Implement Dynamics 365 for Sales: Here what you need to know about it in 2021

In industry language,the term used is ‘best practices’ whereas in layman language it is known as ‘safe way’. Whatever the term may be, ERP and CRM professionals realize fully howtedious, taxing, draining and exhaustive can the process of ERP and CRM implementation be. There is no margin for error and even the slightest of mistake at any level of implementation can disrupt an entire process, which is why this article aims to help you implement Dynamics 365 for Sales.

During the time of implementation, it is suggested that companies resort to ‘best practices’ to make the implementation less stressful, flexible and effortless without disrupting business practices or work in general. If you are planning to implement Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Sales, then here are a few best practices that you must follow in order to make sure that you oversee a successful implementation.

Here is how to implement Dynamics 365 for Sales in your company:

 Get it done by a subject matter expert: In this case, it is a Dynamics 365 Sales Partner or a Microsoft Business Solutions Implementation Consultant. An SME’s knowledge of the implementation is unquestionable.This sort of expertise keeps project risk minimal and supports user adoption post-implementation. Choose a consultant with at least a dozen years of experience of having implemented D365 for Sales and he sure will handle the rest and ensure a smooth process.

 Stress on cross-practice collaboration: Getting a Dynamics 365 for Sales implementation done calls for a collaborative workshop, where the agenda must be to resourcefully plan how to eliminate multiple meetings of identical nature with various consultants to sort out some cross-functional issues arising out of the blue, which is generally the case with Dynamics 365 for Sales which shares cross-functional tasks with SharePoint, Finance and Supply Chain Management.

 Customize It Before Integrating It: Before you think of integrating Dynamics 365 for Sales with any fellow Dynamics 365 application, ensure that you customize it well. When you implement the Sales module, it does not consume that much time as any other module would in terms of modifications, as other complex modules are laden with application complexities and requirements. Doing so ensures a solid foundation when it comes to integrating it with other applications.

 Specify the Application Holding ‘Master Data’: Once you implement Dynamics 365 for Sales, you will start integrating it with other applications sooner or later. During this phase, you must determine which is the application that will store the ‘Master Data’ or will be known as the ‘System of Record’. It so happens that either Finance or Supply Chain Management assume that role, but Sales too can do it provided the data that needs to be stored is known.When the process to convert these prospects into customers is underway, businesses generally forward all the data over to the ERP system. Specifying which application will hold the master data helps with design options and security requirements.

 Keep your IT team involved in the decision-making process: Any decision that you take regarding integration tools is generally taken after due consultations with your implementation partner. Ideally, that should not be the case. Your IT team implements whatever applications you need and thus should be party in this process and must be made an integral part of it to avoid last-minute goof-ups. Reason being, as soon as your implementation partner is out of the picture, it will be your IT team that will come to your rescue as far as future updates and modifications are concerned.

 Time your implementation smartly: Each business has a year-end closing month. Try to Implement Dynamics 365 for Sales around that time so that you are not found wanting when it comes to entering the ‘go-live’ phase. When you are about to begin your new year in business, you get it underway on the application itself.

 Keep all cross-functional teams in the loop: Doing so is not important, it is imperative. With D365 for Sales, there will be other parties involved as well and not just your Sales personnel following up on leads and trying to convert them into customers. In all possibility, Marketing and Customer Service teams too will come looking for something that concerns them, thus making it imperative that you keep all concerned parties in the loop even before you get things started.

To make this possible, the first thing you must do is find a reliable Dynamics 365 Partner good at implementing the Sales application, capable of guiding you on how to Implement Dynamics 365 for Sales. The rest follows.

Summary: The arguments presented above are best practices to implement Dynamics 365 for Sales and should be considered seriously so that the whole implementation process goes off smoothly.