From the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management: Business performance planning; Financial planning; Prevent empty POs; Retail procurement

In this review of the Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management blogs:

• Business performance planning in D365 Finance
• The future of financial reporting: SSRS
• How to prevent users from creating empty POs
• Streamlining retail procurement

Business performance planning in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance

An author writing on the Ellipse Solutions blog noted that managing finances can be a hassle, especially when you're stuck digging through endless Excel spreadsheets and complicated formulas. 

Business performance planning (BPP) offers a better way, the author wrote. With BPP, Microsoft uses Power BI to turn your financial data into easy-to-read visuals. The author noted that this lets you explore your financial data in a graphical setting and interact with that data to see changes in real time — no more dealing with Excel spreadsheets and endless v-lookups.

In the blog post, the author explained in detail how business performance planning works in D365 Finance.

The future of financial reporting: how SSRS in Dynamics 365 is transforming finance teams

On the CloudFronts blog, Raviraj Hirve wrote that D365 Finance and Operations comes with built-in reports, but many companies need custom reports that are tailored to their unique business needs. And that’s where X++ and SSRS (SQL Server Reporting Services) become important, according to Hirve.

In his blog, Hirve took a closer look at how reporting works in D365 F&O, how X++ fits into the process, and how developers can use familiar tools to build powerful, customized reports. 

First, Hirve offered an overview of reporting in D365 F&O, then he wrote about the key components of an SSRS Report using X++ and provided step-by-step instructions on how to build a report with X++.

How to prevent users from creating empty POs in Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain

On the Stoneridge Software blog, Deovandski Skibinski offered guidance for administrators looking for ways to stop users from creating purchase orders (POs) with empty lines in D365 F&SCM. 

Skibinski noted that the problem is, you can't use a chain of command (CoC) on the canClose() method in the PurchTable form. He added that using validateWrite() on the data source doesn't work if the user doesn't make any changes to the empty PO. So he stated that options are limited, and it can be tricky to implement without being disruptive.

In his blog post, Skibinski provided an example of a code for D365 F&SCM that offers a simple solution. He wrote that the code doesn't prevent the user from leaving the form or force them to fix the PO immediately. Instead, Skibinski explained that it shows a message asking if they want to delete the PO. If the user clicks Yes, the PO is deleted and they're taken back to the PO list without any problems.

Streamlining retail procurement

On the Logan Consulting blog, Maya Ikenberry explored retail procurement processes.

She stated that D365 Supply Chain Management helps retailers improve how they handle procurement, cut down on waste, and get a clear view of every part of their sourcing operations from start to finish.

In her blog post, Ikenberry explored how retailers use D365 SCM to streamline procurement and stay ahead of demand.