Last year Microsoft made an important announcement about changes to its update policy for Dynamics 365. From April 2019, there will be mandatory updates twice a year for all Dynamics 365 customers. So what does this mean?
Businesses need to familiarise themselves with the new Microsoft upgrade policy in order to be ready when the updates are released. If you want to continue to draw value from your investment in Dynamics 365, staying on top of this is crucial. In this blog, we look at the new policy, highlight the key dates for the April 2019 update, and discuss how to manage Dynamics 365 updates with the Update & Advisory Service.
In the era of the cloud and Software as a Service (SaaS), automatic updates have become standard. Whether it’s adding or remove new features and functionality, improving user experience, or bolster security – there are countless benefits for customers. What’s more, it signals a shift from business applications being a one-off investment to becoming an ongoing lifelong ‘journey’ – giving organisations the opportunity to get more from the technology as it grows and evolves over time.
If you choose Dynamics 365 as your ERP or CRM, there’s no need to migrate to a whole new system every 4-5 years, as was the case before. Instead, Microsoft will regularly release updates that enhance your system to meet wider trends in technology and business. With the help of a good Dynamics partner, you can tailor the system to your requirements, so that you achieve long term goals.
To manage change, you need to know what is changing. Microsoft have released a document containing all the information about the updates in advance; however, this document is approximately 350 pages long and can be a lot for customers to work through.
Here’s a quick look at the most important dates you need to be aware of.
Milestone |
Date |
Description |
Release notes available |
January 21, 2019 |
Learn about the new capabilities for Dynamics 365. |
Preview available |
February 1, 2019 |
Try the new capabilities before they are deployed in production. |
Release notes updates |
February 21, 2019 |
Updates to release notes with additional apps and capabilities. |
Virtual launch event |
April 2, 2019 |
The Microsoft team preview what’s new. |
General availability |
April 5, 2019 |
April 2019 update is available for production deployment. |
In the last 12 months, Microsoft has released many important upgrades to Dynamics 365. Managing this change can be a significant challenge.
Awareness is crucial – knowing what is changing, what the impact of the changes will be, and having the time to plan and prepare for these is a must. If you can stay on top of this, you can turn these upgrades into opportunities to drive more value for your business. For instance, a new update might simplify a process, streamlining how your teams work and save time. However, if you are not aware of it, you won’t be able to take advantage of this opportunity.
At Hitachi Solutions, our Update & Advisory Service is here to support customers on their Microsoft journey. Here’s what we can do to help soften the impact of the new policy change. Hitachi Solutions can:
In short, we know how customers use Dynamics 365, what is of the most value to them. We know what is coming next from Microsoft and what is being taken away. The Update & Advisory Service provides you with complete support, industry expertise and confidence in your business applications.
To learn more about how to manage Dynamics 365 updates, get in touch with the team at Hitachi Solutions today. If you’re a current customer, speak to your Account Manager, Service Delivery Manager or contact the Hitachi Solutions support help desk. If you do not have a support contract with Hitachi Solutions but are interested in switching to a Dynamics Partner that offers more value for your organisation, get in touch with our Update & Advisory Service or speak to one of our sales team.