MSDW Podcast: Microsoft VP Georg Glantschnig on the future of Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations

Microsoft just released their plans for 2024 Release Wave 1 of Dynamics 365 and Power Platform, and the Finance and Operations suite will be adding a range of process and data-themed capabilities. Generative AI is part of that roadmap too, of course, but our guest on this episode, Microsoft VP Georg Glantschnig, shares that his broader focus is on improving automation, solution composability, and data-centric capabilities.

Georg discusses some of the highlights of the current release wave and, while this is not an "all AI" conversation, he explains that Copilot will continue to be a priority for the Dynamics 365 team in the future. His team's approach of bringing customers and partners into preview and GA cycles should help Microsoft launch new AI-based capabilities that users want, he believes. And he shares his outlook on how Copilot could become more advanced over time, from today's productivity tools toward a future where autonomous systems handle end-to-end processes, asking users for help only in exceptional cases. 

Show Notes:

• 1:30 - Georg's background in the ERP space going back to the 1990s
• 3:30 - Microsoft's ERP position (and dividing Finance & SCM) at the time Georg joined the team in 2019 and how priorities have evolved
• 5:15 - How Georg positions Microsoft's ERP progress over the years
• 7:45 - Setting priorities in product planning
• 9:30 - Top level themes of 2024 Release Wave 1 plans
• 13:45 - What to expect from the launch of the D365 Finance Premium license option
• 15:30 - One Version updates for the product and what it means for customers
• 18:00 - How have customers adapted to the cloud, especially those who have been on D365 in the cloud for several years
• 19:15 - Automation and composabilty scenarios in the new release wave
• 22:30 - Domino's UK story: Inventory planning at scale with D365 and AI-driven demand planning
• 26:00 - Looking ahead to F&O product planning priorities:  operational process improvement and generative AI
• 29:00 - The journey for AI advancements - low stakes to high stakes
• 31:30 - Microsoft's product management approach to approach planning for future AI-related scenarios for F&O products
• 35:30 - How much will D365 F&O AI capabilities cost users?
• 38:30 - How is the One Dynamics One Platform (ODOP) initiative progressing?
• 41:30 - How F&O scenarios will expand their use of Power Platform
• 43:30 - Approaching concerns over cost of Dataverse usage
• 45:30 - The trend of building custom capabilities on Power Platform
• 46:00 - Other 2024 plans for Georg's team