Item: Microsoft Dynamics 365
Rating: 7
Author: Alexander Cooper

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is being implemented to clients aided through our consulting services. We have multiple clients using Microsoft Dynamics to focus data in Sales, Finance, and Marketing primarily. We are keen to migrate clients to the cloud, as the benefits of Microsoft Dynamics 365 in the cloud are greater than on-premise solutions. However, we consult in both areas.

Pros and Cons

Having options for both cloud and on-premise solutions. Some clients, especially government contracts do not allow cloud-based solutions and must have on-premise. However, for most the cloud is the better option.
Multiple versions, such as enterprise and business edition, are not completely dissimilar. As a user of the business edition, it was easy to pick up the enterprise edition. Both are available for clients that may require different scales of solutions.
Microsoft's AI suite is among the best in the world and its integration with Microsoft Dynamics is very desirable for clients, and offers exciting advantages for sales.

Customization is tricky with Microsoft Dynamics 365. Javascript is primarily used, and due to this most business edition users keep their solution as "out of the box" as possible to save time and cost.
The out of the box interface is clunky, and those who do not want to customize the interface will lose time figuring out and navigating through the complex interface.
To get the most out of Microsoft Dynamics 365, you need integrations with the rest of Microsoft's suite, which incurs more cost and can make it so you're putting all your "eggs in one basket".

Return on Investment

For those without a centralized, all in one solution for major HR, Finance and other departments, Microsoft Dynamics 365 has vastly improved employee time utilization and profit.
Migrating clients from on-premise to the cloud has reaped benefits including better security, no unscheduled downtime and frequent updates to functionality.
Those transferring from cheaper solutions have lost money in the aim to be better integrated with other Microsoft products and AI they don't really utilize.

Alternatives Considered

Salesforce Service Cloud

Salesforce has more desirable functions than Microsoft Dynamics 365, at a competitive price. Its user interface is far more superior, it has more customization, easier customization, and out of the box it is more pleasing to the eye and to the end user. If the client doesn't have a deep-rooted connection with Microsoft I wouldn't leap to Dynamics 365.

Other Software Used

UiPath Enterprise RPA Platform, Blue Prism, Microsoft 365 Business

Likelihood to Recommend

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is well suited when you already have existing Microsoft products ready to be integrated, and skilled Javascript developers to aid in the customization. Microsoft's different levels of Dynamics 365 make it appealing to different sized clients. The ability to manage sales, HR, finance, integrated with artificial intelligence and other Microsoft solutions makes it a great choice. However, its use of MS SQL primarily is annoying, as the clients I dealt with were migrating from Oracle solutions using MySQL, so these clients required a large and long-winded data migration.

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Software Version

Overall Satisfaction with Microsoft Dynamics 365 (formerly Microsoft Dynamics CRM)