Editor: Denis Conway

Introduction

This blog post is a follow-up to the Leverage Warehouse management only mode to optimize your business blog post. Warehouse management only mode was presented as a transformative tool for enhancing warehouse operations without the need for extensive system overhauls. Warehouse management only mode improves efficiency, and flexibility within existing infrastructure. The preview release of Warehouse management only mode was explored to discover its potential in revolutionizing warehouse management practices.

In this blog post you will learn about how a wholesaler used the Warehouse management only mode feature in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management to handle shared warehouse operations for multiple sales subsidiaries.

Business requirements

The client’s requirement was to distribute product master data among all sales subsidiaries, and to restrict each one to managing only their own physical inventory in the same distribution centre (DC) building. The DC building needed to handle all inbound, outbound, and correction updates for all sales subsidiaries.

Implementation

The client chose to use Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management in a single-instance deployment model. They set up a separate legal entity for each sales subsidiary and an additional legal entity for distribution.

The implementation uses an inventory owner dimension for each sales subsidiary to control the physical inventory in the DC for the same item numbers. This ensures that the DC only allows shipping an item when physical inventory exists for the related legal entity.

The distribution legal entity maps item numbers using a dedicated source system record to define the source system items.

Each sales subsidiary has an external warehouse linked to the DC building in the distribution legal entity.

The system automatically creates inbound and outbound shipment orders each time a sales subsidiary releases purchase and sales orders against the DC.

The DC can combine several shipment orders from different sales subsidiaries into a single load and report back via an external warehouse shipment order updates message to each of the legal entities, when it completes the receiving or shipping of the requested inventory.

In each sales subsidiary an automated process updates the related purchase and sales order line transactions, so each sales subsidiary can continue with the order processing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the integration of Warehouse management 0nly mode within Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management has effectively addressed the intricate demands of the wholesaler, facilitating streamlined management of shared warehouse operations across multiple sales subsidiaries. Through the utilization of this advanced feature, the client has realized significant improvements in efficiency and flexibility within their existing infrastructure.

The establishment of separate legal entities, coupled with meticulous configuration of inventory owner dimensions and source system mappings, has ensured seamless management of physical inventory for each sales subsidiary within the distribution centre. Moreover, the automation of inbound and outbound shipment orders, alongside the capability to consolidate multiple orders into a single delivery, has greatly enhanced logistics processes and overall operational efficiency.

As a result, the wholesaler is positioned to capitalize on the benefits of this implementation, with optimized warehouse management practices fostering smoother operations and laying the foundation for future growth and success. Don’t miss this opportunity to try out this feature and see how it can transform your business. 

Learn More

Try out the preview release today and get ready to experience the power of Warehouse management only mode.

To learn more about how Warehouse management only mode works and how to set it up, see Warehouse management only mode in Supply Chain Management.

Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management capabilities

Modernize your supply chain to enhance visibility, improve planning, streamline procurement, and optimize fulfilment – Learn More

The post Maximizing Efficiency: Operating an External Shared Warehouse with Warehouse Management Only Mode appeared first on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Blog.

Editor: Denis Conway

Empower your manufacturing journey with Tracked Components: Unveiling the future of precision, compliance, and efficiency in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management

Introduction

We’re thrilled to unveil the public preview of our latest feature, Tracked Components, as part of our manufacturing capabilities in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management. This feature, released in version 10.0.40 on April 26 2024, streamlines the process of registering batch and serial numbers for components used in manufacturing processes, seamlessly matching them to the batch and serial numbers for the finished products being produced.

Enhanced track and trace capabilities in manufacturing offer a compelling value proposition. They provide real-time visibility into the supply chain, ensuring quality control, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, enhanced productivity, and improved customer satisfaction. These systems empower manufacturers to optimize operations, reduce errors, and base decisions on data, ultimately leading to increased efficiency and superior products.

Boosting Manufacturing Precision with Tracked Components

At Contoso Inc., Jody, responsible for assembling loudspeakers, must register the serial numbers of the components used and match them to the speaker’s serial number during assembly.

Jody selects the assembly job she is working on in the Production Floor Execution interface and open the Tracked components page. First, Jody scans the serial number of the speaker, and then the serial numbers of the two tracked components used in the assembly. The association between the serial numbers of the components and the serial number of the speaker is now complete. As Jody completes the assembly job, all the serial numbers Jody registered are automatically deducted from inventory and consumed.

During quality inspection, an issue is discovered with on one of the speakers Jody assembled early that day. Peter, the quality supervisor, opens the Item tracing report and scans the serial number of the affected speaker to trace the component serial numbers used for further inspection.

Additional information

• Batch and serial numbers can be registered as tracked components in both production and batch orders.
• This feature is accessible in both the web client and the production floor execution interface. Within the web client, the interface for registering tracked components is accessible from various points such as routes, jobs, picking list journals, start and report as finished dialogs, and the current operations page.
• Batch and serial numbers can be registered using either the keyboard or barcode scanning operations. The feature supports GS1 barcodes, enhancing efficiency by reducing the number of scans required during the registration process.
• This feature is prepared for integration to the Traceability add-in for Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management. The Traceability feature (coming in 2024) seamlessly integrates with the tracked components feature, offering visibility into the genealogy tree, also known as the As-Built BOM structure. This integration enables tracking of the assembly process throughout manufacturing. Furthermore, the feature includes forward and backward search capabilities against the genealogy tree. This empowers manufacturers to not only trace product histories but also manage component associations with greater precision.

Key Business benefits to utilizing Tracked Components

Benefits of Introducing Tracked Components in Manufacturing for Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management:

• Enhanced Efficiency: Tracked Components streamline the process of registering batch and serial numbers for components used in manufacturing processes. This efficiency boost translates into time savings and smoother operations on the production floor.
• Improved Quality Control: With real-time visibility into the supply chain, manufacturers can ensure that components meet quality standards before they are used in production. This proactive approach minimizes the risk of defects and rework, ultimately improving the overall quality of the finished products.
• Regulatory Compliance: Tracked Components help manufacturers stay compliant with regulations by providing accurate documentation of component usage and traceability throughout the production process. This ensures that products meet regulatory requirements, reducing the risk of fines or penalties.
• Risk Mitigation: By enabling quick and accurate tracing of component serial numbers, manufacturers can promptly identify and address any issues that arise during production. This proactive approach minimizes the impact of potential disruptions and reduces the risk of product recalls or warranty claims.
• Enhanced Productivity: The seamless integration of Tracked Components into existing workflows allows manufacturers to optimize operations and minimize errors. This increased productivity translates into faster production cycles and higher output levels, ultimately improving overall efficiency.
• Improved Customer Satisfaction: With better quality control and more efficient production processes, manufacturers can deliver products that meet or exceed customer expectations. This leads to higher levels of customer satisfaction and strengthens relationships with clients.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Tracked Components for Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management offer a significant boost to manufacturing efficiency and transparency. This feature enables seamless batch and serial number registration and tracing, ensuring quality control and enhancing productivity. With real-time visibility and barcode scanning support, it streamlines operations and integrates seamlessly into existing workflows. The integration with the Traceability add-in further enhances functionality, promising improved efficiency and compliance. Overall, Tracked Components revolutionize manufacturing processes, optimizing operations and customer satisfaction.

Learn more about Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management

Modernize your supply chain to enhance visibility, improve planning, streamline procurement, and optimize fulfilment: Supply Chain Management | Microsoft Dynamics 365

Dynamics 365 increases agility and resilience through supply chain modernization. Plan with confidence, maximize asset uptime and streamline fulfilment to improve overall profitability learn more here with our Supply Chain Modernization Guided Tour

Learn more about how to register and track batch/serial numbers for finished products and their components (preview) – Documentation

The post Introducing Tracked components for Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management appeared first on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Blog.

Editor: Denis Conway

Empower your manufacturing journey with Tracked Components: Unveiling the future of precision, compliance, and efficiency in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management

Introduction

We’re thrilled to unveil the public preview of our latest feature, Tracked Components, as part of our manufacturing capabilities in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management. This feature, released in version 10.0.40 on April 26 2024, streamlines the process of registering batch and serial numbers for components used in manufacturing processes, seamlessly matching them to the batch and serial numbers for the finished products being produced.

Enhanced track and trace capabilities in manufacturing offer a compelling value proposition. They provide real-time visibility into the supply chain, ensuring quality control, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, enhanced productivity, and improved customer satisfaction. These systems empower manufacturers to optimize operations, reduce errors, and base decisions on data, ultimately leading to increased efficiency and superior products.

Boosting Manufacturing Precision with Tracked Components

At Contoso Inc., Jody, responsible for assembling loudspeakers, must register the serial numbers of the components used and match them to the speaker’s serial number during assembly.

Jody selects the assembly job she is working on in the Production Floor Execution interface and open the Tracked components page. First, Jody scans the serial number of the speaker, and then the serial numbers of the two tracked components used in the assembly. The association between the serial numbers of the components and the serial number of the speaker is now complete. As Jody completes the assembly job, all the serial numbers Jody registered are automatically deducted from inventory and consumed.

During quality inspection, an issue is discovered with on one of the speakers Jody assembled early that day. Peter, the quality supervisor, opens the Item tracing report and scans the serial number of the affected speaker to trace the component serial numbers used for further inspection.

Additional information

• Batch and serial numbers can be registered as tracked components in both production and batch orders.
• This feature is accessible in both the web client and the production floor execution interface. Within the web client, the interface for registering tracked components is accessible from various points such as routes, jobs, picking list journals, start and report as finished dialogs, and the current operations page.
• Batch and serial numbers can be registered using either the keyboard or barcode scanning operations. The feature supports GS1 barcodes, enhancing efficiency by reducing the number of scans required during the registration process.
• This feature is prepared for integration to the Traceability add-in for Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management. The Traceability feature (coming in 2024) seamlessly integrates with the tracked components feature, offering visibility into the genealogy tree, also known as the As-Built BOM structure. This integration enables tracking of the assembly process throughout manufacturing. Furthermore, the feature includes forward and backward search capabilities against the genealogy tree. This empowers manufacturers to not only trace product histories but also manage component associations with greater precision.

Key Business benefits to utilizing Tracked Components

Benefits of Introducing Tracked Components in Manufacturing for Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management:

• Enhanced Efficiency: Tracked Components streamline the process of registering batch and serial numbers for components used in manufacturing processes. This efficiency boost translates into time savings and smoother operations on the production floor.
• Improved Quality Control: With real-time visibility into the supply chain, manufacturers can ensure that components meet quality standards before they are used in production. This proactive approach minimizes the risk of defects and rework, ultimately improving the overall quality of the finished products.
• Regulatory Compliance: Tracked Components help manufacturers stay compliant with regulations by providing accurate documentation of component usage and traceability throughout the production process. This ensures that products meet regulatory requirements, reducing the risk of fines or penalties.
• Risk Mitigation: By enabling quick and accurate tracing of component serial numbers, manufacturers can promptly identify and address any issues that arise during production. This proactive approach minimizes the impact of potential disruptions and reduces the risk of product recalls or warranty claims.
• Enhanced Productivity: The seamless integration of Tracked Components into existing workflows allows manufacturers to optimize operations and minimize errors. This increased productivity translates into faster production cycles and higher output levels, ultimately improving overall efficiency.
• Improved Customer Satisfaction: With better quality control and more efficient production processes, manufacturers can deliver products that meet or exceed customer expectations. This leads to higher levels of customer satisfaction and strengthens relationships with clients.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Tracked Components for Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management offer a significant boost to manufacturing efficiency and transparency. This feature enables seamless batch and serial number registration and tracing, ensuring quality control and enhancing productivity. With real-time visibility and barcode scanning support, it streamlines operations and integrates seamlessly into existing workflows. The integration with the Traceability add-in further enhances functionality, promising improved efficiency and compliance. Overall, Tracked Components revolutionize manufacturing processes, optimizing operations and customer satisfaction.

Learn more about Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management

Modernize your supply chain to enhance visibility, improve planning, streamline procurement, and optimize fulfilment: Supply Chain Management | Microsoft Dynamics 365

Dynamics 365 increases agility and resilience through supply chain modernization. Plan with confidence, maximize asset uptime and streamline fulfilment to improve overall profitability learn more here with our Supply Chain Modernization Guided Tour

Learn more about how to register and track batch/serial numbers for finished products and their components (preview) – Documentation

The post Introducing Tracked components for Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management appeared first on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Blog.

The release of Dynamics 365 Customer Service wave 1 2024 in April introduces several compelling features available for early access. This blog post discusses how to enable the agent call quality survey so agents can provide feedback on improvements.

This functionality enables contact center managers (or their IT counterparts) to swiftly identify and respond to any issues impacting the agent experience that might go unnoticed by conventional service metrics. By promptly addressing potential pain points, you can enhance call quality, strengthen customer satisfaction, and improve overall business performance. This eliminates the necessity of implementing agent satisfaction CSAT through custom development.

Get early access features

To try the call quality survey feature, you must opt in to get early access updates in your environment.

Enable the call quality survey

Once you opt in to early access, you can locate these settings in the Customer Service admin center. Go to Search admin settings and enter the keyword “Survey”. Look for the Workspaces section on the sitemap to access these settings. Alternatively, you can access these settings directly within the Agent Experience under the Workspaces section on the sitemap.

Select Agent call quality survey (preview) and you’ll gain access to the settings provided for this feature, such as the option to opt-in or opt-out, the frequency of survey display expressed as the number of calls before it appears, and the duration for which the survey remains active.

The administrator can set up a general opt-in for the agent survey and determine how frequently the survey appears per a certain number of calls. Additionally, if there’s a need to monitor agent experience for a specific duration, such as after significant changes in voice or telephony settings, the administrator can specify the survey duration with start and end dates.

Another option to access the agent survey configuration is also provided through the Voice workstream configuration settings pane.

Now, let’s explore the agent experience with this functionality. Following each call, the agent receives a prompt to rate the overall quality of the call. If the agent response is less than 5 stars, the agent sees a new survey page with more detailed depth-in questions.

Following the submission of the survey form, the agent will have the opportunity to view the acknowledgment of their registered feedback and close the survey form.

Query call quality survey results

Once the agent’s feedback is saved (stored in Azure logs analytics), you can utilize statistics by querying the aggregated data in Azure. Before querying, make sure to enable the Call Survey Logs option in Diagnostics. 

Then Administrator can go to “Logs” -> “Queries” and choose Call survey query to execute.

You can delve deeper into the answered questions regarding call quality and respond to any issues more quickly.

In conclusion, the call quality survey provides an easy way for agents to provide feedback. These surveys serve as invaluable tools for gathering immediate feedback from customers regarding their interaction experiences. By analyzing the results of these surveys, agents can identify areas for improvement and ultimately elevate customer satisfaction levels. Moreover, the data collected from these surveys can inform training programs and strategic decision-making within the organization, leading to continuous improvement in service delivery. Ultimately, prioritizing end-of-call quality surveys empowers agents to deliver exceptional customer service, fosters a culture of continuous improvement, and strengthens overall customer relationships.

Learn more

• Configure survey for call quality feedback (preview)
• Conversation diagnostics in Azure Application Insights
• Learn about general availability deployment in your region 

The post Try the agent call quality survey in Dynamics 365 Customer Service appeared first on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Blog.

The release of Dynamics 365 Customer Service wave 1 2024 in April introduces several compelling features available for early access. This blog post discusses how to enable the agent call quality survey so agents can provide feedback on improvements.

This functionality enables contact center managers (or their IT counterparts) to swiftly identify and respond to any issues impacting the agent experience that might go unnoticed by conventional service metrics. By promptly addressing potential pain points, you can enhance call quality, strengthen customer satisfaction, and improve overall business performance. This eliminates the necessity of implementing agent satisfaction CSAT through custom development.

Get early access features

To try the call quality survey feature, you must opt in to get early access updates in your environment.

Enable the call quality survey

Once you opt in to early access, you can locate these settings in the Customer Service admin center. Go to Search admin settings and enter the keyword “Survey”. Look for the Workspaces section on the sitemap to access these settings. Alternatively, you can access these settings directly within the Agent Experience under the Workspaces section on the sitemap.

Select Agent call quality survey (preview) and you’ll gain access to the settings provided for this feature, such as the option to opt-in or opt-out, the frequency of survey display expressed as the number of calls before it appears, and the duration for which the survey remains active.

The administrator can set up a general opt-in for the agent survey and determine how frequently the survey appears per a certain number of calls. Additionally, if there’s a need to monitor agent experience for a specific duration, such as after significant changes in voice or telephony settings, the administrator can specify the survey duration with start and end dates.

Another option to access the agent survey configuration is also provided through the Voice workstream configuration settings pane.

Now, let’s explore the agent experience with this functionality. Following each call, the agent receives a prompt to rate the overall quality of the call. If the agent response is less than 5 stars, the agent sees a new survey page with more detailed depth-in questions.

Following the submission of the survey form, the agent will have the opportunity to view the acknowledgment of their registered feedback and close the survey form.

Query call quality survey results

Once the agent’s feedback is saved (stored in Azure logs analytics), you can utilize statistics by querying the aggregated data in Azure. Before querying, make sure to enable the Call Survey Logs option in Diagnostics. 

Then Administrator can go to “Logs” -> “Queries” and choose Call survey query to execute.

You can delve deeper into the answered questions regarding call quality and respond to any issues more quickly.

In conclusion, the call quality survey provides an easy way for agents to provide feedback. These surveys serve as invaluable tools for gathering immediate feedback from customers regarding their interaction experiences. By analyzing the results of these surveys, agents can identify areas for improvement and ultimately elevate customer satisfaction levels. Moreover, the data collected from these surveys can inform training programs and strategic decision-making within the organization, leading to continuous improvement in service delivery. Ultimately, prioritizing end-of-call quality surveys empowers agents to deliver exceptional customer service, fosters a culture of continuous improvement, and strengthens overall customer relationships.

Learn more

• Configure survey for call quality feedback (preview)
• Conversation diagnostics in Azure Application Insights
• Learn about general availability deployment in your region 

The post Try the agent call quality survey in Dynamics 365 Customer Service appeared first on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Blog.

In this era of rapid technological advancement, our industrial landscape is undergoing a significant transformation that affects many processes and people—from the way operational technology (OT) production data is leveraged to how frontline workers perform their jobs. While 2.7 billion skilled individuals keep manufacturing operations going, their attrition and retirement rates are on the rise. This heightened turnover is contributing to an ever-widening skills gap, pressuring organizations to look beyond traditional working and skilling to extend capabilities and ensure growth.

Microsoft developed Dynamics 365 Guides to address these challenges. The integration of Microsoft Copilot into Guides brings generative AI to this mixed reality solution. Copilot in Dynamics 365 Guides transforms frontline operations, putting AI in the flow of work, giving skilled and knowledge workers access to relevant information where and when they need it. This powerful combination—mixed reality together with AI—provides insight and context, allowing workers to focus on what truly matters.

Generative AI represents an enormous opportunity for manufacturers

With 63% of workers struggling to complete the repetitive tasks that take them away from more meaningful work, many are looking eagerly to technology for assistance. Generative AI addresses these realities by equipping skilled assembly, service, and knowledge workers with the information necessary to keep manufacturing moving. Integrating Copilot into Guides furthers Microsoft’s commitment to this underserved group within enterprises. Workers are using Copilot in Dynamics 365 Field Service to complete repair and service work orders faster, boosting overall productivity. Copilot is already creating efficiencies for organizations worldwide, though still in private preview, we’re excited to see how Guides unlocks frontline operations and use cases.

Copilot makes information and insight readily available. Generative AI enables Guides to put these details in context against neighboring machine components and functions, enabling technicians to repair and service faster. Copilot removes the guesswork or need to carry around those dusty old manuals. Users can ask questions using their natural language and simple gestures. Copilot summarizes relevant information to provide timely virtual guidance overlaid on top of their environment.

Manufacturers will see this innovation firsthand at Hannover Messe 2024. Partnering with Volvo Penta and BMW Group, Microsoft will illustrate generative AI’s potential on service and manufacturing frontlines. Read what we have planned at Hannover with Volvo and BMW, and what other private preview customers are doing with Copilot.

Volvo Penta is focused on transforming training in the field

Volvo Penta, a global leader in sustainable power solutions, is always looking for ways to utilize new technology to increase efficiency and accuracy and has recently been utilizing augmented reality (AR) capabilities that enhance worker training and productivity. As an early adopter of Guides and Microsoft HoloLens 2, Volvo Penta was eager to participate in the private preview for Copilot in Dynamics 365 Guides. For Volvo Penta, Copilot is another technology with the potential to unlock further value for their stakeholders.

Volvo Penta is part of a conceptual innovation exploration, to evaluate how Copilot can help optimize the training of entry-level technicians by enhancing self-guided instruction. As Volvo Penta’s Director of Diagnostics put it, “Copilot makes it feel as though a trainer is always on hand to answer questions in the context of your workflow.” Locating 10 to 15 sensors used to take new technicians an hour or more, and now it only takes five minutes. This time savings has the potential to significantly increase productivity and learning retention, helping Volvo Penta, its customers, and dealers, accomplish more. The company continues to innovate with AI and mixed reality solutions to modernize service and streamline frontline operations.

At Hannover Messe 2024, the company is showcasing how Copilot could serve their customers to improve uptime and productivity. In the demo scenario, Volvo Penta envisions its ferry captains using Copilot to address a filter issue prior to departure. Left without a service technician onboard, the captain troubleshoots replacing the filter, using Copilot and HoloLens 2 to do so with step-by-step guidance.

Volvo Penta

See how Volvo Penta streamlines frontline operations with Copilot in Dynamics 365 Guides

Watch the video

BMW Group is pushing the boundaries of vehicle design and development

BMW Group is improving its product lifecycle, incorporating generative AI, human-machine interactions, and software-hardware integrations for better predictability, optimization, and vehicle innovation. As a global HoloLens 2 customer, BMW Group has spent the last couple years developing its own immersive experiences and metaverse using mixed reality. Now participating in the private preview for Copilot in Dynamics 365 Guides, they are exploring how the combination of mixed reality and generative AI, together, can push the boundaries of innovation.

In private preview, BMW Group’s Digitization and virtual reality (VR) Team within research and development (R&D) is the first to evaluate Copilot’s potential on design and development. With Copilot, product designers and engineers are simulating how the use of different materials and components impact vehicle design and their environmental footprint. The insights gained through this approach will help BMW Group optimize engineering and production processes. The organization believes generative AI will also benefit its Aftersales frontline workers, providing them access to expert knowledge and guidance, whenever and where it is needed.

This joint collaboration will ultimately enable BMW Group to spark innovation and target the use cases that drive its own digital transformation forward.

Chevron is exploring the potential impact on frontline operations

AI, automation, and mixed reality solutions are poised to reshape industries everywhere. Within energy, a focus on safety and the desire to accelerate skilling has Chevron looking to advance the capabilities of its frontline workers for the future. Copilot in Dynamics 365 Guides offers Chevron the opportunity to optimize these operations, empower its workers, and infuse informed decisions throughout its value chain. AI and mixed reality, together enables Chevron to define energy in human terms.

Through the private preview for Copilot in Dynamics 365 Guides, Chevron is exploring new use cases at its El Segundo Refinery that could unlock further enhancements in worker skilling and safety.

Get started with Copilot in Dynamics 365 Guides

Interested customers can get started by deploying Dynamics 365 Guides and Dynamics 365 Remote Assist on either HoloLens 2 or mobile devices as the first step. If you want to see how AI can transform your workforce, learn how you can start implementing Microsoft Copilot today.

The post Early adopters of Microsoft Copilot in Dynamics 365 Guides recognize the potential for productivity gains appeared first on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Blog.