Introduction to Dynamics 365 apps
Dynamics 365 is a family of business applications that covers a wide range of business areas. These solutions are sometimes called line-of-business applications, or LOB solutions. Historically, Dynamics 365 apps were separated into two categories: customer engagement and enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications. However, as Microsoft Business Applications, Dynamics 365, and Microsoft Power Platform applications have evolved, those lines are blurred into more holistic options. These options also include Dynamics 365 integrations with Microsoft Modern Workplace (Microsoft 365) products, LinkedIn, Microsoft Power BI, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, and other Microsoft applications.
Customer engagement apps
One way to differentiate between customer engagement and ERP applications is to remember that customer engagement apps are built on Microsoft Dataverse while ERP applications aren't. The goal of Microsoft Dynamics 365 customer engagement apps is to actively engage with customers. They're responsible for tracking metrics and tools to support generating and retaining new customers.
Dynamics 365 Sales - Enables you to build strong relationships with your customers, take actions based on insights, and close sales faster. Use Sales to keep track of your accounts and contacts, nurture your sales from lead to order, create sales collateral, and create marketing lists and campaigns, all through this model-driven app. Additionally, you can follow service cases that are associated with specific accounts or opportunities.
Dynamics 365 Customer Service - Allows you to earn customers for life. Build great customer relationships by focusing on excellent customer satisfaction with the Customer Service app. Customer Service provides many features and tools that help you manage the services that you provide to customers. Customer Service also includes Omnichannel, a suite of capabilities that enable organizations to instantly connect and engage with their customers across digital messaging channels.
Dynamics 365 Field Service - Helps you deliver on-site service to customer locations. The application combines workflow automation, scheduling algorithms, and mobility to help you set up mobile workers for success when they're on site with customers fixing issues.
Dynamics 365 Marketing - A marketing-automation application that helps turn prospects into business relationships. The app is user-friendly, works seamlessly with Dynamics 365 Sales, and has built-in business intelligence. Use Marketing to create graphical email messages, share information across sales and marketing teams, and more.
Finance and operations apps
The following Microsoft Dynamics 365 applications are derived from enterprise resource planning and are used for multiple daily operations within an organization. These apps are responsible for tasks such as handling inventory, buying and selling goods, and keeping track of everything financial. While customer engagement apps focus on handling customer engagement, the following four apps cover the daily operations of a business. This list isn't exhaustive; however, it's a representation of the more widely used apps.
Dynamics 365 Finance - Helps you automate and modernize your global financial operations. You can monitor performance in real time, predict future outcomes, and make data-driven decisions to drive business growth. Use Finance to drive strategic financial decisions with AI, unify and automate your financial processes, reduce operational expenses, and decrease global financial complexity and risk.
Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management - Helps you transform your manufacturing and supply chain operations. Use predictive insights and intelligence from AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) across planning, production, inventory, warehouse, and transportation management. Supply Chain Management can maximize operational efficiency, product quality, and profitability. Use Supply Chain Management to innovate with intelligent manufacturing operations, modernize warehouse management, optimize production performance, maximize the life of your assets, and automate and streamline your supply chain.
Dynamics 365 Human Resources - Streamlines many recordkeeping tasks and automates several staffing processes. These processes include employee retention, benefits administration, training, performance reviews, and change management. Human Resources also provides a framework for human resources staff to manage areas of oversight.
Dynamics 365 Commerce - Delivers a comprehensive, omnichannel solution that unifies back-office, in-store, call center, and digital experiences. Commerce enables you to build brand loyalty through personalized customer engagements, increase revenue with improved employee productivity, optimize operations to reduce costs, and drive supply chain efficiencies.
Business Central
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a business management solution for small and mid-sized organizations that automates and streamlines business processes and helps you manage your business. Highly adaptable and rich with features, Business Central helps you to manage your business processes, including finance, manufacturing, sales, shipping, project management, services, and more.