AI-Powered Business Applications Bootcamp Recap - Day 2¶

Supercharge Your Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Deployment with AI Tools¶

Speaker¶

Sandeep Walia – CEO, Unify Dots

Case: Aftermarket Parts and Services Operations¶

Business Challenges¶

Disconnected systems for managing the services business.
Inaccurate demand forecasts for replacement parts across service locations, distribution centers (DCs), and stores.
Inflexible inventory planning and costly fulfillment processes impacting on-time delivery and inventory turnover.
Lack of intelligent automation to enhance productivity.
No sustainability initiatives to meet customer expectations and reduce waste.

Business Solutions¶

Unified Systems:
- Connect all data sources with a unified supply chain platform.
- Streamline processes across planning and execution with centralized data management.
- Simplify supplier onboarding with easy data connectivity.
- Adopt open and extensible platforms to support evolving business needs.
Real-Time Inventory Management:
- Gain real-time visibility of inventory across channels and locations.
- Avoid stockouts and effectively schedule service requests.
- Automate inventory allocation and reservations to accurately promise service completion.
AI-Driven Demand Forecasting:
- Enhance forecast accuracy with AI-driven modeling and no-code configurations.
- Conduct seamless aggregation and disaggregation to analyze corporate, regional, and SKU-level forecasts.
- Boost agility with integrated planning and execution flows.
- Perform what-if analyses for disruption readiness.
Enhanced Fulfillment & Inventory Optimization:
- Optimize goods flow for B2B and D2C sales based on performance metrics.
- Mitigate delays with transportation visibility solutions.
- Streamline pick, pack, and ship processes with Power BI dashboards for on-time, in-full (OTIF).
Boost Productivity with Automation:
- Empower workforce with AI-guided productivity tools and robotic process automation (RPA).
- Automate repetitive tasks and streamline sourcing with AI.
- Enhance vendor collaboration with contextually relevant insights powered by Copilot.
Sustainability Initiatives:
- Reduce waste by reusing parts and enabling reverse logistics.
- Explore new business models such as subscription programs.

Achieve Rapid Time-to-Value¶

Pipeline: Fulfillment → Forecasting → Inventory Planning. Enablers: Test plans, training libraries, data packages, Supply Chain Insights, AI automation with Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power Virtual Agents.

Case: Ensure Manufacturing Uptime with the Microsoft Supply Chain Platform¶

"Maximize asset uptime, improve quality, increase throughput."

Maintenance Approaches¶

Reactive Maintenance: Repairs based on failure or breakdown.
Scheduled Maintenance: Fixed-schedule servicing regardless of asset condition.
Predictive Maintenance: Condition-based servicing informed by real-time data and anomaly detection.

Business Challenges & Solutions¶

Asset Downtime: Use sensor data and AI-driven insights to proactively detect potential breakdowns and empower maintenance workers with mobile AI tools.
Reactive Maintenance Overheads: Leverage analytics to optimize spare part inventory and technician scheduling to minimize disruptions.
Quality Issues: Prevent quality degradation by acting on real-time machine data during production.
Remote Maintenance Limitations: Execute work orders using remote collaboration tools and holographic instructions through Guides.

Case: Omni-Channel Agility¶

"Meet dynamically changing demand."

Business Challenges¶

Rigid systems hindering rapid warehouse deployments.
Lack of real-time inventory visibility and accuracy across channels.
Inflexibility to support both B2B and D2C scenarios.
Absence of intelligent automation for workforce productivity.

Business Solutions¶

Flexible Capacity: Quickly deploy micro-fulfillment centers and temporary warehouses using intuitive setup tools.
Inventory Visibility: Integrate multiple inventory feeds using APIs to enable real-time data updates.
Optimized Fulfillment: Use AI-driven order orchestration and patented reinforcement learning to enhance delivery capabilities.
Workforce Transformation: Enable AI-guided task automation and improve vendor collaboration with AI-powered insights.

Revolutionize Finance: The Power of AI and ERP for CFOs¶

Speakers¶

Echo Jin – CFO, Microsoft Asia
Srikanth Kakulapati – Director, Dynamics 365 & Power Platform, Asia, Microsoft

Where to Start: Identifying Opportunities for Cost Optimization¶

Embrace self-service tools
Minimize multiple hand-offs
Address cost scaling with added volume
Consolidate systems of record
Identify bottlenecks and areas of low utilization
Streamline complex contractual arrangements
Improve information retrieval processes

Transforming Outcomes with AI Tech Enablement¶

Customer Service: Accelerate issue resolution times
Quote-to-Cash: Shorten the time from quote generation to cash collection
Asset Utilization: Maximize the use of existing data centers

Insights from the AI Journey: Cultural, Process, and Data Foundations¶

Culture¶

Celebrate small wins to foster momentum
Recognize and reward change agents with a growth mindset
Showcase successful projects and risk-takers
Promote end-to-end systems thinking and cross-team collaboration

Process¶

Be outcome-focused to drive business value
Set and communicate a clear, actionable vision
Solve globally by identifying replicable patterns
Digitize and optimize processes with minimal hand-offs
Start small with quick wins, document learnings, then scale
Commit to continuous improvement
Choose the right Large Language Model (LLM) for the right task

Data¶

Prioritize clean, unified data over touching systems of record
Align financial and non-financial metrics for coherence
Involve leaders in data governance
Engage teams closest to processes for data requirement definitions
Maintain a transparent data trail to alleviate black-box concerns

Security & Compliance¶

Treat security and compliance as non-negotiable
Establish data governance and AI principles early
Create robust security models and audit processes
Begin with human-aided validation before full-scale automation

High-Impact AI-Enabled Projects¶

Quote-to-Cash: Streamline order entry, billing, collections, and more
Record-to-Report: Automate accounting processes, period-end close, etc.
Tax & Treasury: Improve cash forecasting, tax compliance, and capital markets functions
Planning & Analysis: Optimize investment planning and forecasting
Procure-to-Pay: Enhance sourcing, invoice processing, and spend analysis
Risk Management & Compliance: Strengthen internal audits and mitigate risks

AI's Role in Defining Business Growth Imperatives¶

Enhance performance and profitability
Meet evolving customer demands
Overcome workforce shortages

“79% of leaders agree their company needs to adopt AI to stay competitive.” “60% of leaders worry their leadership lacks a clear AI implementation plan.”

CFO: Leading the AI Strategy While Driving Financial Goals¶

Key Responsibilities:
- Define budgets, ensure compliance, control risk, and inspire mindset shifts
Deliverables:
- Real-time financial visibility
- Predictive analytics for strategic planning
- Automation and standardization across financial processes
- ESG goal tracking via real-time reporting

COO: Executing the Digital Vision with AI¶

Key Responsibilities:
- Drive AI adoption, measure incremental value, and scale impact
Deliverables in a Volatile Market:
- Boost workforce efficiencies through automation
- Build sustainable and resilient supply chains
- Enhance visibility to mitigate risks
- Foster innovation and personalized customer interactions

Copilot and Dynamics 365: Empowering Agile ERP¶

"An Agile ERP Powered by Copilot"

Profitability: Enhance productivity and optimize operations
Performance: Discover new ways to achieve financial success
Agility: Build resilience with a secure, customizable platform

Finance Transformation with AI: Key Roles and Capabilities¶

Record-to-Report: Automate AP, credit risk assessments, and predictive cashflows
Forecast-to-Plan: Enable near-real-time business monitoring and predictive forecasting
Quote-to-Cash: Optimize pricing, customer interactions, and service automation
Inventory-to-Deliver: Achieve real-time inventory visibility and warehouse optimization
Source-to-Pay: Mitigate supplier risks and streamline vendor collaboration
Plan-to-Produce: Automate production, enhance scheduling, and avoid stockouts

5 Reasons to Choose Dynamics 365¶

Single, unified platform
Cutting-edge generative AI capabilities
Composable, extensible, and agile design
Unparalleled security and trustworthiness
Significant cost efficiencies

Transform Your ERP Processes with Agents in Dynamics 365¶

Speakers¶

Raghav Jandhyala – Head of Product, Dynamics 365 SCM and Commerce, Microsoft
April Olson – Partner Group Product Manager, Microsoft

AI-Powered ERP: The Future of Business¶

Dynamics 365 + Copilot + Agents

The Transformative Power of AI¶

Universal Interface: Seamlessly interact with systems.
Reasoning & Planning: Anticipate needs and optimize workflows.
Memory & Context: Leverage historical and real-time data to adapt intelligently.

Copilot + Agents = AI-First Business Processes¶

Copilot: The user interface for AI, serving as a personal intelligent assistant.
Agents: AI tools that automate and execute business processes, complementing individuals and teams.

How Is Modern AI-Powered ERP Different?¶

Copilot & Agents: Always on, proactively taking action across systems.
Dynamic Workflows: Replace rigid workflows with adaptable, real-time processes.
Adaptive Experience: Intuitive UI shows only what users need, streamlining navigation.

Dynamics 365 AI: Key Features¶

Composable: Modular, extensible, industry-specific.
Connected: Unified data across apps, productivity tools, and third-party systems with Copilot integration.
Cognitive: Autonomous agents that learn, adapt, and act independently.

Autonomous Agents¶

Source to Pay: Predict supplier risks, enhance vendor management.
Record to Report: Improve cash flow visibility, accelerate book closure, streamline reporting.
Quote to Cash: Ensure timely and accurate invoicing, reduce revenue leakage.

Spectrum of Agents: From Simple to Advanced¶

Retrieval (General Availability): Retrieve and summarize data, reason, and answer questions.
Task (General Availability): Automate workflows and repetitive tasks.
Autonomous (Preview): Operate independently, plan dynamically, orchestrate other agents, and escalate when necessary.

Autonomous Agents Currently Available¶

Supplier Communication Agent¶

Challenges (Current State):
- Manual effort for purchase order (PO) changes.
- Reactive approach to supply chain disruptions.
- Limited focus on strategic tasks.
Future Workflow with Agent:
1. Propose decisions and alternatives for PO changes.
2. Review and send drafted communication.
Business Outcomes:
- Proactively mitigate risks.
- Enhance vendor management and supplier performance.
- Efficiently handle PO changes.

Account Reconciliation Agent¶

Challenges (Current State):
- Time-consuming ledger reconciliations.
- Error-prone processes.
- Limited focus on strategic planning.
Business Outcomes:
- Continuous reconciliation with real-time issue identification.
- Accelerated book closure.
- More time for strategic activities.

Time and Expense Agent¶

Challenges (Current State):
- Delayed and error-prone time and expense reporting.
- Revenue leakage due to inaccuracies.
Business Outcomes:
- Automated time and expense recommendations.
- Timely and error-free invoicing.
- Minimized revenue leakage.

Why Is AI-Powered ERP Critical?¶

Transition from reactive to proactive business operations to anticipate changes and risks.
Foster rapid innovation to reduce time-to-market.
Stay competitive by seizing opportunities as they arise.

Connect Finance, Sales, Service, and Operations with Dynamics 365 Business Central¶

Speaker¶

Dan Skyes – Asia SMB Lead, Business Applications, Microsoft

"75% of business owners believe their organization will gain a competitive edge with Generative AI."

"Empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more."

Key Benefits of Generative AI¶

Drive more revenue
Build more loyal customer relationships
Boost operational efficiency
Foster sharper focus and creativity
Provide purposeful direction
Enable capital growth and innovation

AI Opportunity¶

Reduce Management Costs
Increase Value

"79% of organizations believe AI is a business imperative." "60% lack a clear plan or vision to implement AI effectively."

Expanding Into AI¶

AI enhances two critical areas:

Personal Productivity: Boost individual efficiency, save time, and spark creativity.
Business Value: Drive revenue growth, optimize costs, and improve employee well-being.

Historical Barriers to AI Adoption¶

Cost: High development expenses.
Talent: Shortage of skilled professionals.
Understanding: Uncertainty about possibilities and risks.

How AI Levels the Playing Field¶

Available: AI-powered agents integrated seamlessly within products.
Natural Language: Intuitive engagement and actionable commands via natural language.
Guidance: Copilot provides step-by-step assistance throughout the AI journey.

Dynamics 365 Business Central: Comprehensive Capabilities¶

Business Central integrates the following:

Sales Management
Financial Management
Project Management
Operational Management
Supply Chain Management
Service Management

All areas include Reporting & Business Insights tools for informed decision-making.

Copilot-Powered Capabilities in Business Central¶

Cash flow forecasting
Late payment prediction
Bank account reconciliation
Marketing text suggestions
Sales invoicing
Purchase order management
Sales and inventory forecasting

Enhanced Features: Business Central + Copilot¶

Chat with Copilot: Instantly navigate your data, gain explanations, and complete tasks efficiently.
Create Sales Lines Easily: Accelerate documentation creation and minimize repetitive tasks.
Copilot for E-Documents: Simplify invoice matching and purchase order processing.

Business Central: Proven Customer Results¶

265% ROI within three years with Dynamics 365 Business Central.
<6 Months payback period.
16% improvement in finance team productivity.