Microsoft Copilot Integration in Dynamics 365 Business Central

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Introduction

Scaling a business is one of the most complex undertakings for any decision-maker and executive. In fact, a study shows that 44% of small to medium-sized businesses fail due to cost overruns stemming from operational inefficacies. Since Artificial intelligence (AI) has taken over every business process, it can help C-suite best counter this dilemma. The best example of AI extending business solutions capabilities is Microsoft Copilot integration in Dynamics 365 Business Central BC. Microsoft Copilot features in Business Central accelerate innovation and improve business outcomes in every line of business. In this blog, we’ll explore Copilot’s key features in Business Central, provide practical use cases, and provide tips on leveraging generative AI to streamline operations. Through this exploration, we aim to educate and equip you to make informed decisions about Copilots’ adoption in your Business Central environment.

A Preview to Business Central & Copilot

Dynamics 365 Business Central is Microsoft’s cloud-enabled ERP. It is the most updated version of popular ERP predecessors Dynamics NAV and Navision. This ERP’s value can be defined by its ability to facilitate cross-functional collaboration for up to 3,000 users. Your entire staff can work on a centralized database and automate multiple mundane and monotonous tasks, hindering overall business efficiency. It perfectly works with other Microsoft 365 business applications like Outlook, Excel, and Teams.

Copilot is an AI-backed assistant by Microsoft combining large language models (LLMs) with your data in the Microsoft Graph and the Microsoft 365 apps. There are different versions of Copilot are available specifically to cater to each Microsoft application:

  • Word: gives content suggestions, helps summarize a document, and improves existing text
  • Excel: efficient data analysis  
  • PowerPoint: craft presentation slides  
  • Outlook: email drafts
  • Teams: for meeting recaps and research purposes
  • SharePoint: create SharePoint sites and pages 
  • Loop: brainstorm and create content 

To further your understanding on how Copilot can make work easier, here is a comprehensive piece on Building Workflows with Copilot for Power Automate

Business Impact: Microsoft Copilot Integration in Dynamics 365 BC

The introduction of Copilot capability to every Microsoft business app like Business Central holds the potential to completely alter business productivity and efficiency. The outcomes of using Copilot in Business Central are defined and quantifiable and include reduced turnaround time, better resource management, increased productivity, time savings, controlled operational costs, and better business ROI.

Copilot in Business Central Key Features and Their Benefits:

Copilot has a comprehensive suite of advanced features extending Business Central capabilities. To summarize these features, Copilot supports business operations like content generation, late payment predictions, bank reconciliation, inventory forecasting, and other essential business management tasks. Here is a breakdown of benefits that businesses can leverage by integrating Microsoft Copilot in Business Central:

Natural Language Prompts:

As mentioned earlier, Copilot, an advanced generative AI, can understand, process, and respond to natural language prompts. This makes interacting with the system incredibly easier for business users. Navigating the ERP system is 10-fold easier with this intuitive feature. Additionally, users can streamline workflows, saving time and redirect efforts to high-level tasks.

Bank Reconciliation:

Copilot simplifies and expedites reconciliation tasks by using advanced AI capabilities to help cross-check and validate transactions with ledger entries, assuring exact bank statements and account reconciliation.

Content Creation and Product Listings:

Copilot takes content creation in Business Central and product listings to another level. Users can use relevant prompts and create content within seconds. Moreover, it also reads images. Based on uploaded images, Copilot can suggest product categories, descriptions, and attributes.

Inventory Forecasting & Detect Shortfalls:

Inventory forecasting is one of the most cumbersome processes for any business. With Copilot’s predictive capabilities, users can quickly analyze and project inventory needs and pivot ahead. There is no need to struggle with stockouts or excess inventory. Copilot ensures client satisfaction with efficient inventory planning. Moreover, it detects potential inventory shortfalls based on customer demand, lead times, and current stock levels. If Copilot predicts low inventory levels, it can offer further recommendations for replenishment or adjustments. This ensures that your business meets user demands without experiencing stockouts.

Cash Flow Analysis:

Backed by AI capabilities, Microsoft Business Central can give decision-makers an in-depth cash flow analysis to evaluate the organization’s cash position and market share. Cash flow is an essential indicator of an organization’s solvency, which means it is a tool that helps you future-proof your business’s financial health. From Copilot’s insights in Business Central, decision-makers can take prompt actions to safeguard the business’s fiscal well-being. This includes getting loans to counter any cash shortfalls or controlling credit when there is a cash surplus.

Summarizing and Sharing Information:

One crucial yet less highlighted benefit of Copilot in Business Central is that it excels in summarizing and sharing information smoothly. Copilot can give concise data, analytics, and report summaries. These summaries can be easily shared across teams, enabling quick access to critical insights and facilitating more informed decision-making.

Simplified Sales Order Process:

Managing customer orders is often taken as grunt work, requiring repeating lookups or skimming through extensive product catalogs. To simplify the order management process and add items quickly in sales orders or quotes, Copilot in Business Central helps users describe services needed or products, enables pasting in related details from mail, or reference a prior order. Copilot will give you relevant line items from the initial product catalog based on your prompt.

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If you still can’t wrap your head around choosing Business Central for your business operations, here is a detailed resource on 7 Reasons to Adopt Dynamics 365 Business Central Project Management. 

Microsoft Copilot Integration in Dynamics 365 BC Use Cases

To give you a better picture of Copilot’s potential, here are some examples of how businesses are using Copilot across different business areas:
HR & Payroll Finance Sales and Client Relations Supply Chain Management
When it comes to human resource management, Copilot users can automate tasks, including payroll processing, performance reviews, and employee onboarding. Additionally, with Copilot, you can analyze your workforce data, pinpoint patterns and trends, and take relevant action.

With Copilot, users can automate invoicing, payment ops, and financial reporting tasks to maintain accurate financial records. Moreover, Copilot’s predictive insights into cash flow trends help businesses to pivot. 

Copilot facilitates sales and client relationship management by the sales team with effective pricing strategies, relevant product recommendations, 

and customer insights. 

Copilot possesses a very proactive approach to supply chain management. 

Processing data from different sources can predict accurate supply chain disruptions, suggest optimal inventory levels, and recommend alternative suppliers in case of shortages. 

To dig deep in Business Central and cloud payroll integration, here is a bonus read for you that can help you navigate Understanding Cloud Payroll Integrations for Dynamics 365 Business Central.

How to Configure Copilot and AI Capabilities in Business Central

There are specific prerequisites to use Copilot in Business Central:

  • Make sure you are using the online version of Business Central.
  • You have administrator access.

Requirements to be an administrator: SUPER permissions in your BC user account or any of the following licenses:

  • Internal BC Administrator
  • Delegated Admin agent – Partner
  • Dynamics 365 Administrator
  • Internal Admin
  • Delegated Helpdesk Agent – Partner

Note: Business Central doesn’t offer granular, object-level permissions, meaning only specific administrators can configure Copilot.

How to Activate Copilot Capabilities in Business Central

Copilot is active by default in your Dynamics 365 Business Central environment when it becomes generally available. To manually activate or deactivate individual AI features,

  1. Visit Copilot & AI capabilities page.
  2. The page has all available Copilot features with their status. You can turn them on and off according to your requirements.
  3. All AI features are divided into two sections: one for features in preview and one for generally available features.
    • To activate < select it in the list < choose Activate.
    • To deactivate < select it in the list< select Deactivate

After enabling and consenting to the required Copilot features in Business Central, you are all set to try them out.

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Partner Support from AlphaBOLD for Microsoft Copilot Integration in Dynamics 365 BC

Despite Copilot extending Business Central capabilities, businesses still require expert guidance and support to leverage the platform efficiently. AI can undoubtedly boost productivity, but complex customizations, industry-specific requirements, and integration with other third-party platforms require partner expertise. AlphaBOLD, a well-reputed Microsoft solution partner, has helped countless businesses with tailored Business Central solutions.

“Our end-to-end expert support helps organizations increase system value, encountering points that AI alone isn’t capable of resolving,” says Roland Copper, Practice Manager – Business Central at AlphaBOLD.

“We are a fast-growing precision tooling company that needed an ERP system that fits into our business. Team AlphaBOLD is very helpful and knowledgeable in every aspect, and we are very satisfied with their service. Business Central has much potential as an ERP; however, it needs to be organized and customized for our unique business model, which requires some customization. Team AlphaBOLD provided all the requirements and a great, informative explanation during every session. Highly recommend team AlphaBOLD,” says Jeff Choi – Administrative Manager at Sangwoo Precision.

This is a clear representation of client success with our partner support. You don’t need to settle for the status quo; you can request a personalized demo and discover the opportunities Business Central has to offer.

Conclusion

As mentioned above, integrating Microsoft Copilot into Dynamics 365 Business Central significantly impacts businesses, making it essential for improving business productivity, efficiency, and decision-making. Features like cash flow analysis, inventory control and management, bank reconciliations, cost shortfall suggestions, and order management help SMBs navigate better.

However, while Copilot can make work easy, the complexities of integrations, customizations, and industry-specific needs require expert help. As a globally known Microsoft Solution Partner, AlphaBOLD offers the expertise needed to fully leverage Business Central and Copilot’s capabilities. Experience AlphaBOLD’s edge firsthand, and request a personalized demo for your project!

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