2023 Release Wave 2 Plans for Microsoft Dynamics 365

Microsoft unveiled the 2023 release wave 2 plans for Microsoft Dynamics 365 on July 18, 2023. This release wave is going to be a compilation of new features, capabilities, and enhancements scheduled for rollout from October 2023 to March 2024. Microsoft will create applications and experiences that enhance the value of every role by dismantling barriers between data, insights, and individuals.

The introduction of fresh capabilities enables novel methods of making well-informed decisions through AI-guided insights and suggested actions, streamlines task automation and processes, seamlessly integrates collaboration into work processes, and introduces user-friendly, low-code ways to build solutions. Here in this blog, we will summarize Microsoft Dynamics 365 new features coming in the 2023 release wave 2.

2023 Microsoft Dynamics 365 Release Wave 2 Overview

The 2023 release wave 2 will bring new Microsoft Dynamics 365 new features and innovations that will transform your business by providing it with significant capabilities. Within all applications, including Marketing, Sales, Customer Service, Project Operations, Finance, and Human Resources, the release introduces hundreds of D365 new features.

Here are the highlights from 2023 release wave 2 plans for Microsoft Dynamics 365 –

• Dynamics 365 Marketing is getting Copilot feature upgrades for rapid experience creation and extensive email content, images, and layout personalization. B2B dashboards and improved lead assignment will align marketing and sellers, enabling them to act as a unified team throughout the buying journey.
• Dynamics 365 Sales will emphasize empowering sales organizations to effectively prioritize and manage digital sales processes through improved sequence capabilities. Users will be able to assign and track lead assignments more efficiently, benefiting from enhanced capabilities that offer recommendations, data summarization, information retrieval, and context-aware actions within their workflow.
• Dynamics 365 Viva Sales is transforming how sales professionals operate with advanced AI features such as email summarization, CRM recommendations, sales email composition, meeting summarization, and real-time sales insights. Furthermore, investments are expanded in Microsoft Teams collaboration spaces for introducing innovative sales Copilot experiences designed to expedite deal progression and close sales faster.
• Dynamics 365 Customer Service will empower agents to work more efficiently with Copilot capabilities, ‘Join me on Teams’ functionality, visual workspace enhancements, live chat, and voice call visibility in the Inbox, and customizable conversational controls. Additionally, they are enhancing the voice channel, improving the call dialer, and routing to agents with the longest idle time.
• Dynamics 365 Field Service updates will introduce new capabilities for frontline workers, service managers, and dispatchers. Microsoft is addressing several top requests, including the conversion of quotes to work orders, improvements to inspections, and the evolution of resource scheduling capabilities.
• Dynamics 365 Finance aims to improve organizations’ data visibility, enhance AP and bank statement automation, and broaden country coverage in LATAM. Furthermore, it will increase automation for intricate tax situations, and e-invoicing needs across additional countries, offering businesses greater flexibility for expansion and agility.
• Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management persists in improving and optimizing business processes to provide the agility and resilience necessary for success in today’s intricate business landscape. This involves further improvements in sales and procurement processes, increased flexibility for manufacturers, and enhancements in warehouse operations pertaining to inventory counting, customer returns, and product receipts.
• Dynamics 365 Project Operations is actively channeling investments into elevating services procurement scenarios and refining project contracting processes. Microsoft is also introducing fresh functionalities and scenarios within pricing models to adapt to the ever-evolving dynamics of a service-centric economy. Furthermore, enhancements in intelligent resource recommendations will provide valuable suggestions based on experience, cost considerations, and utilization rates across employees and subcontractors.
• Dynamics 365 Human Resources has its sights set on enhancing the recruitment process with functionally rich and user-friendly interfaces designed for recruiters, candidates, and hiring managers. Microsoft is also planning to broaden the human capital management ecosystem by integrating a learning management system through public APIs via Microsoft Dataverse, and they will be extending their network of payroll partners.
• Dynamics 365 Guides is introducing a range of fresh capabilities and improvements, including Object Anchors, Azure Remote Rendering support, and compatibility with Microsoft 365 Government Community Cloud High. Additionally, their focus is on features that ensure smooth integration with record-keeping systems, allowing customers to construct mixed-reality workflows seamlessly linked to their business data.
• Dynamics 365 Commerce leverages AI’s power to simplify the creation of captivating product content for digital commerce platforms. Exciting B2B enhancements enable distributors to manage orders conveniently from a centralized dashboard, fostering collaboration among B2B sellers, distributors, and buyers in a unified workspace.
• Dynamics 365 Business Central’s primary emphasis remains on bolstering core features to assist businesses in efficiently managing intercompany operations and consolidations across various environments. Microsoft’s commitment to enhancing Copilot capabilities persists, alongside its efforts to elevate warehouse functions, expand its library of Power Automate templates, and equip developers with additional tools to automate testing for dependent applications.
• Dynamics 365 Customer Insights is taking strides in elevating the Copilot features, enabling users to inquire using simple words, quickly collect insights, and take immediate action. Real-time data management enhancements will ensure an up-to-the-minute customer view, while easy access to insights within Dynamics 365 apps empowers your team to deliver tailored customer experiences throughout the entire lifecycle.
• Microsoft Supply Chain Center is fortifying supply chain resilience by improving critical areas like Intelligent Order Management for purchase order coordination and seamless collaboration with external partners through the Supplier portal and Copilot. Additionally, the team is poised to introduce Advanced Data Analytics for actionable insights and new Network Inventory Optimization capabilities.

Features that are Scheduled in 2023 Release Wave 2

Here are the outlined features that are scheduled for release between October 2023 and March 2024. Please note that the delivery timelines may be subject to change, and the anticipated functionality may not have been released yet.

1. Enhanced Adaptability with Power Platform

Integration of Power Apps within Business Central, leveraging Power Apps connectors for innovative business scenarios.

2. Application Enhancements

Ongoing improvements in multi-company functionalities, inventory management, and warehousing.

3. Copilot and AI Innovation

Expansion of Copilot capabilities, including marketing text suggestions, aimed at boosting productivity across various SMB roles.

4. Extended Global Reach

Expansion of Business Central availability to more countries and regions.

5. Development Productivity

Microsoft’s focus is on enhancing productivity for Business Central AL developers, consultants, citizen developers, and users while reducing change implementation costs.

6. Governance and Administration Tools

Introduction of new tools and enhancements to existing ones for administrators to effectively manage environments, applications, and data migrations.

7. Legislative Capabilities

Business Central 2023 release wave 2 includes foundational legislative capabilities to support specific requirements in local versions.

8. Improved Onboarding Capabilities

Partners gain additional capabilities to enhance the onboarding experience for their customers using their solutions.

9. Streamlined Reporting and Data Analysis

Access an enhanced reporting and dashboard system for easier report retrieval and execution.

10. Service and Platform Enhancement

Continued investment in the fundamental aspects of the service, including performance, stability, resource governance, security, and compliance.

11. Enhanced User Experiences

The 2023 release wave 2 introduces improvements to user experiences, making data entry, updates, and error correction more user-friendly.

As you prepare for the upcoming changes, rest assured that many of the Microsoft Dynamics 365 new features will automatically activate, ensuring a smoother digital transformation. We eagerly anticipate your engagement with Dynamics 365 latest features, fresh services, and capabilities that you are going to explore in the 2023 release wave 2.