What is Dynamics 365 Finance Premium?

Dynamics 365 Finance Premium is a more advanced version of Dynamics 365 Finance for companies with complex operations, especially large or global organizations. It builds on the core financial management features of the standard version and adds powerful tools for performance management, planning, and analytics.

As part of the Microsoft Dynamics 365 suite, D365 Finance Premium connects finance with other key business areas like operations, supply chain, and sales. This helps companies streamline financial processes, make better decisions, and work more efficiently across departments. In this blog, we’ll review the key features and benefits of Dynamics 365 Finance Premium, compare it to the standard D365 Finance, and explain how it can help your business improve financial performance.

Dynamics 365 Finance is one of the main applications in Microsoft’s D365 Finance & Operations (F&O) suite, which also includes Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management. It’s a cloud-based financial management system that helps businesses manage everything from daily accounting tasks to high-level financial reporting and regulatory compliance.

Built with automation and AI in mind, Dynamics 365 Finance simplifies complex finance processes and makes it easier to keep your books up to date. Because it’s part of the Dynamics 365 family, it also integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft business apps, giving your organization a single platform to manage operations.

Microsoft offers two versions of the D365 Finance application: the standard Dynamics 365 Finance and the more advanced Dynamics 365 Finance Premium. The standard version includes all the essentials for running core finance operations, from general ledger to fixed assets. In 2024, Microsoft introduced the Premium version as a new licensing tier. It includes everything in the standard offering but adds more powerful tools for financial planning, analysis, and performance tracking. If your finance team needs deeper insight, larger data capacity, or more control, the Premium edition is designed to deliver exactly that.

With the release of Dynamics 365 Finance Premium, businesses now have two solid options for managing their financial operations in the cloud. The standard version, Dynamics 365 Finance, includes all the core tools you need to run day-to-day accounting and financial reporting. The Premium edition builds on that foundation with more advanced planning, forecasting, and performance management features.

D365 Finance Premium was released as a new SKU in early 2024 to give finance professionals extended planning and analytics (xP&A) capabilities. It provides “creator” access to tools to build detailed financial plans, budgets, forecasts, and advanced financial reports inside Dynamics 365.

Microsoft also adds more storage and processing capacity with Premium to handle the heavier data and analytics workloads. Plus, Premium includes monthly credits for AI Builder (used in AI-driven processes), along with allowances for electronic invoicing and invoice capture transactions. This makes it suitable for companies with large volumes of financial data or those that rely on predictive insights.

The table below provides a high-level comparison of Dynamics 365 Finance vs. Dynamics 365 Finance Premium.

Choosing between the two editions depends on how your organization uses its financial tools and how much flexibility and insight your finance team needs.

If your company is focused on core financial tasks like accounting, reporting, and compliance and doesn’t require deep financial modeling or custom forecasting, then the standard Dynamics 365 Finance edition may be enough. It provides a trusted, cloud-based solution to manage your finances efficiently.

But if your organization wants to go beyond basic reporting and start building forward-looking plans like rolling forecasts, strategic budgets, or scenario models, then Dynamics 365 Finance Premium is likely the better fit. It’s for finance teams that lead performance management and want to leverage advanced analytics and AI directly within the platform.

D365 Finance Premium is especially valuable for:

• Large enterprises with complex financial structures
• Teams practicing xP&A (extended planning and analysis)
• Organizations needing high data volumes or predictive capabilities
• Companies moving toward continuous forecasting and agile finance

Ultimately, the Premium edition gives your finance team more power to plan, predict, and perform, all within the same platform.

• Can I start with D365 Finance and upgrade to Finance Premium later?
  Yes. Microsoft allows businesses to start with the standard Dynamics 365 Finance license and upgrade to Finance Premium as needs evolve. This is ideal for organizations that want to get started quickly with core financial capabilities and later adopt more advanced planning and analytics tools.
• Can I mix and match Dynamics 365 Finance and Finance Premium users?
  No, you cannot mix D365 Finance and Premium licenses within the same environment. All users must be on the same edition.
• Are AI and advanced analytics available in both systems?
  Both versions include embedded AI capabilities with Copilot, such as predictive cash flow forecasting and invoice automation. However, Finance Premium includes additional AI and analytics tools specifically designed for advanced financial planning and performance management, along with greater AI Builder capacity.
• Is there a difference in storage or transaction capacity between the two versions?
  Yes. Finance Premium comes with higher data storage and transaction capacity compared to the standard version. It also includes monthly entitlements such as AI Builder credits and electronic invoicing transactions, which are billed separately for standard license holders.
• Is there a minimum number of licenses?
  Yes. The minimum number of licenses for Dynamics 365 Finance is 20 users and the minimum for Dynamics 365 Finance Premium is 10 users.

Whether you’re evaluating Dynamics 365 Finance for the first time or considering an upgrade to Premium, the right partner can make all the difference. Rand Group is a certified Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O partner with deep expertise in ERP solutions including D365 Finance and D365 Finance Premium. We provide end-to-end services to ensure your organization selects and successfully deploys the solution that best fits your needs.

Our team brings decades of experience in finance transformation projects, offering:

• Solution selection: We work closely with you to assess your business requirements and recommend the right version of Dynamics 365 Finance to meet your needs.
• Implementation: Our certified team will guide you through a smooth implementation process from set-up to go live. We’ll tailor the system to your business needs to get it fully optimized.
• Customization: If you have specific financial processes, we can customize Dynamics 365 Finance or Finance Premium to match your business workflows.
• Ongoing support: With Rand Group’s support services, you can be assured your financial system will continue to run smoothly long after the implementation is complete.

By partnering with Rand Group, businesses gain a trusted advisor and implementation team. We have a track record of helping companies successfully modernize their financial systems, and we bring that experience to each new engagement. From initial licensing guidance to long-term support, Rand Group provides the services needed to maximize the value of Dynamics 365 Finance for your organization.

Choosing the right ERP finance system is a critical decision that can significantly impact your company’s efficiency and insight. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Dynamics 365 Finance Premium offer powerful tools to streamline accounting operations and drive smarter financial decision-making. If you’re considering Dynamics 365 Finance or Finance Premium, contact Rand Group today.