Microsoft Dynamics 365 to adjust SMB focus to composable solutions, away from Editions

Microsoft plans to end its use of rigid Business (SMB) and Enterprise editions of Dynamics 365, opting instead for a more flexible approach in the future that will encourage the development of composable applications using the suite's apps.

Microsoft is planning to launch the Dynamics 365 SMB Sales app and Tenerife in the spring 2018 timeframe, while the Marketing app does not yet have a planned release date. All three are currently available as previews. Prior to the "Tenerife" announcement this week, Microsoft had been expected to release the next major version of NAV in late 2017. But the change of course for the products has resulted in the new schedule for the SMB ERP solution.

In moving away from the Business (SMB) and Enterprise editions, the new approach will allow customers and their partners to use apps for field service, project service automation, retail, customer service, and talent - which today are only availalble via the Entperise edition - thus opening them up to a broader audience.

Common Data Service (CDS) will be of paramount importance in connecting these applications, Microsoft GM Marko Perisic told the Directions North America audience. As an example, he pointed to the ability ot surface item data managed in Tenerife in a Sales app interface.

Dynamics 365 Tenerife will introduce a new web interface to go with the updated set of capabilities. At Directions today, Perisic provided a brief preview ...