Tag Archives: Dynamics 365
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
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
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
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.
User Adoption Strategy for Dynamics 365 Implementation Success
Problem Statement After an implementation has gone live, do we experience that the user participation tapers off before starting to decline? That’s when we feel the need to have an adoption strategy and metrics into place. Strategizing User Adoption Here are some thoughts on thinking about how to plan for User Adoption – User Adoption Measurements Here are some of the measurements and steps to take for User Adoption – Conclusion When you measure user adoption through trackable metrics and numbers, you can monitor the implementation’s success path. This helps in rethinking the implementation and taking corrective action before the implementation itself is in question and why was it planned in the first place. Participation of partners, peers and all stakeholders share equal responsibility to make the implementation a resounding success. 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
Configuring Login Tracking for Individual Users
Introduction Tracking user logins in Business Central helps you understand how your system is used. The “Register Time” feature makes it easy to see when users log in and how long they stay. This guide will show you how to set it up and check user activity. Pre-requisites Business Central (On-prem/On-Cloud) Steps Step 1: Activate the Register Time Feature Step 2: Configure Individual User Settings Step 3: Check User Login Data By following these steps, you can easily monitor how often users log in and how long they stay connected to your system. Conclusion Tracking user logins and session times in Business Central helps you understand how your system is used. By setting up the Register Time feature and checking the User Time Registers page, you can easily monitor user activity and make informed decisions to improve system performance. 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
NameSpaces in Business central D365
Introduction Namespaces help avoid name conflicts that can arise from combining libraries by grouping code into logical groupings and hierarchies. Namespaces give the code base structure, which facilitates navigation and comprehension, guarantee uniqueness in code names, and permit name reuse in many situations. Numerous computer languages employ namespaces, and Business Central provides them with AL from Business Central 2023 wave 2 (BC23). Table Customer All objects in the code file belong to the namespace that is declared at the beginning of an AL file. Pre-requisites Business Central onCloud References https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/developer/devenv-namespaces-overview Configuration They can be used to help avoid naming conflicts between different extensions, making it easier to maintain and understand extensions, including the relationship between different objects. Namespace syntax To declare a namespace in AL, you must use the namespace keyword followed by the name of the namespace. Some best practices for namespace keywords are: Example: namespace DevOrg.Client.SpecificModule; You can use the same namespace declaration in other.al files to declare multiple objects in the same namespace. The same namespace is shared by all code files that employ the same namespace declaration. If you try to utilize an object after namespaces have been declared, an error will occur. Example: The error will be fixed after declaring a keyword with namespace name. Conclusion At first glance, namespaces appear superfluous and confusing, but as you use them, you’ll realize their true value and realize they’re not that complicated after all. Give them a try. These are all excellent practices that Microsoft supports as well. 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
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
Automating HTML Email Notifications in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Introduction In this blog, we will explore how to create HTML-formatted email notifications in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central using AL code. We will guide you through a practical example that sends an HTML email notification when a Posted Purchase Invoice is inserted. Pre-requisite – Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (On-premises or Cloud) Objective Our goal is to automatically send an HTML email containing purchase order details whenever a new Purchase Invoice Header is created. Step-by-Step Implementation Before diving into the code, you need to set up the email functionality in Business Central to ensure the system can send emails. Step 1: Set Up Email in Business Central Open Business Central: – Sign in to your Business Central account. – Search for “Set Up Email” in the top-right search bar. Configure Email: – Choose SMTP as the email type and click “Next.” – Fill in the necessary details, such as the email account and authentication details, then click “Next” to finish the setup. – Set the email account as the default if you have multiple email addresses. Step 2: Create Necessary Fields in Table and Page Extensions Add a Field in Table Extension: – Create a boolean field named “GRN Notification” in the User Setup table extension. This field will ensure that the email is sent only to the users who require it. tableextension 51328 UserSetupExt extends “User Setup” { fields { field(55005; “GRN Notification”; Boolean) { DataClassification = CustomerContent; } } } Add a Field in Page Extension: – Add the “GRN Notification” field to the User Setup page extension to allow users to enable or disable notifications. pageextension50102 extends “User Setup” { layout { addafter(“Register Time”) { field(“GRN Notification”; Rec.”GRN Notification”) { ApplicationArea = All; } } } } Step 3: Create a Table Extension for the Purchase Invoice Header This is where we extend the Purch. Inv. Header table to trigger a procedure that sends the email when a new record is inserted. tableextension 50101 PurchaseInvoiceHeader extends “Purch. Inv. Header”{ trigger OnInsert() begin GRNPostingtoPO(Rec); end; Step 4: Define the GRNPostingtoPO Procedure This procedure handles the core logic of the email notification: procedure GRNPostingtoPO(PurchaseInvoiceHeader: Record “Purch. Inv. Header”) var UserSetup: Record “User Setup”; EmailMessage: Codeunit “Email Message”; Email: Codeunit “Email”; PurchaseLine: Record “Purchase Line”; PurchaseHeader: Record “Purchase Header”; HtmlBody: Text; begin // Find the corresponding Purchase Header using the “Order No.” PurchaseHeader.SetRange(“No.”, PurchaseInvoiceHeader.”Order No.”); // If the Purchase Header exists, retrieve related Purchase Lines. if PurchaseHeader.FindFirst() then begin PurchaseLine.SetRange(“Document No.”, PurchaseHeader.”No.”); if PurchaseLine.FindSet() then begin // Build the HTML email body with purchase order details. HtmlBody := ‘Hello Team,’ + ‘<p>Please find the attached purchase order details.</p>’ + ‘<BR>’ + ‘<p>Purchase Order has been created successfully.</p>’ + ‘<h3>Purchase Order No. ‘ + PurchaseInvoiceHeader.”No.” + ‘</h3>’ + ‘<table border=”1″ style=”border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;”>’ + ‘<tr>’ + ‘<th style=”padding: 8px; text-align: left; background-color: #f2f2f2;”>IDS No.</th>’ + ‘<th style=”padding: 8px; text-align: left; background-color: #f2f2f2;”>ITEM No.</th>’ + ‘<th style=”padding: 8px; text-align: left; background-color: #f2f2f2;”>Item Description</th>’ + ‘<th style=”padding: 8px; text-align: left; background-color: #f2f2f2;”>Quantity</th>’ + ‘</tr>’; // Loop through the Purchase Lines to add them to the HTML body. repeat HtmlBody += ‘<tr>’ + ‘<td style=”padding: 8px;”>’ + PurchaseLine.”Document No.” + ‘</td>’ + ‘<td style=”padding: 8px;”>’ + PurchaseLine.”No.” + ‘</td>’ + ‘<td style=”padding: 8px;”>’ + PurchaseLine.Description + ‘</td>’ + ‘<td style=”padding: 8px;”>’ + Format(PurchaseLine.Quantity) + ‘</td>’ + ‘</tr>’; until PurchaseLine.Next() = 0; // Close the HTML table and body. HtmlBody += ‘</table>’ + ‘<p>This is an Auto-generated mail, if any concerns related to purchase please contact the ERP Team.</p>’ + ‘</body></html>’; // Send the email to users who have GRN Notification enabled. UserSetup.SetRange(“GRN Notification”, true); if UserSetup.FindSet() then begin repeat EmailMessage.Create( UserSetup.”E-Mail”, ‘Purchase Order Posted’, HtmlBody, true ); Email.Send(EmailMessage, Enum::”Email Scenario”::Default); until UserSetup.Next() = 0; end; end; end; end; Output: Conclusion By following these steps, you can create HTML-formatted email notifications in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. This method ensures that users receive detailed and well-structured notifications, which enhances communication and workflow efficiency within your organization. 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
Understanding Additional Reporting Currency in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Introduction The Additional Reporting Currency feature in Business Central allows a company to maintain its financial records in a secondary currency, in addition to the primary currency. This secondary currency is used for reporting and analytical purposes, providing a clearer picture of the company’s financial health in the context of different economic environments. The use of Additional Reporting Currency for Regulatory Compliance, Simplified Financial Reporting, Enhanced Decision Making. Steps to achieve the goal: 1. Defining the Additional Reporting Currency Navigate to the “General Ledger Setup” page and specify the additional reporting currency. This can be any currency other than the primary currency of your company’s base country/region. Here I am going to set SGD as my Additional Reporting currency. Before I set SGD in my Additional Reporting currency, I have to make sure I am assigning the exchange rates properly. 2. Specifying Exchange Rates Define the exchange rates between the primary currency and the additional reporting currency. This can be done through the “Currency Exchange Rates” page. It is crucial to regularly update these rates to reflect current market conditions. 3. Specify the residual gain and loss account in your Currency The field is ideally not visible in screen. You can personalize and make those fields visible on your screen. Click on Settings icon-> Personalize->Field->Select the field and drag the field in your screen. Set the GL account to update its additional Currency value for future transactions. Globally search Chart of Accounts and Open the G/L Account that you wished to update its Additional currency value whenever you Adjust the transactions. No Adjustment: The default selection. No adjustments are made to the account Adjust Amount: Any gain or loss in exchange rates is reflected in the LCY amount field. Adjust Additional-Currency Amount: Any gains or losses in exchange rates are taken into account when adjusting the additional currency amount field. Please Note: You cannot set VAT Purchase or Vat Sales Account and G/L Accounts which you have tagged in Currency page (Realized gain and loss, Unrealized gain and loss, residual gain and loss) as for Additional reporting currency. As it can throw error when you perform Revaluation in the system. 4. Final Setup Go to general ledger setup and set the Additional Reporting currency SGD and set Retained Earnings Account, Set Document not as per the screenshot below and click on OK. This is batch job used to convert LCY transactions to Additional Currency. The exchange rate that is in effect on the work date is used in the job.The entry that is posted to the retained earnings account should be indicated in the Document No. field. On the last day of every closed year, this rounding entry is made to ensure that all income and expense accounts have a zero balance.The same account used when running the Close Income Statement batch job. You would view the below message once the transaction is calculated in the system. Click on OK. You can change the Additional Reporting currency again in future once it is set. Please note any Analysis created for previous Additional Currency that you must delete. Before and After setting up this configuration – Before the Additional Currency Setup The Chart of Accounts Additional Currency Net change and Additional Currency Balance to Date is blank no values. – After the Additional Currency Setup The Chart of Accounts Additional Currency Net change and balance to date value has been set. Please Note: Warning Issued by Microsoft on Additional reporting Currency Conclusion The Additional Reporting Currency feature in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central offers a robust solution for maintaining financial transparency and compliance. By setting up and leveraging this functionality, businesses can streamline their financial reporting processes, enhance decision-making, and ultimately achieve greater financial clarity and control. Whether you are a small business expanding into new markets or a large enterprise with operations in multiple countries, the Additional Reporting Currency feature in Business Central can provide the tools you need to succeed in a complex financial landscape. 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