What's new in the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations transportation module

Microsoft first added transportation management as a module in the release of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3. Subsequent updates to AX and the launch of Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (D365FO) have extended those capabilities to support more robust inbound and outbound transportation capabilities.

In this article we will review the evolution of the transportation module and consider its future direction.

The key transportation features in AX 2012 R3 included:

• Rating: configure rating structures and shop for rates based on charges, which includes fuel and customs duties

• Routing: enable the setup of route plans and guides for complex transportation processes, as well as the ability to determine carriers’ routes based on the mode of transport. Based on the routing information, you can select the route that best fits your needs

• Transportation engines: define rating and routing logic, and calculate specific task information

• Freight reconciliation: manually or automatically reconcile freight bills with invoices

• Appointment scheduling: set up appointment types and associated notifications in batches.

In Dynamics AX 2012 R3 Update 8, Microsoft added more transportation management functionality to the solution, includinging capabilities around sales order processing, transfer orders, and purchase orders. This covered areas such as load building, with the ability to automatically build loads based on filters and templates. Dynamics AX 2012 R3 Update 9 further extended these capabilities by enabling companies to: