How to Integrate Microsoft Power Platform with Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations
With 33 million monthly active users, Microsoft Power Platform has completely changed how companies handle data analysis, process automation, and solution development. When combined with Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations, now formally called Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management, it opens a fresh world of opportunities for improving business insight and efficiency.
This thorough guide will examine how to optimize the components of the Power Platform to enhance Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations.
Development of a Data-Driven Culture
Organizations, in the digital era of today, are more determined to build a culture that understands the value of data-driven decision-making. This change not only emphasizes the importance of data accessibility but also enables teams to properly utilize it. These initiatives support the mission of transforming business operations digitally, which helps companies use data for optimizing operations, customer involvement, and overall efficiency.
Digital transformation lets companies improve internal processes, streamline operations, and engage customers in more significant ways. Companies can improve their ability to control data, automate processes, and get meaningful insights by using Microsoft Power Platform, hence advancing their digital transformation path.
Microsoft Power Platform: At a Glance
The Microsoft Power Platform comprises tools meant to empower users with superior capabilities for data analysis, application development, and process automation. There are five components to the platform:
- Power BI: It possesses strong business intelligence and analytics features that let users generate interactive reports and dashboards with real-time data access.
- Power Apps: It lets users create unique apps with little coding by using both canvas and model-driven app types to handle certain business demands.
- Power Automate: It helps to streamline processes and increase productivity by allowing the automation of repetitive actions and procedures across different applications and services.
- Power Virtual Agents: Users of Power Virtual Agents can design intelligent chatbots that improve client interactions and automatically answer frequently asked questions.
- Power Pages: It lets customers design external-facing webpages for gathering or presenting data from Dynamics 365 and Power Apps.
Dataverse, formerly known as the Common Data Service (CDS), links these elements by aggregating data from many sources to offer a consistent picture and support advanced analytics and automation.
Contact Dynamics Square to extend the capabilities of your Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations by integrating Power Platform. Schedule a free call now!
Steps to Integrate Power Platform with Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations
Speaking of Power Platform integration possibilities, some of the popular options include:
- With a new Microsoft Dataverse instance
- With an existing Microsoft Dataverse instance
- Dual-write setup from Lifecycle Services
Here we shall elaborate on connecting finance and operations apps with a new Microsoft Dataverse instance.
Connecting Finance and Operations Apps with a New Microsoft Dataverse Instance
Administrators utilizing Microsoft Dynamics Lifecycle Services are discovering that many features today call for setting up a connection to Dataverse via Power Platform Integration. Setting up and linking a Dataverse instance is simple for users who have not yet embraced Dataverse for low-code applications, services, or other Dynamics 365 apps.
The steps below lead you through the process of essentially merging your financial and operations apps environment with a new Dataverse instance into a single logical environment.
1. Choose Setup on the Power Platform Integration Tab
Use the Power Platform Integration FastTab by first navigating to your sandbox or production environment in Lifecycle Services. Should the Setup button be accessible, you can now set your Dataverse connection configuration.
(Source: Microsoft)
2. Setup Dataverse using a Template
Select a template in the Power Platform Integration Setup dialog box to add Dataverse to your initial Power Platform environment. Leave the "Use a different Power Platform Environment" choice selected as No. See the section on linking finance and operations apps with an existing Dataverse instance if you require to connect to one already in use.
Available templates include:
- Dynamics 365 Standard: Not including application maps for dual-write, it enables add-ins, virtual entities, business events, and dual-write components.
- Dynamics 365 Standard with Dual-write: Adds all standard template capabilities plus application maps for dual-write.
- Project Operations: This template comprises all capabilities of the Dynamics 365 Standard with a Dual-write template together with solutions required for customers with a Dynamics 365 Project Operations license.
- Choose a template: next, click Setup and check Agree.
3. Confirm Your Action
A dialog box with a warning message that the connection process is irreversible will show up. Like applying a platform upgrade to your environment, this action cannot be undone once finished. Start by typing your name into the dialog box.
(Source: Microsoft)
4. Wait for Provisioning to Finish
Usually, the provision of the new Dataverse instance takes a few minutes. You may have a little downtime during this period when the X++ runtime identifies a new connection to Dataverse. While Dataverse is being integrated, the environment will show as "Preparing" in the Power Platform admin area.
Important Notes:
- Irreversibility: Connecting a finance and operations apps environment to a Dataverse instance is a one-way process. If you need to delete the Dataverse instance later, refer to the guide on deleting environments with Power Platform Integration enabled.
- Prerequisites: Ensure you have at least 1 GB of Microsoft Power Platform database storage available. Validate the governance policy of your tenant in the Power Platform admin center and ensure the user performing the setup has the necessary roles and licenses.
Recommended Guidelines:
- Choose "Yes" for the "Use a different Power Platform Environment" option in Step 2 in case you already have a Dataverse instance and wish to link it with your finance and operations environment.
- To keep a 1:1 mapping, treat your operations environment and Power Platform environment as one entity across lifecycle operations.
- Following these guidelines will help you to combine your operations and financial apps environment with Dataverse so unleashing features like add-ins, dual-write, virtual entities, and business events for optimum functionality.
In summary, integrating Microsoft Power Platform with Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations creates a lot of opportunities for custom application development, process automation, and data-based deeper insights. Businesses can improve their operations, interact with customers more successfully, and forward their digital transformation initiatives by using the capabilities of Power Platform.
Leverage Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Microsoft Dynamics ERP alongside these tools to further enhance customer engagement and streamline your business processes.
Partner with Dynamics Square for Successful Power Platform Implementation
Please contact us if you have any concerns or require help integrating Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations. We are Dynamics Square, a reputed Dynamics 365 implementation partner in the USA for over 12 years now.
With the help of the team of expert consultants, we perform a deep analysis of your business and tailor Dynamics 365 solutions as per your specific requirements.
You can simply send an email to arish.siddiqui@dynamicssquare.com or give us a call at +1 281 899 0865 if you need any help.
Also Read:
An Insight into Asset Management in Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations
How Copilot in Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations Boost Efficiency
How Power Apps with Business Central Integration Works?
Power Automate with Business Central: Amp Up Your Business with Automated Solutions
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Samar Malik is a senior SaaS writer with an experience of 7+ years. With a list of numerous posts ranking on SERP, he is working with the sole motto of making SaaS technology more human. His deep knowledge of technology and engaging writing style shed light on its complexities, helping readers worldwide gain a deeper understanding.
