Microsoft Dynamics 365 Migration Guide
Updated: May 23, 2022
It’s important to understand that every Dynamics 365 migration is unique.
Two companies in the same industry might select the same Microsoft stack to address the same set of problems. Yet–despite the overlap, the same two companies can have completely different migration experiences.
In part, that’s by design. Dynamics 365 is a set of modules that you can buy as part of a plan or a la carte. That way, you have the flexibility to design an ERP system around your organization’s unique needs and processes.
But these one-of-a-kind journeys have less to do with which modules and add-ons you choose than the sheer amount of variables that come into play. Those variables include everything from custom code and third-party enhancement solutions to your goals and the maturity of your data strategy.
In this Dynamics 365 migration guide, we’ll share some best practices to help you prepare for the big move – and everything that follows.
Evaluate Your Current ERP System
Failing to address business requirements and process flows early on can undermine the entire migration. Before getting started you’ll want to:
Document current processes. Start by taking a deep dive into your current solution. This includes all data sources, apps, integrations, processes, and data flows. What’s working well? What’s not working? Where are you running into information silos or experiencing poor alignment?
Interview end-users. Next, you’re trying to figure out how the current system impacts the real people using it every day. Ask specific questions about what users like—or don’t–about the current system. Where are users experiencing pain points? Which processes contain too many steps or take longer than they should? What would they like to take with them when they move to the cloud?
Learn About Everything Dynamics 365 Brings to the Table Many of the new functionalities center around unification, visibility, and alignment between people, processes, and technology.
Last week we highlighted the general benefits that come when you move from an on-premises solution to the cloud. Unfortunately, companies often fail to define how processes can improve and try to recreate old processes in the new system.
Instead, consider how new functionalities address employee pain points or help your business capitalize on emerging opportunities. A few examples:
With Power BI for Microsoft Teams and Office 365, you can streamline remote collaboration, knowledge sharing, and surface high-priority tasks. You also can use team usage data to identify opportunities to help employees be more productive. How are they spending their time? Which processes could be automated? Which workflows could be optimized?
If you’re looking for ways to improve your supply chain management capabilities, you might look for ways to leverage IoT data inside Business Central. Think–real-time inventory counts or predictive sales forecasting that can help you manage cash flow or better optimize warehouse space.
Or you could train employees to build new apps themselves using Microsoft’s low-code tools. As an example, Toyota North America trained employees to build apps to solve business problems using Power Apps, Power Automate, Power Virtual Agents & Power BI. They then used their creations to build a Center of Excellence for sharing knowledge/solutions with peers.
The possibilities are endless. But it’s important that every choice you make connects to a real-world scenario. Preparing a list of requirements, pain points, and business objectives and presenting them to your implementation partner allows them to help you understand all available options and plan your deployment approach.