All Microsoft Professionals need to know this! Mastering Dynamics 365 CRM/ERP and Power Platform Updates

Master the Dynamics 365 and Power Platform Universe: Stay Ahead with Essential Updates and Resources

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Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 and Power Platform are at the forefront of innovation, offering a wealth of features and updates designed to streamline processes, drive efficiency, and enable growth. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the strategies and resources that will empower you to stay ahead of the curve, master updates and deprecations, and transform your business into a formidable force in the industry.

⚡ Tl;dr

• Use Release Planner for roadmap planning
• Bookmark Product Updates and Microsoft Blogs
• Understand Lifecycle and support policies for finance and operations
• Manage apps with early access updates and deprecation planning
• Connect with the community and Microsoft MVPs through forums, Microsoft Learn and events

Mastering Updates

Keeping up with the latest features and updates in the technology industry might feel like chasing a moving target, but it’s in the secret sauce that will supercharge your business growth and build an unshakable foundation for success. With the constant evolution of Dynamics 365 and Power Platform, you can’t afford to be left behind! Dive into this must-read blog post to uncover the insider tips and tricks that will help you stay on top of the game and transform your business into an unstoppable powerhouse.

Dynamics 365 and Power Platform are constantly evolving, with Microsoft releasing two major wave updates each year and even more frequent updates for Dynamics 365 Finance — up to seven per year! And let’s not forget, we need to grab at least two of those updates. So, when you’re juggling both Dynamics 365 Finance and Power Platform in your workspace, it’s essential to stay on top of all these exciting updates and avoid missing any important deprecations.

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Riding The Waves

Yo due, surfs up! When planning your technology roadmap, one key aspect to plan for are that there are two waves releases each year. These releases showcase significant areas of investment for the upcoming six-month period. One of the best ways to plan and prepare for the new and upcoming features of Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 is by using the Release Planner. The release planner is designed for admins and makers to review the latest features and add features you are interested in to a personalised view.

One of my favourite features about using the release planner is that you can collaborate using notes. Adding notes/comments to features is a handy way to make sure that when you and the team are reviewing the features, you can keep tracking of which ones have made it on to your product backlog. When you share a personalised plan, the stakeholders you share the link with can also add their notes/comments to the feature.

You can easily access the entire release plan online, complete with filters by area for your convenience. Additionally, if you prefer a downloadable version, the same documentation is available in PDF format. To view the latest release plans for Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and Cloud for Industry head to: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/release-plans/

Lifecycle and support policies for the finance and operations

Dynamics 365 Finance updates follow a different path when compared to Power Platform wave updates. Microsoft’s Software Lifecycle Policy, updates are designed to ensure that users receive the latest features and improvements, while maintaining a secure and compliant environment.

Dynamics 365 Finance updates frequently with four types of updates: Platform updates, Application releases, Lifecycle Services releases (LCS), and Stand-alone applications. These updates provide new features, improve performance, and maintain security and compliance. Dynamics 365 Finance receives up to seven updates a year, and users are required to take at least two updates per year.

Keeping up with Dynamics 365 Finance updates, including platform updates, application releases, and LCS releases, is essential. To stay updated on the latest enhancements, visit the Dynamics 365 Finance “What’s new or changed?” page at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/fin-ops-core/fin-ops/get-started/whats-new-changed. This resource helps you stay informed on recent developments, ensuring a smooth transition with minimal impact on your operations.

Join the Community and Connect with Experts

Microsoft has a thriving community of professionals, experts, and enthusiasts who are eager to share their knowledge and insights. Make sure to leverage the power of the community in your pursuit of staying up-to-date with Dynamics 365 and Power Platform releases:

1. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Community: Join the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Community (https://community.dynamics.com/) and similarly, the Power Platform Community (https://community.powerplatform.microsoft.com/)to connect with other users, access a wealth of resources, and stay informed about the latest updates and features.
2. Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Learn (https://learn.microsoft.com/) is an invaluable resource for expanding your knowledge about Microsoft technologies.
3. MVPs: Follow Dynamics 365 and Power Platform Most Valuable Professional MVPs on LinkedIn and YouTube to receive real-time updates and insights. To find an MVP search: https://mvp.microsoft.com/en-US/MvpSearch?cr=YourRegion.
4. Microsoft Events: Events such as Ignite, Build, and Inspire to learn from experts, get hands-on experience, and network with other professionals in the industry.
5. Microsoft Blogs: Stay updated with the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Blog and Power Platform Blog. The Power Platform Blog (covers Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI, and Power Virtual Agents, while the Dynamics 365 Blog focuses on various Dynamics 365 applications.
6. Product Updates — Product Updates page for Microsoft Dynamics 365, is a useful resource that summarises investments by area. By checking this page regularly, you’ll stay informed about the latest developments.

My Top Tips for Managing your Apps

• Opt in to early access updates — A sandbox environment with early access to Dynamics 365 and Power Platform updates (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/admin/opt-in-early-access-updates) helps you prepare for new features. Test upcoming changes without affecting your live systems, identify potential issues, adjust configurations, and train your team. This approach ensures a smooth transition during official updates.
• Plan in Deprecations — Being aware of feature deprecations in Dynamics 365 and Power Platform is crucial, as they can affect your organisation’s processes. By keeping track of deprecations (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/customer-service/deprecations-customer-service), you can prepare for changes and adjust your business processes. This helps prevent disruptions, ensures compliance, and allows you to benefit from new, efficient features while maintaining your software’s performance and stability.
• Create a Microsoft 365 Developer account – Set up a Microsoft 365 developer sandbox to build. Microsoft 365 E5 developer sandbox subscription with 25 user licenses. It lasts for 90 days and is free to use for development purposes. https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/dev-program
• Try the latest features on Trial environments – Try a range of intelligent business applications free for 30 days. https://dynamics.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics-365-free-trial/

Let’s sum it all up

In conclusion, staying on top of Dynamics 365 and Power Platform releases is essential for any organization looking to leverage these tools for growth and success. By using the release planner, accessing resources for roadmap planning, staying informed about the software lifecycle, managing your apps effectively, and leveraging the power of the community, you can ensure that your business is always at the cutting edge of technology advancements.