Dynamics 365 Business Central 2024 Release Wave 1: What’s New?

The 2024 release wave 1 for Dynamics 365 Business Central brings many exciting updates and enhancements that empower businesses and help them further simplify their operations.

From improved project and service management to seamless integration with Power Platform applications, this release aims to enhance productivity, boost automation, and provide an integrated experience for users.

In this blog, we’ll get to know the key features and changes introduced in Business Central for the 2024 release wave 1. Let’s explore the latest innovations in Business Central and how they can help in your business processes.

Microsoft Copilot Studio

Microsoft Copilot Studio is a visual software development tool that uses low-code techniques to create and manage copilots. A Copilot is an AI-driven conversational interface that relies on large language models (LLMs) and supplementary information sources.

In the 2024 release wave 1, Microsoft Copilot Studio introduces several enhancements:

1. Native Capabilities for Extending Microsoft Copilots

Copilot Studio enables creators to build, evaluate, and deploy custom copilots through a comprehensive authoring canvas. You can create generative AI-enabled conversations, manage responses, and automate workflows within Microsoft 365’s governance controls.

2. IVR Support in Conjunction with Dynamics Customer Service

Improved integration with Dynamics 365 Customer Service for interactive voice response (IVR) requirements.

3. General Availability for Generative Actions

You can expect more powerful generative actions to increase your copilots’ capabilities.

4. Geo-Expansions to UAE and Germany

Now Copilot Studio will be available in more regions, and that includes the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Germany.

5. Software Lifecycle Management Capabilities

You can manage your copilot topics with ease using topic-level import/export and role-based access control (RBAC).

For additional information, you can explore the official documentation.

AI Builder

AI Builder is a feature within Microsoft Power Platform that allows you to create and use customized AI models for your business needs. Whether you choose prebuilt models or create your own, AI Builder enables you to simplify processes, get insights, and optimize your workflows.

As per the release of wave 1 in 2024, AI Builder focuses on three key areas:

1. Prompt Builder for GPT Prompts

AI Builder introduces a new interface called Prompt Builder. It allows you to develop, evaluate, and deploy generative AI prompts for large language models (LLMs). These prompts can be used for various situations, including content generation, content classification, insight generation, and information extraction.

2. Intelligent Document Processing

AI Builder expands its capabilities with intelligent document processing, including ID verification. New features and models assist in streamlining tasks like invoice processing, sentiment analysis, text translation, and optical character recognition (OCR).

3. AI Governance Improvements

The 2024 release wave 1 includes improvements in AI governance and administration. This covers areas like capacity management, usage monitoring, application lifecycle management (ALM), access control, and sharing and deploying AI models and prompts.

Reach out to Dynamics Square to maximize the benefits of Dynamics 365 Business Central. Schedule a free consultation today!

Power Automate

Power Automate is a low-code tool that allows the creation of automated workflows between applications and services. It supports file synchronization, notifications, and data gathering, among other tasks, which can be initiated by specific events or manually. In Dynamics 365, Power Automate provides a way to automate tasks and custom logic.

In the 2024 release wave 1, Microsoft Power Automate is introducing several exciting features including:

1. Copilot for Power Automate: This brings advanced AI capabilities across cloud flows, desktop flows, and process mining. Users can now use natural language to get optimization opportunities, build automation, and troubleshoot issues more efficiently.

2. Cloud Flows Enhancements

• Create Power Automate flows directly in Excel.
• Use workflows on calendar events in Teams and Outlook.
• Monitor performance for cloud and desktop flow activities.
• View two action properties panes simultaneously.
• Utilize undo and redo while building cloud flows.
• Simplified OData editor for actions like Get items and Get files.
• Manage unpublished solution-aware cloud flows using admin APIs.
• Connect to other environments from the Microsoft Dataverse connector.
• Cancel all flow runs for a version of a flow.
• Receive intelligent license recommendations for admins.
• Create AI flows in Power Automate.
• Use Copilot with the French language.
• Generate descriptions for cloud flows using AI.
• Use flows with connections from users in Copilot Studio.
• Push cloud flow execution data into Application Insights.

3. Process Mining Improvements

• Get insights through AI.
• Use out-of-the-box templates for rapid deployment.
• Integrate with Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management and more.

Remember that these features are planned to be released from April 2024 through September 2024, so stay tuned for updates!

Microsoft Dataverse

Microsoft Dataverse, in short, is a cloud-based, low-code data platform that serves as a robust solution for managing and storing business data. It provides a secure, scalable solution that serves as a key data storage facility for companies.

Let’s check out the key takeaways from the Dynamics 365 Business Central 2024 release wave 1:

1. Overview

• Business Central is a business management application designed for small and mid-sized organizations. It streamlines processes related to finances, supply chain, manufacturing, shipping, projects, and services.
• The release focuses on simplicity, making it easy to implement and configure.
• Copilot capabilities have been enhanced, allowing users to optimize business processes and complete tasks faster.
• Microsoft Power Platform integration enables easier workflow setup and more automation scenarios.
• Global Availability: Business Central is now accessible in over 155 countries and regions.

2. Specific Enhancements

• Application: Improved project and service management capabilities.
• Finance: Enhanced consolidation experience.
• Development: Continued investment in productivity tools for developers (GitHub, Visual Studio Code, and AppSource marketplace).
• Governance and Administration: Self-service features for granular access management and audit operations.

3. Power Platform Integration

• The release incorporates features from various Power Platform applications, including Power BI, Power Apps, Power Pages, Power Automate, Microsoft Copilot Studio, and AI Builder.
• Microsoft Dataverse and Power Platform functionalities enhance governance and administration.

In summary, the 2024 release wave 1 brings improvements across several domains such as finance, development, and governance that empower businesses to be more efficient and adaptable.

With these improvements, businesses can optimize their operations, automate functions, and achieve greater productivity. For more details, you can refer to the official Microsoft Learn article.

How can Dynamics Square help you leverage the latest features of Business Central?

Dynamics Square is a renowned Dynamics 365 implementation partner with extensive experience of more than a decade. With the pool of expert consultants, we have successfully rendered our services to various organizations across the United States.

Our goal is to maximize the growth of our clients by ensuring a seamless Business Central implementation process. Should you need any assistance, feel free to call us directly on +1 281 899 0865 or simply write an email at arish.siddiqui@dynamicssquare.com.