We have made the decision not to invest in transitioning the Russian payroll capabilities in Dynamics AX 2012 R3 over to Dynamics 365.

However, we’ll continue to support existing Russian payroll capabilities for organizations on an Enhancement Plan during the mainstream support and extended support through October 12, 2021 and January 10, 2023, respectively. For more information about Dynamics AX 2012 R3 lifecycle, read this article.

Although we do not recommend it, organizations can continue using Russian payroll capabilities with the knowledge that all regulatory updates and non-security hotfixes for Dynamics AX 2012 R3 will end on October 12, 2021, and security hotfixes will end on January 10, 2023.

Here are answers to some common questions for organizations impacted by this decision.

Why is support of Dynamics AX 2012 R3 Russian payroll capabilities not being continued in future releases?

Payroll is not included in the global strategic focus of the Dynamics 365 portfolio. Partners and ISVs are best positioned to provide payroll functionality that is compliant with local regulations and tax updates.

What Russian payroll solution is recommended when I move to Dynamics 365 Finance?

We recommend that organizations work with their implementation partner to determine the best local payroll solution based on their specific needs.

Does being active on a support or service plan ensure continued support for the Dynamics AX 2012 R3 solution?

Yes. Organizations active on an Enhancement Plan will receive mainstream support and extended support. The mainstream support for Dynamics AX 2012 R3 ends on October 12, 2021. Extended support for Dynamics AX 2012 R3 ends on January 10, 2023. For more information about Dynamics AX 2012 R3 lifecycle, read this article.

Can I continue to use the Russian payroll capabilities included in Dynamics AX 2012 R3?

Yes, but regulatory updates and non-security hotfixes for the Russian Payroll feature for Dynamics AX 2012 R3 will be discontinued on October 12, 2021.

Is support for Dynamics AX 2012 R3 Russian payroll capabilities being retired?

No. Dynamics AX 2021 R3 is included in mainstream support until October 12, 2021, which means Microsoft provides security hotfixes, non-security hotfixes, and regulatory updates. After the end of mainstream support, it will be included in extended support from October 13, 2021 to January 10, 2023. Microsoft will continue to provide security hotfixes only. There won’t be additional support for non-security hotfixes nor will there be regulatory updates. Dynamics AX 2012 R3 will be out-of-support starting on January 11, 2023. For more information about Dynamics AX 2012 R3 lifecycle, read this article.

Will the Russian payroll capabilities of Dynamics AX 2012 R3 be available in Dynamics 365 on-premises deployments?

Russian payroll capabilities of Dynamics AX 2012 R3 won’t be available in Dynamics 365 as a cloud service or for on-premises deployment. We suggest you work with your implementation partner to determine the best option for you.

What if I want to continue to use the Russian payroll capabilities after the end of the mainstream support for Dynamics AX 2012 R3?

Organizations using Russian payroll capabilities in AX 2012 R3 are welcome to use it after it is discontinued. However, we do not recommend doing this, as payroll regulations are continuously changing, and the existing product will not be compliant.

Will out-of-the-box integration be provided with any payroll solution for Russia, similar to integration with some US solutions, such as Ceridian or ADP?

Microsoft works with ISVs on enabling seamless integration with payroll providers for different geographies. Monitor Microsoft AppSource and other communication channels for alternative solutions.

Next steps

We recommend that you contact your implementation partner to determine the best payroll solution to meet your needs and build a plan to migrate to a new solution.

Send email to RUPayrollInquiry@microsoft.com with any questions about these changes. Find more information about the Russian payroll capabilities in the documentation.

The post Update for our customers using Russian payroll capabilities of Dynamics AX 2012 R3 appeared first on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Blog.

Most companies use sales pipeline data to gauge a very generalized picture of future sales. But imagine if your company’s data was accurate enough to predict next month’s revenue within a few cents? If an organization can standardize on top-performing sales processes and establish an accurate, targeted picture of the customer, pipeline data becomes far more reliableand future sales become far more predictable.

Insurance brokerage and advisory company Willis Towers Watson (WTW) collected extensive sales data across systems within the organization, but they lacked a centralized system to view the collected data. The company adoptedMicrosoft Dynamics 365 Salesto capture data in a single system where they could extract insights to optimize sales practices and prioritize high-converting customers. By using insights to drive success into sales practices, WTW has increased the reliability of their sales pipeline, making future revenue far more predictable.

“In January, we ran our numbers based on prior performance and predicted almost to the penny what the number would be for new business going forward. Probably very few companies have been able to do something like that.”Luis Maurette, CRB Global Head of Sales and Client Management, WTW

Sales predictability can be increased when sales leaders have two key things:

1. An accurate picture of high-conversion customers: Seller conversion rate will increase and sales cycles will close faster if you can provide your sellers a picture of your highest-converting customers. With the right tools, customer profiles can easily be developed from the characteristics of existing customerssales intelligence you already have. According to LinkedIn, 74 percent of sales intelligence users said the tools are extremely critical or critical in closing deals.
2. Better, faster sales processes: According to McKinsey, sales performance management can drive up to a 10 to 20 percent increase in revenue per salesperson. That means if you leverage tools that help you identify sales best practices and standardize them across your company, your sales cadence becomes predictable.

Fast access to data, fewer systems to pull data from, and easy collaboration with teammates and stakeholders optimize processes, and in turn makes sales cycles faster.

Identify customers more accurately, win more customers

A better understanding of the customers leads to higher conversion rates. Marcelo Fama, Head of Latin America CRB Ops at WTW says that with the new capabilities offered by Dynamics 365 Sales and Microsoft Relationship Sales (which includes LinkedIn Sales Navigator), “We identify more opportunities sooner with the highly effective, automated triggers in the sales process that come with the platform.” At WTW, they are now able to target unique audiences because of data in Dynamics 365, and have accelerated the sales process because clients recognize right out of the gate that they understand their clients’ needs.

Increase speed and collaboration with Teams

When sellers can quickly access account managers and subject matter experts for quick information within the context of a deal, sales cycles close faster. WTW plans to leverage the integration of the One Microsoft platform to optimize their sales processes. With Microsoft Teams embedded in Dynamics 365 Sales, sellers can share and edit CRM records within the context of chats and channels, providing the seamless collaboration between segments and regions critical to closing deals. “We have aspirations to become even more connected as a company and to accelerate growth through standardized processes,” says Maurette.

Success depends on making it stick

Historically, the failure rate for large-scale change efforts like new customer relationship management (CRM) programs has been as high as 70 percent. WTW reversed this trend and within six months of rapid deployment, 90 percent of WTW sellers were up to speed and using the new tools to work faster and more efficiently.

“In my 18 years at WTW, I don’t think we ever expected staff to adopt anything at above 80 percent, let alone a sales platform. It’s just outstanding.”Jim Blaney, Head of Sales and Client Management, Corporate Risk and Broking, North America, WTW

By tapping into the true value of Dynamics 365 Sales, WTW makes more data-driven decisions with consistency across the company rather than decisions based on guesswork. And the company has a deeper understanding of its clients and can better create targeted campaigns and deliver relevant, personalized services.

Learn more about Dynamics 365 Sales

Want to learn more about Dynamics 365 Sales? Watch Dynamics 365 Sales demos or take the Activate Digital Selling guided tour to see how Dynamics 365 Sales can empower your sellers with actionable insights.

Read more about how Willis Towers Watson brought predictability to their pipeline.

We’re always looking for feedback and would like to hear from you. Please head to the Dynamics 365 Community to start a discussion, ask questions, and tell us what you think.

The post Bring predictability to your revenue pipeline with Dynamics 365 Sales appeared first on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Blog.

The past year has brought dramatic change to almost every facet of our lives. We have seen the same disruption play out across every industry, from retail to healthcare to financial services. Customer expectations are fundamentally altered, and it’s hard to imagine things going back to the way they once were.

As organizations work to stay relevant in this new world, they need digital solutions, with a strong software development strategy to meet the evolving needs of their customers. That means, they need developers.

But for developers, the way we have thought about development and product management has changed little in the past 50 years. Although we have moved from binary to assembly to third-generation languages, we have not seen a fundamental shift.

As organizations look for industry-specific digital solutions tailored for their space, developers need to increasingly shift their mindset from coding to composing clouds and components.

The post Build differentiated SaaS apps with Microsoft Industry Clouds appeared first on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Blog.

Change is not always easy. Economic disruptions from COVID-19 have compelled most organizations to assess whether their legacy systems, processes, and infrastructure can provide the necessary agility to remain competitive. While shifting market conditions have accelerated cloud adoption, some are still weighing migration costs, complexities, and risks against the benefits. There are many reasons to migrate to the cloud, but not everyone is ready. That’s why Microsoft launched the Dynamics 365 Migration Community. Whether you’re unsure where to start, what next steps look like, or simply have questions, the Community has answers. Join the Dynamics 365 Migration Community for exclusive access to Microsoft resources that can accelerate your journey to Dynamics 365.

Connect to experience

Dynamics AX and Dynamics CRM customers face some important decisions on modernizing their current solutions. The Dynamics 365 Migration Community is dedicated to helping on-premises customers considering their move to the cloud. Microsoft brings together solution architects, migration partners, and financing experts to address concerns while connecting customers to the resources necessary to make informed, timely decisions. Just getting started? Community resources can help you build an individualized migration plan. Leverage the Dynamics 365 Migration Community to learn best practices, request a migration assessment, or ask questions in devoted product forums. Moving towards implementation? The Community has you covered. Understand the business value of migrating to the cloud, find a migration partner, or resolve licensing questions. Regardless of where you are in your journey, the Dynamics 365 Migration Community can help.

• Connect with technical experts, migration partners, and fellow customers
• Ask questions in devoted Dynamics AX and Dynamics CRM forums
• Gather insights and best practices from focused resources and content

The Dynamics 365 Migration Community centralizes our expertise and resources to address your biggest migration concerns.

Assess the value

With so much to considerknowing where and how to begin is not always clear. Microsoft established the Dynamics 365 Migration Program to simplify things. Start with a Standard Migration Assessment (SMA). This no-charge, no-obligation assessment helps customers understand the possible value and steps involved in moving to the cloud. Looking at both functional and technical processes, the SMA assesses potential benefits from new cloud capabilities and determines how to best leverage your code in Dynamics 365.

• Understand the benefits of moving from an on-premises solution to the cloud
• Tie identified business objectives to Dynamics 365 functionality
• Optimize your migration processes, reducing effort and cost

Understand the impact

When weighing cloud benefits, most organizations focus on the technical and often overlook the financial gains and business outcomes that result from the efficiencies the cloud can create. Microsoft Catalyst provides on-premises customers with a picture of the quantifiable economic benefits and value of migration. This is a great way for decision-makers to understand their total cost of ownership in the cloud compared to on-premises solutions. Migration value assessments from Microsoft Calayst use industry benchmarks, peer comparisons, and potential solution benefits to illustrate your possible efficiency gains in the cloud.

• Answer performance questions relative to peers
• Identify which KPIs are most valuable to your organization
• Leverage trends and process changes to find hidden opportunities
• Develop clear next steps to drive your migration to the cloud

Join the Dynamics 365 Migration Community

Have migration questions? No matter where you are in your migration journey, Microsoft has the resources to support you. Join the Dynamics 365 Migration Community today and get answers that advance your move to Dynamics 365.

The post 3 resources that advance your on-premises migration to Dynamics 365 appeared first on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Blog.