On July 16, 2024, Microsoft released its much-anticipated 2024 Release Wave 2 plans for Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform. This update brings a plethora of new features and capabilities designed to enhance customer understanding, streamline operations, and drive productivity across diverse business applications. These features will be available to customers from October 2024 to March 2025.
With a focus on AI-powered automation, natural language processing, and data-driven insights, this wave introduces cutting-edge enhancements aimed at breaking down barriers between data and decision-making processes, helping businesses accelerate their digital transformation.
Key Highlights of 2024 Release Wave 2
AI and Microsoft Copilot Integration
The release will heavily leverage advanced AI and Microsoft Copilot to drive operational efficiency. AI capabilities will automate tasks, provide intelligent insights, and offer immersive user experiences across various business processes.
The goal is to help organizations streamline workflows, allowing users to focus on higher-value tasks.
Improved Efficiency and Adaptability
From AI-driven sales insights to predictive analytics in supply chain management, businesses will be empowered to respond proactively to challenges, leverage opportunities, and enhance adaptability.
Key Updates for Microsoft Dynamics 365
Dynamics 365 Sales:
New Copilot features include natural language processing to summarize information and AI-powered tools to identify leads.
The introduction of a full-screen Copilot Home with role-specific actions enhances productivity for sales teams.
Microsoft Copilot for Sales:
Delivers generative AI capabilities, allowing sellers to create leads and query CRM data through natural language, integrated with Microsoft 365 workflows.
Dynamics 365 Customer Service:
New Copilot-driven features include proactive assistance for agents, secure external data access, and AI-enhanced routing.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance:
A focus on autonomous financial processes powered by Copilot, including enhancements in data reconciliation, electronic invoicing, and performance analytics.
Expanding Teams integration for financial collections with features like suggested call scripts and automated task recording.
Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management:
The spotlight is on advancing towards an autonomous supply chain, with AI-powered demand forecasting and insights into manufacturing trends directly integrated into workflows.
Dynamics 365 Project Operations:
Usability and performance improvements, including AI-assisted project planning, invoicing, and contract management, to scale operations for larger projects.
Dynamics 365 Commerce:
Retailers will benefit from AI-powered customer insights, self-checkout improvements, and new features to drive loyalty and conversions.
Dynamics 365 Human Resources:
Enhancements in recruitment with AI-driven assessments and automation in performance management, empowering businesses to optimize talent management processes.
Power Platform Innovations
Microsoft Power Apps:
AI-infused capabilities will enable users to enhance their app-building experience, allowing richer, more complex applications to be developed with minimal effort. Admins will also benefit from enhanced control and governance features.
Microsoft Power Automate:
Improvements in natural language processing will make it even easier to build workflows, supported by AI-driven troubleshooting tools for automation management.
AI Builder:
New features include an enhanced GPT Prompt Builder, improved intelligent document processing, and more sophisticated AI governance capabilities, ensuring secure and efficient AI adoption.
Governance and Security Enhancements
Microsoft continues to invest in security and governance across the platform, with advanced tools that help admins manage Copilot adoption, secure low-code assets, and enhance governance across Power Platform solutions.
Early Access Opportunities
Beginning July 29, 2024, customers and partners can explore the new features in a non-production environment. This early access period allows organizations to validate updates before they are automatically enabled in production by October 2024.
With these extensive updates and improvements, Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform are set to help organizations accelerate their digital transformation, improve efficiency, and enable intelligent decision-making. Whether you’re looking to enhance customer engagement, optimize operations, or leverage AI to drive insights, the 2024 Release Wave 2 offers a wealth of new capabilities to empower your business.
