Microsoft plans native Dynamics 365 apps built on Common Data Service for retail, talent

Microsoft continues to execute on its plans to make Common Data Service (CDS) an integral back-end component of its Dynamics 365 ERP and CRM apps. Microsoft re-affirmed this plan to provide synchronization between Dynamics 365 and CDS last week. In addition, two new apps announced by Scott Guthrie last week, Dynamics 365 for Retail and Dynamics 365 for Talent, will utilize the Common Data Services as data storage and extensibility model.

As these new capabilities find their way into the hands of Dynamics 365 customers working with ERP or CRM solutions, Microsoft expects they will also serve as customers' introduction to working with CDS as a part of their solution topographies.

Dynamics 365 for Retail

Prior to last week's announcement, updates to Dynamics 365 for Retail had been kept largely under wraps.

Microsoft general manager Sri Srinivasan explained in a new interview that among the improvements, Dynamics 365 for Retail will add workforce management capabilities at the store level. Those features include shift management, foot traffic analysis, coverage analysis and in-store bots. And the new features will be shipped with CDS storage and integration built in. New intelligence services will accompany the new capabilities.

The new staffing capabilities for Retail are closely aligned with the recently announced StaffHub solution for Office 365, Srinivasan says, with added and updated features to suit retail scenarios.

Dynamics 365 for Talent

The new tools of Dynamics 365 for Talent are also being developed as CDS-native apps. As Guthrie described in his blog post, the offering will "deliver ...