Key updates in the 2024 release wave 1 of Dynamics 365 Business Central

In the dynamic world of business management, staying ahead of the curve is essential for success. Dynamics 365 Business Central, Microsoft’s robust business management application, is set to unleash a wave of innovation in its 2024 release wave 1. Microsoft releases updates to this powerful business application twice a year. In this blog, we highlight the top investment areas and our favorite new features from the 2024 release wave 1.

To recall what was included in prior releases, read our Business Central 2023 release wave 2 blog.

Business Central’s Jobs module has undergone a transformation and is now known as Projects. This rebranding represents a strategic shift towards enhanced project management capabilities within Business Central and includes new functionality in addition to new naming conventions. We highlight a couple of the Project changes in our “top new features” listed below and you can also learn more about the transformation in our blog on the rebranding of Jobs to Projects.

The 2024 release wave 1 takes Copilot, Microsoft Dynamics 365’s AI-powered assistant, to new heights. With more capabilities, Copilot becomes a valuable companion for users, optimizing business processes and speeding up task completion. Developers, in particular, will appreciate the additional details in application metadata, paving the way for a more intuitive Copilot experience.

Business Central’s seamless integration with Microsoft Power Platform receives a significant upgrade. The introduction of more templates for workflows enhances automation capabilities. Users can now set up workflows more easily, automating a broader range of processes. The goal is to empower organizations to adapt quickly to changing business needs and boost overall productivity.

In a move to make Business Central more accessible worldwide, the 2024 release wave 1 expands the platform’s global availability. Now, businesses in more than 155 countries and regions can leverage the capabilities of Business Central. This expansion is made possible through partner-led localizations, ensuring that businesses can tailor the application to their specific local requirements.

Data is the lifeblood of decision-making, and Business Central’s reporting capabilities get a significant boost in the 2024 release wave 1. With added capabilities in Analysis mode and improved integration with Power BI and Excel Layouts, users can gain deeper insights into their business data. This emphasis on data analysis aligns with the modern business landscape, where data-driven decisions are paramount.

The user experience is a focal point in every Business Central release, and the 2024 wave 1 is no exception. Usability, accessibility, performance, and reliability enhancements ensure that users across different interfaces, including desktop, web, and mobile apps, can work seamlessly and efficiently.

In the dynamic landscape of project management, projects undergo continuous evolution. The introduction of the Archive Projects feature empowers you with enhanced control over your project data, ensuring meticulous audit trails and streamlined version control processes.

The Archive Projects feature mirrors the archiving functionality prevalent in sales and purchase domains. With automatic archiving enabled, Business Central generates a new version of the archived document whenever actions such as status changes, deletions, document printing, downloads, email dispatches, or invoice postings occur.

The “Assemble to Project” functionality offers a strategic advantage by enhancing inventory management processes. This feature optimizes operations by facilitating assembly to order only when necessary, thereby promoting efficient resource allocation and enabling customized project configurations.

Upon entering an assemble-to-order item on a project planning line, Business Central automatically generates an assembly order tailored to the project’s requirements. Leveraging the assembly Bill of Materials (BOM), the system calculates component quantities based on the order quantity, streamlining the assembly process. The Assemble-to-Order Lines page provides comprehensive insights into the linked assembly order lines, facilitating customization of the assembly item to align with project specifications. Similar to sales orders, direct posting of linked assembly orders is restricted, ensuring proper reservation of assembly resources for the project.

In the bustling routines of our customers, communication plays a pivotal role as they engage with colleagues, clients, and suppliers to gain insights and resolve issues. Now, Dynamics 365 Copilot revolutionizes these interactions within Business Central, introducing AI-driven chat capabilities alongside their data. With Copilot seamlessly integrated into Business Central, it empowers users to communicate naturally, transforming the way they interact with business applications.

During its preview phase, Copilot offers valuable assistance by facilitating various tasks, including helping users locate specific data points through natural language commands, such as requesting the latest sales order for a particular client. Additionally, Copilot serves as an informative guide, leveraging Business Central’s extensive online documentation to provide explanations and step-by-step instructions on various concepts or task executions, ensuring users can effortlessly navigate and utilize the platform’s functionalities.

The integration of drag-and-drop functionality for attaching multiple files to Business Central records presents a streamlined approach to file management. This feature offers significant advantages to users handling numerous files, enhancing data organization and accessibility within organizations.

Effortlessly attach multiple files to records in Business Central by simply selecting them and dragging them to the designated drop targets. This enhancement proves especially beneficial for users accustomed to dealing with multiple files, eliminating the tedious process of manually uploading each file individually. The ability to attach several files simultaneously not only increases efficiency but also enhances user experience by providing a more intuitive and user-friendly approach to file management.

As your trusted Dynamics 365 Business Central support partner, Rand Group is committed to showcasing the newest features within Dynamics 365 Business Central for your organization. Our mission goes beyond mere introductions; we are here to guarantee that your team receives comprehensive training and becomes skilled in utilizing these updated features to maximize your return on investment. Are you prepared to leverage the capabilities of the latest release wave 1 for Dynamics 365 Business Central? Contact Rand Group today to schedule a consultation.