What is Parcel for D365 Finance and operations?

The Parcel for D365 FO is a multi-carrier shipping management system that supports complex, high-volume, multiple locations, and international and domestic shipping. Parcel is used by thousands of companies every day, including large omni-channel retailers and global manufacturers to automate mission-critical processes for parcel and LTL shipping. Parcel for Microsoft D365 Finance and Operations merges all of Parcel's core functionality directly into D365FO, from the quotation and sales order process through to shipping, manifesting, invoicing and freight charge reconciliation.

Why parcel for D365 FO?

Parcel for D365 FO gives you quick access to shipping information right from the D365FO sales order creation screens. It consolidates shipping within the sales order header and provides you with special delivery options such as Certified Mail, Adult Signature required and more. It allows users to create and post accrual vouchers, packing slips, shipping labels, and shipping Documents. Parcel for D365FO produces documents such as the Bill of Lading (BOL), Certificate of Origin (COO), Commercial Invoice (CI), US NAFTA Agreement, Shipper's letter of instruction for International Shipments. It produces AES filling requests to US Census Bureau Portal (ACE) within your shipping process in a matter of seconds. It retrieves and stores ITN numbers. It prints ITN numbers on individual package shipping Labels. Parcel for D365FO allows you to select different rates for different types of shipments, i.e. LTL, Parcel, Ground, and Air. It can also give you rates for multiple boxes instead of rates for total weight.

What are the advantages of Parcel for D365 FO?

• Minimize the risk of international shipments with global trade compliance features
• Accelerates fulfillment by producing packing slips and carrier’s labels in one seamless workflow
• Saves labor cost by capturing and validating serial numbers
• Reduce cost of global supply chain with international origin shipping within one centralized solution
• Gives ability to quote an accurate shipping cost at order entry or during the customer’s website experience
• Maintain control and visibility of shipments as they move throughout your global supply chain
• Enforce corporate shipping policies and rates across multiple locations
• Streamline workflow by integrating shipping solution with existing material handling systems and host applications

To learn more, you can visit our site or you can register to our free webinar and we will be happy to show you just how much time and money you can save on managing your shipping directly from Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations. The webinar details are given below:

Parcel and LTL Shipping Made Easy for Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations

Wednesday, October 3, 2018, at 12:00pm EDT

Presenter – Mehmet Pamuk

Professional Service Manager

NMB Solutions

REGISTER NOW 

Humans have a tendency to resist change in their lives. Some view it as an unnecessary inconvenience — but what about a change that can make life more convenient? If chosen thoughtfully and implemented correctly, change can enrich your business and encourage financial growth. Embracing the upgrade to Dynamics 365 will do just that.

You may be wondering “why would I need to upgrade to the cloud if Dynamics AX is working perfectly fine for me?” There is some level of reservation when it comes to software updates, but upgrading your ERP and CRM system to the cloud can have invaluable benefits. Below are seven reasons why you should make the leap to Dynamics 365.

1. Security
   In today’s world, hacking poses an ever-present risk to companies both financially and against their hard-earned reputation. Contrary to prior business thought, cloud-based applications now provide a more secure experience because credentials and active threats are monitored and counter-attacked 24/7 by Microsoft.
2. Total Cost of Ownership
   There is no cost to update your ERP and CRM system, and there is no need to re-train your staff — except on all the new features! Automatic upgrades also help to decrease the total cost of ownership. Dynamics 365 provides a flat price for this upgrade depending on your individual needs.
3. Synergy
   A huge benefit of upgrading to the cloud is that your platform is accessible on any device, and compatible with any browser. Because your business applications are standardized by Microsoft, they work seamlessly with a single sign-on and are integrated out of the box.
4. Latest & Greatest Features
   After you make the leap to the cloud, any subsequent platform updates will be performed automatically every three months. The applications will update every six months. Dynamics 365 provides update reminders from 90, 30, 15, and 7 days before the upgrade will happen.
5. Familiarity
   Because most functionality remains the same, you can save time learning the software and increase overall efficiency. All of the core business logic you are used to in Dynamics AX has been transferred to Dynamics 365 — only the interface has been updated.
6. Adaptability
   You can mix and match apps to personalize your experience and maximize profitability, and the best part is that user experience of these apps are all equally intuitive. Leveraging sales field service alongside your Dynamics 365 provides you the ultimate growth platform.
7. Quality Information
   The depth of analytics that you depend on are not forgotten in this upgrade — these data rich dashboards are easily connected to one another so nothing slips through the cracks.

Many organizations admit that they had barely begun, let alone considered digital transformation, but there is so much potential for a company if they invest in digital transformation. One of the major hurdles cited for lack of upgrade is the difficulty of implementation, but Dynamics 365 gives you the ability to quickly see results with a minimal learning curve. Companies like Uber, Airbnb, and Netflix have all embraced digital transformation, and their business to consumer reputations have increased.

Arbela has extensive experience upgrading to the cloud from on-premise. We will help you through every step of the process, and determine which steps you will need to take in order to achieve the smoothest transition. Contact us to hear about our detailed approach to upgrades, along with a roadmap that explains each phase of the upgrade process.

Take the leap! Contact Arbela Technologies to learn more.

The previously communicated date of Nov 7, 2018 for deprecation of ACS has pushed out if you apply for an extension. The new deadline for migrating off of ACS onto SAS is Feb 4, 2019 if you follow the request for extension process copied below.

We're offering an extension until February 4, 2019 for customers who will require extra time to complete their migration with updated Terms of Use. If you choose not to opt into the extension, your namespace will be turned off on November 7, 2018. At that point, all requests to the namespace will fail.

To request an extension, follow these steps:

1. Determine your namespace.
2. Go to the Access Control management portal for your specific namespace: https://<namespace>.accesscontrol.windows.net.
3. In the banner at the top of the page, click Read Terms then click Request Extension. After the extension request has been registered, the page should refresh with a new banner at the top.

If you have questions, please contact us.

The solution for workflow approvals is available now. The documentation for the remaining components has been posted as of October 8^th, but the app updates are still in progress. You can review the setup requirements and begin environment setup and configuration in advance of the app updates becoming available. We expect those final app updates to be published in the next few weeks.

Updated Mobile Connector using SAS documentation

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/confirmation.aspx?id=36776

I wanted to highlight some of my partners in crime presenting at AXUG/D365UG Summit next week. (Ok to be honest I wanted to highlight myself as well.)

BI12 | Moving From Reports to Business Intelligence

I won’t take Excel away until you’re ready. Promise.

https://www.eventscribe.com/2018/Summit/fsPopup.asp?embedded=true&pfp=FullD365UG_AXUG&Mode=presInfo&PresentationID=423650

Joel Leichty | Tuesday, October 16 | 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM | 122A – North

FIN01 | Fixed Price Projects, and Revenue Recognition, and Currencies, Oh My!

Josh is juggling in the session picture – I can only assume he will do this entire session while juggling flaming knives.

https://www.eventscribe.com/2018/Summit/fsPopup.asp?embedded=true&pfp=FullD365UG_AXUG&Mode=presInfo&PresentationID=423657

Josh Knox | Tuesday, October 16 | 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM | 121C – North

PM01 | Data Migration: Isn’t it Just Exporting and Importing?

Sherry won a big AXUG award last year, so I’ll retitle this session “Award Winning Data Migration Information”.

https://www.eventscribe.com/2018/Summit/fsPopup.asp?embedded=true&pfp=FullD365UG_AXUG&Mode=presInfo&PresentationID=423645

Sherry Moran | Tuesday, October 16 | 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM | 121A – North

BI14 | Collecting BI Requirements for an Upgrade or Implementation

I’m co-presenting with Gina Pabalan on this presentation. Fun fact: Gina and I didn’t know each other until we started collaborating for this session. That’s my favorite part of AXUG!

https://www.eventscribe.com/2018/Summit/fsPopup.asp?embedded=true&pfp=FullD365UG_AXUG&Mode=presInfo&PresentationID=423684

Joel Leichty and Gina Pabalan (Edgerwater Fullscope) | Tuesday, October 16 | 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM | 122A – North

FIN03 | Everything About Streamlining Your Project Intercompany Transactions

Should be a good one. And how many presenters do you know that can rock orange pants?

https://www.eventscribe.com/2018/Summit/fsPopup.asp?embedded=true&pfp=FullD365UG_AXUG&Mode=presInfo&PresentationID=423671

Alex Song | Tuesday, October 16 | 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM | 121C – North

APS33 | SAGlobal “Ask Us Anything”

Come to our Partner Showcase where we promise to not sell you anything! Bring your questions, we’ll have experts on hand to answer anything: F&O, AX, CRM, Talent, Power BI, baking at higher altitudes, average airspeed of unladen swallows – we’ll do our best!

https://www.eventscribe.com/2018/Summit/fsPopup.asp?embedded=true&pfp=FullD365UG_AXUG&Mode=presInfo&PresentationID=424349

Wednesday, October 17 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | 125A – North

IND02 | Member Showcase: Implementing Dynamics 365 for Talent

See how our customer, M3, is using Talent.

https://www.eventscribe.com/2018/Summit/fsPopup.asp?embedded=true&pfp=FullD365UG_AXUG&Mode=presInfo&PresentationID=423713

Nancy Graver and Trish Mallon (M3) | Wednesday, October 17 | 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM | 126A – North

IND03 | Project Budgeting for the Service and AEC Industries

Budget your time wisely (#dadjokes) and attend Steve’s project budgeting session.

https://www.eventscribe.com/2018/Summit/fsPopup.asp?embedded=true&pfp=FullD365UG_AXUG&Mode=presInfo&PresentationID=423724

Steve Dobbs | Wednesday, October 17 | 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM | 126A – North

Looking for some fantastic sessions? Check these out – all led by a Microsoft MVP.

D365UG & AXUG Community General Session & Microsoft Town Hall

MVP Kelly Kane! She’s in charge! #womenindynamics

Kelly Kane @kellylappkane | Tuesday, October 16 | 8:15 AM – 9:15 AM | North Building, North Ballroom

BI12 – Moving From Reports to Business Intelligence

Who, me?

Joel Leichty @joelleichty | Tuesday October 16 | 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM | 122A – North

FIN17 – Understanding Production Cost Accounting for the Best Outcome

Don Riggs @donriggs_mvp | Tuesday, October 16 | 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM | 126B – North

HOL1 – Hands-on Lab: Workflow Part 1-Planning the Perfect Workflow

Rachel forced me to write this post. #UnderDuress

Rachel Profitt @rachelprofitt | Tuesday, October 16 | 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM | 127C – North

HOL2 – Hands-on Lab: Workflow Part 2-Making the Perfect Workflow Even More Perfect

Is there a part 3: “Making the Perfectest Workflow Go to 11”?

Rachel Profitt @rachelprofitt | Tuesday, October 16 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | 127C – North

BI14 – Collecting BI Requirements for an Upgrade or Implementation

Joel Leichty @joelleichty | Tuesday, October 16 | 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM | 122A – North

FIN13 – The New Vendor Invoice Automation in Practice

I’m disappointed I can’t make this session! Looks great.

Ludwig Reinhard @dynamicsaxfico | Tuesday, October 16 | 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM | 125A – North

HOL3 – Hands-on Lab: Workflow Part 3-Finalizing and Testing the Perfect Workflow

LOL I swear I didn’t see this before I wrote my snarky comment above.

Rachel Profitt @rachelprofitt | Tuesday, October 16 | 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM | 127C – North

IND13 – Application Lifecycle Management: Operating Multiple Instances of AX 2012 R3 and D365

Thomas Ejby @powerpappi | Tuesday, October 16 | 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM | 126A – North

SYS07 – Leveraging Excel for Reporting and Data Manipulation

Excel!!! Best ERP on the market, in my opinion.

Justin Carter @DAXDude | Wednesday, October 17 | 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM | 121A – North

LPD04 – From Developer to Leader: What I Learned on my Journey Through the ERP Industry

Justin Carter @DAXDude | Wednesday, October 17 | 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM | 128B – North

LPD05 – The Art of Mentoring a Technical Expert

Don Riggs @donriggs_mvp | Thursday, October 18 | 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM | 128B – North

DEV09 – Flowing With the Common Data Services – Part 1

Rachel Profitt @rachelprofitt | Thursday, October 18 | 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM  & 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM | 122C – North

MFG09 – Ask the Experts: Master Planning

Don Riggs @donriggs_mvp | Thursday, October 18 | 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM | 126B – North

FIN18 – Understanding Revenue and Cost: Inventory and Purchasing Cost Accounting

Don Riggs @donriggs_mvp | Thursday, October 18 | 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM | 128A – North

FIN21 – Not to Fear: Audits, AX, and Beer is Back Again for 2018!

Our fearless leader is back!

Kelly Kane @kellylappkane | Thursday, October 18 | 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM  | 227A – North

POWDC08 – Power BI for Accountants

Belinda will teach you about debits and credits. Most accountants only dive into one other the other.

Belinda Allen @belindathegpcsi | Thursday, October 18 | 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM | 228B – North

D365UG/AXUG Closing Feedback Session

Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations provides amazing benefits to those looking to move to a modern, robust and scalable ERP solution without having to devote massive amounts of capital and resources to their IT departments. Running D365FO in the cloud allows companies to focus their resources on their core business functions and the business process reorganization that comes with a major system implementation or upgrade.

It also provides a rock solid enterprise systems infrastructure to all companies, big and small, that house their solution in Azure and manage it with Lifecycle Services. And, while not cheap, it allows companies to spread their systems costs over an extended timeline, freeing up valuable capital for business specific expenses.

That’s all great and a real selling point, but D365FO, like any other ERP, has strengths and weaknesses. ISVs like ours survive on identifying those weaknesses and developing functionality that not only fill the gaps left in the ERP’s capabilities but enhance the overall experience. In our case, it’s parcel and LTL shipping, but there are many others plugging holes and/or expanding on functionality that may not be as complete as desired.

When undertaking a traditional ERP implementation, companies have had to tightly manage the expense of adding additional functionality to an already resource intensive project. As with any cost/benefit or ROI analysis, adding ISV modules can seem daunting from both a time and cost perspective. Frequently, customers would turn to their ERP resellers to write customizations that would resolve the most pressing gaps at reduced time and expense.

Entering the D365FO paradigm shift

Both customers and resellers are discovering Microsoft has altered the traditional ERP implementation paradigm with Azure and Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations. By removing the need for massive capital expenditure and providing enterprise scale systems infrastructure for a subscription fee, they have minimized the significant capital and resource burden of an ERP implementation.

But it comes with a catch. Microsoft releases quarterly updates to D365FO and requires customers be no more than two releases behind at any given time. This all but removes the traditional use of customizations, especially extensive ones. In the past, a company with an extensively customized ERP solution could pick and choose updates or forego them altogether to avoid having to redevelop the customized code in order to conform to the updated ERP. This model is no longer an option in the Azure/D365 world.

AppSource – The App store for Dynamics 365

Part of Microsoft’s strategy for maintaining and updating their Azure/D365 cloud environments is to provide an enterprise level equivalent to the traditional App store. ISVs who wish to resell their solutions to the D365 community need to go through a Microsoft vetting and approval process in order to make their solutions available to D365 customers. Those ISVs are also required to keep their solutions current with the latest release of D365.

This provides D365FO customers with the peace of mind that any ISV solution they purchase from AppSource is designed to work with their solution and will continue to do so for as long as they use it. The ISV solution will go through the same implementation lifecycle as their core solution and follow the same processes through to production. These solutions are part of the subscription model and therefore provide the same capital and resource flexibility of D365FO.

Is customization dead in D365FO?

The simple answer is no. There will always be a need for a customer to make modifications to an ERP to meet their business needs. The trick will be identifying when and where these customizations should take place.

The advantage of an approved ISV solution is they will be maintained and updated as your environment is updated. They will provide you with additional functionality and improvements over their lifespan as part of your subscription fee.

The trick for any customer will be measuring the ongoing cost and impact of a customization against the added benefit. Customization scope will become critical for long-term system management. Once the scope of a customization gets beyond an acceptable maintenance expense, and ISV solution may provide better ongoing value.

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To learn more about NMB Solutions and Parcel for Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations, visit us at nmbsolutions.ca or send us an email at info@nmbsolutins.ca

Author

Christopher Morgan

Vice President Operations
NMB Solutions Canada Inc.

Microsoft presented today at D365UG summit on some of the new UI, Financials, and Production features available.

Presenters: Jason Green, Mike Faulkner, Philippe Jacobsen

PowerPoint (Login Required)

Check the Release notes for the specific estimated release date of these features. Some may be released in early 2019 or beyond.

Web Client

I covered some of the enhancements to the web client released in Platform 20 in a previous post.

What’s Coming

Collapsible navigation in menus will simplify finding a menu item.

New options will be available for saved views on forms, which allows for multiple personalizations on a form.

New grid capabilities will include:

• Improved scrolling – more data will be held client side so the scroll is more accurate and not paginated
• Filter/sort on any column including “display fields”
• Excel-style column filtering – pick filters from list
• Grand totals on grids
• Grouping and subtotaling on grids
• Cross-column search
• Remove 10,000 record Download to Excel limit – not infinite, probably 1 million records

Finance

I’ll be doing an upcoming live AXUG webinar on October 31st called “What’s New in the D365 for Finance and Operations Fall 2018 Release (8.1, Platform 20)” that will cover many of the new features discussed during the session and will include live demos.

Revenue Recognition

The Revenue Recognition features are used when billing is done at a summary Sales Order level, but the Revenue needs to be split out. New capabilities will be added to allow for this split.

Enterprise Credit Management

Ability to put orders on hold and have global credit limits.

Supply Chain

All kinds of Performance improvements.