6 Important Steps in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Implementation

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is one of the most revolutionizing business transformation solutions we have today. The cloud-based solution unifies CRM and ERP capabilities and can be used with other day-to-day apps for better execution of sales, marketing, finance, and service operations.

With Dynamics 365, you can collaborate on-demand, automate work cycles, customize processes, leverage insights through visual dashboards, and more. If you have been experiencing data silos, decision-making delays, and communication issues due to decentralized business architecture, Dynamics 365 implementation services can definitely help you bridge gaps and maximize business performance.

While Microsoft Dynamics 365 services experts like us carry out implementation in a business-centric manner so that businesses can realize the best outcomes. To help you successfully implement Dynamics 365, we have created a feature with a step-by-step checklist for implementation.

1. Be Clear About Project Scope

Before actual implementation begins, there should be a clear vision and scope among business leaders on the what’s, why’s and how’s of the project. Having a clear roadmap allows you to deal with implementation challenges well and ensure a smooth transition from third-party/legacy platforms.

Once the requirement for Dynamics 365 is initially raised in your organization, discuss with stakeholders and BU heads in-depth and ask what gaps they want to address with Dynamics. Ask them about the main issues that users/customers are encountering repeatedly and what changes they want in Dynamics 365.

By looking at the features of Dynamics 365, you should be able to shortlist a few packages. Your Dynamics 365 consulting services experts can help you select the right package and configuration for your business and provide guidance for further course of action.

2. Assign a Team

No matter how intellectual and tech-savvy your team members are, implementation experts see the process in a different way than how you see. To understand the business side of implementation, you must assign users/team members who can work with tech-leaders during the strategy development phase.

In the planning phase, the main aim of team members will be to understand how the implementation process will impact their department. Based on the discussions and understanding of the process, they can suggest minor changes and suggestions which can be accepted if the suggestions are in the scope of the project.

3. Create an Implementation Plan

The implementation plan must be carried out in a phased manner so that any errors in the workflow can be tested and removed instantly. An actual implementation begins with wireframing where design experts create layouts using built-in drag-drop components of Dynamics.

The design wireframes are then mapped and tested for errors or bugs. After designing, developers conduct unit testing, regression testing and user acceptance testing before deploying the solution to the production environment.

Tip: Before you create an implementation plan, keep note of design, system architecture, process requirements, data mappings, milestones, and cost considerations. Also, there should be scope for iterative development as the solution may very well often require changes post implementation.

4. Keep Your Data Clean

The toughest job for most implementation experts is to ensure data integrity is well maintained. However, when you are implementing a new process, it can be extremely challenging especially when legacy data is inaccurate or it mismatches with the supportive data type of Dynamics 365.

Before your Microsoft Dynamics 365 goes live, make sure you keep note of these two points:

• Data migration: Check if the available data is valuable or not. For this, discard any outdated, irrelevant, inaccurate, or duplicate data available during the migration. By keeping migrated data clean, you can rest assured that it will work well on the new platform.
• Data Integrity: After you deploy ERP, it is important to keep data integrity intact. For this, organizations need clean data and strict compliance. You should follow new data compliance policies and regulations to maintain data privacy and security. By training employees on better compliance, teams can ensure data quality and integrity.

5. Test the System

Once workflow and processes are created and checked by developers, you must test the system through user acceptance testing. For you should start with a small test group that will check the capability of the designed system. Based on their reactions and feedback, you can ask Microsoft Dynamics 365 developers to make the proposed changes.

During this phase, you should analyze the adoption rates, process compliance, data compliance, and other aspects using credible digital adoption tools. The observations during the testing phase can be used for documentation and training content creation.

6. Roll out and Training

Rolling out the solution all at once can increase the chances of project failure. To prevent any disruptions in the rollout, teams must handle the transition in phases. Since the whole deployment process can take a long time (months to a quarter), it is important to focus on the efficacy of the deployment environment.

Along with rollout, businesses should make provisions for training employees on Dynamics 365 so that they make the best use of its features and capabilities. Training is also important to ensure high adoption and strict process compliance throughout the organization. Development teams like ours start working on training programs while strategizing the implementation process.

Bottomline

Dynamics 365 works well with ERPs, CRMs, and BI tools making it the go-to solution for unified business management. To bridge data silos and have unified data access, you must invest in a reliable Dynamics 365 implementation service. While Dynamics implementation serves various benefits, the process can be full of challenges. Onboarding an implementation partner that keeps notes of organizational goals, execution requirements, complexities, adoption, and training aspects can help minimize roadblocks and maximize the success of Dynamics 365 implementation.