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Sunday, April 14, 2019

Learn to Build a PowerApp in 60 Minutes

My friend Michal Rok is one of the smartest people I know. He's been building powerapps from about the time they were launched. In April 2018 Michal told me PowerApps is pretty easy to build apps, and he can teach me in a couple of hours. I didnt really believe him, as I thought he is just a mad genius.

Now Michal has built a PowerApp to teach people like how to build an app. He’s got a video to point you in the right direction here - http://aka.ms/patapp

I tested it out over the weekend, and kept marveling over his genius idea of building an app to train people on building apps. Inception.

You can try out this app by creating a new app from web.powerapps.com and selecting the PowerApps Training template.

Give it a shot!








Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Dynamics 365 and Azure ML at Microsoft Ignite 2017

My presentation on Dynamics 365 and Azure ML at Microsoft Ignite 2017. You can view it here - http://www.slideshare.net/jivtesh/azure-ml-and-dynamics-365
I talk about

  • Machine Learning and AI Concepts
  • How they Apply to Dynamics 365
  • Azure ML – Introduction
  • How you can use Machine Learning with Dynamics 365 Today
  • Resources 

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Power BI Updates with Dynamics CRM 2016 Online Update 1 & On Premise SP1

The Dynamics Video channel has a great new video out on the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online 2016 Update 1 New Features- Power BI

The new Power BI update introduces the following new features -

  • New Service Content Pack
  • New Power BI Tile - for User Dashboards
  • Embedded Power BI reports
  • Improved Performance Moved to new Web APIs based on OData v4

These features have been introduced for Power BI Desktop with On Premise Dynamics CRM with SP1 .

New Service Content Pack

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Saturday, July 23, 2016

Give your suggestion around content for reImagine 2016

Pam Misialek is looking for your feedback for content for reImagine 2016 (Premier Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner Conference). The event is Sept 19-21 in Fargo, North Dakota this year.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is coming to change your world

Over the last few years we have seen how Dynamics CRM online has been doubling its growth every quarter. Microsoft is looking at replicating that success by offering the ERP and CRM together in a new cloud offering.  Microsoft Dynamics 365 is essentially a piece of software that aims to unify both current CRM and ERP cloud solutions into one cloud service with new purpose-built apps to help manage specific business functions such as financials, sales, operations and customer service.

The technology will integrate with Office 365 to connect the ‘structured workflow’ of business apps with the ‘unstructured workflow’ of collaboration and productivity. It also has deep connections with the cloud office suite, as well as to Cortana voice intelligence and PowerBI data visualization — all of it built on a common platform and data model[1].

Dynamics 365 apps will also provide you with a modern and familiar experience with built in insights, intelligence and workflow. To ensure interoperability and extensibility they also use a common data model and consistent application platform. The combination of these things gives customers a comprehensive solution for business process innovation that lets them:

  • Start with what they need by offering apps that fit roles, industries, businesses – and grow at their pace to run their entire business in the cloud.
  • Enable greater productivity where they need it by connecting structured workflow of business applications (Dynamics 365) and processes with the unstructured work of collaboration and productivity (Office 365) so employees are empowered with productivity tools surfaced in the context of their business processes, and vice versa.
  • Gain built-in, actionable, intelligence with business applications that infuse big data, advanced analytics and IoT into processes which proactively guide employees and customers to optimal outcomes. With Dynamics 365, data and insights are transformed into intelligent action right where it’s needed, and without requiring an army of rocket scientists to make it happen.
  • Be ready for growth through nimble, adaptable applications, that allow them to compose, modify and extend processes in real-time. Power BI, PowerApps and Microsoft Flow empower business users to change and adapt their processes without requiring IT support. And organizations can reimagine their business model with a consistent, flexible, extensible platform[2].

In addition to unveiling Microsoft Dynamics 365, Microsoft has also introduced its Microsoft AppSource, which will have 200 business SaaS apps, content packs, and add-ins from Microsoft and its partners that will work with its Dynamics 365. AppSource is targeted to government agencies, financial institutions, and consumer packaged-goods companies.

Microsoft did not disclose pricing for Microsoft Dynamics 365, so it remains to be seen whether it will be a combination of its Dynamics CRM pricing and Dynamics ERP pricing[3].

Which ERP are we talking about ?

Later this fall, Microsoft is planning to deliver two editions of Microsoft Dynamics 365: “Business” for SMBs and “Enterprise” for larger deployments. Each edition has a set of purpose-built applications -- for example, Operations, Sales, and Customer Service.

Business Edition will have the new Project Madeira with Dynamics CRM

Enterprise Edition will have Dynamics AX with Dynamics CRM

Dynamics 365 offers customers the flexibility to grow at their own pace and expand into additional capabilities with ease to run their entire business in the trusted Microsoft cloud.

There are 2 ways to license Dynamics 365 - by application or by personalized role. Role-based licensing is designed to help customers to support their employees in real world enabling them to access functionality across all applications within Dynamics 365[4].

What does it mean for Dynamics GP Customers ?

Just like Dynamics CRM has been offered on premise in addition to online, Dynamics GP will continue to be enhanced and sold to new customers. There are a lot of SaaS offerings around Dynamics GP & CRM – they can breathe easy that they will not be competing with Microsoft.

 


[1] https://techcrunch.com/2016/07/06/microsoft-gives-frenemy-salesforce-a-shove-with-new-dynamics-365-integrated-cloud-platform/

[2] https://community.dynamics.com/b/msftdynamicsblog/archive/2016/07/06/insights-from-the-engineering-leaders-behind-microsoft-dynamics-365-and-microsoft-appsource

[3] http://www.informationweek.com/cloud/microsoft-dynamics-365-combines-crm-erp/d/d-id/1326188

[4] http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-readies-combined-crm-erp-dynamics-365-cloud-bundle/

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Dynamics GP 2016 New Features and Roadmap

Microsoft Dynamics GP 2016 is Coming in May, and Microsoft has started the background work around educating us about the new features, and the upgrade process.

Follow the new features here - https://community.dynamics.com/gp/b/gpteamblog 

The upgrade series of posts will be out on the Dynamics GP Support and Services Blog 

  • March 29- Lifecycle for Versions of Microsoft Dynamics GP: How Long Am I Supported?        
    March 31 -  Upgrade Planning for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2016 – Let’s Get Started!
  • April 5 -  Microsoft Dynamics GP 2016 - Known Upgrade Issues 
  • April 7 - Microsoft Dynamics GP 2016 - Version Checks & Upgrades
  • April 12 -  Microsoft Dynamics GP 2016 - The Database Upgrade
  • April 14 - Microsoft Dynamics GP 2016 - Modified Dictionary Upgrade
  • April 19 -  Microsoft Dynamics GP 2016 - Upgrade Troubleshooting
  • April 21 - Microsoft Dynamics GP 2016 is upgraded - What's Next?
  • April 26 - Upgrading Microsoft Dynamics GP 2016 Web Client
  • April 28 - Tables Changes in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2016

The roadmap for Dynamics GP from 2013 to 2017+

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Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Dynamics CRM 2016 Online vs On Premise

Over the last few years with incremental releases for Dynamics CRM – Microsoft has had to maintain a balance for online and on-premise customers. Naturally this is a challenge for Microsoft – keeping the two versions in sync, keeping the agility of pushing out updates online, and keeping the core on premise customers happy. So far Microsoft is doing a good job, barring the complains from some on premise customers that they are often left waiting for a year or more for a new feature when compared with CRM online customers.  At the same time the conservative on premise customers are happy that when they get a feature – its been tested by thousands of online customers.

Anyway, to simplify the challenging online vs onpremise feature discussion Microsoft has a feature comparison up now.

CRM 2016 - Online vs on-premises features FAQ

I recommend reviewing the article before proceeding. Below are the online only features

  • Analytics - Power Query connector streamlines connections to CRM Online
  • Create a task flow in CRM for phones and tablets (Preview feature)
  • Share the knowledge base with Parature / Integration with Parature
  • Use surveys to collect feedback from customers
  • Email - Dynamics CRM App for Outlook for Exchange Online
  • Delve (Exchange Online optional for attachments). SharePoint Online license required

I have excluded features like maintaining online instances as there is no point of having them in onpremise. As you can see – the difference is pretty minimal, and the only feature I am actually jealous about as a onpremise customer is Parature integration which is in its infancy right now anyway.