Where will Microsoft D365 for Financials Be 1 Year From Now?

Update: Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Financials has been rebranded into Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

The 2017 North America Directions Conference featured representatives from Microsoft and seemed to put in doubt the future of Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Financials, Business Edition (D365F). Countless people are asking is D365 for Financials as we know it basically dead? If not, where will it be a year from now?

Is D365F as we know it dead? It depends upon how you perceive death with software and in this case cloud-based software. If you believe that a software evolving into something almost completely different than what it started out as is not the same software then yes, D365F as you know it is dead. However, there are a few others (including myself) that do not believe evolving softwares die.

D365F within the next year is going to evolve into a cloud version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018. Considering that D365F was built on the Microsoft Dynamics NAV platform but with limitations enacted I think many may have saw this coming.

Now that we know Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Financials, Business Edition will be a cloud based version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018 (keep in mind both will be rebranded with different names) what capabilities and features will the software acquire over the next year. According to the D365F Roadmap here are the planned features:

• Alternative Order Addresses

• Alternative Vendors

• Assembly Management

• Average Costing Method

• Bins and Movement Documents

• Cost Accounting

• Dynamics 365 look and feel - NEW

• Integration API

• Item Tracking

• Microsoft Flow - NEW

• Personalize your workspace - UPDATED

• Pick Document

• Power BI content pack for Jobs

• Prepayments

• Preview and Print Reports

• Putaway Document

• Shorter website address - NEW

Based upon the above addition to D365F it looks like the next year is going to be filled with updates that increase functionality and update the look and feel. It's going to be exciting to see how well extensions work with updates, manufacturing in the cloud, and a host of other features.

What's your opinion on cloud-based software? Are you for or against software in the cloud? Please leave your answers below in the comments section.

Also, if you want to better understand the cloud's capabilities here's a free ebook: Rethink business productivity

Thank you!