According to the release wave 1 2023 for Microsoft Business Central, an AI-powered language model, Dynamics 365 Copilot is the biggest development for Business Central’s new features. Besides the launch of Copilot for Microsoft’s productivity apps and business management suite – Dynamics 365, Microsoft has updates for Business Central users too.
With this blog’s help, we’ll explore what’s new and planned for Dynamics 365 Business Central. Let’s start by looking at the features and projected benefits of 2023 release wave 1 updates.
The Brief Look on New Updates for Microsoft Business Central
Copilot and AI Innovation
The Copilot feature in Business Central helps your business operations with the power of AI. AI-powered Copilot enables it to achieve more, like generating product descriptions with less effort.
Reporting and Analysis
In 2023 release wave 1, Microsoft Business Central users and data analysts can easily access all data on lists directly within the Business Central platform. This new feature in BC allows analysis, grouping, and pivoting of data on list pages using multiple tabs.
Onboarding
Efficient onboarding is crucial for business productivity and Microsoft is working on enhancing Business Central’s ease of adoption. This new feature in Business Central will enable users to create engaging partner-specific trials and onboarding experiences.
Use of Microsoft 365
Features to enhance productivity for users working with Office 365 apps and services are crucial for increased productivity. In April 2023, people using Business Central ERP will experience improved adaptive cards in Microsoft Teams.
Users can also configure security controls for Teams cards and set up access with Microsoft 365 licenses, which will be enabled automatically.
Adapt faster with Microsoft Power Platform
Business Central easily integrates with Power Platform for better productivity, with new features rolling out gradually, such as:
- More Power Automate templates and Power Apps in May
- Business events for external system notifications in May
- Dynamic environment and company support in August, and Dataverse environment choice for Power Automate flows in March.
Business Central users can also post adaptive cards or links to Business Central records using Power Automate in April. And a new approval workflow experience with Power Automate templates will be available soon.
Application
New and planned features in Business Central will improve productivity, accounting, and reporting compliance. These features will gradually be rolled out with some available for public preview and others in April 2023.
These features include:
- Adding more columns for better insight
- Avoiding document number errors
- Dynamically showing Bin Code and Zone Code fields
- Defining invoice posting policies
Other features include setting default dimensions, using advanced warehouse functionality, and using statistical accounts.
Moreover, the usability improvements include easier creation of new entries and improved visibility for Shopify Connector.
Note: Some features will be available in May 2023, such as the ability to synchronize returns and refunds from Shopify.
Development
Business Central will offer different tooling, capabilities, and enhancements that will increase developer productivity.
It includes:
- Visual Studio Code’s AL Extension includes AL Explorer and AL Home.
- Better “InStream” support, and control database locking behavior
- Faster install code writing, go-to implementation for interfaces, and IntelliSense suggestions for “enum” ordinal value
- Support for multiple “.al” package cache paths, URLs in “includeRuleSets,” and hotfixes for older AppSource apps
Additionally, the release offers “AL-Go” for GitHub, attaching AL debugger, and extending general ledger posting aggregations.
Remember, these features will be available automatically to admins, makers, marketers, or analysts on specific dates, with some features available for public preview.
Governance and Administration
Business Central’s 2023 release wave 1 brings new tools for administrators and partners to manage environments and apps.
Features include:
- Managing System Application permissions
- Feature Management updates
- Auto-updating AppSource apps
These tools will be available automatically to Business Central users on specific dates, with some available for public preview beforehand. These features will streamline environment and app management.
Legislation
The legislative capabilities of Dynamics 365 Business Central includes – organizations in meeting government regulations.
These legislation features include:
- Audit file export, which eases SAF-T compliance, and Non-deductible, partly deductible VAT functionality, which expands the VAT capabilities
These features will be available to users automatically, with the Non-deductible, partly deductible VAT feature being available for public preview in May 2023 and for general availability in the same month.
Country and Regional
The 2023 release wave 1 of Business Central introduces new features that make the software available in more than 130+ countries and regions globally.
Other country/regional expansions include:
Andorra – Armenia – Azerbaijan – Bahamas – Bermuda – Bolivia – British – Virgin Islands – Cambodia – Cameroon – Cayman Islands – Ethiopia – Fiji – Ghana – Guernsey – Isle of Man – Jersey – Kazakhstan – Kosovo – Liechtenstein – Macau (SAR China) – Madagascar – Malawi – Mozambique – Namibia – Nepal – San Marino – Sao Tome & Principe – Senegal – Tanzania -Uganda – Zambia.
These features are enabled for users automatically and will be available for public preview and general availability between April 2023 and June 2023.
Service and Platform
With the 2023 release wave 1, Business Central is becoming more tightly integrated with Microsoft 365 apps and services, such as Outlook, Excel, Word, OneDrive, and Teams. This will help users to be more productive and efficient in their services to an organization.
Here are some features that are part of this integration:
Feature: Enhanced adaptive cards in Teams
Enabled for: Users, automatically
Public preview: N/A
General availability: Apr 2023
Feature: Security controls for Teams cards
Enabled for: Admins, makers, marketers, or analysts, automatically
Public preview: N/A
General availability: Apr 2023
Feature: Easy setup of Microsoft 365 licenses
Enabled for: Admins, makers, marketers, or analysts, automatically
Public preview: NA
General availability: Apr 2023
User experience:
In the 2023 release wave 1, Dynamics 365 is introducing improvements to enhance user experience and productivity when it comes to entering, updating, and analyzing data. Users will also benefit from actionable error messages in select application areas to help unblock them and search in company data.
How to drive sales at AI-Powered Dynamics 365 Copilot for Business Central?
Driving more sales is directly proportional to the business value of your products or services.
Thus, great products deserve great marketing, and Business Central makes it easy for you. Because it offers you AI-generated product descriptions to accelerate your time to market. By simply uploading a picture and allowing the embedded AI/GPT4-based Copilot to suggest compelling marketing copy based on your product’s attributes such as color and material.
Hence, with just a few clicks, you can publish these descriptions to your online store and streamline all the end-to-end processes.
Feature Details of Dynamics 365 Copilot
1. Upload a picture to create a new item record in Business Central. The system suggests a matching category and automatically assigns default attributes to reduce manual data entry.
2. Author a customer-ready product description in the Marketing Text area, accessible from the Item card actions or “FactBox”.
3. Get AI-generated suggestions for product descriptions based on the item’s attributes, category, and name using Azure OpenAI and GPT4 technology.
But do not forget to review and edit before saving!
4. Customize language parameters such as format, tone of voice, and attribute inclusion using the Create with Copilot window.
5. Publish product information directly to your Shopify store using Business Central’s extension with new actions available on the item card and list.
6. Sell items at once on your Shopify store with information including the item picture, marketing text, inventory, and price following your store settings.
To get started with Copilot, you can take a free trial of Business Central and experience AI-generated product descriptions.
Learn more here with this instructional video:
Copilot in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Contact your business central partner today and discover more about the use of Microsoft Copilot in Business Central.
Note: Some of the Business Central updates in the release plan for wave 1, 2023 might not be there and will be released later this year.
Is the Licensing for Dynamics 365 Business Central Simplified?
Microsoft has simplified licensing for Dynamics 365 Business Central and Dynamics GP to provide a One Price, One Purchase Model, Full Flexibility.
Starting April 1, 2025, Dynamics 365 Business Central on-premises purchases will be limited to subscription licensing.
Dynamics GP sales will be limited to existing customers after April 1, 2026, and Microsoft encourages partners to consider adding Dynamics Business Central to their portfolio.
Contact Your Dynamics 365 Partner
If you’re considering implementing Dynamics 365 for your business, it’s important to have a reliable Dynamics 365 Partner to guide you through the process. They can provide you with expert advice on licensing, deployment options, and customization, ensuring that the solution meets your unique business needs.
Moreover, a partner can provide ongoing support and training to ensure that your team is equipped to use Dynamics 365 Business Central to its full potential.
And if you already have a Dynamics 365 partner, don’t hesitate to reach out to them with any questions or concerns you may have about recent announcements or updates for your Business Central ERP.
Plus, if you’re looking for a new partner, be sure to do your research and choose a partner that has the expertise and experience to support your business at every step of your journey to explore the unknown.
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