Microsoft plans Dynamics 365 CRM architecture cleanup, separating the platform from apps

Day three of Microsoft's Dynamics 365 CRM "executive briefing" offered a look at some of the choices that could most influence the product line in the future. Key platform updates, increased consumption of Azure-based data management and analytical tools, and Common Data Service plans were highlights of the webcast, attended by thousands of Microsoft partners and professionals.

• See our Day 1 and Day 2 coverage of the Executive Briefing series.

Microsoft revealed that ‘v9' of Dynamics 365 customer enagement, which is still essentially Dynamics CRM, will redefine the platform as a layer separate from all applications - including standard sales, marketing, and service capabilities. The change will leave open the possibility (though not addressed specifically, based on reports from the event) that an XRM-based application development platform option could be possible in the future.

The next iteration of "Dynamics 365 for Customer Insights" will add ambitious new machine learning, analytical, predictive and data processing capabilities to do things like compile and compute new views of contacts based on analysis of multi-channel data. The first set of pre-built input connectors for Customer Insights will be for Dynamics 365 (presumably CRM entities, not ERP-focused apps), Microsoft Exchange, and Azure Storage. A "Microsoft Social Exchange" integration is planned, and others (including perhaps competitors' CRMs) will be launched in the future. Custom integrations will be supported via REST APIs and CSV BLOB upload.

Microsoft also updated its plans for Common Data Service (CDS), which remain consistent with past ...