Judging by the statistics cited by Oracle NetSuite and CRM.org, customer relationship management (CRM) systems appear to be more prevalent in small and middle-sized enterprises (SMEs) compared to enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. It is reported that nearly 91% of firms with over 11 employees have deployed CRM software, while 81% of small and 33% of medium-sized businesses are planning to implement ERP systems in the next three years. However, the market already has efficient products combining both ERP and CRM functionality tailored for SMEs. Read this article to learn more about the support provided by one of these solutions, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central for IWs.
What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central?
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is an alternative solution to standalone ERP and CRM systems, tailored to provide SMEs with essential functionality covering the following areas of business operations:
- Financial management;
- Supply chain management;
- Project management;
- Sales and customer service;
- Human resources.
Business Central provides powerful automation in workflows, allowing SMEs to streamline their operations and improve security and compliance.
The Essential Functionality of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central for IWs
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central can effectively support the work of information workers. Here are some of the key features of this software that can significantly enhance the productivity of IWs.
1. Unified view of various business processes
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a platform that integrates data from disparate sources and business processes, which is essential for providing easy access to information for information workers (IWs). Undisrupted access to data and business processes is further supported by the mobile accessibility of Business Central.
2. Reporting and analytics
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central for IWs incorporates tools for advanced analytics and robust reporting, crucial for the effective work of many employees whose task is to process company data. The software facilitates analyzing information to gain valuable insights into business performance and create comprehensive, visually aesthetic reports.
3. Personalized dashboards and workspaces
With the help of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, IWs can create personalized dashboards to effectively present any metrics relevant to their roles, simplifying the monitoring of crucial business components. Information workers can also benefit from role-based workspaces focusing on material associated with their responsibilities.
4. Document and record management
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central can be easily integrated with a variety of familiar tools used in the daily working routine of information workers. The Office 365 suite, including Word, Excel, and Outlook, is just one example of products that can be successfully used with Business Central.
In addition, IWs relying on this solution gain access to document management features, such as functionality for attaching documents to records. This feature further simplifies organizing the information necessary for completing work tasks for easy retrieval.
5. Collaboration tools
The work of many IWs also requires a lot of collaboration, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central has a range of useful features to ensure seamless communication. This includes commenting, information sharing, and notifying features, among others.
6. Security and compliance
While enforcing compliance with industry standards can be challenging for many information workers, Microsoft Dynamics 365 BusinessCentral makes the task of handling confidential information much easier due to its robust security features.
How can Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central support IWs?
Effective technology utilization, including a platform centralizing business processes and data like Business Central, can significantly facilitate performing primary job responsibilities for information workers (IWs). Whether it is analysis, research, decision-making, or communication, Business Central can effectively support all these knowledge-based tasks, providing IWs with a reliable source of up-to-date information, efficient communication, and sharing tools, as well as access to powerful reporting.
In addition to this, powerful tools for data analysis also help information workers understand performance trends better and make effective decisions. Undisrupted access to information and enhanced communication also support continuous learning, which is essential for information workers and their adaptability to changing processes in the industry.
At the same time, Business Central simplifies tasks related to information management, as it supports effective organization and maintenance of documents and records while also providing tools to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
Challenges IWs Face Without ERP and CRM Solutions
Companies that refrain from implementing ERP, CRM, and combined suites like Business Central make the work with data of their information specialists much more complex. Some of the issues IWs have to deal with in such a scenario are:
- Data fragmentation and hindered access to real-time information causing inefficiency and potential errors;
- Manual data entry and processing which also lead to inaccuracy;
- Time-consuming workflows and inability to respond dynamically to business needs;
- Limited collaboration;
- Challenges in generating accurate and timely reports;
- Compliance issues and regulatory risks;
- Difficulties while handling a growing amount of data.
Bottom line – Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central for IWs
Supplying information workers with necessary data and providing them with effective tools translate not only into better performance for these employees but also overall optimized business performance. Software products like Microsoft Dynamics 365 help companies gain maximum benefits from processing business data and avoid missing business opportunities.
