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Business owners are interested in automation and modernization of their work processes with the implementation of software solutions. One of the types of such smart solutions is the Enterprise Resource Planning system or ERP. If you already have a company and want to optimize its workflow, then ERP integration is what your business needs. Implementing ERP helps to handle many tasks replacing human resources in some work processes. Also, it provides a database where all data about your company and customers is held.
In this article, we will talk about readymade ERP solutions by Microsoft Dynamics 365 and comparison to developing a custom ERP system.
What is Microsoft Dynamics 365?
Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a cloud service created by Microsoft. This service has updated recently and changed the features. A new version has improved Dynamics functions combining CRM and AX and getting ERP applications.
Dynamics 365 combines ERP and CRM systems functionalities and provides access to intelligent applications. It has a flexible architecture, advanced features and costs, and business processes optimization.
Dynamics 365 consists of several Microsoft applications that provide various features like:
- customer insights – combining data from Dynamics 365. office 365 and third sources to search the required data easier
- customer service – customer engagement tools and customer self-service
- field service – scheduling company resources with managing tools
What is included with Microsoft Dynamics 365?
Microsoft Dynamics cloud service consists of several apps, and we would like to highlight them, their titles speak for themselves:
- Sales
- Field Service
- Customer Service
- Project Service Automation
- Marketing, Financials
- Operations
- PowerApps
- Flow
The last two applications are rather new and were added to make the service more customized for a particular company.
Two new apps – PowerApps and Flow – have also been introduced to help users customize Dynamics 365. PowerApps utilizes a no-code method of constructing mobile apps with specific functionality, and flow is a workflow engine that works with third-party services and across all Dynamics 365 apps.
Dynamics 365 tech specs
MD 365 logo
Here is the shortlist of Dynamics 365 technical specifications. As you can see, it can fit different sizes of companies and provides the ability to use it on various devices.
Devices Supported
- Web-based
- iOS
- Android
- Desktop
Customer types
- Small business
- Medium business
- Enterprise
Support Types
- Phone
- Online
Features of Dynamics 365
Let’s get more into details about the key features of Dynamics 365 ERP. As we have already found out Dynamics 365 is a combination of CRM and ERP systems. They are implemented for optimizing and automating work processes, managing huge amounts of data, improving the efficiency of the company, etc. We covered the common features that this service provides.
Key advantages of Dynamics 365 ERP
Improve Win Rates and Conversions
Ability to filter customers` interests with the use of lead scoring. It also increases the number of response rates in the way of emailing with potential customers and supports introductions for meetings.
Shows How Customers Interact
You can track the statistics of reading your emails to define its quality and need for improvements. You can get the number of lists that were opened and read to know if they bring any efficiency.
Unified Data
Using Dynamics 365, you can unite all data available in your company. For example, integration with social media or existing management systems.
Track Contacts
In the case of interaction with potential customers, their contacts can be saved and tracked.
Custom Sales Documents
It recommends the needed and relevant content and seller guides to make your documents custom and collaborate with sellers.
Streamline Workflows
A particular range of apps available on Dynamics 365 helps to manage and plan the work processes. These can be Outlook, SharePoint, Excel, etc.
Promote Accountability
It provides the workflow visualizations for better tracking the analysis.
Friendly UI and UX
Dynamics 365 has a common Microsoft interface and looks similar to other products. The interface has a simple layout that makes it easier to learn. So if talking about integration in your company, you don’t need to spend much time on training your workers to use the system.
Save costs on infrastructure
Using the Dynamics 365 ERP system, there is no need to add any other hardware. Microsoft provides the maintenance of the system from their side, so you don’t have to worry about it. As Microsoft provides all required services for implementing the ERP system, it can be cheaper as you don’t need to implement additional hardware.
Universal access options
Dynamics 365 like all ERP systems gather all company data in one place and give easy access for all employees. Also, the company heads can set different levels of access to different departments. The data is available from diverse devices using personal accounts for each worker. It is a good option as every employee can track the workflow and its efficiency.
Disadvantages of Microsoft Dynamics 365
How much does Microsoft Dynamics 365 cost?
As we have already found out Dynamics 365 is a paid service that has different types of subscriptions – for enterprise and business. It depends on the number of workers your company has. Business subscription suite to the company that has from 1 to 250 employees, enterprise subscription is for the company that contains more than 250 workers. Also, these plans provide different promotion offers, upgrade, bundling, etc.
Dynamics 365 CRM counts 40000+ companies and 4.4 million users that installed this ready-made solution.
Source Edge
Here are more details about paid subscription plans and the prices.
Also, Microsoft provides a team license that costs $10 per month for one worker.
Taking everything into account, Dynamics 365 has its pros and cons of the implementation of this Microsoft ready-made solution in your company. If you hesitate and don’t know if Dynamics 365 will meet all the demands of your business, then the right solution for you is building a custom ERP. A custom system is created exactly to your requirements and you can be sure that the integration will be accurate, fast, and easy.
Let’s discuss the necessity of developing a custom software solution and what benefits it can bring your business.
What is Custom ERP Software?
Choosing the suitable software for your business can be quite challenging. However, if you want an ERP service that meets all your requirements and company needs, it is always better to choose custom software development. Especially, it is a perfect fit if services you offer are not delivered on the conveyor and your company produces a custom and new service or order for each customer, custom ERP is a must-have for you.
From first sight, it can seem a complicated and expensive process to develop and implement a new system in your work processes. Though, it is an excellent investment as you pay once for building a system and use it endlessly.
Custom ERP software development includes a wide range of features that respond to the demands and objectives of your company. Among the common features of ERP solutions are business intelligence tools like:
- HR management
- Inventory management
- Sales management
- Accounting management
- High scalability
- CRM
Benefits of custom ERP
ERP benefits
Increase workflow productivity
Due to the vast amounts of data and tasks the company gets on a daily basis, human resources can not cope with all of it manually. ERP system automates some work processes thus it gives more free time for other important tasks and increases the efficiency of the entire company
Department collaboration
ERP solution is integrated into all parts and spheres of company life. It unites different department in the way of providing a single database for all company data:
- clients` contacts and information
- report and analytics
- expenses, invoice, and other payment
Each worker has easy access to the required information so he or she won’t need to wait for a response from other departments for a long time.
High scalability
The main benefit of a custom solution is its scalability and flexibility. As ERP is built considering your business industry peculiarities, size of the company, amount of data, and other obvious requirements. It means that it can be changed, widened, or updated any time you need.
Reduce costs
As ERP automates some of the work processes, it saves time and consequently money for the company. Employees can perform more tasks for the same time comparing before the implementation of custom ERP. You also don’t need to hire additional or temporary workers, as management of all company spheres becomes easier and accessible anytime and anywhere. ERP generally increases the productivity of the business company and thus the amount of income.
Custom report generation
The report is important for tracking the development of your company and its business strategy. It helps to see and compare the analytics from previous months with today and decide whether your company needs changes or not. Custom report generation makes this process more accurate and suitable exactly to your industry and workflow.
Reliable data
Cloud-based ERP is the best choice for the company and its departments. It makes the database accessible for any worker in case of need to find the required information for customers. The cloud-based system also provides notifications about the latest change or updates to keep the employees keep up to date constantly.
Our expertise in ERP development
We have vast experience in developing custom ERP solutions for different business industries and companies of all sizes. The initial step in each project is making deep research in a particular industry to reveal the requirements for your future solution. We would like to show some examples of developing and implementing custom ERP and how it influenced the entire company.
Highrise
Highrise company provides services for real estate companies. They have specific assistance for property owners and tenants as the company help to resolve different problems and cases of violations. They also process the complaints from tenants and try to deal with them. Real estate companies usually have to process huge amounts of information on a daily basis – contacts of property owners and tenants, documents and lease contacts, tenants appeals, and complaints, etc. Highrise needed to build and implement a custom ERP to record all important data in one database and make it organized due to the character of information. They also asked us to update the old version of the design and add availability for online payments.
Inflight
Our team was asked to build a custom CRM system for the company that provides inflight catering services for private aviation. They dealt with a huge number of aviation companies, so usually got an enormous number of orders. We developed and integrated a CRM that now helps to organize and manage all orders and their details accurately. There is also a possibility to pay online, manage invoices, and other options thanks to the admin panel.
Implementing an ERP solution makes the entire company more productive and profitable. There is no need to handle small tasks as more others can be automated. Thus, employees have more free time for performing more important tasks and projects. A custom solution will suit your particular business needs and resolve the problems you face every day.
Our technical lead, Evgen, provides an MVP estimation for the development of a custom ERP solution. These numbers are approximate and can become bigger due to your company’s requirements and needs.
| DevOps | Dev hours | Total cost |
| Business Analyst | 130 | $4160 |
| Admin | 32 | $704 |
| Designer | 120 | $4680 |
| CSSHTML | 150 | $3750 |
| PHP backend | 600 | $16200 |
| JS frontend | 400 | $10800 |
| QA | 360 | $6120 |
| Scrum master | 270 | $6210 |
Conclusion
So the last question is what ERP is a perfect match for your company? It may seem that the choice between Dynamics 365 and custom ERP is complex but you know that it is evident. The custom software solution is made to fit your requirements and consider every tiny detail and peculiarity of your company and business area. Of course, Dynamics 365 can meet the minimal demands of your company workflow but it is worth it as it requires constant payments.
Custom ERP is a great investment in your business that will make it optimized, automated, more modern, and profitable in the nearest future. We have deep expertise in creating ERP for all business industries that are in the modern market. We know how to define the problems of a particular company and transform them into goals to reach.
