Power BI is a Game-Changer for Small to Medium-Sized Businesses
In today’s data-driven world, even small to medium-sized businesses need robust tools to help them analyze data and make informed decisions. While larger corporations have historically had access to enterprise-grade analytics platforms, SMBs have historically struggled finding comparable solutions for exemplary analytics.
Enter Microsoft Power BI—a business intelligence (BI) tool that is accessible, scalable, and incredibly effective for businesses of all sizes. Here’s why Power BI is a great fit for small to medium-sized businesses.
Affordable Pricing
One of the most significant hurdles for SMBs when it comes to adopting business intelligence tools is cost. Power BI stands out by offering a pricing model that is incredibly cost-effective. With a free version that allows businesses to create and share basic reports, Power BI becomes an easy entry point for SMBs. For businesses that need more advanced features, the Pro version is still priced at a fraction of the cost of many competing platforms.
This makes Power BI an affordable solution for SMBs without sacrificing functionality, allowing them to get all the insights they need without breaking the bank.
Ease of Use
For many SMBs, the thought of implementing a complex BI tool can feel daunting. Power BI, however, is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive. Its drag-and-drop interface makes creating reports and dashboards accessible to non-technical users. Power BI also integrates seamlessly with familiar tools such as Excel, which means that teams can start leveraging data without needing to completely overhaul their workflow.
Additionally, Microsoft’s extensive library of tutorials and community resources ensure that users can quickly get up to speed with minimal hassle. This ease of use is essential for SMBs with limited IT resources.
Seamless Integration with Existing Tools
Most SMBs already use various tools for daily operations, such as customer relationship management (CRM) software, accounting tools, or marketing platforms. Power BI integrates smoothly with a vast range of data sources, including Microsoft products (like Excel, Azure, and SQL Server) and third-party applications such as Google Analytics, Salesforce, and QuickBooks. Power BI also has the capability to connect and pull data from almost any data source imaginable, making database incompatibility a thing of the past.
This level of integration ensures that SMBs don’t need to change their existing workflows. Power BI simply pulls in data from the tools they already use, making it easier to visualize, analyze, and make decisions based on that data.
Data-Driven Decision Making
Data is often referred to as the "new oil," but for SMBs, turning raw data into actionable insights can feel like a challenge. Power BI helps businesses harness the power of their data by turning it into visually appealing, easy-to-interpret reports and dashboards.
With Power BI, SMBs can gain deeper insights into their operations, customer behavior, sales trends, and financial health. These insights enable data-driven decision-making that can improve everything from marketing strategies to operational efficiency and customer service.
Real-Time Reporting and Dashboards
Small and medium-sized businesses need to make quick decisions, often in response to market changes or customer behavior shifts. Power BI offers real-time data updates, meaning that users can track performance indicators as they change, without the lag of traditional reporting methods.
Whether it’s monitoring inventory levels, tracking sales metrics, or analyzing social media performance, Power BI’s real-time reporting helps businesses stay agile and responsive in an ever-changing business environment.
Scalability and Flexibility
As businesses grow, their data analysis needs will evolve. Power BI is highly scalable, allowing SMBs to start small and expand as their needs change. Power BI Pro users can easily share and collaborate on reports with team members, while larger teams can opt for Power BI Premium for enhanced features and capacity.
This scalability ensures that SMBs don’t outgrow the platform as they scale, allowing them to continue using the same tool to meet increasingly complex data needs.
Collaboration and Sharing Capabilities
For many small to medium-sized businesses, collaboration is key. Power BI makes it easy to share insights with others in the organization. Reports and dashboards can be shared directly with team members, managers, or even clients, ensuring everyone is on the same page when it comes to performance metrics or strategic goals.
This collaborative nature also extends to mobile devices—Power BI has a mobile app that allows users to access reports and dashboards on the go. Whether in the office or on the road, business leaders can stay connected to their data wherever they are.
Data Security
Data security is always a top concern for any business. Microsoft Power BI is built with enterprise-grade security features, without the enterprise-grade cost. With Azure’s security capabilities, businesses can ensure that their data is encrypted both in transit and at rest. Power BI also offers role-based access, ensuring that sensitive information is only accessible to those who need it.
For SMBs without dedicated IT departments, Power BI provides peace of mind by offering a secure environment to handle their most important business data.
AI-Powered Insights
As the pace of innovation increases, businesses across the board have found AI to be a powerhouse of productivity. Power BI includes several AI features that allow SMBs to uncover deeper insights without needing a dedicated data science team. Features like Q&A allow users to ask natural language questions and receive instant answers, while machine learning tools can help identify trends or anomalies in the data.
These AI capabilities help SMBs unlock insights that might have been overlooked, making it easier to predict future trends, improve customer engagement, and make smarter business decisions.
Strong Community and Support
As with any tool, challenges and questions will arise, especially when you’re implementing something new. Power BI has a large and active user community that’s eager to help. There are forums, blogs, and an extensive library of Microsoft resources to support businesses as they learn the ins and outs of the platform.
For businesses looking for more personalized support, feel free to reach out to us at Sales@BondConsultingServices.com or click here to schedule a free consultation with one of our expert consultants. Get the most out of your Power BI investment with Bond Consulting Services as your Partner.
Business Central Licensing Overview
Business Central License Terms
Business Central licenses can be purchased by Yearly or Monthly terms. Monthly licenses have higher monthly fees but offer flexibility to cancel throughout the year and can be a great option for temporary access requirements.
Please inquire with your Bond Consulting Services team about current licensing fees. Feel free to reach out to us at Sales@BondConsultingServices.com or you can click here to schedule a free consultation with one of our Dynamics consultants.
Business Central Licenses
Business Central Team Member License
Read-only access plus limited access to creation and update for some functions for users that require inquiry and reporting access and minimal data entry needs.
Access Includes:
- Read (only) data within Business Central for inquiry and reporting.
- Update previously created master records, such as Customer, Vendor, or Item records plus some Personal Information. Also, limited specific accounting information.
- Create/Edit/Delete limited transaction functionality including Sales and Purchase Quotes and Timesheets for approval
- Approve or reject assigned workflow tasks with the limit that approvals and rejections can only update data in records that Business Central Team Members can access.
- Use the Dynamics 365 Power Apps/Power Automate use rights provided with a Dynamics 365 license.
- Business Central Team Members application module may be customized with maximum 15 additional tables (custom tables or standard Dataverse tables) available to the Business Central Team Members license.
Business Central Essentials License
Unrestricted access for commonly used Business Central functions for users that require full access to Business Central. Access excludes Manufacturing and Service Order Management functions (please see Premium license.)
Unrestricted Access Includes:
- Team Member Access (see above)
- Financial Management
- Supply Chain Management
- Warehouse Management and Inventory
- Customer Relationship Management
- Project Management
- Human Resources Management
- E-Services and AI-Supported Forecasting
Business Central Premium License
Unrestricted access for all Business Central functions including Manufacturing and Service Order Management functions.
Unrestricted Access Includes:
- Team Member and Essentials Access (see above)
- Manufacturing
- Service Order Management
Business Central External Accountant License
Business Central users can grant up to three (free) External Accountant licenses to allow their accountants access to Business Central.
- Accountant e-mail must be external to the organization.
- Accountant’s e-mail address must be based on Microsoft Entra-ID
- Business Central SMTP e-mail setup is required for the invitation.
Microsoft 365 Licenses/Users
Microsoft 365 configuration and user permissions may impact user access to some high-level functions in Business Central including installing, maintaining, registering, or connecting to 3rd party products. For example, users configured as M365 Global Admin will have more access than with a M365 User permission assignment.
Note: Internal users licensed with Microsoft 365 Business, Enterprise, and select other plans, whose organization has one or more Business Central licenses, are granted read-only access to Business Central data from within Microsoft Teams, at no additional cost.
Manage Multi-Factor Authentication in the Microsoft Entra Admin Portal
Managing your company's Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) methods is crucial for bolstering your overall cybersecurity posture. MFA adds an extra layer of security beyond traditional passwords, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data and systems.
By carefully managing your MFA methods, you can:
- Enhance Account Security: MFA significantly strengthens account security by requiring two or more forms of verification, such as a password and a code sent to a mobile device. This makes it much harder for attackers to gain unauthorized access, even if they have obtained a password.
- Reduce the Risk of Data Breaches: Data breaches can have devastating consequences, including financial losses, reputational damage, and legal liabilities. By implementing and effectively managing MFA, you significantly reduce the likelihood of successful data breaches.
- Comply with Industry Regulations: Many industries have regulations that require the use of strong authentication methods, such as MFA. Implementing and managing effective MFA solutions ensures your organization remains compliant with these regulations.
- Boost Employee Confidence: By implementing robust security measures, you demonstrate a commitment to protecting your employees' data and building trust within your organization.
By regularly reviewing and updating your MFA policies and procedures, you can ensure your organization maintains a strong security posture and protects its valuable assets.
Now admin can manage MFA practices within the Microsoft Entra Admin Portal.
Search for Individual Users
- In the Microsoft Admin Center, select Active Users from the left menu, and then select "Multi-factor authentication" this will navigate you to the Microsoft Entra Admin Portal.
- Click the “User” tab from the left menu.
- Select the subcategory “All Users” to search the directory.
- Type to search for an individual user. Select their profile.
- Select “Authentication methods” to easily manage that user's MFA.
Reregister a User’s MFA and Revoking MFA Sessions
Easily request a user to renew their MFA methods or revoke a user's MFA sessions by using the buttons at the top of the page.
Regularly renewing your Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) methods is crucial for maintaining strong cybersecurity. By updating your methods, you mitigate the risk of compromised devices, adapt to evolving cyber threats, and ensure compliance with industry regulations.
When a user's device or credentials are compromised, revoking their active MFA sessions immediately invalidates any existing authentication tokens. This action forces the user to re-authenticate, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access their accounts. By proactively revoking MFA sessions in situations like device loss, password resets, or suspected security breaches, organizations can significantly enhance their security posture and minimize the potential impact of cyberattacks.
For more information about cybersecurity in your Microsoft environment, you can always reach out to us at Sales@BondConsultingServices.com or you can click here to schedule a free consultation with one of our experts. You can also visit our YouTube channel for other Dynamics product videos including recorded webinars and daily use walkthroughs.
1099 Processing in Business Central ver. 2024
1099 Tax Season Processing
This document outlines the 1099 tax season processing capabilities within Dynamics 365 Business Central, starting with version 2024. A key enhancement in this version is the ability to electronically transmit 1099 forms to the IRS using IRIS and send copies to vendors annually by the January deadline. This document assumes that you are familiar with the process of posting 1099-liable purchase documents within Business Central.
Summary of Steps:
- Enable the new Functionality
- Update 1099 Form Boxes
- Create a new 1099 Reporting Period
- Edit the 1099 email body if necessary.
- Make any corrections in the Vendor Ledger Entries
- Transmit the Vendor 1099 Magnetic Media
- Print/Email 1099s
Enable the New Functionality
From version 24.0, you can start using this new 1099 functionality for better transparency, integration, and automation. To do this, you must enable this new feature using the Feature Management page.
- Search and open Feature Management
- Locate “Feature Update: Enable using 1099 forms to transmit the tax data to the IRS in the United States” and select the “All users” option under “Enabled for” if it already had “All users,” this feature was previously enabled in your system.
This feature integrates with the IRS and doesn't print 1099 Tax Forms on preprinted original IRS 1099 Tax Forms. Instead, Business Central submits 1099 Tax Forms through integration with IRS and sends Copy B to vendors as Copy Substitutions printed on plain paper.
Update 1099 Form Boxes
Navigate to 1099 Form Boxes and click “Update Form Boxes” to ensure you have the updated form boxes. The process runs in the background without any feedback.
Creating a new IRS Reporting Period
- Search and open “IRS Reporting Period.”
- Add the year you will be processing, specifying “Starting Date,” “Ending Date,” and the period’s “Description.”
- Create the next year so that it can be used for the new transactions.
- Use “Copy Setup From…” to copy the setup from a previous period; enter or select a previous period and click on OK.
Edit the 1099 Email Body if Necessary
- Search “IRS Forms Setup”
- Select whether you want to protect the TIN or show it.
- Click on “Email Content Setup” to edit the email Subject and Body, make any changes, and click OK to continue.
- Close “IRS Forms Setup.”
Make any corrections in the Vendor Ledger Entries – 1099 Fields
If any corrections are necessary, you can correct the information on the Vendor Ledger Entries page.
- Search and open “Vendor Ledger Entries.”
- Click on Edit List
- Find the records that might need corrections and scroll to the right to locate the 1099 fields.
- Edit the IRS 1099 Form No, the IRS 1099 Form Box No, and the IRS Reporting Amount, as necessary.
Process the 1099 Vendor 1099 Magnetic Media
This step is to transmit the 1099 information to the IRS after corrections and adjustments have been made and requires that you have an IRIS Transmitter Control Code, a unique 5-digit numeric code (for more information: IRIS application for TCC)
- Seach and open “1099 Form Boxes”
- Select “Vendor 1099 Magnetic Media”
- Type in the reporting calendar year and your Transmitter Control Code.
- Enter the required Transmitter Information; ensure you enter accurate information in case the IRS needs to contact you.
- Enable the “Test File” toggle to create a file you can review. Disable the toggle when you are ready to transmit the file.
- Enter the required information under Vendor Information; for this example, we used Microsoft and the software vendor.
- Click OK to transmit the file or to produce the test file.
Print/Email 1099s – PDF Copy Substitutions
The IRS will accept copy substitutions, which are reports that are easy to modify and do not need to be adjusted to print on a preprinted form.
To send forms to your vendors, they must consent to receive 1099 emails, which is set up on the Vendor Card page. The consent option acknowledges that your vendor provided signed consent to receive their 1099 form electronically using email.
- Search and open “IRS Reporting Periods.”
- Select the proper period.
- Select Documents to open the “IRS 1099 Form Documents” page.
- Select Create Forms and specify the reporting period in Period, enable Replace if you need to recreate the forms, and click OK.
- Select all vendors, then select Send Emails, select the Report Type, Copy B or Copy 2, and click OK.
- The checkboxes for Copy B Sent or Copy 2 Sent are checked to see if the email was successfully sent.
- The Status must be Submitted, which is set when you transmit the Vendor Magnetic Media. If the file was not transmitted because it was not necessary for your situation, you can open each vendor and change the Status to Submitted before you can print documents.
If the email failed, you would find the successful and failed emails in the “Activity Log” page, which you can open from the “IRS 1099 Form Documents” page under Actions.
- If a vendor does not consent to receive emails, the report should be printed instead. To do so, select the Vendor, then select Print > Print to print Copy B, Copy 2, or Copy C (which stays with the employer).
As for version 24.x, multiple reports cannot be printed at the same time.
For more information about the 1099 process please reach out to us at Sales@BondConsultingServices.com or click here to schedule a free consultation with one of our Dynamics expert consultants. We hope you have a great year end closing process and a fantastic New Year!
Dynamics 365 Sales Hub Role Management
If you encounter an issue where you are unable to access the Sales Hub in Dynamics 365 it is probably a matter of Role Permissions.
As a Dynamics 365 Sales user, you rely on the Sales Hub as your primary interface for managing customer relationships and driving sales. However, if you encounter an issue where you are unable to access the Sales Hub, it is likely related to insufficient role permissions. Security roles within Dynamics 365 play a critical role in controlling user access to specific features, records, and data. By carefully managing these roles, you can ensure that users have the appropriate level of access while maintaining data security and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Manage the roles with access to the Sales Hub by following these steps:
- Click the Sales Hub app or the name of the app that you are currently accessing.
- Locate the Sales Hub app and click the ellipses icon and click Manage Roles.
- You will then see a list of security roles that have access to the Sales Hub. Here you may select any role that should have access to the Sales hub and then click Save. Roles that are already selected will appear in the blue highlight like below.
After making these changes, affected users should now be able to access the Sales Hub.
If you have any questions about this process, please reach out to us at Sales@BondConsultingServices.com or you can click here to schedule a free consultation with one of our Dynamics experts. Alternatively, you can always visit our YouTube channel for helpful recorded webinars and product videos.
Business Central | Dimensions Setup
Dimensions in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central are powerful tools that allow you to categorize and analyze your financial data in a flexible and meaningful way. By using dimensions, you can track and report on various aspects of your business, such as departments, projects, or regions, without having to create a complex chart of accounts. By following this guide, you'll be able to effectively set up and utilize dimensions in Business Central, enhancing your ability to track and analyze your business performance.
Setting Up a New Dimension in Business Central
- Select the
icon, enter Dimensions and choose the option in red below.
- In the Dimensions page, click on “+New” option
- Enter a Code and a Name for the new dimension (e.g., Code: DEPT, Name: Department).
- Code – Code for the new dimension (20-character limit)
- Name – Full description of the new dimension (100-character limit)
Once the dimension has been created, you will now need to define its values. Dimension values in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central are specific categories or tags that you assign to transactions and master data to provide additional context and detail. They help you break down and analyze your financial data in more granular ways.
- Select the dimension you just created and click on Dimension > Dimension Values.
- Click "+ New" option to add values.
- You will enter a Code and a Name for each value. (e.g., Sales, Manufacturing, Administration).
- Code – Code for the dimension value (20 character limit)
- Name – Full description of the dimension value (100 character limit)
The information will automatically save, and you will then be able to select among the dimension values in transactions for this dimension.
Setup Global and Shortcut dimensions
Configuring global and shortcut dimensions in Business Central allows you to streamline your reporting and data entry processes. Global dimensions are used as filters in reports and batch jobs, providing a consistent way to categorize and analyze data across your organization. Shortcut dimensions, on the other hand, are available as fields on journal and document lines, making it easy to assign dimensions during transaction entry.
- Select the icon, enter General Ledger Setup and choose the option in red below.
- In the General Ledger setup, go to the Dimensions section and assign the newly created dimension under the dimension number you would like it to be.
(NOTE: If you need to assign them as a global dimension and the existing two are already populated you will need to select Home > Change Global Dimensions. This is a whole system change, so we caution that this is only done if necessary.)
Once the dimension has been set up and assigned, it will become available in the data entry pages as needed. For more information about Dimensions, please reach out to us at Sales@BondConsultingServices.com or click here to schedule a free consultation with one of our Microsoft Dynamics 365 experts. Alternatively, you can always visit our YouTube channel for helpful product videos and recorded webinars.
Business Central | Year-End Process 2024
Closing the financial year in Business Central is a crucial process that ensures your company’s financial records are accurate and up to date. This guide will walk you through each step of the year-end close process, from preparing your accounts and reconciling balances to generating final reports and rolling over balances to the new fiscal year. By following these steps, you can streamline your year-end activities, minimize errors, and ensure a smooth transition into the next financial year.
Recommendations for Year-End Close
Preparation is key to a smooth year-end close process in Business Central. Here are some key recommendations:
- Review Financial Statements: Ensure all transactions for the fiscal year are recorded.
- Reconcile Accounts: Reconcile bank accounts, customer and vendor balances, and other key accounts.
- Adjust Entries: Make any necessary adjusting entries for accruals, deferrals, and corrections.
- Restrict Posting to prior year: Once the reconciliations are completed, we recommend the restriction of posting to the prior year for most users through the General Ledger Setup or User Setup page.
- Review the “Income/Balance” field of all your accounts to ensure they are set up correctly: This step is important because the close income statement process will determine which accounts will roll up to retained earnings (Income Statement accounts) and which accounts’ balances will carry over to the new year (Balance Sheet accounts).
Accounting Periods
To run the year-end close process, you must first close the year within the accounting periods window. Closing the year will not prevent you from posting transactions into that year, but it is necessary to enable the close income statement process. Please find the steps below.
Closing Accounting Period
- Select the icon, enter Accounting Periods and choose the option highlighted below.
- In the Accounting Periods window select Home > Close Year
- Click Yes to continue the closing of the year.
(NOTE: As noted previously, although the year has been closed this does not restrict users from posting to a prior year. Users will still be able to post to a past year if they are allowed to within the General Ledger Setup or User setup Posting to and from fields.) - The accounting periods for the selected year will now show as “CLOSED”
Creating a new Accounting Period Year
As preparation for the new year, you can create the new fiscal year within the accounting periods page. If it has already been setup, please skip this section.
- In the Accounting Periods window select Process > Create Year
- In the Create Fiscal Year page
- Starting Date – First Day of new Fiscal Year
- No of Periods – 12
- Period Length – 1M (Specifies one month)
- Click Ok to create the year
Close Income Statement
In Business Central, the Close Income Statement batch process is used to transfer the year’s balances to a retained earnings account on the balance sheet and to close all income statement accounts. This process generates a journal that needs to be posted manually in the desired batch.
In Business Central, you can run the Close Income Statement process multiple times. Even after closing the fiscal year, you can still post to the previous year by re-running the close income statement process. The journal entries created during this process will have a “C” prefix before the date, to distinguish them as closing entries.
- Choose the icon, enter Close Income Statement and choose the option in red below.
- In the Close Income Statement window, populate the fields as follows
- Fiscal Year Ending Date: Enter the ending date of the fiscal year you are closing
- Gen Journal Template: Select “GENERAL”
- Gen Journal batch: Choose an existing batch or create a new one where you would like the close income statement to be created.
- Document No.: Will populate automatically with the next document number or you can enter a desired document number.
- Retained Earnings Acc.: Select your retained earnings account
- Post to Retained Earnings Acc: Determines the level of detail for the closing entry:
- Balance: Retained Earnings are posted as an extra line with a summarized amount.
- Details: Entries are posted with the Retained Earnings account as a balancing account on each line.
- Posting Description: Default message is “Close Income Statement” but can be changed as needed.
- In the Close By section:
- Business unit code – Mark this option if you are running the close in a consolidation company and want to close by the business unit (company).
- Dimensions – If dimensions are used, click on the “….” to select the dimension codes that you would like to close by. This will create close entries for each Income Statement GL account by dimension.
- Click Ok. Business Central will then begin creating the closing journal entries in the batch specified in the Close Income Statement window. Once the process is complete, a confirmation message will be displayed.
Post Closing General Journal Entry
- Under the Finance menu select General Journals or choose the icon and enter General Journals.
- Select the batch that you entered in the Edit – Close Income Statement window.
- You can then review the general ledger entries created, and you will see that the posting date will have a “C” in front of the date to distinguish them as closing entries.
- When ready to post click on Home > Post.
This completes the close income statement process in Business Central. Remember, if you need to make any adjustments, including auditor adjustments, you can always post back to the prior fiscal year by updating the allowed posting dates in the General Ledger Setup or User setup page. However, you will need to rerun the close income statement process to update the retained earnings account accordingly. This ensures that your financial records remain accurate and up to date.
- Under the Finance menu select General Journals or choose the
Microsoft's Autonomous Agents: A Powerful Tool for Business Automation
Microsoft's Autonomous Agents are AI-powered tools that can significantly enhance business operations. By automating routine tasks and making data-driven decisions, these agents can free up employees to focus on higher-value work.
Autonomous Agents can automate a wide range of tasks, from simple data entry to complex process automation. They can analyze large datasets to identify trends and patterns, enabling businesses to make informed decisions. Additionally, these agents can understand and respond to natural language queries, fostering seamless collaboration between humans and AI.
Imagine a customer service representative who spends a significant amount of time responding to common customer inquiries. An Autonomous Agent could be trained on a knowledge base of frequently asked questions and common responses. When a customer query is received, the agent can quickly analyze the query, retrieve the relevant information from the knowledge base, and generate an accurate and informative response. This automation not only speeds up response times but also frees up the representative to handle more complex issues.
Key Capabilities of Autonomous Agents:
- Task Automation: Agents can automate repetitive tasks, such as data entry, report generation, and email responses.
- Process Automation: They can automate entire business processes, from lead generation to order fulfillment.
- Intelligent Decision-Making: Agents can analyze data and make informed decisions, such as recommending products or services.
- Natural Language Understanding: Agents can understand and respond to natural language queries, enabling seamless human-AI interaction.
Benefits of Using Autonomous Agents:
- Increased Productivity: Automation of routine tasks frees up employees to focus on more strategic work.
- Enhanced Efficiency: Streamlined workflows and reduced errors lead to increased efficiency.
- Improved Decision-Making: Data-driven insights and recommendations can help businesses make better decisions.
- Enhanced Customer Experience: Faster response times and personalized interactions can lead to improved customer satisfaction.
By leveraging the power of Autonomous Agents, businesses can unlock new opportunities, increase productivity, and improve customer satisfaction. For more information about these autonomous agents, please reach out to us at Sales@BondConsultingServices.com or you can click here to schedule a free consultation with one of our Dynamics experts. Alternatively, you can always visit our YouTube channel for helpful product videos and recorded webinars.
AI Form Fill in Dynamics 365 Business Central
Microsoft's AI Form Fill feature within Dynamics 365 Business Central is a game-changer for productivity. This innovative tool leverages AI to suggest and automatically fill in form fields based on user behavior, existing data, and common patterns. By analyzing user interactions and historical data, the AI engine can proactively suggest relevant information, significantly reducing data entry time and minimizing errors. This feature empowers users to work more efficiently, focus on strategic tasks, and improve overall productivity.
This feature is enabled by default after Business Central's most recent update, but some people have had trouble getting used to it. Some of our clients have even asked how to disable this feature. To disable AI Form Fill please follow these steps:
- Navigate to Power Platform Admin Center (https://admin.powerplatform.microsoft.com)
- Select your Environment from the Environment section – If you have multiple environments you will have to turn it off in each environment.
- Choose Settings from the top ribbon
- Under Product, select Features
- Under AI Form Fill Assistance: Turn off the AI form fill assistance feature for all users or set to No one.
- Click Save to update your settings – You will need to scroll to the bottom of the page to find the Save button.
For more information about Dynamics 365 Business Central, please reach out to us at Sales@BondConsultingServices.com or you can click here to schedule a free consultation with one of our Dynamics experts. Alternatively, you can always visit our YouTube channel for helpful product videos and recorded webinars.
Expense Tracking Module for Dynamics 365 Field Service
We recently developed a custom expense tracking module for a client's Dynamics 365 Field Service implementation. This module enhances the platform's capabilities by enabling field technicians to directly record and track expenses within work orders. By capturing detailed information such as expense type, quantity, unit price, and chargeability, the module empowers organizations to improve financial accuracy, streamline reimbursement processes, and gain valuable insights into field service costs. This customization significantly improves the overall efficiency and effectiveness of Dynamics 365 Field Service.
When a technician is on site, they might need to purchase parts that they don't have on hand. Technicians would then go to a hardware store and get supplies with their personal credit card and need to be reimbursed. Another example is lodging, if an employee has to pay for a hotel the employer would be able to track that expense to a work order.
Within the Work Order, you can navigate to the Expense record to see the purpose of the expense and when it was incurred. The Expense record tracks expense type, whether the charge is for lodging, equipment, or another category, and the chargeability of an expense. Technicians are able to create and submit their expenses for managerial approval. A manager has the ability to review the details before approving the record. Approved Expense records can then be pushed to an accounting system for processing in addition to providing complete and thorough documentation of the project for further analysis and appropriate cost allocation.
Key Features:
- Intuitive Expense Tracking: Easily record and track expenses directly within Dynamics 365 Field Service work orders.
- Flexible Expense Categories: Categorize expenses by type, such as lodging, equipment, or supplies, for better analysis and reporting.
- Chargeable vs. Non-Chargeable Expenses: Differentiate between expenses that can be billed to customers and those that should be absorbed by the company.
- Real-Time Visibility: Monitor expense status, track reimbursements, and gain insights into your field service costs.
Benefits of Our Customization:
- Improved Financial Accuracy: Maintain accurate records of field service expenses for better financial reporting.
- Enhanced Cost Management: Gain visibility into expense trends and identify opportunities for cost savings.
- Streamlined Reimbursement Processes: Simplify the reimbursement process for technicians, reducing administrative overhead.
- Enhanced Customer Billing: Accurately bill customers for chargeable expenses, improving revenue capture.
For more information, please reach out to us at Sales@BondConsultingServices.com or you can click here to schedule a free consultation with one of our Dynamics consultants. Alternatively, you can always visit our YouTube channel for helpful product videos and recorded webinars.