Introducing Copilot for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations

Introducing Copilot for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations

Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) now offers Copilot, a powerful AI tool that enhances user experiences and capabilities in finance and operations apps. Copilot provides a range of skills to help users accomplish various tasks more efficiently. It integrates seamlessly with D365, offering several ways to interact with the app’s functionality and data.

Copilot Interfaces in D365

Copilot can appear in different forms, depending on how it supports user experiences within the app:

1. Sidecar Interface: The primary interface for Copilot in finance and operations apps, the Sidecar sits alongside the application. It offers a natural language chat experience, providing real-time guidance and support. For instance, the Generative Help and Guidance with Copilot feature (currently in preview) is provided through this interface.
2. Embedded Interface: In this form, Copilot’s AI capabilities are directly integrated within the application pages, bringing AI to the center of user experience. An example is the Confirmed Purchase Orders with Changes workspace, where AI assists users in understanding and managing changes to purchase orders.
3. Outside Interface: External agents enable Copilot to interact with multiple apps and tasks. For example, users can ask questions about finance and operations data using Copilot, enhancing cross-app functionality. More information is available in the FAQ for Finance and Operations Data on Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Prerequisites for Enabling Copilot in D365

To use Copilot features in D365 Finance and Operations apps, the following prerequisites must be met:

• You must be running version 10.0.36 or later of the finance and operations apps.
• Power Platform integration must be enabled in Microsoft Dynamics Lifecycle Services (LCS). (Note: Dual-write is not required for this feature.)

Key Features of Copilot in D365

1. Preview of Copilot User Experience:
   Copilot offers an AI-powered, in-app assistance experience that users can interact with across various scenarios in D365 Finance and Operations apps. It leverages large language models (LLMs) in conjunction with your business data, all while ensuring data security and privacy commitments.
2. Generative Help:
   Copilot offers in-app guidance using generative AI to provide context-sensitive support to users. It accesses public documentation to give precise assistance, making it easier to navigate the extensive capabilities of finance and operations apps.
3. Summarizing Purchase Order Changes for Better Decision-Making:
   In the Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management module, Copilot helps procurement teams manage purchase order changes more effectively. By summarizing these changes, Copilot enables better decision-making and prevents potential ripple effects.

Other Key Features

1. Collections Coordinator Summary:
   This feature provides AI-generated summaries and draft emails in the Collections Coordinator workspace. It includes summaries of a customer’s payment history, outstanding debt, and revenue. An AI-generated draft email can be quickly reviewed and edited before being sent to customers.
2. Customer Payment Predictions:
   Organizations often struggle to predict when customers will pay their invoices. Copilot’s Customer Payment Predictions feature helps predict payment timelines, enabling better cash flow forecasting and targeted collection strategies.
3. Process Automation:
   Copilot also supports process automation across various areas in D365, such as collection automation, vendor invoice automation, vendor payment automation, and cash flow forecast automation. These automation capabilities help optimize customer processes and improve efficiency.