Microsoft reveals Dynamics 365 and Power Platform 2024 Release Wave 1 Plans

The next release wave for Dynamics 365 and Power Platform spans April to September 2024 and will span a range of foundational and forward-looking features. Copilot remains nearly omnipresent, with Microsoft refining existing generative AI features and adding new ones across the product line.

“This release reinforces our dedication to developing applications and experiences that contribute value to roles by dismantling barriers between data, insights, and individuals,” wrote Microsoft CVP and Business Applications and Platform COO Mo Osborne.

A range of early access features across Dynamics 365 apps will be reaching general availability in April 2024. For example:

• D365 Commerce is adding purchase order orchestration
• Using skills to find agents for consult and transfer in D365 Customer Service
• Optimize schedule board navigation patterns in D365 Field Service
• AI in the D365 Finance collections workspace timeline summary
• Managing compliance with export control restrictions in D365 SCM
• Copilot for bank account reconciliation in D365 Business Central

While this release wave continues Microsoft’s heavy focus on AI and the expansion of Copilot-related features, Osborne noted differences across apps and services.

Updates to D365 Finance include “AI powered experiences, easing setup of financial dimension defaulting with AI rules guidance, increasing automation in bank reconciliation, netting, expanding country coverage, tax automation, and scalability.” And, she wrote, the Business Central team “is focused on Copilot-driven capabilities to streamline and enhance productivity through enhanced reporting and data analysis capabilities, elevated project and financial management, and simplified workflow automation.” By contrast, in D365 Project Operations “the spotlight is on core functionality improvements.”