By combining the power of enterprise resource management (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) functionality, cloud-based Microsoft Dynamics 365 is helping businesses transform their operations. That’s a grandiose statement, but the technology impacts almost every business process to deliver myriad benefits that are truly transformational. Yet while many customers value the efficiency enabled by their new system, their business users appreciate the ability work more effectively: to work smarter, which drives business results in its own right.
Efficient or effective: why not both! Nuance aside, let’s take a look at 3 ways Microsoft Dynamics 365 makes a big difference in the daily life of business users:
1. Automates Their Traditionally Manual Processes
Without fail, every customer who embraces cloud-based ERP and CRM systems are more than happy to start housing their data securely—and connectedly—in one place. Data that’s kept in silos, in different departments and different systems, simply can’t live up to its potential. It’s challenging to combine for quick numbers-crunching and it’s certainly not available in “insight form” for decision-makers.
When the data is moved over to the cloud, it becomes truly accessible—and its power can (finally) be unleashed. But on a more granular level, software users no longer have to wrangle multiple spreadsheets, re-key data from one system to another, wait for formulas to process, and whatever other manual steps they’re taking to compile their data and make use of it. By taking control of your data, a system like Microsoft Dynamics 365 eliminates the need for the manual labor that’s slowing everybody down and keeping them from uncovering fresh insights and exploring new opportunities.
2. Works the Way Employees Want to Work
Spreadsheets aren’t “all bad.” They’re a large part of the way we did business yesterday, and even still today. The issue is really with disconnected spreadsheets—static files that don’t share the same data sources and require users to copy/paste and plug information in manually. As we know all too well, this leaves our data vulnerable to costly human error that requires even more manual troubleshooting and processing…and deepens employees’ desire for automation. They may not desire an entirely new way of interacting with their data, though.
As a Microsoft product, Dynamics 365 makes it easy for developers to integrate Excel and Word capabilities so users can keep working with familiar tools and interfaces. In this sense, the software is very flexible and customizable, making for an easy transition for users. Yet instead of having to “start from scratch” for every new Excel-based report or Word-based invoice, users can choose from a ready-made template that automatically incorporates up-to-date data and customer information from underlying unified ERP/CRM database.
3. Provides Customized Dashboard-Based Reporting
When it comes to fast access to in-demand insights, a real-time web-based dashboard delivers a whole lot more than reports that have to be requested from IT, finance, or sales. In the past, waiting a few hours—or even a few days—to see “current” operational or sales metrics was satisfactory.
But with today’s cloud-based tools, users at every level of the company can simply log into their software to view custom dashboards that display the most up-to-date information, formatted according to what they want to see and how they want to see it. This results in more timely, accurate, and comprehensive (remember the connected data!) reporting as well as faster, more informed decisions. All things considered, better reporting tends to result in better performance results, too.
To learn more, get insights from a real-world Dynamics 365 case study. Find out how we helped a customer’s management and sales teams work smarter through a customized implementation of Microsoft Dynamics 365. Then, click here to schedule your free consultation.
Additional Dynamics 365 Resources
The 5 Reasons Why Project-Based Organizations Choose Microsoft Dynamics
Enabling a Mobile Sales Force with Microsoft CRM, Scribe Online and Resco
