Dynamics Finance and Operations: how can it help you as a CFO drive efficiency and value?

“CFOs and their teams do everyday accounting tasks, but at the same time, the management team expects them to help with long-term business growth by providing insight. To be able to do that, they need a comprehensive view of finance details in relation to logistics, purchasing, sales, etc.,” says Tim Vermeersch, solution lead for Dynamics finance.

MS Dynamics 365 is all about integration

MS Dynamics 365 was built to break down the silos that business applications traditionally created. It is integrated to the max: more than handling traditional back office processes, it includes:

• CRM
• applications for HR, talent management, customer services, marketing and more.
• In addition, it is coupled to the ‘Power Platform’, which bundles Microsoft’s business analytics solution (Power BI), workflow automation engine (Flow) and low-code application development platform (Power Apps).
• Last but not least, it works together with Office 365.

So, this really is a one-stop-solution that bundles all the tools and insights a company needs to work efficiently and fuel business growth.

MS Dynamics for finance teams: the benefits

The MS Dynamics 365 stack currently includes 8 primary apps. Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations is the most extensive and robust one.

It is packed with financial management tools: from accounts payable, accounts receivable, budgeting, cash and bank management to asset management and general ledger.

On top of that, it also includes apps to manage other operational processes, like supply chain or human capital. 

“Very often though, we see that organizations choose to start with the finance tools, adding new apps as they grow,” says Tim.

What, apart from the all-in-one approach, makes MS Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations a smart choice for CFOs and their teams?

1. Improve workforce productivity with process-driven, role-based workspaces

MS Dynamics 365 is process driven: it takes ‘processes’ or ‘jobs to be done’ as a starting point, rather than features or applications.  In practice, the suite comes with a series of out-of-the-box, role-based workspaces that contain the processes, data, reports and links that users need in their jobs.

• Workspaces for a CFO: A CFO, for example, will see KPIs, charts and financial metrics,
• Workspaces for an accounts payable clerk: he or she will get an overview of all the processes related to A/P, including details like the status, the upcoming workload and the performance of the process.

Both of them can then perform their tasks directly in the workspace.

The benefits? Users no longer have to switch between applications and the workspaces urge them to follow the same steps. As a result, this approach drives consistency, decreases human error and boosts workforce productivity.

2. Drive efficiency with multi-entity and multi-company features

In line with its dedication to integration, MS Dynamics 365 invested big in improving finance transactions and controls across company entities or company borders. “The suite lets users process invoices or payments, do reconciliations, analyze data, draw up financial reports, etc. for more than one entity or business,” Tim explains.

The benefits? Organizations with multiple entities or businesses can close the books much faster, deliver consolidated reporting, increase profitability and ensure global compliance. 

3. Gain a competitive edge with embedded, real-time analytics

MS Dynamics 365 also comes standard with a built-in analytics tool that is powered by Microsoft Power BI:

• Analytics overview: Users can view analytics information in every workspace.
  In the cash collections workspace, for example, they will see an overview of open invoices, aged balances and details like promises to pay and disputed amounts.
• Drill down: They can filter the information to a company or customer level and drill down to see additional details.
• Automation: Moreover, the application itself can largely automate the cash collection process, sending reminders, for example, if an invoice is overdue.

The benefits? In the case of cash collection, the embedded analytics help finance teams monitor and improve cashflow and reduce days sales outstanding. More in general, however, the embedded analytics provide actionable insights for the management to base decisions on.

4. Ensure consistency and compliance: One Version

Last but not least, Microsoft’s ‘One Version’ approach: In April 2019, Microsoft changed the way they deliver Dynamics 365 updates: they will push monthly performance and reliability improvement updates and release new features frequently.

The benefits? Continuous updates ensure a more consistent experience for all companies and users and give access to the newest and latest features without the need for big, costly upgrades. For financial managers, they also reassure that the organization is compliant with the latest regulatory requirements.”

Adopting MS Dynamics 365: think big, start small

Needless to say, all the above features come with an intuitive user interface and are available on mobile devices too.

“Microsoft Dynamics 365 offers unlimited possibilities to drive efficiency, effectiveness and value,” Tim concludes.