Stay connected with product news, best practices, ideas, and tips to explore alignment with strategic business objectives, meet a short term tactical need, or just get thinking.
Top 7 features of the Microsoft Dynamics 365 October release
September 15, 2020Microsoft’s upcoming October 2020 release for Dynamics 365 is coming with a variety of great features. Users of Marketing, Sales, Customer Service and Field Service have a lot to be excited about.
Let’s touch on the top seven features in the October release:
Make virtual events more manageable with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Marketing
September 8, 2020The novel coronavirus has upended many aspects of work, including events. With face-to-face opportunities decimated, or at least reconfigured, marketers are playing with new rules — and using tools and opportunities to reimagine the events landscape to their advantage.
Microsoft introduces new Forms Pro D365 integration
September 1, 2020For over a year, Microsoft has been transitioning Microsoft Forms to its new survey application, Microsoft Forms Pro, as a trial.
Field Service inspections for D365 – the wait is over
August 27, 2020Here’s one you’ve been waiting for: Inspections in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Service.
For years, this functionality has only been available as a third-party plugin, but Microsoft has been expanding their core services, and – coming October 2020 -- inspections will be available out of the box.
D365 user adoption tips and tricks
July 30, 2020When implementing a new system, the technology can be the easy part. What takes more time and effort is for users to understand and fully adopt a new tool. The goal is for the system to be deeply ingrained in your organization's business processes and utilized for optimal effectiveness.
Using LINQ to bulk update Dynamics 365
June 4, 2020A common task when working with Dynamics 365 Sales (D365) is the bulk update or insert of data, so I thought I’d put together a LINQ tutorial to help walk you through the process.
In a recent project of ours, a new Contact field (wip_resourcefilter) needed to be added and populated with values to allow a separate FetchXML process to easily filter the records.
What is a web portal? (And how do we get one?)
May 27, 2020A well-designed portal is the ultimate self-service tool. It provides on-demand access to your business, 24/7. No waiting on hold. No explaining what you need. Just access and answers.
The right self-service portal can make your business stand out from the competition. Customers may choose you first because of the ability to self-schedule appointments or get fast answers to their questions. The same goes for business partners who will appreciate how easy it is to do business with you.
Extra free time? Spend some time cleaning up your D365 environment
April 29, 2020If you’ve found yourself with extra free time lately, check out these six pro tips to speed up your Microsoft Dynamics 365 environment.
Top 5 features of the Dynamics 365 CRM April 2020 release
February 28, 2020By Madeline Watchmaker
Originally scheduled for April 1st, 2020, Microsoft will now begin deploying its first Dynamics 365 update of the year on May 1st, due to the COVID-19 situation. According to the new release schedule, North American customers will receive the updates automatically between Friday, May 22nd and Sunday, May 24, 2020.
Users have a lot to be excited about, so we’re highlighting the top 5 features that will impact you and make your day-to-day so much easier.
Before we dive in, it’s important to note that these features are only available in the Unified Interface and only apply to the online, cloud-based versions of Dynamics 365, not on-premises. Also, some of the new features apply to a variety of modules, such as sales, marketing or customer service, while others apply specifically to the sales module.
What you need to know about the Microsoft 2019 release wave 2
October 18, 2019The October 2019 release is one of Microsoft's biggest releases to date. With over 400 new capabilities, it's something you don't want to miss!
Microsoft’s Unified Interface is here to stay — and soon will be the only option
October 10, 2019If you’re using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Online, you have a year to convert to its Unified Interface.
Microsoft announced that its web client customers will have to convert to the Unified Interface by October 2020.
Here is how you can prepare.
New B2B research shows data, relationship drives sales
October 2, 2019Sales cold calls and boilerplate emails aren’t enough to hack it in today’s competitive landscape, a new report says.
B2B sales leaders say the foundation for success is combining relationship-building with the right data-driven metrics.
Tech hiring made easy with CRM
September 27, 2019Time is money in the world of hiring. The difference of a few days could mean the difference between your perfect candidates being available for hire or no longer on the market.
How to perform c# regex multiple replacements
September 24, 2019As I was testing the XML request for a web service, I would periodically get this response back: [400]: Error parsing xml.
After some troubleshooting, I discovered that the error was caused by a few of the Predefined XML Entities included in the actual data. The most common issue was the ampersand "&" being embedded in the address and account data.
Improving processing performance with Parallel.ForEach
September 20, 2019The .NET Framework Task Parallel Library (TPL) can significantly increase processing performance by using all available cores on the host computer more efficiently. With the typical execution model, a task (which is a unit of work) executes sequentially on a single CPU core.
LINQ filter: How to filter a list using another list with LINQ
September 16, 2019Usually, when filtering data from a database or a collection, you are comparing one or two values to a list of many. However, with a recent application, I found myself needing to filter a list of items using another list.
Join us October 15-18 for the 2019 UG Summit
August 15, 2019Let’s talk ROI. You and your organization understand the value and ROI of your financial and operational software. But how can you make that ROI better?
The next Microsoft Dynamics 365 upgrade is all about giving you the power of AI
July 26, 2019When Microsoft updates Dynamics 365 in October, customers can expect to be able to leverage AI and use mixed-reality to improve employee efficiency.
Microsoft Delivers Over 350 New Capabilities in Latest D365 Update
July 23, 2019Designed to make the product smarter and the job easier for end users, Microsoft’s latest update delivered a variety of exciting improvements to the software. There were more than 350 new capabilities and feature updates across the entire Dynamics 365 environment and Power Platform.
Harness the power of Dynamics 365 within Outlook
June 27, 2019User adoption of any software can be slow at best. Often as a CRM Admin, you struggle with users who want an easier, faster way to provide data and to connect to existing data.
Microsoft Delivers Over 350 New Capabilities in Latest D365 Update
June 20, 2019Designed to make the product smarter and the job easier for end users, Microsoft’s latest update delivered a variety of exciting improvements to the software. There were more than 350 new capabilities and feature updates across the entire Dynamics 365 environment and Power Platform.
What to Know About Microsoft's New Unified Interface
April 4, 2019There are some key visual differences between the new unified interface and the old legacy interface. The first being the site map is now on the left-hand side of the screen. In the old legacy, it was found at the top and required more clicks to access the information you wanted. This cleaner design makes navigation to records easier than ever. And with a new responsive screen adjustment, what you see on your desktop will appear in the exact same way on your mobile device.
How You Can Preview Microsoft Dynamics 365’s April Updates
March 21, 2019The April 2019 release for Microsoft Dynamics 365 is nearly upon us. On April 5, the next major update for Dynamics 365 Online will enter general availability, and, over the course of the month, all online customers will be automatically updated to the latest version.
The Microsoft Dynamics 365 April 2019 Release Is Coming: Here’s What to Expect
February 20, 2019Starting in April 2019, the Microsoft Dynamics 365 update will be applied to all online environments. This means all users will be on the latest version and a consistent update schedule. From now on, major updates will be released every April and October.
How to Use Insights in Microsoft Dynamics 365 to Improve Your Account Research
January 6, 2019If you have access to Microsoft Dynamics 365, chances are you also have access to a feature called Insights. This “insightful” tool can be a powerful asset to every sales person, but unfortunately it is underutilized by many CRM users. This blog will take you through a five-step account research process that will help you use Insights’ data to ultimately win new customers.
How Financial Institutions Can Use Dynamics 365 to Grow Their Cross-Sales and Customer Base
November 5, 2018By Kevin Scully
Keeping branches and business lines connected, managing data and gaining new customers are all familiar challenges for most businesses. But how powerful would it be for an organization to manage these challenges using a relationship management solution tailored to their industry?
Nonprofits: Maximize Your Relationships With Dynamics 365
October 29, 2018Nonprofits face unique challenges, and meeting them is incredibly tight with limited resources. Of course, you would rather focus on your mission than the organizational aspects that take up so much of your time. But in working with nonprofits — like humanitarian organization Team Rubicon — I have seen that software they thought was only used by for-profit businesses is perfect for the networking, event-planning and donation-tracking needs nonprofits have. One of the best applications for nonprofits is Microsoft Dynamics 365.
How to Drive Performance, Profits and Efficiency Using Project Service Automation
October 22, 2018By Andrew J. Potasek, Ryan C. Rademann
Whether you’re new to Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) or are wondering if adding the Project Service Automation module is worth it for your organization, you’ve come to the right place. Today, we’re diving into how Project Service Automation — D365’s project and resource management tool — can streamline your processes and increase your team’s efficiency and productivity.
Cleaning Your CRM Data
October 15, 2018What can you do to clean up bad data and prevent it from entering your system? Today, we’ll offer you and your team a few important tips that will allow your CRM system to flourish and become an even more valuable tool to your company.
Join Us in Arizona for the 2018 D365UG CRMUG Summit!
October 8, 2018The D365UG/CRMUG Summit is the can’t-miss conference for users of Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Dynamics CRM. The Summit is tailored to fit all levels of experience and a wide range of topics.
Give Your Dynamics 365 System a Check-Up
October 2, 2018Maximize performance, increase collaboration and streamline processes — that’s what Microsoft Dynamics 365 is made to do, right? It is, if you’re taking full advantage of it.
How Safe Is Your Dynamics 365/CRM Data? An Insider’s Look at Microsoft’s Security Platform
September 9, 2018By Kevin Scully
How secure is your data on the Dynamics 365/CRM platform? From individual user access, to data transfer, to data storage, get a glimpse at what Microsoft is doing to protect your organization.
Start Your Digital Transformation With “Business Central” Technology
August 31, 2018By Barbara Bell, Mark Christie
Attaining digital transformation and the resulting competitive advantage requires the right tools. Today, we’re going to discuss how you can use Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central to simplify processes, integrate applications, empower your employees and make more informed business decisions.
CRM for Contractors: Win and Keep More Customers With an Automated Sales Process
August 23, 2018In a five-part blog series, we're exploring how a CRM solution can change the way contractors operate, allowing them to deliver better experiences to customers and foster successful businesses. In part two, we'll be diving into the second CRM capability you can use to drive more business: sales automation.
Is Dynamics 365 for Project Service Automation Right for Your Business
August 12, 2018There are tools to help streamline processes and increase productivity. Whether or not you’re already using Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365), its Project Service Automation application is one of the most reputable out there. Its features allow businesses to plan and manage projects, optimize resources, forecast project profitability, deliver insights and increase employee productivity. From sales, planning and delivery to after-sale service, managing the complete customer life cycle using just one application helps increase efficiency and collaboration.
CRM for Contractors: How to Win More Business With Mobile Optimization
July 23, 2018Technology has evolved at a rapid pace and there are now valuable tools the construction industry can leverage. In fact, there are even technologies specifically designed for specialty subcontractors, which can help you win more business and improve project margins. In this five-part blog series, we’ll take a look at five ways a modern customer relationship management (CRM) solution can change the way contractors operate, allowing them to deliver better experiences to customers and foster successful businesses.
How XRM Tooling Can Connect to the Wrong CRM Instance
July 19, 2018By Mike Adler
Are you accidentally connecting to the wrong instance of CRM? While I was working on a custom application the other day, I found that using “friendly name” over “unique name” can trigger this. Learn how to correct it.
D365 Tips: How to Auto-Populate a Price List Based on the User’s Territory
June 27, 2018In this blog, we cover how to enable auto-selection of a price list on an opportunity based on the user’s territory, using the inbuilt rule of the Dynamics 365 platform.
How Dynamics 365 for Field Service Helps You Gain Loyal, Repeat Customers
June 13, 2018One of the biggest ways companies who perform field service can value their customers’ time is by becoming more efficient. Reducing follow-up visits by having the information ahead of time to make a faster diagnosis, plus the parts available to resolve the problem right then and there, go a long way toward developing loyal customers — ones who won’t jump ship for another business the next time something goes wrong. Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Field Service ties everyone together on one integrated platform to make it easier to predict field service calls, schedule field service resources, send invoices and even measure customer satisfaction.
How Microsoft Dynamics 365 Creates Customer Loyalty and Retains Customer Service Agents
April 2, 2018Creating customer loyalty is all about delivering an effortless experience — and delivering it on the customer’s terms. According to Harris Interactive, 86% of consumers are willing to pay more for a better customer experience, and 89% of customers who stop doing business with a company due to a poor customer experience will start doing business with a competitor . You can reduce poor customer experience by increasing employee resources, improving customer communication and performing reporting on customer service activities.
Is Your Organization’s Code Base Ready for the Dynamics 365 9.0 Upgrade?
March 14, 2018D365 Online customers can now schedule their update to D365 9.0. To help achieve a successful upgrade, we have outlined below the required and recommended changes by code type.
Top Free Tools for Microsoft Dynamic 365 Admins (Continued)
February 13, 2018This blog will detail 5 free tools that administrators can utilize to more effectively manage their Dynamics 365 system for their organization. Part 1 of this blog can be found here.
XrmToolbox – Plugin Trace viewer
February 5, 2018XrmToolbox - Plugin Trace Viewer resolves query and view limitations of Plugin Trace Logs within Dynamics 365.
Empowering D365 Administrators: Top Free Tools for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Admins
January 8, 2018By Mike Adler
Administering Microsoft Dynamics 365 can be challenging at times. This includes our recommendations for Top Free Tools for Dynamics 365 Administrators.
Come Join Us at the 2017 D365UG/CRMUG Summit!
September 12, 2017The D365UG/CRMUG Summit is the can’t-miss conference for users of Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Dynamics CRM. We look forward to seeing you there!
Dynamics 365 and Auto Capture
March 17, 2017With the release of Dynamics 365, Microsoft is introducing Auto Capture. This new functionality allows users to view untracked emails directly in CRM and are given the option to track emails in Dynamics 365.
Dynamics 365 and Relationship Assistant
January 6, 2017With the release of Dynamics 365, Microsoft is introducing Relationship Assistant. This new functionality helps you focus on what’s important. With new interactive cards notifying you of important events, interactions, to-dos for the day, and upcoming events, this new tool will drive productivity and increase your workforce efficiency.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Resource Scheduling/Project Service Automation
November 28, 2016Microsoft previously mentioned developing features that would assist in bridging the gap between the two solutions of Field Service and Project Service Automation within Dynamics CRM. They began using the shared data model to tie together native CRM entities with the new entities in the Field Service (FS) and Project Service Automation (PSA) solutions.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Field Service
November 8, 2016The next generation of the Field Service application through Dynamics 365 will support organizational growth goals by facilitating better demand generation via marketing automation, faster closing with salesforce automation, and a better customer experience following the sale with customer service, field service, and project service applications.
Dynamics 365 and Fall Updates Announcement
October 26, 2016Microsoft has announced this fall they will be launching Dynamics 365. Read to learn what Dynamics 365 is, and how it will increase value for current Microsoft customers.
Turbo Form Rendering Engine Issues
September 8, 2016Calling Custom Actions from JavaScript
August 10, 2016By Mike Adler
Custom Actions are a great way to extend Dynamics CRM. In this post, I will show you how to use the Ribbon and JavaScript to call a Custom Action.
Wipfli Proudly Accepts a Spot in the 2016 Inner Circle for Microsoft Dynamics®
July 18, 2016To further show that Wipfli is dedicated to organizations’ success with technology solutions, we have been recognized as a top partner of Microsoft and added to another year of Microsoft’s Inner Circle for Microsoft Dynamics®.
Microsoft Dynamics® CRM Online – Use Service Accounts Without Consuming a CRM License
July 2, 2016By Mike Adler
Don’t consume a valuable CRM license for running background jobs and integrations. Through Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, organizations can setup “service accounts” that work the same way as a CRM user.
Reduce Amount of Time and Number of Clicks with an Add Button for a Microsoft Dynamics® CRM 2016 Connection
April 7, 2016By Mike Adler
Taking too long to add Connections? In this post, I will show you how to streamline the process and reduce the time it takes by adding a button to the Connections grid.
Spring is almost here, and so is the next Microsoft Dynamics® CRM 2016 Online Update 1
March 11, 2016Included in this blog you’ll find a link to the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Spring 2016 Wave Release Preview Guide, along with a quick video on what to expect in the next update for Dynamics CRM 2016 Online Update 1 and Microsoft Social Engagement 2016 Update.
Field Service Management with FieldOne and Microsoft Dynamics® CRM Online
February 23, 2016This blog highlights features of FieldOne for Field Service Management inside existing Dynamics CRM 2015 & 2016 Online environments.
Product Detail Sub Grid Sequence Number Fails to Update On-Premise CRM 2013 SP1 UR3 (6.1.3.119)
January 18, 2016Here is a solution on how to fix a products sub grid on the Quote or Order form that is out of sync with a CRM custom report.
What you need to know about the new Microsoft Dynamics® CRM 2016
January 6, 2016Microsoft has done it again. Microsoft Dynamics® CRM 2016 was recently released this month and continuously delivers more features to its users and administrators.
