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What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations?

Written by
Published on
August 18, 2023
Updated on
May 17, 2024

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is one of the leading global providers of cloud-based, business applications that unify ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) capabilities. As part of the Microsoft Dynamics 365 suite, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (FO) is one of the biggest enterprise-scale ERP systems designed to unify, track, and manage their financial visibility and automation of operations. Want to learn why Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations is the ERP of choice for some of the largest businesses in the world such as Coco-Cola and Hitachi? Read on to discover more.

What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations?


Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (FO) is one of the biggest on-premises and cloud-based ERP systems in the world. It is designed to help large enterprises and diversified businesses streamline their complete finance management and optimization of business operations. It is designed to enhance business efficiency, agility, and profitability.

Doing its name justice, Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations provides a plethora of features to streamline and enhance finance and operation management in an integrated manner. This empowers data-driven decision-making with real-time insights across core business processes with intuitive dashboards.

Exploring the platform advantages of Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations

As an enterprise-level ERP, Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations is designed to help large, complex organizations organize all their business data and operations. By centralizing data on the cloud and automating business processes, the platform helps boost productivity, enhance collaboration, and provide scalability. Here are three essential business advantages that Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations provides enterprises:

1. Financial Management

Efficient financial management lies at the heart of any successful enterprise. With Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations you gain access to robust tools for budgeting, accounting, and cash flow management. Its dashboards and reports provide you with a 360-degree view of your financial landscape. From accounts payable and receivable to budgeting and forecasting, the platform offers a range of modules that automate and streamline financial processes. The real-time insights and advanced analytics that Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations provides helps organizations make informed decisions, optimize cash flow, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

2. Seamless Supply Chain Management

In today's fast-paced business landscape, streamlining supply chain operations is crucial for operational success. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations enables end-to-end visibility into supply chains, from procurement to production and distribution. It provides a comprehensive set of tools to enhance operational efficiency across various departments. Inventory management, procurement, production, and supply chain logistics are seamlessly integrated, enabling businesses to reduce costs, minimize waste, and deliver products and services with utmost agility.

3. Data-Driven Decision Making

In the current data-driven era, the ability to extract actionable insights from vast amounts of information is invaluable. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations leverages advanced business intelligence and analytics tools to convert raw data into actionable insights. Centralizing data, the platform provides customizable dashboards and sophisticated reporting capabilities. This enables decision-makers to gain a holistic view of the organization's performance, enabling them to identify bottlenecks, fine-tune processes, and drive continuous improvements. In this regard, Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations becomes a reliable compass guiding businesses toward success, by helping them optimize resource allocation, respond to market trends, and navigate regulatory changes.

In fact, one of the most essential aspects of Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations for enterprise-level businesses is that it helps ensure business compliance with ever-evolving financial regulations.

What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management?

As part of the larger Microsoft Dynamics 365 suite, Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations has evolved over the years. Launched in 2016 as a successor to Dynamics AX (their older ERP system), Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations integrated both Dynamics AX features and Dynamics CRM features. And now, with the introduction of more supply chain management features, Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations was rebranded as two separate Dynamics 365 modules: Finance and Supply Chain Management (F&SCM). While Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations is for larger enterprises, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management makes the ERP more accessible to mid-sized and smaller companies as well. It's also a way to expand the ERP's offering by introducing more specialized modules for Supply Chain Management.

Integrating Microsoft Dynamics 365 with e-commerce

With the rapid growth of B2B, B2C, and D2C digital commerce, it is becoming imperative for enterprises to integrate their ERP systems like Microsoft Dynamics 365 with e-commerce SaaS and cloud applications. While Dynamics 365 applications are designed to integrate well within the Microsoft ecosystem, they lack the necessary API points required to integrate with e-commerce applications. As a result, businesses look for integration experts or platforms to help build e-commerce integrations with Microsoft Dynamics 365.

Discover how to enable Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management for e-commerce integrations with the Alumio API plugin →

Why Choose Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations?

One of the standout features of Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations is its seamless integration with other Microsoft applications. This interconnected ecosystem enables data to flow effortlessly between different functions, fostering collaboration, and ensuring data accuracy. Moreover, the platform's scalability ensures that it can adapt to the evolving needs of businesses.

In a world where agility, efficiency, and innovation are paramount, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations emerges as a transformative solution. By seamlessly integrating financial management and operational processes, the platform enables businesses to unlock their full potential and achieve sustained growth. As organizations continue to adapt to the ever-changing business landscape, embracing Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations can be the catalyst that propels them to new heights of success.

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Portrait of Leonie Becher Merli, 
Business Development Representative, Alumio, point to the right with both hands -  within a white circular background.

Get a free demo of the Alumio platform

to experience the business automation benefits!