Dynamics 365 for Operations: Utilizing LCS & BPM

LCS Business Process Modeler Overview

Lifecycle Services, a cloud project lifecycle management platform, allows for multiple user personas through a wide range of services and tools. Among these different offerings, the most applicable tool for end users and functional consultants is the Business Process Modeler. The Business Process Modeler (BPM) allows users to build out business process libraries for their specific end-to-end scenarios through the incorporation of business hierarchies.

Building & Utilizing Hierarchies

Business process hierarchies are defined by users or consultants based on specific requirements of the end users. Socius utilizes an adaptive implementation methodology (AIM) which allows our implementation team to both utilize repeatable processes & structure content based on the client’s individual needs. Generally, we recommend a hierarchy structure by Module, Process Area, Category/Area, and then requirement ID. This allows for a clear separation and organization of processes by granularity and detail level.

Build a BPM Library

1. Sign into Lifecycle Services site and then Dynamics 365 for Operations project
2. Click the Business Process modeler tool
3. Right click on an existing library to create a new library
4. After creating a new library, add a business process hierarchy by selecting Author and Edit view underneath the Overview view
5. Drag the new process obelisk under Core Business Processes to begin creating the top level of the hierarchy.
6. Name the business process per the hierarchy constructed.
7. Add links and helpful resources to each business process node using process details menu items
8. Switch back to the Overview tab and open one of the business processes, which will currently be empty, and contain two tabs:
   • Flowchart will display automatically created flowcharts based on Dynamics 365 for Operations (D365EO) task recordings which capture step by step business processes.
   •  Visio will allow users to personalize their business process nodes by uploading process documents.
9. You’re now ready to begin creating process recordings in D365EO

Dynamics 365 for Operations Integration

 After the library hierarchy (our platform) has been built, begin to construct task recordings inside of our Dynamics 365 for Operations Browser Client. These recordings will be saved to specific levels in our platform to be later used for training and testing purposes.

1. Log in to the D365EO web client
2. Once authenticated navigate to settings in the top right ribbon and select task recorder
3. Four different options are presented: (create recording, play recording as guide, edit recording, and playback recording), create a recording and save it to the library.
   1. To create a new recording click create recording
   2. Assign a  meaningful name like create a sales order (process #) and description and press start to begin executing the business process
   3. Note that steps are recorded in the right task recorder pane and may be edited by utilizing the pen:
   4. Once complete,  press stop and save to specific business process node created in LCS
4. Review the process flow that was generated inside LCS and make adjustments as necessary

Endless applications

The power of the business process modeler lies in the ability for end users to learn autonomously and develop skills and knowledge around their company’s core Dynamics 365 for Operations business processes.  There is clear merit in utilization of BPM for companies with high turnover or seasonal employees that may engage with the BPM as a training guide. Further, companies that require documented business processes may utilize BPM as compliance resource that may be managed within the organization.

Authors

Socius, Jonathan Myer, Jennifer Johnson