together to find the right step for your success.

Microsoft’s Unified Developer Experience (UDE) helps developers build solutions that work across both Finance and Operations (F&O) and the Power Platform by providing a common, cloud-based environment. Challenges Before UDE Before UDE, developers often faced the following issues: What UDE Changes With UDE, Microsoft combines these tools into one environment, making it easier to: Why UDE Is Useful Adopting UDE brings several practical benefits for developers and organizations: Check Access, Licenses, and Capacity Before starting, make sure your user role, license, and environment capacity are all set up properly. You can check this in the Power Platform Admin Center. Starting the Setup with PowerShell To get started, open PowerShell ISE on your laptop. If you haven’t installed the required Power Platform module yet, run this command (skip it if it’s already installed): #Install the module Install-Module -Name Microsoft.PowerApps.Administration.PowerShell -Force Next, sign in to your account and prepare the JSON template that defines your environment settings. Make sure DevToolsEnabled is set to true so developer tools are available. You can also set DemoDataEnabled to true if you want sample Contoso data included by default. Write-Host “Creating a session against the Power Platform API” Add-PowerAppsAccount -Endpoint prod #To construct the json object to pass in $jsonObject= @” { “PostProvisioningPackages”: [ { “applicationUniqueName”: “msdyn_FinanceAndOperationsProvisioningAppAnchor”, “parameters”: “DevToolsEnabled=true|DemoDataEnabled=true” } ] } “@ | ConvertFrom-Json Finally, you’re ready to start the environment deployment. New-AdminPowerAppEnvironment -DisplayName “EnvironmentName” -EnvironmentSku Sandbox -Templates “D365_FinOps_Finance” -TemplateMetadata $jsonObject -LocationName “unitedstates” -ProvisionDatabase Example: New-AdminPowerAppEnvironment -DisplayName “Basic_Env” -EnvironmentSku Sandbox -LocationName “unitedstates” -Templates “D365_FinOps_Finance” -TemplateMetadata $jsonObject -ProvisionDatabase Make sure to use a proper name for your environment — it must be 20 characters or fewer. Also, pick the correct data center location based on your region (for example, I used unitedstates, but you could choose India or another available region). Alternatively: Install on an Existing Environment If you already have a Power Platform environment with a Dataverse database, you can use it to install Finance and Operations apps. Simply select the environment, navigate to Resources > Dynamics 365 apps, and then select Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations Provisioning App. Once your environment is successfully provisioned, you’ll see it listed in the Power Platform Admin Center — just like in the screenshot above. Here’s what the key information means: You’ll also see links to manage: These settings help control access and structure within your environment. This confirms your Finance + Power Platform environment is now fully functional and integrated — ready for development, testing, and customization. Make sure your user account has the System Administrator security role in Dataverse. Once assigned, this role will automatically carry over to the Finance and Operations (F&O) environment — no need to reassign it separately. If you navigate to the Dynamics 365 apps, you’ll also find pre-configured and installed solutions available. You can check out the Modules, Packages, and Operation History by simply clicking on the Environment URL. System Requirements for Setting Up the Development Environment Before you begin working with the Unified Development Experience (UDE), it’s important to make sure your machine meets the basic hardware and software requirements. Here’s what you’ll need: Workstation Requirements To ensure smooth performance while developing: Required Software The following software components are essential for working with UDE in Visual Studio: Once everything is set up, you’re ready to open Visual Studio. Make sure to run it as Administrator and choose the “Continue without code” option when prompted. This ensures all tools load properly and you’re ready to begin your development work. Install Power Platform VS Extension Go to VS > Manage Extensions > Search ‘Power Platform Tools Now, navigate to Tools > Options > Power Platform Tools and enable the specified parameters. Now, go to Tools > Connect to Dataverse Always show the full list of organizations. Avoid signing in with your current Windows user if it’s not the same account you’ve already connected to in Visual Studio. You can view the environments you previously created in PowerShell – just select the one you set up earlier. Choose the default option, unless you’re planning to create specific components for D365 CE or Power Platform—in that case, it’s best to create a dedicated solution and publisher for your work. If the X++ source code for your specific UnO DevBox version (e.g., 10.0.35) hasn’t been downloaded yet, you’ll be prompted to get it locally. After setting up the Power Platform Tools extension and connecting to your Dataverse sandbox, you’ll see an option to install the Finance and Operations extension for Visual Studio, along with the related metadata. If you didn’t get any option you can download it manually by going to “C:\Users\ShubhamPrajapati\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Dynamics365\10.0.2263.74” Meanwhile, in the background, the PackageLocalDirectory is being extracted. You can monitor the progress by going to View > Output. The installation typically takes around 30 minutes. After installation, you’ll see a few prompts the first time you open Visual Studio—just click “Yes” to continue. As you can see, all models have been downloaded successfully. You can switch between Classic View and Model View by right-clicking on the AOT. Once that’s done, navigate to Tools > Options > Power Platform Tools and apply the required changes as shown in the image below. The final step is to configure the Finance & Operations extension. In my case, I use LocalDB for the Cross Reference (Cross Ref) Database—it’s convenient because it’s already included when you install Visual Studio. If you’re using LocalDB, ensure your connection string is correct. A typical value is: (localdb)\ To set up LocalDB (if not already initialized), open Command Prompt and run: sqllocaldb create MSSQLLocalDB -s This command initializes and starts the LocalDB instance. Once LocalDB is running, your Cross Reference Database will be restored. This enables key development features such as: These features significantly enhance the development experience by improving code navigation and reference tracking. If you receive errors when trying to open certain class files (which are XML files under the hood), it’s likely because the Modeling SDK is not installed. This SDK is essential for working with … Continue reading A Unified Approach to Developing Finance and Operations Applications →

Inventory is the core of many businesses. Whether you’re selling products, making goods, or managing a supply chain, keeping the right stock at the right time is key. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central helps businesses handle inventory with ease and clarity. 1. Central Item List Item lists are the backbone of inventory management. Business Central lets you create a structured list of all your products—whether you buy them, sell them, or just store them. This organized list becomes the single source of truth across all departments. 2. Real-Time Inventory Levels Business Central keeps track of: This helps businesses plan better and fulfill orders faster without confusion. 3. Multi-Location Tracking If you manage inventory in multiple places (like stores, warehouses, or branches), Business Central supports that too. You can: 4. Reorder and Stock Planning With built-in reorder logic, Business Central tells you when to buy and how much to buy. It considers: This reduces guesswork and supports a smooth procurement process. 5. Purchase and Sales Integration When a purchase order is received or a sales order is shipped, inventory updates automatically. This minimizes the need for manual updates and keeps everyone on the same page. 6. Lot and Serial Number Tracking Business Central supports lot numbers and serial numbers. This helps with: 7. Inventory Valuation Methods You can choose how to value your inventory: This supports accurate financial reporting and cost control. 8. Inventory Transfers Do you need to move items from one location to another? Use transfer orders. You can record: 9. Inventory Adjustments Sometimes physical counts don’t match system data. Business Central allows easy stock corrections for: 10. Reports and Insights With built-in reports and dashboards, you can track: These insights will assist you in making well-informed decisions and planning ahead. Why It Matters Good inventory management helps you: Business Central gives you the tools to manage stock simply and efficiently. If you’re using spreadsheets or disconnected tools to manage inventory, now is a good time to explore Business Central. It gives you more control, better insights, and smoother operations—all in one place. We hope you found this blog useful. If you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com.

Data is one of the most valuable assets for modern organizations. But without the right reporting structure, decision-makers struggle to extract meaningful insights. At CloudFronts, we specialize in tailoring Power BI to meet specific client needs. In this blog, we’ll share how we customized a territory-based account analysis report for a client’s sales team—and why such customizations deliver real business value. Problem Statement The client’s leadership team faced three challenges with their existing reports: 1. Lack of clarity: Territories on the map looked identical, creating confusion. 2. No drill-down path: Managers could not move easily from high-level territory views to account-level details. 3. Data security concerns: All managers could see all account data, raising confidentiality issues. These gaps reduced adoption of the reports and slowed decision-making. Solution Approach We delivered a tailored Power BI solution with the following enhancements: 1. High-Impact Visuals with Conditional Formatting Each territory was assigned a unique color on the map, instantly improving readability. 2. Structured Multi-Page Navigation – Page 1: Territory Map – for leadership to view performance at a glance. – Page 2: Drill-Through – for Territory Managers to analyze accounts in detail. – Page 3: Tabular Data – for operations teams to validate and export account data. 3. Data Security with Row-Level Security (RLS) Each Territory Manager could only view accounts from their assigned states, ensuring sensitive client data was protected. 4. User Adoption Focus By mirroring the real workflow of Territory Managers, adoption rates significantly increased. Key Learnings – Custom visuals drive clarity: Unique formatting makes reports intuitive. – Security builds trust: Clients are reassured when their data is properly protected with RLS. – Role-based design improves efficiency: Reports that align with how teams work reduce training needs and accelerate insights. – Better adoption leads to ROI: Customized reports quickly become part of daily decision-making, maximizing the value of Power BI investments. To conclude, for clients, Power BI customizations are not just a “nice-to-have”—they are a business necessity. By aligning reports with organizational structures, ensuring secure access, and simplifying navigation, businesses gain faster insights, stronger adoption, and higher ROI from their BI investments. We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com.

In Dynamics 365 CRM implementations, subgrids are used extensively to show related records within the main form. But what if you want Subgrid B to automatically refresh whenever a new record is added to Subgrid A, especially when that record triggers some automation like a Power Automate flow or a plugin that creates or updates related data? In this blog, I’ll walk you through how to make one subgrid refresh when another subgrid is updated — a common real-world scenario that enhances user experience without needing a full form refresh. Let’s say you have two subgrids on your form: Whenever a new record is added in the Chargeable Categories subgrid, a Power Automate flow or backend logic creates corresponding records in Order Line Categories. However, these new records are not immediately visible in the second subgrid unless the user manually refreshes the entire form or clicks on the refresh icon. This can be confusing or frustrating for end-users. Solution Overview To solve this, we’ll use JavaScript to listen for changes in Subgrid A and automatically refresh Subgrid B once something is added. Here’s the high-level approach: Implementation Steps 1. Create the JavaScript Web Resource Create a new JS web resource and add the following code: How It Works To conclude, this simple yet effective approach ensures a smoother user experience by reflecting backend changes instantly without needing to manually refresh the entire form. It’s particularly helpful when automations or plugins create or update related records that must appear in real-time. By combining JavaScript with Dynamics’ form controls, you can add polish and usability to your applications without heavy customization. I hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com.