Business Central Wave 2 2024

In line with its annual schedule, Microsoft is rolling out another wave of new features in Dynamics 365 Business Central.

As part of Wave 2 2024 (Version 25), new features and improvements will be rolled out from October 2024 through March 2025, offering users even more advanced tools to support their day-to-day business operations.

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The changes are described in detail on the Microsoft website at the following link:

New and Planned Features for Dynamics 365 Business Central, 2024 Release Wave 2 | Microsoft Learn

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Below is a summary of the most interesting changes in selected areas:

Application Area

1. Collaborating on inventory records

The new feature allows multiple employees to work on inventory transaction entries simultaneously without interfering with one another. As a result, companies can optimize their workflow and streamline their inventory management process.

2. Integration of Business Central with Dynamics 365 Field Service

This feature offers a seamless, integrated solution for managing service tasks, consumption, and financial transactions. It is an advanced solution for managing work orders and consumption in Field Service, as well as for efficient invoicing and fulfillment in Business Central.

3. Viewing the Availability of Items in Field Service Work Orders

Users can now synchronize inventory data between locations in Business Central and warehouses in Field Service, which improves the accuracy and transparency of managing the resources needed to deliver services.

4. Archiving Documents Related to Service Management

A new feature allows you to configure automatic document archiving for the service module; this feature is similar to the one already available in the sales and purchasing modules. With automatic archiving, Business Central creates an archived version of a document when the following actions are performed:

• Delete a service quote or a service order.

• Posting a service order.

• Converting a service quote into an order.

5. Excel Reports for Consolidation and Fixed Assets

This version also includes four new Excel report layouts:

• Consolidated Trial Balance (Draft Version)

• Fixed Asset Details (Draft Version)

• Analysis of Fixed Assets (Draft Version)

• Estimated Value of a Fixed Asset (Draft Version)

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Report layouts are available through the search tool and the Accountant main view.

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6. Adding expanded text to project planning rows

This feature allows you to add additional, expanded text to project planning lines, which can be automatically or manually assigned to documents based on specific criteria

7. Default quantity of 1 for accounts in documents

The system now automatically enters a default quantity of 1 in sales and purchase documents for K/G account-type lines, which streamlines data entry and reduces the risk of errors.

8. Safe placement and retrieval in projects

The ability to use the direct pick-up and drop-off features at project-related warehouse locations has been enabled, simplifying the logistics management of project tasks.

9. Subscription Billing and Revenue Recognition

The latest version of Business Central introduces a module for managing subscription-based business models, which are increasingly being adopted by companies across various industries. The system now allows you to manage a wide range of subscription scenarios using simple processes that facilitate the billing of goods and services according to a recurring schedule—for example, equipment maintenance, IT support, or cleaning services. Thanks to this new feature, it is possible to create hybrid subscription contracts that combine the sale of goods and services with precisely defined billing schedules.

Subscription templates simplify the creation of contracts by standardizing parameters and recurring billing schedules. Users can manage current prices and plan future updates. Automation also includes the posting of accruals, allocating revenue and expenses to the appropriate periods in the income statement.

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Key features of the Business Central subscription include:

• Contracts with recurring billing for goods and services.

• Flexible billing schedules, tailored to common use cases.

• Usage-Based Billing

• Automated billing.

• Integrated deferrals

• Revenue recognition based on schedules.

• Contract updates, including changes to terms and prices.

• Standard reports on contracts, customers, schedules, revenue, and future settlements. Most reports are also available in Power BI.

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Subscription features are available to both Essential and Premium license holders.

10. Replenishing inventory for projects 

A new feature has also been added that allows you to quickly and easily verify that you have the necessary resources to start a new project or keep it running smoothly. On the “Project File” page, you can now create purchase orders for the necessary goods using the new “Create Purchase Order” action. Users can now generate, view, and edit purchase orders directly from within a project and then send them to suppliers.

The new process is intuitive and similar to features familiar from the sales department, allowing you to create purchase orders directly from projects. It uses the same algorithm as the order planning sheet, so it doesn’t require complex configuration to generate recommendations. The algorithm intelligently analyzes demand and availability of items, making the process more efficient and user-friendly.

11. Greater usability of the website and projects

Another change is the improvement in usability for the "Service" and "Projects" areas. This is achieved by adding new features and streamlining processes to make users' work even easier. You can read more about this in the official Microsoft documentation: See improved usability for service and projects | Microsoft Learn

 Copilot and AI Innovations

1. Suggesting a numbering sequence using Copilot

A new feature in Copilot supports the creation and updating of numbering series, which streamlines their configuration. It automates the process of generating new numbering series or modifying existing ones, enabling faster and more efficient handling of recurring operations, such as updating numbering based on the year or month.

2. Talk to Copilot to learn how to use your installed apps

Another feature Copilot offers in Business Central is the ability to explain and guide employees through the process of using the functionality of installed add-on applications, transforming Copilot into an in-house expert who understands your unique Business Central setup.

Copilot's chat features have been enhanced with the following additions:  

• Users can ask questions about the content of installed add-ons, such as new pages, fields, and business processes.  

• Copilot provides explanations and guidance based on the documentation provided by the applications installed in the Business Central environment.

3. Create product information faster with Copilot

A new Copilot feature makes it easier to add new inventory items by using information from similar products. It can suggest details such as:

• Variants,

• units of measurement,

• substitutes,

• dimensions.  

This makes product information management more efficient. Copilot reduces the time needed to create a new product and helps get it ready for sale more quickly, which improves the efficiency of business processes.

Development

1. Improving the Collection of Performance Data

Three versions ago, a profiler was introduced, which has become a key tool for diagnosing performance issues. However, capturing performance data required specific configuration. In this version, automatic background performance profiling has been added, which simplifies and speeds up the analysis process.

A rule-based scheduling mode has been added that automatically captures profiles in the background. Administrators and users can now create scheduled rules that activate the profiler based on specific criteria. The results are available for analysis, making it easier to detect performance issues.

2. New Features for Reports

Another improvement concerns report and document management. The new features make customizing reports even easier and more intuitive.  
Here are the most important changes: 
 
Word layouts: 

• A new Word add-in lets you control the conditional visibility of text, tables, and their elements, allowing you to create dynamic reports 

• New templates for documents such as invoices and purchase orders, allowing you to customize their appearance in Word 

Report Layout File: 

• Ability to export a report schema as an XML file 

• Update the layout according to the new dataset definition 

• Creating New, Blank Word Templates for Reports 

File of Custom Report Layouts: 

• Migrate layouts to a new system table, which allows them to be displayed on the Report Layouts page.

These improvements allow for even greater flexibility and customization of reports in Business Central. 

Legislation

1. Support for multiple VAT numbers for customers 

The latest update also introduces support for multiple VAT numbers per customer. This feature is particularly useful for companies that operate in various European Union countries. It allows you to assign different VAT numbers depending on the country of the transaction, which simplifies the management of international sales. 
  
The new feature is available in the following sales documents: 

• Sales Invoices 

• Sales Orders 

• Sales Adjustments 

• Sales Returns 

 
This enables companies to better comply with legal requirements and conduct their international operations more effectively. 

Data Reporting and Analysis

1. "Ad hoc" analysis of fixed assets, projects, and maintenance services

Pre-built queries have been added to the analysis mode; they are designed to facilitate the analysis of data related to fixed assets, projects, and services.

2. Ready-to-use Power BI reports

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This release adds many new reports related to finance, sales, purchasing, inventory, production, and projects.

The following Power BI reports are available:

• Finance: 14 reports

• Sales: 12 reports

• Purchases: 13 reports

• Inventory: 7 reports

• Output: 11 reports

• Projects: 6 reports

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Please feel free to contact us to provide details regarding the new standard reports.

UX Area

1. Access keys and tooltips in more languages 

In the latest Dynamics 365 Business Central Wave 2 update, Microsoft has introduced a number of enhancements that improve the system’s navigation and accessibility. The new “Key Tips” feature now supports multiple languages, including Polish, making it easier to use keyboard shortcuts in different language versions. This allows users to complete daily tasks more quickly, and the interface becomes more accessible and intuitive. In addition, access key support has been improved, making it even easier to navigate the system.

2. Ability to attach multiple files via "drag and drop"

This feature allows you to upload multiple files at once. You can upload multiple files by clicking “Browse” to select them manually, or by dragging and dropping multiple files into the dialog box.

3. Resizing Columns When Customization Is Locked

The ability to adjust column width has been separated from the personalization feature, so even if personalization is disabled, users can still optimize column width.

4. Changing the search method in lists

This feature introduces a modern search option for lists that focuses exclusively on columns for which the full-text search option has been enabled.

In summary, the Release Wave 2 2024 update introduces interesting enhancements and new features designed to increase the efficiency and productivity of companies using Business Central. Thanks to the use of advanced AI technologies and greater integration with Dynamics 365, users can expect tools that make their work even easier and support their day-to-day business operations.

For more details, please visit:

New and Planned Features for Dynamics 365 Business Central, 2024 Release Wave 2 | Microsoft Learn

or contact Intersys directly by email at:sales@intersys.pl