With 2.1 million users actively engaging with Copilot every month, organizations worldwide are benefiting from AI-driven experiences and streamlined processes. Microsoft Copilot Studio is a game-changer, enabling both technical and non-technical users to create generative AI-powered agents, fostering the transition to becoming truly AI-first organizations.

The latest update to Microsoft Copilot introduces autonomous agents, a significant leap in AI capabilities. These agents operate independently, reducing the need for constant prompts and driving greater efficiency.

In this blog, we will explore what autonomous agents are, how they differ from Copilot’s traditional functionality, and the transformative potential they hold for your organization.

What are Autonomous Agents in Microsoft Copilot Studio?

Autonomous agents in Microsoft Copilot Studio are essentially advanced AI-driven helpers designed to operate with minimal human intervention. You may call them the next-generation, AI-powered tools designed to execute tasks with minimal human oversight. These agents are the cornerstone of an AI-first business environment, enabling automation and efficiency across various functions.

If you’re wondering how Microsoft Copilot differs from autonomous agents, think of Copilot as your intelligent assistant, designed to streamline workflows and boost productivity by offering AI-driven insights and support. Copilot Studio takes this concept further by allowing users to create, manage, and customize autonomous agents tailored to specific organizational needs. Autonomous agents, on the other hand, function like modern AI-driven apps, capable of handling tasks independently—from simple prompt-response interactions to complex, fully autonomous operations.

Get familiar: What’s Copiloit studio and how is it empowering businesses?

How do Autonomous Agents work?

Agents automate and orchestrate business processes, assisting individuals, teams, or departments. Whether accelerating lead generation, processing sales orders, or optimizing supply chains, these agents work seamlessly through Copilot, reducing manual effort and driving operational excellence.

Designed to act autonomously, agents act autonomously by responding to signals within your business ecosystem and initiating tasks without requiring manual intervention. They can be configured to react to specific events or triggers originating from various tools, systems, or databases. Additionally, agents can be scheduled to execute tasks at regular intervals, such as hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly, ensuring consistent and timely operations.

Trust, reliability, and accuracy are fundamental to enabling agent autonomy within organizations. The true potential of these agents lies in their capacity to observe and track activities in real-world scenarios, driving better business outcomes by automating processes and making data-driven decisions with minimal human oversight.

Copilot Studio agents are powered by the latest AI models, including OpenAI’s O1 series. These advanced models are specifically designed for complex reasoning tasks, significantly enhancing the agents’ ability to tackle intricate problems and deliver more sophisticated solutions.

Autonomous Agents for Microsoft Dynamics 365: Unlocking AI-driven business capabilities

Autonomous agents are now a part of Microsoft Dynamics 365 too empowering organizations with AI-first business processes, enhancing sales, service, finance, and supply chain teams. By leveraging autonomous agents, businesses can scale operations, streamline workflows, and significantly improve customer experiences across different functions.

Let’s see how they are transforming these functions:

Sales: Accelerating lead generation and deal closure

Autonomous agents help sales teams focus on high-value customer relationships. For example, the Sales Qualification Agent in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales helps prioritize inbound leads, automating the process of researching and drafting personalized sales emails to initiate conversations. This automation allows sellers to concentrate on closing deals faster and more efficiently.

Operations: Optimizing processes for growth

In dynamic business environments, efficient operations are crucial. Autonomous agents assist in key areas like finance, procurement, and supply chain management, reducing manual work and enabling faster decision-making. For instance, the Supplier Communications Agent in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management autonomously manages communications with suppliers, confirming order deliveries and addressing potential delays, thus optimizing procurement workflows.

Additional agents, such as the Financial Reconciliation Agent and Account Reconciliation Agent, simplify time-consuming tasks like data cleansing and matching transactions, speeding up the financial close process and enhancing cash flow visibility. The Time and Expense Agent ensures timely invoicing and project budget tracking, preventing revenue leakage.

Service: Revolutionizing customer experience

Autonomous agents also transform customer service operations. Contact centers can now automate routine tasks like managing knowledge bases and analyzing customer interactions to derive insights for continuous service improvement. The Customer Intent Agent, for example, learns from past conversations to enhance self-service capabilities, while the Customer Knowledge Management Agent keeps knowledge articles up-to-date, ensuring timely and relevant information is available to agents and customers alike.

Other service agents, like the Case Management Agent for Microsoft Dynamics Customer Service and the Scheduling Operations Agent for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Service, streamline case handling and technician scheduling, enabling more efficient service delivery and improving customer satisfaction.

Become an AI-first company with Confiz

Autonomous agents are key to reshaping operations across all business functions, driving cost savings, improving issue resolution, and enhancing service delivery. With the ability to adapt and learn, these agents create a seamless, AI-powered experience for both employees and customers. By integrating these capabilities into Microsoft Dynamics 365, businesses can embrace AI-first processes and accelerate their digital transformation journey.

At Confiz, we specialize in helping organizations transition to an AI-first approach. Our expertise in implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 and integrating AI technologies ensures that your business can fully leverage these advancements. We are committed to helping you harness the power of AI to streamline operations, boost productivity, and drive success.

To learn more about leveraging AI in Dynamics 365, contact us at marketing@confiz.com.

For managed service providers, delivering proactive support is no longer enough. Building and growing a thriving business with satisfied customers demands a comprehensive strategy. Operational excellence becomes the cornerstone, achievable only through a structured, repeatable framework. This is where an Application Managed Services framework, designed around proven standards and strategies, becomes invaluable.

At Confiz, we specialize in providing managed services across key tech domains, including Microsoft Business Applications like Dynamics 365, Data and AI, and Cloud adoption and management. Our AMS framework is built on six core pillars: People, SOPs, Tools, KPIs, Insights, and Strategic Preemption. Together, these pillars create a robust ecosystem that ensures consistency, fosters innovation, and delivers measurable results.

In this blog, we will explore each of these pillars, providing actionable insights to help you build a best-in-class AMS framework. Whether you are a growing MSP or looking to refine your processes, these strategies will equip you to meet your customers’ needs and achieve sustainable success.

Strategic insights: Rethinking the traditional approach to managed services

6 pillars of an effective Application Managed Services Framework for service excellence

To establish a managed services framework that drives service excellence, it’s essential to implement a well-defined process tailored to your MSP business. This approach not only enhances customer satisfaction but also improves profitability. Without an effective framework, achieving scalable and consistent results becomes a challenge.

Drawing from our extensive industry experience, we have identified six core pillars that form the foundation of a service excellence ecosystem. These pillars enable consistent and continuously improving service quality for customers. Below is a visual representation of the AMS framework, illustrating the ecosystem that delivers these outcomes.

Let’s explore each of these pillars in detail to understand their role in delivering exceptional services:

1. People: The heart of service excellence

At the core of any successful AMS framework are the people delivering the service. Their skills, motivation, and engagement determine the quality of support your organization provides. However, retaining talent in a business like AMS can be challenging without a well-thought-out strategy.

Confiz’s People pillar focuses on fostering a high-performing, satisfied team by:

• Skill development: Conducting continuous skills gap assessments and offering tailored training programs to address weaknesses.

• Gamification: Making performance management engaging through leaderboards and rewards for top performers.

• Alignment with business goals: Ensuring personal KPIs are tied to the customer’s objectives, creating a sense of purpose.

• Reward & recognition: Celebrating achievements through public recognition and tangible incentives.

• Career growth opportunities: Providing cross-training, upskilling, and pathways to progress from L1 to L3 roles, encouraging team members to expand their expertise.

• Work satisfaction: Automating repetitive tasks to ensure intellectual stimulation and reduced burnout.

By implementing these strategies, we have achieved an impressive 85% retention rate and an eNPS score of 45, showcasing high levels of team engagement and satisfaction.

Read more: Debunk common myths about application managed services

2. SOPs: Standardizing operational excellence

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) ensure consistency, efficiency, and high-quality service delivery across all team members and shifts. They provide a reliable framework for daily operations, minimizing variability and enabling new hires to quickly adapt.

Key SOPs in the Confiz AMS framework include:

• Onboarding and offboarding: Streamlined processes to integrate or transition team members seamlessly.

• Duty rosters: Ensuring proper coverage with clear shift scheduling.

• Ticket lifecycle management: Defining every stage of a ticket’s journey, from creation to resolution.

• Escalation protocols: Clear steps for managing exceptions and escalating critical issues.

• Performance audits & feedback: Regular evaluations to identify areas of improvement and reward high performance.

• Customer reporting: Multi-level, multi-cadence reports to keep stakeholders informed about performance and system health.

By leveraging proven SOPs, we eliminate service inconsistencies and ensure operational excellence, regardless of team size or complexity.

2. Tools: Enabling productivity and collaboration

The right tools are essential for efficient AMS operations. From managing service requests to facilitating collaboration, tools act as enablers that simplify workflows and enhance productivity.

Confiz equips teams with industry-leading tools, including:

• Ticket management: Tools like ServiceNow, Jira, and Azure DevOps streamline issue tracking and resolution.

• Knowledge management: Platforms like Confluence, SharePoint, and ServiceNow Knowledge Base ensure quick access to critical information.

• Collaboration: Communication platforms like Microsoft Teams and Slack foster seamless team collaboration.

In addition to tool recommendations, we also use pre-configured templates, tool-specific SOPs, and other IT support best practices to help teams use these tools effectively.

4: KPIs: Driving accountability and performance

Key performance metrics are the benchmarks for measuring success in Application Management Services. Confiz’s framework focuses on creating balanced KPIs that address short-term results while safeguarding long-term ecosystem health.

KPIs are generally categorized into three levels:

• Individual KPIs: Assess the effectiveness of individual contributors (e.g., SLA compliance, ticket resolution rates).

• Team KPIs: Encourage collaboration and shared responsibility within shifts and teams.

• Business-aligned KPIs: Align with customer objectives, such as reducing sales order turnaround times or increasing revenue.

These metrics not only drive accountability but also create a culture of continuous improvement.

5: Insights: Data-driven decision making

Actionable insights are critical for optimizing AMS operations. Confiz’s AMS framework leverages real-time dashboards and predictive analytics to deliver insights tailored to different stakeholders.

Key capabilities include:

• Performance dashboards: Visualizing real-time team productivity and system health.

• Predictive analytics: Identifying potential issues before they escalate.

• Introspection analytics: Highlighting gaps in team or system performance for continuous improvement.

These insights empower you to make informed decisions for enhancing service delivery and reducing costs.

6: Strategic Preemption: Proactively preventing issues

The ultimate goal of Application managed services is to minimize disruptions by addressing potential issues before they arise. Strategic preemption focuses on reducing ticket volumes over time, ensuring a smooth and efficient support ecosystem.

Key strategies include:

• Root cause analysis: Identifying and resolving recurring issues to prevent future occurrences.

• Automation: Streamlining repetitive tasks to reduce manual intervention.

• Continuous improvement: Regularly updating processes based on insights and feedback.

This proactive approach not only improves system stability but also enhances user satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Partner with Confiz for Managed Services excellence

Achieving service excellence in managed services demands a holistic framework that brings together people, processes, tools, and proactive strategies. The best managed service providers rely on such proven frameworks to consistently deliver exceptional results.

At Confiz, our managed services framework is built on six foundational pillars designed to ensure consistent performance, boost operational efficiency, and align seamlessly with your business objectives.

Ready to enhance your managed services? Contact us at marketing@confiz.com to discover how our tailored AMS solutions can help drive your organization toward sustained success and service excellence.

And this is just the beginning. As generative AI becomes a core component of workplace operations, the opportunity extends beyond individual productivity. Copilot is setting a new standard by empowering employees to excel in writing, designing, coding, analyzing data, and more. It doesn’t just streamline tasks – it amplifies expertise, elevating work quality from good to exceptional.

According to Microsoft’s Work Trend Index Special Report, here are notable findings from early Copilot users:

There’s no doubt that Microsoft Copilot and generative AI are transforming the way we work, opening new possibilities across industries. Copilot has been seamlessly integrated into various Microsoft products, including Dynamics 365 applications, bringing AI-driven efficiency and innovation to businesses.

However, navigating the diverse AI capabilities across Microsoft products can be overwhelming. This guide simplifies the key features of Gen AI and Copilot in Dynamics 365, providing you with a clear starting point to unlock the potential of AI tools for business success.

Learn more: Discover Microsoft Dynamics 365 Copilot and its role in transforming business operations with AI insights.

Getting familiar with AI: Copilot in Dynamics 356

Microsoft Copilot enhances the Dynamics 365 ecosystem by delivering secure, privacy-compliant AI capabilities. It uses Azure OpenAI Service, built on Microsoft’s Responsible AI standards, ensuring that generative AI tools align with enterprise-level security and compliance expectations.

Here is a quick introduction on how Copilot works in Dynamics 365 and Power Platform:

How Copilot in Dynamics 365 is revolutionizing business efficiency and operations?

Copilot for Dynamics 365 is an AI-powered assistant designed to optimize productivity and streamline business processes across key departments like sales, customer support, supply chain management, finance, and marketing. With its chat-based interface, it provides instant insights such as summaries of sales opportunities, lead updates, meeting preparation, and account news.

Integrated with Outlook and Teams, Copilot enhances data management and utilizes generative AI to automate tasks such as record summarization and email creation, allowing teams to concentrate on high-value activities.

Discover more:

• Unlock the power of Copilot in Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement

• Enhance efficiency with Copilot in Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations

How do Dynamics 365 Applications use AI?

Dynamics 365 applications leverage the power of AI through Microsoft Azure services. Azure provides a secure and reliable foundation, adhering to Microsoft’s Responsible AI standards. This ensures enterprise-level security, privacy, and compliance, delivering AI solutions customers can trust.

How does Microsoft Azure support Generative AI?

Generative AI is a form of artificial intelligence that creates new content or data based on user input or prompts. Examples include generating text, creating images, composing music, or synthesizing speech.

Microsoft offers a variety of AI models and services through Azure, including Azure Cognitive Services, Azure Machine Learning, and the Azure OpenAI Service. The Azure OpenAI Service provides access to advanced models like GPT-4 and DALL-E, enabling businesses to perform tasks such as text generation, image creation, and conversational AI.

Dynamics 365 applications integrate Azure OpenAI Service to deliver generative AI capabilities that enhance productivity and streamline operations. These tools not only empower business users but also offer opportunities for Microsoft partners to integrate these capabilities into their own solutions.

How Generative AI is transforming businesses?

Generative AI is revolutionizing industries with its ability to create content, automate tasks, and enhance customer interactions. Here are some key benefits of generative AI in various aspects of businesses:

• Streamlined content creation and design: Generative AI enables businesses to quickly generate high-quality text, visuals, and media, saving time and resources for marketing and creative teams.

• Accelerated process automation: With AI-driven automation, repetitive tasks are handled seamlessly, improving efficiency and allowing teams to focus on strategic initiatives.

• Tailored marketing campaigns: Generative AI analyzes customer data to craft personalized marketing messages, increasing engagement and boosting conversion rates.

• Smart chatbots and virtual assistants: AI-powered bots deliver 24/7 customer support, answering queries and resolving issues in real time, enhancing customer satisfaction.

• Innovative product and service development: By analyzing market trends and generating ideas, generative AI helps companies create innovative solutions tailored to customer needs.

• Enhanced predictive analytics and forecasting: AI models process large datasets to provide accurate business forecasts, helping organizations make informed decisions and reduce risks.

Read more: Explore how generative AI is transforming the retail industry?

How to get access to AI in Dynamics 365?

To begin using AI in Dynamics 365, you need an Azure subscription and an Azure OpenAI Service account. Here’s a simple guide to help you take the first step:

• Get an Azure Subscription: Sign up for Azure and request access to Azure OpenAI Service. This can be done via the Azure portal.

• Choose models: Select from pre-trained AI models like GPT-4 or DALL-E based on your needs.

• Deploy and test: Set up the service in the Azure portal and experiment with different configurations. While you have the option to customize, train, and deploy models using your own data and parameters, this step is often unnecessary since Azure OpenAI models are pre-trained on extensive datasets, offering robust capabilities right out of the box.

Once completed, you can begin developing your Copilot experience to enhance workflows and productivity.

Tips and guidelines for giving effective prompts to Generative AI

A prompt serves as the input you provide to a model to generate an output, which can include text, images, or a combination of both. Crafting an effective prompt is key to obtaining high-quality, relevant results. Below are some pitfalls to avoid and best practices to follow when creating prompts:

• Be clear and specific: Clearly state what you want the model to do and the type of output you expect.

• Provide context: Include sufficient details about the task and domain to help the model understand your requirements.

• Use examples and keywords: Guide the model by incorporating examples, relevant keywords, and formatting to shape the output.

• Avoid ambiguity: Steer clear of vague or misleading prompts that may confuse the model or result in inaccurate outputs.

• Test and refine: Experiment with different prompts across scenarios to assess the model’s performance and reliability.

• Review outputs: Always verify the generated outputs for accuracy, quality, and ethical considerations before integrating them into workflows.

Summing up

AI in Dynamics 365 offers immense potential for businesses across industries. With features like Microsoft Copilot and generative AI models, you can optimize operations, improve customer engagement, and stay ahead in a competitive market. Ready to start your AI journey? Dive into Dynamics 365 with confidence and take your business to the next level!

To leverage the benefits of Copilot in Dynamics 365, reach out to us at marketing@confiz.com.

According to Forrester’s Total Economic Impact (TEI) study conducted in April 2024, Dynamics 365 ERP can yield a 106% ROI and generate a Net Present Value (NPV) of $8.09 million within the first three years of deployment. Now, with the addition of AI capabilities through Copilot, this business intelligence platform is set to elevate business operations even further.

Whether your goal is to deploy, optimize, or customize Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (ERP) or Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement (CRM), partnering with a Microsoft Dynamics 365 consultant or implementation partner can be instrumental in achieving a successful digital transformation.

Finding the right Dynamics 365 partner can feel overwhelming, given the wide range of options available. In this blog, we will introduce you to the top Dynamics 365 partners in the USA and explore why choosing the right partner can make a significant difference in your business transformation journey.

How can a Dynamics 365 Partner help your business?

There is an extensive ecosystem of top Microsoft Dynamics 365 partners, each equipped to provide expert guidance and comprehensive support for every stage of your journey. From consulting and assessment to implementation and optimization, the right partner can ensure you make the most of your Dynamics 365 investment.

Here are three key ways a trusted Dynamics 365 implementation partner can benefit your business:

1. Choose the right solutions: A trusted partner will help you identify which Dynamics 365 applications best align with your current and evolving business needs, ensuring you invest in solutions that provide maximum value and scalability for your operations.
2. Customize and extend existing solutions: The right partner doesn’t just implement off-the-shelf solutions – they help you transform your business processes by tailoring Dynamics 365 to your unique requirements. Whether it’s integrating partner applications for advanced industry-specific features or customizing workflows to fit your operations, a skilled partner ensures your ERP or CRM systems are seamlessly aligned with your business goals.
3. Continuous support and guidance: Working with a Dynamics 365 partner goes beyond basic consulting and implementation. You gain access to ongoing support, expert insights, and proactive recommendations for optimization. This helps you stay at the forefront of industry trends and ensures your system continues to deliver value as your business evolves.

Best Microsoft Dynamics 365 partners in USA: Our top picks

As mentioned earlier, partnering with the right Microsoft Dynamics 365 implementation partner who can provide end-to-end support, from consultation to implementation and ongoing assistance, can make a significant difference in achieving success.

To help you find the best fit, we’ve curated a list of the top 5 Microsoft Dynamics 365 partners in the USA. These consultants were selected based on their expertise, customer satisfaction, and proven project success. Explore their offerings and choose the partner that aligns best with your business needs and goals.

1: Confiz

Confiz, headquartered in the USA, is a leading Microsoft Dynamics 365 implementation partner renowned for its deep expertise in streamlining business operations and accelerating digital transformation. With 18 years of experience and over 250 specialized Dynamics 365 consultants, Confiz is uniquely positioned to help businesses modernize their operations, automate critical processes, and gain actionable insights to drive growth and profitability. Serving a diverse range of industries, Confiz’s clientele includes Fortune 100 companies that trust the firm to deliver impactful, future-ready solutions.

Leveraging the full Microsoft tech stack – including Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations, Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement, Microsoft Power Platform, and AI-powered tools like Microsoft Copilot – Confiz empowers organizations to enhance customer engagement, optimize business processes, and achieve transformative results.

The company also excels in digital transformation consulting and custom application development tailored to meet specific business needs. In addition, Confiz has created a comprehensive suite of industry-specific IPs and accelerators designed to address unique challenges and drive business modernization, enabling businesses to maximize the value of their Microsoft Dynamics 365 investments.

Recognized for its client-focused approach, industry knowledge, and ability to deliver future-ready Dynamics 365 solutions, Confiz has a global presence with offices in the USA, UAE, KSA, Estonia, and Pakistan.

Core services offered by Confiz

• Dynamics 365 Solutions: Providing end-to-end services for Microsoft Dynamics 365, including consultation, implementation, upgrades, optimization, integrations, customizations, and ongoing support.

• Microsoft Power Platform Services: Empowering businesses to automate processes, build custom apps, and create insightful dashboards using tools like Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power Virtual Agents.

• Application Managed Services: Ensuring optimal system performance with ongoing support.

• Data and AI: Driving actionable insights through advanced analytics and AI.

• Cloud Services: Migrating and managing cloud-based solutions for seamless operations.

• Software Development: Custom application development to meet specific business requirements.

• Industry-Specific Solutions: Specialized IPs and accelerators designed to optimize operations in industries such as retail, trading and distribution, supply chain, automotive, e-commerce, and more.

Confiz stands as a trusted partner for businesses seeking to harness the full potential of Microsoft Dynamics 365 and achieve transformative results.

2: Dynamics Square

Dynamics Square brings over 12 years of experience in helping businesses of all sizes implement Microsoft ERP and CRM solutions. As a trusted Microsoft Dynamics 365 Partner in the USA for ERP and CRM solutions, Dynamics Square specializes in deploying Microsoft Dynamics 365, Business Central, Microsoft Power BI, and other Microsoft products to support seamless operations. With a team of 150+ skilled Microsoft consultants, Dynamics Square offers comprehensive services, including implementation, support, and upgrades, backed by an impressive track record of end-to-end solution delivery.

With their services spread in USA, UK and Canada, Dynamics Square’s team excels in creating customized Dynamics-based solutions that enhance customer management across various domains such as sales, marketing, customer service, omnichannel experiences, and self-service. Their deep understanding of client needs and commitment to quality enables them to deliver effective and scalable digital solutions.

Their services range from:

• ERP consulting, implementation, and support

• Digital transformation

• Digital process automation

• Application development

• On-premises-to-cloud application migration

• Data analytics

• Software testing and quality assurance (QA)

3: Hitachi Solutions

Hitachi Solutions, recently recognized as the 2024 Microsoft Partner of the Year, is a leader in Dynamics 365 consulting with over 20 years of experience across ERP, CRM, and various industry-focused solutions. Their end-to-end services extend from initial implementation through to long-term support and optimization, with capabilities for integrating, customizing, and training on Dynamics 365 applications. Known for their industry-specific IP, Hitachi Solutions delivers tailored solutions that meet unique business needs, enhancing the core functionalities of Dynamics 365 and driving meaningful results for clients.

Hitachi Solutions’ services include:

• Dynamics 365 ERP & CRM Services

• Advisory services

• Managed Services

• Application & system modernization

• Data & AI services

• Cloud services

• Security and governance

4: Saglobal

sa.global is an AI-powered Microsoft Dynamics 365 consultant and partner that specializes in Dynamics 365 solutions for project-driven businesses. With over 30 years of experience and three global delivery centers, they help clients transform and modernize their operations by implementing industry-specific cloud solutions. Their approach is rooted in understanding the unique challenges of project-based companies and utilizing AI to streamline processes, increase productivity, and drive innovation.

Services offered by sa.global include:

• Consulting services

• Dynamics 365 services

• Implementation services

• Cloud migration and management services

• AI and Data Services

sa.global also offers industry-specific IP solutions that extend Dynamics 365’s capabilities, making it a preferred partner for project-based companies looking for specialized and scalable applications.

5: Encore Business Solutions

Encore Business Solutions is a distinguished Microsoft partner specializing in Dynamics 365 ERP, CRM, and cloud technologies. With over 30 years of experience, Encore has built a strong reputation in Canada and the U.S., helping organizations streamline operations through tailored Microsoft solutions. Their services include implementation, integration, support, and advisory, covering a range of Microsoft products like Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and Azure.

Encore Business Solutions’ services include:

• Microsoft Dynamics ERP & CRM solutions – Comprehensive ERP solutions for core business processes and CRM for managing relationships.

• Implementation & integration – Expert deployment and integration for seamless operations.

• Custom Development – Tailored applications to meet specific organizational needs.

• Training & support – Ongoing support and training to maximize solution use.

• Business intelligence & data analytics – Leveraging Power BI and other analytics tools for insights.

• Cloud services – Office 365 and Azure for secure, scalable cloud environments.

• Managed services – Full support for software lifecycle needs, ensuring continuity and performance over time.

Why choosing the right Dynamics 365 Partner matters?

Choosing the right partner for Dynamics 365 significantly affects your organization’s ability to achieve a successful digital transformation, enhance productivity, and maximize return on investment. Here’s why selecting the right partner makes a difference:

• Industry-specific expertise: A strong Dynamics 365 partner brings tailored knowledge and solutions, addressing challenges unique to your sector.

• Customized solutions: The right partner ensures that configurations align with your business processes, enabling seamless operations.

• Ongoing support & maintenance: Quality partners provide continuous support, ensuring systems are optimized and responsive to new needs.

• Proven implementation strategies: Experienced partners reduce risks with a structured approach, minimizing disruptions.

• Scalability: Reliable partners offer solutions that grow with your business, ensuring long-term value.

• Training & change management: They provide training resources, helping teams adapt and fully utilize new systems.

• Enhanced ROI: Expert partners focus on solutions that directly contribute to better resource allocation and operational efficiency, maximizing your return.

Learn more: Check out our complete guide to selecting the right Dynamics 365 implementation partner.

Summing up

In a landscape where selecting the right Dynamics 365 partner is crucial for business success, these top five U.S.-based partners for 2025 stand out for their proven expertise, industry focus, and commitment to customer satisfaction. Each offers unique strengths, helping organizations transform their operations and gain a competitive edge.

If you’re exploring your options, consider Confiz, a trusted Microsoft Dynamics 365 partner in the USA, known for delivering customized solutions aligned with your unique business objectives. With a proven record in consulting and rapid Dynamics 365 F&O and CRM implementations, Confiz is dedicated to helping companies scale efficiently and accelerate their digital transformation journey. Experience our expertise first hand by scheduling a personalized demo or contact us at  marketing@confiz.com for more information.

“The total size of the records in your joined Select statement is 224230 bytes, but Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations is by default performance-tuned not to exceed 196608 bytes.”

If you have encountered the record size limit error in Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations and are unsure how to proceed, this guide will walk you through understanding the issue and provide step-by-step solutions to resolve the joined record size limitation.

What does the joined record size limitation error mean?

This error message indicates that the system’s joined record size limit has been exceeded. In simple terms, the system restricts the maximum amount of data that can be joined and retrieved in one query. This limitation is designed as a performance safeguard, as handling large data sets can impact overall performance. However, there are scenarios where this default buffer limit can pose a barrier to accessing the necessary data.

Understanding the root cause of this form error?

The primary cause of this error lies in the global buffer size setting for forms within Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations. This buffer acts as a memory allocation that temporarily holds data when joining records. By default, the buffer space is capped at 196608 bytes (about 196.08 KB), which is generally sufficient for most standard operations. However, if your data volume exceeds this limit, the system will prevent form loading to avoid performance degradation.

In this case, the required buffer size for the selected data was 224230 bytes, exceeding the system’s default configuration. Therefore, an adjustment is necessary to increase the buffer size to match the needs of your data retrieval, allowing forms to load without issue.

Let’s explain this through screenshots:

The defined buffer size for default is 196608 bytes and its equal to 196.08 Kilobyte.

The required buffer size for selected data is 224230 bytes.

The fix: Adjusting the buffer size for optimal performance

To overcome this limitation, you can increase the buffer size within the system configuration. However, this change should initially be tested in a development environment to ensure it resolves the issue without causing other side effects. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Access the development environment

Start by implementing the fix in your Dev VM (development virtual machine) environment. Testing changes here allows you to confirm functionality and assess any impact on system performance.

Step 2: Run the buffer size adjustment script

The script below modifies the SYSGLOBALCONFIGURATION table, setting the buffer to a higher value. The script adjusts the VOLATILE_SQLTRANSFERBUFFERKBYTES setting, which controls the transfer buffer for SQL operations.

UPDATE SYSGLOBALCONFIGURATION
SET VALUE = 220
WHERE NAME = ‘VOLATILE_SQLTRANSFERBUFFERKBYTES’;

In this example, the buffer size is set to 220 KB, which should accommodate the record size required (224230 bytes). You can adjust this value further based on your specific data needs.

Step 3: Test and verify

After executing the script, attempt to load the problematic form to verify if the increased buffer resolves the issue. If the form loads correctly without errors, you can proceed to apply this solution to higher environments like UAT (User Acceptance Testing) and, eventually, production.

Moving to UAT and production

Once validated in Dev, the next step involves implementing the change in the UAT environment. You can access the UAT database through the Microsoft Dynamics Lifecycle Services (LCS) portal, which provides tools and utilities to manage your application environment.

If this adjustment is needed in the production environment, you can utilize the “Run custom X++ scripts with zero downtime” feature. This approach allows changes to be made without affecting active users or causing downtime. Be sure to calculate the buffer size accurately to avoid potential memory overloads, which could negatively impact performance.

Key considerations for performance tuning

When adjusting the buffer size, consider the following for better performance tuning:

• Impact on system performance: Increasing the buffer size can allow larger data sets to load, but excessive values can lead to memory strain. Adjust only as necessary to avoid unintended impacts on system performance.
• Testing in stages: Always start by testing in Dev, then move to UAT, and finally to production. Each stage provides an additional safeguard to catch potential issues before they reach the live environment.
• Continuous monitoring: After applying changes in production, monitor system performance for a period to ensure no new issues arise.

Summing up

With this solution, you can address this load issue with forms in Dynamics 365 effectively, restoring access to necessary data without compromising system stability. Be mindful of performance tuning principles, and always test thoroughly to ensure optimal results.

If you are facing this issue on production, you can execute this script by using the Run custom X++ scripts with zero downtime feature. In case you get stuck, feel free to reach out to us for support at marketing@confiz.com.

Note: Be careful when you are calculating the buffer size.

According to the latest annual McKinsey Global Survey on AI, one-third of respondents report that their organizations are already using generative AI regularly in at least one business function – representing 60 percent of organizations that have adopted AI. Moreover, 40 percent of these organizations plan to increase their overall AI investment due to generative AI, and 28 percent say that it is now a key topic on their board’s agenda. The application of Gen AI has been common across marketing and sales, product and service development, and service operations, such as customer support and back-office functions, signaling that companies are focusing on areas where they see the most value.

Microsoft, a leader in this technological shift, has integrated generative AI across its suite of business applications, including Microsoft Dynamics 365, Viva Sales, and the Power Platform. Through Copilot, Microsoft empowers users to enhance content creation, brainstorm ideas, and organize information directly within their workflows.

If your organization is considering Copilot in Dynamics 365 or Copilot in Power Platform, you may have questions around functionality, data security, and practical applications, this blog answers common questions to help guide your exploration.

Microsoft Copilot vs ChatGPT: Understanding the differences

While ChatGPT is a large language model (LLM) developed by OpenAI, designed for broad, general-purpose interactions, Microsoft Copilot is more tailored to enterprise needs. Built for business processes, Copilot is optimized to use your specific business data, security protocols, and contextual relevance to suggest actionable insights and responses, Integrated within Microsoft’s suite of business applications like Dynamics 365, Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, etc.), and Microsoft Power Platform, Copilot is designed to enhance productivity and automate tasks within these tools. Its primary role is to assist users in generating content, analyzing data, automating workflows, and providing real-time insights based on the context of the application in use.

Here’s what makes Microsoft Copilot unique:

• Contextual responses: Copilot generates responses based on your business data, such as emails, documents, or CRM records, making its suggestions task-relevant and more actionable.

• Data security: Your business data remains secure within your organization’s tenancy, ensuring that LLM usage is limited to contextual relevance without being used for model training.

• Enterprise-grade security: Hosted on Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, Microsoft Copilot adheres to high standards of security, compliance, and privacy.

Explore more: Meet Dynamics 365 Copilot – transforming business operations

Copilot in Dynamics 365 and Power Platform: How does it work?

Copilot in Power Platform and Dynamics 365 uses foundation models with proprietary Microsoft technologies to transform your business data into task-specific insights:

• Search integration: Bing and Microsoft Azure Cognitive Search enables Copilot to access relevant information from organizational data (e.g., manuals, documents). Applications like Microsoft Power Virtual Agent (now rebranded to Microsoft Copilot Studio) and Dynamics 365 Customer Service use this retrieval-augmented generation approach as a step before calling a large language model (LLM).

• Business data: Copilot is seamlessly integrated with Dynamics 365, Viva Sales, Power Platform, and Microsoft Dataverse to help you access and retrieve your stored business information.

• Microsoft Graph API: The Microsoft Graph API enriches prompts by incorporating contextual information from customer signals, including data from emails, chats, documents, meetings, and more.

Behind the scenes: How does Microsoft Copilot work?

Now let’s see how Microsoft Copilot works. Copilot requests an input prompt from a user in an app (such as Microsoft Power Apps or Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales ). When you input a prompt, Copilot first preprocesses it with “grounding,” which refines the query to improve relevance. It then uses Microsoft Graph and Dataverse to bring in contextual information specific to your business, ensuring that only authorized data is accessible.

This process begins by making a call to Microsoft Graph and Dataverse to retrieve enterprise data based on the permissions you’ve consented to for using your business content and context. Information is further grounded through documents and data available to authenticated users via role-based access controls.

For example, an employee querying the intranet about benefits would only receive information from documents relevant to their role. This retrieval technique, called retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), enables Copilot to provide precise information to the LLM by combining user-specific data with other sources, such as knowledge base articles, for a more refined prompt.

Once the LLM generates a response, Copilot conducts post-processing steps, including further grounding with Microsoft Graph, responsible AI checks, and security, compliance, and privacy reviews. Command generation is also included as part of this refinement process.

Finally, Copilot delivers a suggested response to the user and sends commands back to the relevant applications, allowing a human-in-the-loop to review and validate. Through this iterative orchestration of services, Copilot ensures that the results are relevant, accurate, and secure for your business needs.

How does Microsoft Copilot ensure security and compliance with your business data?

Copilot drives business value by securely connecting large language models (LLMs) to your business data, all while ensuring ethical use of AI and protecting privacy.

With real-time access to both your content and context in Microsoft Graph and Dataverse, Copilot generates responses grounded in your business data – like documents, emails, calendars, chats, meetings, and contacts – and tailors them to your current working context, such as ongoing meetings, recent email threads, or recent chat discussions. This approach ensures that answers are accurate, relevant, and highly contextual.

Importantly, customer data is never used to train LLM models. Microsoft firmly believes that customer data belongs solely to the customer, and this principle aligns with their data privacy policy. AI-powered LLMs are trained on a broad, predefined dataset. However, your prompts, responses, and data accessed via Microsoft Graph and other Microsoft services are not used to train Dynamics 365 Copilot and Power Platform Copilot functionalities for other users. Additionally, these foundational AI models are not updated based on your interactions, meaning your data is accessible only to authorized individuals within your organization unless you provide explicit consent for broader access.

Are Copilot responses always accurate?

Generative AI responses may not always be perfectly factual, so it is encouraged to review outputs carefully. Copilot is intended to help users by drafting responses and providing summaries, while leaving final judgment to users. Microsoft remains committed to continually improving accuracy and providing responsible AI usage guidance for businesses.

In-app guidance and prompts within Copilot further assist users in responsibly evaluating and editing responses. Where applicable, Copilot includes citations for referenced public sources, providing transparency for users to verify information.

How does Copilot protect sensitive business data?

Backed by Azure’s robust security framework, Copilot is specifically designed for secure enterprise environments:

• Inherent compliance and security: Integrated within Microsoft’s suite, Copilot inherits your existing security and compliance policies, including two-factor authentication, privacy protections, and compliance with regulatory standards.

• Role-based data access: Copilot only accesses data based on user permissions within the tenancy, ensuring that each user only interacts with information they’re authorized to access.

• Data privacy commitment: Microsoft’s approach to tenant, group, and individual data safeguards ensures that LLMs are not further trained on customer data.

Empower your enterprise with Copilot: Start your journey today

With Copilot in Dynamics 365 and MS Power Platform, enterprises can unlock meaningful advancements across operations, productivity, and responsible AI usage, all within a secure, enterprise-grade environment. Copilot empowers teams to streamline workflows, boost efficiency, and leverage AI insights without compromising data integrity.

Ready to explore the impact of Copilot for your organization? Partner with Confiz to get started. Contact us at marketing@Confiz.com for a demo or to discuss implementation details.

With the ability to customize reports that pull data directly from Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement, your team can gain targeted insights right where they need them – no extra tools, no wasted time. This guide walks you through building SSRS reports in Microsoft Visual Studio, followed by seamless deployment into your Dynamics 365 environment. By following these steps, you’ll be set to create visual reports that serve your business needs, turning complex data into clear, actionable insights that drive meaningful decisions.

What is SQL Server Reporting Services?

SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) is a comprehensive reporting platform created using SQL Server Data Tools. This reporting platform offers a powerful toolkit for creating, deploying, and managing detailed SSRS paginated reports right from your own servers. With SSRS, you can build reports tailored to your needs, making it easy to organize, visualize, and share insights within your organization, all in a secure, on-premises environment.

SQL Server Reporting Services provides detailed visualizations of business statistics and analytics, enabling organizations to gain valuable insights into their performance. Using advanced SSRS reports, businesses can make more informed and data-driven decisions, leading to improved strategic planning and outcomes.

SSRS serves both database professionals and end users: database professionals handle report server management and subscription setups, while end users consume SSRS reports and can also create reports to suit their needs.

How to create an SSRS report in Microsoft Visual Studio?

Building reports might seem complex, but with SSRS in Visual Studio, it’s simpler than you would think. You can customize and design reports that fit your exact needs. Let’s walk through the steps to get your report up and running using Visual Studio.

Step 1: Download and install Microsoft Visual Studio 2019

Start by downloading and installing Visual Studio 2019. During the installation, ensure that the data storage and processing workload is selected, as it is required to enable report service project functionality.

Step 2: Add extensions for SSRS

After completing the installation, open Visual Studio and navigate to Manage Extensions from the top menu. Install the necessary extensions: Microsoft Reporting Services Projects and SQL Server Integration Services Projects.

Once the extensions are installed, create a new project. Search for Report Server Project, click Next, then provide a name and location for your project. Click Create, and the Visual Studio project will open.

Step 3: Set up a new report

In the Solution Explorer pane on the right, right-click on the Reports folder, then select Add > New Report. Follow the prompts and click Next to proceed with the report creation.

Step 4: Configure data source

In this step, enter a name for your Data Source. Under the Type section, select Microsoft Dynamics 365 Fetch, as SSRS reports for Dynamics 365 require the use of the FetchXML data format.

Step 5: Set up a connection string

In the next section, you will need to provide the Connection String, which is simply the URL of your Dynamics 365 CRM platform. This connection string links your report to the Dynamics environment.

Step 6: Specify the credentials

In the Credentials section, select the option to specify credentials. Enable the second option to provide your Username and Password for accessing the Dynamics 365 CRM platform. Once entered, click Next to proceed.

Step 7: Add the FetchXML query

On the following page, you will need to supply the FetchXML query. If you don’t have a FetchXML file, you can generate one by using Advanced Find in Dynamics 365. Build your desired query, then click Download FetchXML to obtain the file. Once downloaded, upload the FetchXML file to proceed with the report creation.

Open the downloaded FetchXML file using Notepad, then copy all the text from the file. Go back to the report setup in Visual Studio and paste the copied text into the Query String section. After pasting the FetchXML, click Next to continue.

Step 8: Choose the report layout

On the next page, choose the report layout format (Tabular or Matrix) based on your reporting needs. Once selected, click Finish. Your SSRS report project will now be created in Visual Studio, and you can begin customizing and designing your report.

How to create and develop an SSRS Report?

Creating SSRC reports involves more than simply displaying data, it requires thoughtful structuring and design to ensure clarity and usability. Drawing from our experience in developing SSRS reports, here are key guidelines on how to effectively build reports using fields, tables, images, and expressions, along with multiple datasets.

1: Open the SSRS project

Launch your SSRS project in Visual Studio. The Report Data section will be displayed on the left side, which includes several folders such as Images, Data Sources, and Datasets. Use these folders to organize your report components. For instance, place any images you plan to use in the Images folder.

2: Configure data source

The Data Source contains the necessary details about your database server, including the connection string and login credentials. Ensure that this is correctly configured to connect to your data.
Set up datasets

A Dataset defines the specific entity query that retrieves data for your report. Each dataset should be tailored to fetch the relevant data required for your reporting needs.

4: Add fields to the report

In SSRS reports, you can use various elements such as fields, tables, images, and expressions. There are two primary methods for adding fields to your report:

5: Drag and drop from dataset

Open the Dataset and drag the desired field into the report area. To modify properties such as alignment, text size, or label name, right-click on the field and select Placeholder Properties. Adjust the settings according to your requirements.

• Using expressions: Alternatively, you can add fields through expressions. Right-click on a blank area of the report, choose Insert Placeholder, and enter the expression for your field.

• Displaying list-type data: To present list-type data, use a Table in the report. Add your dataset to the Tablix properties. Right-click on the table, open Tablix Properties, and specify the dataset name. Modify the table properties as needed to fit your design.

5: Add images in SSRS reports

SSRS supports different types of image sources:

• External: Select a dataset field that contains a URL pointing to the image.
• Embedded: Choose this option when your image is located in your project’s Images folder.
• Database: Select this option when you specify a database field that contains the image data.

Building and deploying the SSRS report in CRM environment

Once you have completed the development of your SSRS report, follow these steps to save and build your project for deployment:

1: Save all changes

Ensure that all your changes are saved in Visual Studio. It’s important to save your work to prevent any loss of data or modifications.

2: Build the project

Right-click on your project in the Solution Explorer pane and select Build from the context menu. The system will initiate the build process, which may take a few moments to complete. This process compiles your report and checks for any errors.

3: Check for errors

Once the build process is complete, review the Error List window in Visual Studio. If there are any errors, address them before proceeding to deployment.

4: Deploy the report

After successfully building your project, you can deploy the report to your CRM environment. Right-click on the project again and select Deploy. Ensure that your deployment settings are correctly configured to point to the appropriate SSRS report server.

5: Verify the deployment

After deployment, navigate to your SSRS report server or CRM environment to verify that the report is available and functioning as intended. Test the report to ensure that it retrieves data accurately and displays correctly.

Following are the steps to deploy your project in the CRM.

Step 1: Open the CRM environment

Launch your Dynamics CRM environment.

Step 2: Navigate to advanced settings

Go to the Advanced Settings section.

Step 3: Access solutions

Click on the Solutions option in the Advanced Settings menu.

Step 4: Open your solution

Locate and click on your specific solution to open it.

Step 5: Open the reports section

In your solution, navigate to the Reports section.

Step 5: Create a new report

Click on the New button to create a new report.

Step 6: Select report type

In the report creation window, change the Report Type to Existing File.

Step 7: Choose the RDL file

Select the RDL file from your Visual Studio project. To locate the RDL file, navigate to your project folder on your computer, then go to the bin folder, followed by the Debug folder.

Step 8: Enter report details

Provide a name for your report in the Report Name field. Additionally, set the Categorization section to organize your report appropriately.

Step 9: Save the report

After filling in the necessary information, click Save to complete the deployment process.

Empower your business with custom SSRS reports

Creating SSRS reports in Visual Studio for Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement equips businesses with a powerful tool to visualize data and make informed decisions. From setup through deployment, the process may seem complex at first, but with each step, you gain the skills needed to tailor reports to your organization’s unique needs.
By following these guidelines, you now have the foundation to build, customize, and deploy SSRS reports that provide clear, actionable insights, enabling your team to make the most out of data in meaningful ways. For questions or assistance with SQL Server Reporting Services, reach out to us at marketing@confiz.com.

AI-enabled CRM systems are transforming customer relationship management by providing smarter, more efficient ways for businesses to manage customer experiences and build loyalty at every stage. These AI capabilities not only boost customer engagement but also drive sales success. Research shows that 51% of businesses rank generative AI, including tools like predictive analytics, chatbots, and content creation, among the top CRM trends. Additionally, 65% of companies have already embraced generative AI in CRM. Businesses leveraging these advanced AI features are 83% more likely to meet or exceed their sales goals, with 34% reporting exceptional customer service compared to those using traditional CRM systems.

This blog explores how AI-enabled CRM solutions enhance productivity and deliver personalized service across marketing, sales, and customer support. It also covers best practices that help employees fully leverage AI’s benefits, empowering them to create customized customer experiences. Additionally, it touches upon the use of AI in CRMs like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement, which is transforming customer interactions and driving breakthroughs in engagement.

Revolutionizing marketing: How AI-powered CRMs enable personalization and drive engagement

Generative AI is already transforming marketing by using predictive analytics to forecast customer behaviors, real-time sentiment analysis to monitor satisfaction, and advanced segmentation for targeted campaigns. In addition, it helps marketing professionals summarize insights for swift action, and scale creative output. According to Forrester, 56% of B2C marketing decision-makers use AI for these purposes. AI-enabled CRM platforms like Microsoft Copilot in Dynamics 365 Customer Insights allow marketers to create dynamic audience segments, generate tailored content, and quickly access summarized insights for faster, more effective decision-making, ensuring deeper customer connections and improved engagement.

Empowering sales teams: AI transforms customer interactions and boosts revenue

Personalization in sales is key to success, and AI-driven CRM systems help sales teams make authentic connections with customers at the right time. Microsoft research shows that 79% of Copilot users report reduced administrative work, while 67% say it gives them more time with customers, and 64% note better personalized customer engagements. By automating routine tasks, AI allows sales teams to focus on building relationships and closing deals faster.

Transforming customer support: AI enhances productivity and retention

AI-powered CRM platforms are also transforming customer service. A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that AI-driven assistants increased the number of issues resolved by customer service agents by 14%, with novice agents seeing a 34% productivity boost. AI assistance not only improves productivity but also enhances customer sentiment and boosts employee retention.

Ready to integrate AI into your organization? Best practices for success

For business leaders ready to introduce AI solutions and benefit from the application of AI in CRM, there’s promising news: even those new to AI quickly see its value. Microsoft research reveals that it takes just 11 minutes saved per day for most people to recognize the impact of AI – an important threshold for establishing lasting work habits. In practice, many users exceed this benchmark. Some are saving up to 30 minutes daily (equivalent to 10 hours per month), with the average user reclaiming around 14 minutes per day, totaling nearly five hours saved each month.

Moreover, the tipping point where respondents notice meaningful improvements in productivity (75%), work enjoyment (57%), work-life balance (34%), and a reduction in meetings (37%) occurs within one business quarter, or about 11 weeks.

While the personal productivity benefits of tools like Copilot are substantial, building an AI-powered organization requires a commitment to adapting work practices. Here are some best practices to guide this transition:

• Promote daily usage: Consistent use of AI is key to reaping productivity benefits. Encourage team members to incorporate AI tools into their daily routines, with 11 weeks being a milestone for noticeable impact.

• Teach AI management skills: Encourage employees to approach generative AI tools as true assistants rather than basic search engines. Provide guidance on when to delegate tasks to AI versus when to rely on human judgment and expertise.

• Make use of reclaimed time: Encourage your team to use time saved for higher-level, creative tasks. Sales teams can deepen customer relationships, marketers can innovate on campaigns, customer service teams can focus on problem-solving, and managers can dedicate more time to coaching and team support.

Transforming customer engagement with AI in Dynamics 365 CRM

AI in Dynamics 365 CRM (Customer Relationship Management) brings advanced artificial intelligence tools and predictive analytics capabilities into Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement to elevate customer interactions, optimize sales workflows, and enhance decision-making across marketing, sales, and customer service. Through modules like Dynamics 365 Sales, Dynamics 365 Customer Service, and Dynamics 365 Customer Insights, AI in Dynamics 365 CRM offers powerful benefits. Here’s how AI-driven features, particularly Microsoft Copilot, are transforming each module:

Copilot in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Insights

Dynamics 365 Customer Insights, now integrating the Dynamics 365 Marketing and Dynamics 365 Customer Insights modules, has been enhanced with Copilot.

Today’s customers expect hyper-personalized interactions with brands, making it essential for marketers to deeply understand their audience. Often, valuable customer data is trapped within various platforms. With Copilot in Dynamics 365 Customer Insights, marketers and data analysts can leverage natural language to access this data and deliver personalized experiences effortlessly.

Marketers can create highly personalized and targeted customer segments by conversing with the customer data platform. Copilot in Dynamics 365 Customer Insights also suggests additional segments that might not have been previously considered.

Furthermore, Copilot helps generate personalized content, such as email campaigns, by understanding the marketer’s intent and providing relevant suggestions. This increases productivity and ensures that content is tailored to customer preferences. Marketers can explore, understand, and predict customer preferences and needs in near real-time, reducing reliance on data and analytics teams.

Further readings: What has changed about Dynamics 365 Customer Insights?

Copilot in Dynamics 365 Sales

In Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales, Copilot plays the role of an AI assistant, helping sales teams become more efficient and productive in their routine tasks. Sellers can enhance customer relationships and improve ROI with the help of AI, positioning Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement as the first CRM to provide next-generation AI solutions for sales professionals.

Sellers can chat with Copilot in natural language or even use predefined prompts for getting the info they need. This includes summaries of opportunities and lead records, catching up with changes in records, material to prep for meetings and any latest news about their accounts.

Help your sellers focus on ROI and strengthen customer relationships with AI assistance in Dynamics 365 Sales – the first CRM to offer next-generation AI for sellers. Use AI to write email replies, draft meeting summaries, update customer records, and pull relevant information from SharePoint, Outlook, and Microsoft Teams.

Let’s explore these features:

• Record summarization: Get a quick summary of opportunity and lead records. Copilot generates summary from predefined fields, that are more relevant for your business.

• Recent changes: Copilot helps your sales team stay on top of the sales record by summarizing changes that were made to lead, opportunity, and account records. This is done by generating a list of recent changes from the audit history of the records.

• Information assistance: Get all the information you need at your fingertips whether it’s product related documents or answers to questions from documents stored on SharePoint.

• Meeting preparation: Copilot effortlessly prepares your team for meetings by summarizing key information from related opportunity or lead records.

• Email assistance: Copilot helps you draft professional emails, summarize email conversations for customer notes, and provides follow-up reminders for unanswered messages.

• News updates: Copilot keeps you updated on account news by delivering curated articles from Bing, offering valuable insights for conversations. However, be sure to verify the sources and content for accuracy and relevance to your customer.

Copilot in Dynamics 365 Project Operations

Copilot capabilities in Dynamics 365 Project Operations assist consultants and project managers in streamlining business processes from the frontline to the back office, helping service delivery organizations achieve operational efficiencies.

Designed to enhance the productivity of various roles, including project managers and practice managers, Copilot offers an intuitive, user-friendly experience that boosts productivity and provides greater visibility into project performance. Copilot offers four key capabilities:

• Task plan generation

• Risk assessments

• Project status reports

• Interactive, chat-like experience

The Copilot features in Project Operations are introduced to simplify and expediate workflows, optimizing efficiency across service delivery operations.

Discover more: Learn how Copilot is transforming project management in Dynamics 365 Project Operations.

Copilot in Dynamics Customer Service

Copilot in Dynamics 365 Customer Service offers real-time AI support, enabling agents to automate time-consuming tasks, manage cases efficiently, and resolve issues more quickly, ultimately delivering greater value to customers.

With the Copilot features activated, agents can perform the following actions within the Customer Service workspace app:

• Respond to inquiries

• Compose emails

• Draft chat responses

• Summarize cases and conversations

More insights: Discover how Dynamics 365 Customer Service drives ROI improvements

Copilot in Dynamics 365 Field Service

Copilot in Dynamics 365 Field Service enhances customer interactions by delivering real-time, data-driven insights. Imagine providing personalized service recommendations or quickly resolving complex issues with AI-driven suggestions. This approach eliminates guesswork in service delivery, allowing for informed and strategic decision-making.

Moreover, Copilot significantly optimizes field service operations. From scheduling and dispatching to predictive maintenance, it streamlines various elements of your service chain. As a result, field technicians are better equipped, routes are planned more efficiently, and customers benefit from prompt and effective service. The capabilities of Copilot within Microsoft 365 integrations and the Field Service core application assist users with work order creation, management, and scheduling recommendations, ultimately boosting productivity for frontline teams.

Learn more: How copilot in Dynamics 365 Field Service is empowering service professionals?

Taking the next step forward

It’s time to propel your organization into the future by embracing a new paradigm of customer engagement through AI-enabled personalization, which empowers both customers and employees. With Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement and its Copilot capabilities, you can elevate your customer interactions and significantly enhance your sales performance. As you consider implementing Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement or exploring AI in CRM, partnering with Confiz can make all the difference.

Leveraging our team of certified Dynamics 365 professionals and our proven track record of successful CRM rollouts, we can assist you in tailoring solutions to meet your specific needs. We understand that every organization is unique, so our experts will work closely with you to customize the CRM effectively. Additionally, our extensive experience ensures a seamless implementation process that minimizes disruption and maximizes efficiency. To further empower your team, we also provide comprehensive training and ongoing support.

Ready to take your customer engagement to the next level? Contact us at marketing@confiz.com to discover how we can help you harness the power of AI and Dynamics 365 for your organization’s success.

So, buckle up for the Ultimate Showdown: Dynamics 365 Sales vs Salesforce Sales Cloud!

1: User interface face-off

• Dynamics 365 Sales: Feels like familiar territory – clean and easy to navigate.
  
• Salesforce Sales: With its customizable Lightning Experience, it is like having your own personal stylist for your CRM. You can tweak every pixel to suit your needs (though it might take some time to master).
  

Key difference

Dynamics 365 Sales brings a familiar, user-friendly experience, making it easy to get started. In contrast, Salesforce offers extensive customization options, though this flexibility often comes with a steeper learning curve.

2: Core features smackdown

Let’s dig into the Dynamics 365 Sales vs Salesforce Sales comparison based on some core features:

Lead & opportunity management

• Dynamics 365 Sales: Imagine a personal assistant who knows all your leads inside out! With lead scoring, opportunity management, and AI-powered insights, D365 Sales helps you keep tabs on your leads like a pro. Oh, and it’s besties with Outlook and Teams, so if you ae in the Microsoft squad, this one’s for you!

• Salesforce Sales: Salesforce Sales goes all out with intelligent lead routing and its famous Path feature, guiding your sales team every step of the way. Plus, Einstein AI is like having a genius sales coach who provides the best tips at the right moment.

Key difference

If you’re already using the Microsoft ecosystem, Dynamics 365 Sales feels like home. But if you need ultimate customization, Salesforce’s Path could be your new BFF.

Contact & account management showdown

• Dynamics 365 Sales: Think of it as the perfect harmony between LinkedIn, Microsoft 365, and your CRM. You get real-time customer insights straight from LinkedIn and seamless integration with Outlook and Teams. Everything in one cozy hub!

• Salesforce Sales: The 360-Degree View is like a panoramic camera for your customers—showing you every interaction, email, and meeting without missing a beat. Plus, with Chatter, you can collaborate about accounts with your team in real-time.

Key difference

LinkedIn addicts will adore Dynamics 365 Sales. But if you’re all about team chats and real-time collaboration, Salesforce Sales Clouds Chatter is where the magic happens.

Forecasting & analytics brawl

• Dynamics 365 Sales: With Predictive Forecasting and Power BI integration, Dynamics 365 Sales helps you spot trends, predict outcomes, and look into the future like a sales fortune teller.

• Salesforce Sales: The heavyweight champion in this round, Tableau Integration brings world-class data visualization and forecasting that’s both stunning and smart.

Key difference

Salesforce Sales is the analytics kingpin, thanks to Tableau. But if you’re already knee-deep in Microsoft’s tools, Dynamics 365 Sales + Microsoft Power BI = harmony.

Sales automation & workflow battle

• Dynamics 365 Sales: Visualize your sales process like a map, guiding reps from lead to close with ease. And for those who love automating tasks (who doesn’t?), Microsoft Power Automate is your secret weapon.
• Salesforce Sales: Process Builder and Flow Builder – these are like having your own sales robot army! No-code automation makes building workflows a breeze. Oh, and High Velocity Sales? It keeps your inside sales team on fire!

Key difference

Salesforce Sales’s no-code automation is the stuff of dreams. But for Microsoft fans, Power Automate is like that trusty Swiss army knife—versatile and reliable.

Mobile app duel

• Dynamics 365 Sales: Clean, smooth, and mobile-friendly, it’s your sales sidekick on the go, though its offline powers are a bit limited.
• Salesforce Sales: Offline mode, full CRM access, mobile analytics – Salesforce’s mobile app is like a fully equipped Batmobile for sales reps. Even without Wi-Fi, you’re unstoppable!

Key difference

Salesforce Sales takes this round with its offline prowess. Dynamics 365 Sales has a solid mobile app, but it’s more of a sidekick if you’re out in the field.

AI features battle

• Dynamics 365 Sales: Sales Insights is your friendly AI guide, offering predictions and tips on relationship health and lead scoring.
• Salesforce Sales: Einstein AI goes all-in with next-level analytics, predictive scoring, and even voice commands (because who doesn’t want to feel like Iron Man?).

Key difference

Both are smart, but Einstein AI flexes its muscles with deeper analytics and cooler features. Dynamics 365 Sales keeps things simple, making it perfect for the AI newbie.

3: Integration showdown

• Dynamics 365 Sales: Microsoft integrations are its bread and butter. Teams, Outlook, LinkedIn, Power BI – you name it, D365 Sales plays nice with it.

• Salesforce Sales: Got an app? Salesforce can probably integrate it. The AppExchange marketplace offers thousands of third-party apps, making it the Swiss army knife of CRMs.
  

Key difference

Salesforce Sales wins for versatility. But if you’re already using Microsoft, Dynamics 365 Sales keeps things sweet and simple.

4: Licensing war: Which one hits your wallet harder?

• Dynamics 365 Sales: When it comes to Dynamics 365 Sales pricing, Microsoft have kept things simple with two tiers – Professional ($65/month) and Enterprise ($95/month), with extras like Sales Insights and LinkedIn Navigator as add-ons.

• Salesforce Sales: When it comes to Salesforce Sales pricing, you will get a full buffet of options with packages such as Essentials, Professional, Enterprise, and Unlimited ranging from $25 to $300 per user per month. More options but watch that price tag soar!

Key difference

Salesforce Sales’s tiered pricing is flexible but can get pricey. Dynamics 365 Sales? Less variety, but budget-friendly for Microsoft fans.

5: The mascot madness

• Dynamics 365 Sales: No mascot here. Dynamics 365 Sales keeps things professional and buttoned-up.
• Salesforce Sales: Astro, Einstein, and Codey – Salesforce’s quirky, lovable characters add a fun, friendly vibe to the platform.

Key difference

If mascots make you smile, Salesforce Sales brings fun. If you’re all business, Dynamics 365 Sales stays serious.

Dynamics 365 Sales vs Salesforce Sales: Which one to choose?

It’s a close call, but your winner depends on what YOU need! If you’re already living the Microsoft life and want something seamless, budget-friendly, and simple – Dynamics 365 Sales is your champion.
If you crave flexibility, customization, and have a bigger budget to play with – Salesforce Sales is your go-to CRM platform. At the end of the day, both platforms are powerhouses and it’s all about finding the right fit for your sales squad. Choose wisely, and may the sales be ever in your favor!

Choose Confiz as your trusted CRM implementation partner

Considering Dynamics 365 Sales for your organization? Confiz is here to support your journey. As seasoned Dynamics 365 implementation partner, we deliver CRM solutions that drive impactful sales automation and streamline your processes. With a track record of successful CRM rollouts, our team helps you get the most value from Dynamics 365 Sales, tailoring the platform to fit your specific business needs.
Get in touch today at marketing@confiz.com to discuss how Confiz can enhance your CRM experience and accelerate your sales performance.

Moreover, this awareness has also fueled a transformative journey and empowered organizations to evolve their data strategies continually. As we have successfully transitioned into the year 2024, with data and AI in the spotlight, the landscape of data-driven strategy is on the brink of Transformation. 

As organizations set on the journey of implementation and prioritization, let’s not overlook the role of Data and Analytics (D&A) leaders in shaping a robust data strategy. According to Gartner, by 2026, over a quarter of Fortune 500 Chief Data Officers (CDOs) are expected to take on responsibilities for at least one product based on data and analytics. 

To ensure your big data strategy delivers meaningful business impact, it is imperative to stay current on the latest trends, emerging tools, and innovative approaches that companies are leveraging today. 

Looking for trends in data analytics strategy? This blog sheds light on what data strategy is and the top trends dominating 2024 and beyond.  

What is a data strategy? 

Data strategy refers to a highly dynamic process or rules that define how an organization will manage, analyze, and derive value from its business data to achieve long-term objectives.  

Regardless of the business size, opting for data strategy services provides practical guidance to organizations to help them improve their decision-making, protect sensitive data, enhance financial performance, and boost productivity. While the data strategy sets the direction, the data strategy framework provides a structured approach for business to implement their data strategy.  

Reports by McKinsey & Company demonstrated that organizations that are more likely to use data and analytics strategy stand a higher chance of increasing their profitability by 60%. These statistics represent the transformative power of a well-defined data strategy. Therefore, creating a data analytics strategy is fundamental for any organization that wants to thrive in the 21st century.   

Any organization that wants to make the most out of its data assets should consider the following components to drive innovation and gain a competitive advantage in the business landscape:  

• Data governance 
• Data security 
• Data Architecture 
• Data lifestyle management 
• Data analytics and business intelligence 

Why is a comprehensive data strategy roadmap essential for business success? 

A comprehensive data strategy roadmap is crucial for business success as it ensures that all data-related efforts are purposefully aligned with the company’s larger goals. This alignment means that data collection, storage, analysis, and governance are not just isolated tasks but are part of an integrated approach to driving business value. 

Although many businesses are eager to collect and analyze data, they skip the most important step of creating a solid data strategy that ties data efforts to their bigger business goals. Unlike data analysts who focus on breaking down the numbers, a data strategy consultant looks at the bigger picture. Their main goal is to help you create a detailed data strategy roadmap. This plan covers everything from data governance and integration to ensuring that your data initiatives fully align with your business’s goals. 

Data strategy consultants take a proactive, top-down approach and build the foundation for sustainable data management practices to ensure long-term success.

5 data strategy trends to watch out for in 2024: Key shifts to guide your approach 

As 2024 promises to be a pivotal juncture with transformative change and innovative trends, let’s walk you through the five major trends and their potential impact that will surely shape your organization’s modern data strategy. 

Trend 1: Data democratization  

The data democratization trend is set to take center stage in 2024. Simply put, this transformative approach is making data not only confined to a select few but also accessible to an organization’s broader spectrum of stakeholders. Without dependency on IT or data specialists, anyone can access, interpret, and make data-driven decisions, irrespective of their role, to drive innovation and propel teams to unprecedented heights.   

But the question is, why is this trend catching the eye? The answer is simple: it is empowering teams like never before. When everyone has access to the same data and interprets it in the same way, this ensures everyone is on the same page and improves the effectiveness of team-based work. This increased collaboration promotes creativity and has a positive impact on productivity.   

Another key benefit of the data democratization strategy is that it allows employees to discover and explore data before accessing it for usage. This is done by setting up dedicated platforms like data catalogs or metadata hubs that offer an experience like a library.  Big names like Airbnb, LinkedIn, Netflix, Uber, and Spotify already have data democratization in motion through data discovery and exploration tools.  

Read more: Empowering organizations: Building a data-driven culture with data democratization. 

Trend 2: AI-powered insights 

Harnessing the power of data is no longer an option. The unique insights derived from organizational data provide a competitive edge, that may prove challenging for your competitors to replicate. Failure to leverage the potential of data analytics strategy could lead an organization to miss out on valuable opportunities. Naturally, a key trend driving an organization’s data strategy should involve investments in AI and ML to unlock the true value out of their data. 

AI-powered insights have revolutionized decision-making processes. AI algorithms analyze data and uncover patterns and trends that are not visible with traditional data analysis strategies or methods. Various industries, including marketing, healthcare, finance, and retail, rely on AI insights to gain significant outcomes in customer retention, operational efficiency, and increased profitability.   

For instance, in retail, AI-powered insights are used to optimize customer service. By analyzing customer data like purchase behavior, history, and feedback, retailers can use AI analytics to uncover insights into what their customers want and need, improving customer satisfaction and sales forecasts. 

Reports by Fortune Business Insights have shown that AI in the retail market was valued at $5.50 billion in 2022 & is projected to grow from $7.14 billion in 2023 to $55.53 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 34.1% during the forecast.  

Further reading: How AI is transforming data analytics in retail. 

Trend 3: Self-service analytics 

Organizations don’t become data-driven by accident; they need to adopt best practices to reach desired outcomes. Self-service analytics is an important puzzle piece when it comes to building a robust data strategy and setting organizations on the path to becoming data-driven. 

Gartner defines self-service analytics as 

“A form of business intelligence (BI) in which line-of-business professionals are enabled and encouraged to perform queries and generate reports on their own, with nominal IT support.”  

 In simple terms, this transformative approach is a type of BI that allows users within an organization to independently access, analyze, and draw valuable insights from data, irrespective of their technical expertise, to drive business toward data-driven success.  

Examples of self-service analytics tools include Power BI, Tableau, Domo, and Qlik. Some tools have built-in AI and ML capabilities that help find insights and uncover hidden patterns in a large data pool. The benefits of self-service analytics include improved decision-making, boosted productivity, and enhanced collaboration. 

Industries, particularly finance, are increasingly opting for self-service analytics to stay agile and competitive. Gartner says nearly half of finance executives see self-service data and analytics as a driver of employee productivity, with 49% of the respondents expressing the belief that self-service analytics contributes positively to the efficiency and productivity of their employees.   

Trend 4: Data governance framework 

Data governance frameworks have become a cornerstone of data-driven enterprises for all good reasons. In case you are wondering how data governance fits into the equation, creating a data strategy is, in fact, the initial step in establishing a data governance framework. 

Organizations increasingly prioritize data governance strategy and framework to govern how data is managed, protected, and leveraged throughout its lifecycle. As data volumes are exploding and data breaches have become more common, a data governance framework serves as a structured approach to minimize the risk of data breaches.   

Organizations that have implemented data governance programs increase data analysis time by 2% and register a 31% improvement in data quality confidence. This means that data governance measures have contributed to enhancing the accuracy, reliability, and overall quality of the data organizations work with. 

In 2024, industries besides finance and technology, including healthcare, are at the forefront of embracing data governance frameworks. Healthcare organizations deploy robust data governance to manage sensitive patient information securely and adhere to healthcare data regulations. 

Read the full article: Data governance best practices: A roadmap to lasting success. 

Trend 5: Modern data platform capabilities  

When data-driven organizations need to move from legacy to proactive management, this is where data platform modernization comes in with its cloud-based infrastructure. A modern data platform can handle large data pools, process data in real-time, and manage both structured and unstructured data. 

The modern data platforms are unified, cloud-based ecosystems that include data storage, processing, analytics, and governance – all under a single platform to ensure scalability for handling large datasets and enabling real-time processing for swift decision-making. 

However, a modern data platform not only allows businesses to unify and govern their data but also creates a unified, transparent record of truth that empowers them to drive business value by reducing data silos.  

Continue reading: Modern Data Platforms: Your guide to data-driven decisions. 

Closing lines 

As you analyze trends data and consider how to incorporate them into your plan, it’s imperative to establish a robust data strategy and ensure the right data stack is in place. Undoubtedly, 2024 and the years ahead will bring transformative changes to data.  

By staying attuned to these trends, you can position your enterprise for success in the dynamic world of data management. Contact us at marketing@confiz.com to leverage our capabilities in data and AI and build a solid data strategy that propels your business forward.