Dynamics 365 and the Microsoft Power Platform have become pervasive across industries and organizations. Whether someone is a CRM consultant or a customer, the rapid advancement and integration of these technologies are reshaping how customer relationship management is approached. Over the last several years, Microsoft has introduced numerous new technologies, including Power Automate flows, the Common Data Service, the Common Data Model, canvas apps, model-driven apps, and many others. These features aim to transform the way businesses operate, moving away from legacy systems towards integrated, cloud-based platforms.
Continued Reliance on Dynamics CRM
However, many organizations still rely on older versions of Dynamics CRM. These legacy systems remain in use for a variety of reasons. Some businesses face budgetary constraints that delay their ability to transition to newer platforms. Others operate in industries with strict regulatory requirements, leading them to keep their data on-premises. While understandable, this presents challenges for consultants and IT professionals who wish to use the latest tools but are constrained by the limitations of legacy environments.
Microsoft’s Cloud-First Strategy and Support Deadlines
With Microsoft emphasizing a cloud-first strategy and the end of support for many legacy versions approaching, the time to prepare for migration is now. But upgrading is not merely about flipping a switch. It requires a thoughtful, methodical approach to ensure customizations, integrations, and business processes transition smoothly.
Preparing Customizations for Dynamics 365
Preparing customizations for the move to Dynamics 365 is a crucial step. Many customizations that were common in Dynamics CRM on-premise no longer align with best practices in the online environment. Therefore, consultants and technical teams must revisit existing implementations and assess their readiness for cloud migration. This includes evaluating all aspects of the CRM environment—ranging from workflows and plugins to form scripts and reports.
Strategic Preparation for Migration
You don’t need to wait until the upgrade is imminent to start planning for it. Consultants can begin preparing their implementations by adopting future-ready customization techniques today. By aligning development practices with the architectural standards of Dynamics 365, you ensure that your applications are easier to migrate when the time comes.
This preparation doesn’t just future-proof your solution; it also improves maintainability and performance in the present. Moreover, it sends a strong message to your clients that your approach is not just reactive but forward-thinking and strategically aligned with Microsoft’s vision.
Best Practices for Dynamics CRM Customizations Ahead of an Upgrade
As organizations consider upgrading from Dynamics CRM to Dynamics 365, one of the most important areas to evaluate is how customizations have been built and maintained. A system that is heavily customized in ways that are unsupported or outdated can become a major obstacle during migration. On the other hand, a system designed with upgrade readiness in mind will significantly reduce the time, effort, and cost required to move to the cloud.
Customizations are not just technical assets—they are the glue that binds business processes to the CRM platform. Poorly implemented or overly rigid customizations can block innovation, while smart, scalable approaches allow the system to grow along with the business. Preparing for an upgrade begins with rethinking customization patterns to align with Microsoft’s evolving platform standards.
This part of the series focuses on practical best practices for CRM development that will make any Dynamics implementation more compatible with the Dynamics 365 cloud environment. The strategies include leveraging configuration before code, steering clear of unsupported practices, and adopting newer, cloud-compatible development tools.
Stick to Configuration Over Custom Code
One of the golden rules in CRM development is to always prefer configuration over custom code when a requirement can be fulfilled through built-in platform capabilities. This principle not only simplifies implementation and maintenance, but it also ensures long-term compatibility with newer versions.
Built-in features such as forms, views, fields, calculated fields, roll-up fields, business rules, and workflows are designed to be easily portable between environments. These elements are updated and maintained by Microsoft as part of the platform, which means they are far less likely to cause issues during an upgrade.
For example, instead of writing a script to hide a field based on a value, a business rule can achieve the same effect without requiring a single line of code. Similarly, out-of-the-box workflows can often automate business processes without requiring custom workflow assemblies or plugins.
When consultants default to writing code, it creates a dependency on a specific version of the API or client scripting model. This tight coupling increases the risk of breaking changes when moving to the cloud. Using configuration tools ensures the application remains flexible and adaptable to platform updates.
This approach does not mean eliminating custom code. Some requirements genuinely cannot be met using configuration alone. In such cases, custom development must be implemented using modern, supported methods that comply with online deployment standards. But the mindset should always be: if it can be configured, don’t code it.
Avoid Unsupported Customizations at All Costs
Unsupported customizations have long been a source of trouble during CRM upgrades. These practices often involve bypassing or overriding the standard behavior of the Dynamics platform, which can result in unpredictable outcomes when the platform changes.
Examples of unsupported customizations include:
- Using jQuery or native JavaScript to directly manipulate form elements without using the platform’s client scripting APIs.
- Making changes directly to the SQL database backing Dynamics CRM, such as adding triggers or views.
- Embedding custom HTML pages hosted on the CRM server outside of the web resources framework.
While these approaches might deliver short-term results, they are inherently risky. They bypass the platform’s intended architecture and are not tested or supported by Microsoft in online deployments. When such elements are present, the upgrade process can stall or fail, requiring significant effort to re-engineer the system.
One of the most common issues occurs with client-side scripts. Developers sometimes use unsupported methods to access and modify form fields, assuming the DOM structure of the page will remain static. But Dynamics 365’s user interface is significantly different from its on-premise predecessors, meaning these scripts often break post-upgrade.
Similarly, database-level customizations might work well in an on-premise scenario, where administrators have direct access to the SQL Server backend. But in Dynamics 365 online, there is no access to the database layer. Any custom logic tied to database-level operations must be completely refactored.
As a general rule, all development should take place through the official SDKs and APIs. This ensures the solution will be compatible with both current and future versions of the platform.
Embrace the Web API
Microsoft has shifted its strategic focus from SOAP-based services to RESTful APIs, most notably the Web API introduced in Dynamics CRM 2016. This modern, standards-based API is now the recommended way to interact with Dynamics data from client scripts and external applications.
The Web API provides a unified development experience across the Power Platform and is better aligned with modern web development tools and frameworks. It supports all CRUD operations and integrates seamlessly with JavaScript-based front-end logic, making it the ideal choice for form scripting and single-page applications.
In contrast, the older Organization Service uses the SOAP protocol, which is heavier and less flexible. While still supported in certain versions, it has been officially deprecated, and developers are encouraged to transition away from it.
Switching to the Web API requires a shift in both tooling and mindset. Developers must become familiar with RESTful patterns, including using HTTP methods (GET, POST, PATCH, DELETE), handling JSON data, and working with authentication tokens. However, once mastered, the Web API offers far more flexibility and scalability than its predecessor.
Additionally, the Web API is designed for compatibility with modern authentication mechanisms such as OAuth2. This makes it suitable for integration scenarios involving Azure services, custom portals, or third-party platforms.
Any new development work should be done using the Web API, and existing solutions that rely on the Organization Service should be reviewed and refactored where feasible.
Design Plugins for the Cloud
In an on-premise Dynamics CRM environment, plugins can be registered to run in full-trust mode, which allows them to access local file systems, network resources, or other sensitive operations. While this flexibility is convenient, it is not available in Dynamics 365 online.
Plugins running in Dynamics 365 online are automatically sandboxed. This means they run in an isolated environment with restricted permissions. They cannot access the file system, perform impersonation, or make authenticated network calls using IP addresses or machine names.
Developers must keep these restrictions in mind when building plugins, even if the current deployment is on-premise. Adopting cloud-compatible patterns from the outset ensures that plugins will not require extensive rewrites during an upgrade.
For example, rather than accessing a network file share directly, data should be pushed to a queue or a webhook that handles the request externally. Azure Service Bus queues and topics are commonly used for this purpose, providing asynchronous communication between Dynamics and external systems.
Another common requirement is integration with SharePoint Online. Instead of using traditional .NET authentication classes within a plugin, developers should rely on REST APIs or create middleware services that handle authentication and communicate with SharePoint.
It is also a good practice to ensure that plugins are as lightweight as possible. Long-running or complex operations should be offloaded to background services or workflows. This reduces the likelihood of timeouts and improves system stability, especially in the more resource-constrained cloud environment.
As organizations begin planning their transition from Dynamics CRM to Dynamics 365, re-evaluating and re-architecting customizations is a crucial first step. The practices discussed in this section—favoring configuration, avoiding unsupported methods, embracing the Web API, and building cloud-ready plugins—are not just helpful for upgrades; they represent a more sustainable and scalable approach to CRM development in general.
By designing solutions with future compatibility in mind, consultants and developers can offer clients greater confidence and control during the migration process. Moreover, they help ensure that the solutions built today will continue to deliver value tomorrow, regardless of how the platform evolves.
Designing for Scalability—Cloud-Compatible Reporting and Development Strategies
When preparing a Dynamics CRM implementation for a future upgrade to Dynamics 365 online, the ability to scale and adapt becomes critical. This is particularly important in the areas of reporting, server-side development, and overall architectural design. These components often carry hidden dependencies on on-premise capabilities, and when improperly designed, can become roadblocks during migration. This part explores best practices for cloud-compatible reporting, optimized plugin development, and building scalable integration strategies that align with the Dynamics 365 environment.
Shifting from SSRS to FetchXML for Reporting
One of the major transitions when moving from on-premise Dynamics CRM to Dynamics 365 online involves the reporting framework. In an on-premise environment, developers and business analysts are often accustomed to using SQL Server Reporting Services. SSRS reports directly query the CRM database, providing a high degree of flexibility and performance. However, in Dynamics 365 online, direct database access is not available. Instead, all reports must be built using FetchXML, the proprietary query language of the Dynamics platform.
FetchXML is an XML-based query language designed to work within the platform’s boundaries. It supports a broad range of queries, including filtered views, linked entities, and aggregate functions. While it may not match the full power of SQL, it offers sufficient flexibility for most common business reporting needs.
To design cloud-compatible reports, it is important to first assess all existing reports. Those built using direct SQL queries must be re-evaluated. In many cases, their logic can be replicated using FetchXML, particularly if they involve data directly accessible through entities and relationships configured in Dynamics. The challenge often arises in translating complex joins or nested queries. These may require breaking down the report into smaller components or using alternative data sources such as data exports.
When migrating reports, performance must also be considered. FetchXML queries, while suitable for online use, can become slow if they process large data sets or include inefficient filters. Applying best practices such as limiting retrieved fields, using indexed columns in filters, and leveraging native entity relationships can help improve response times and user experience.
Embracing Power BI as a Reporting Platform
Power BI offers another modern and scalable reporting option for organizations looking to upgrade to Dynamics 365. While FetchXML is useful for embedded reports and operational dashboards within the Dynamics interface, Power BI provides a broader platform for analytics, cross-system reporting, and real-time visualizations.
One of the key features of Power BI is its ability to connect to multiple data sources. In a hybrid environment where CRM is still on-premise, Power BI can use an on-premise data gateway to securely connect to the database. This enables organizations to start building Power BI reports even before migrating to the cloud. Once in Dynamics 365 online, native connectors allow seamless access to the Dataverse (previously known as the Common Data Service).
Designing Power BI reports for CRM data involves building data models that reflect business entities and their relationships. For instance, linking accounts, opportunities, and activities in a visual model allows for flexible and reusable report components. Filters, slicers, and drill-through capabilities enhance user interaction, providing greater insight into data patterns.
Power BI also supports scheduled data refreshes, allowing reports to stay current without manual intervention. For scenarios that require near real-time updates, DirectQuery or streaming datasets can be configured, depending on the data volume and use case.
Best Practices for Plugin Development in a Cloud-First World
Server-side logic is another area that must be carefully rethought when preparing for a Dynamics 365 migration. In Dynamics CRM on-premise, developers often use unrestricted plugins that access network resources, call external services, or manipulate files. These capabilities, while convenient, are not supported in the cloud due to the security model and sandboxing restrictions.
In Dynamics 365 online, all custom plugins must run in sandbox isolation. This means they cannot access file systems, open sockets, connect to network shares, or use certain .NET assemblies related to system-level functions. Developers must therefore adopt new practices and design principles to ensure compatibility.
The first step is to enforce sandbox mode compliance in all plugin development—even in the current on-premise environment. By simulating the restrictions of the cloud environment early on, developers can avoid rewriting large portions of code during migration.
When external communication is needed, plugins should not directly access external APIs or services. Instead, the recommended approach is to send messages to intermediate systems such as Azure Service Bus queues or webhooks. These messages can then be processed by external applications with more extensive access. This approach decouples the plugin logic from the infrastructure constraints and makes it more resilient and scalable.
Another important consideration is performance. Plugins in Dynamics 365 online have strict execution time limits. To avoid hitting these limits, logic should be streamlined, and unnecessary processing deferred. For example, long-running operations can be moved to asynchronous plugins or external workflows. Logging should be used judiciously to aid in diagnostics, but should not clutter the execution process or consume excessive resources.
Structuring Plugin Solutions for Maintainability
Code organization and naming conventions play a key role in making plugin solutions maintainable. As environments grow, the number of plugins increases, making it important to structure them in a way that is easy to navigate, debug, and document.
A common best practice is to group plugins by entity and event. For example, all plugins related to the account entity can be placed in a folder or namespace called “Account”. Within that, classes can be created for each event, such as “OnCreate”, “OnUpdate”, or “OnDelete”. This structure aligns the codebase with the CRM entity model, making it intuitive for new developers or administrators to understand the impact of a plugin.
Furthermore, naming classes and methods descriptively helps clarify their purpose. A plugin class named “AccountOnCreateValidateFields” is far more informative than “Plugin1”. Each method should encapsulate a single responsibility, with reusable helper methods placed in shared utility classes.
Unit testing and mocking ofthe plugin context should also be considered. There are frameworks available that allow developers to simulate plugin execution environments, test various input scenarios, and validate outputs. Incorporating testing early in the development process improves code quality and reduces the risk of regressions during future upgrades.
Building Integration Strategies with Azure Services
Integrations are a key part of most CRM implementations. Whether it’s connecting to ERP systems, marketing platforms, or external data providers, Dynamics must be able to communicate with other systems. In the past, these integrations were often tightly coupled, with plugins or custom code directly invoking web services. In the cloud, a different approach is needed.
Azure services provide a comprehensive set of tools for building scalable, secure, and manageable integrations. Azure Logic Apps, Azure Functions, and Azure Service Bus are particularly relevant for Dynamics 365 projects.
Azure Logic Apps offer low-code workflow capabilities that integrate well with both Microsoft and third-party services. For example, a logic app can be triggered when a record is created in Dynamics, and then execute actions such as sending emails, updating other systems, or posting messages to collaboration platforms.
Azure Functions allow custom serverless logic to be executed in response to events. This is useful when lightweight code needs to run on demand, such as transforming data formats or applying business rules before passing data to another system.
Azure Service Bus provides messaging capabilities that decouple the sender and receiver. In a Dynamics context, this means a plugin can push a message to the service bus, and one or more downstream systems can consume it asynchronously. This design improves reliability and prevents failures in external systems from affecting Dynamics performance.
By designing integrations using these cloud-native tools, organizations can build systems that are more resilient to change, easier to maintain, and better aligned with future platform directions.
Monitoring and Diagnostics in Cloud Environments
Once a CRM system moves online, traditional monitoring techniques may no longer apply. Developers and administrators must rely on platform-provided tools and cloud-based diagnostics to identify and resolve issues.
Dynamics 365 includes the Plugin Trace Log feature, which allows developers to capture detailed execution traces for plugins. This should be enabled in production environments with appropriate filtering to avoid performance overhead. By logging key parameters and error messages, developers can quickly pinpoint failures and take corrective action.
For broader monitoring, Azure Monitor and Application Insights can be integrated into custom applications or services that interact with Dynamics. These tools provide metrics, logging, and alerts, enabling proactive management of system health and performance.
Cloud-based diagnostic tools also support auditing, compliance tracking, and usage analysis. These insights help identify usage patterns, potential optimizations, and opportunities for user training.
Designing for scalability and cloud compatibility is a foundational step in preparing for a Dynamics CRM to Dynamics 365 migration. By transitioning from SSRS to FetchXML for reports, adopting Power BI for advanced analytics, restructuring plugin development for sandbox compliance, and building modern integrations using Azure services, organizations set themselves up for success.
These changes not only facilitate a smoother upgrade but also position the CRM system to take advantage of future innovations in the Microsoft ecosystem. Forward-thinking development practices ensure that today’s investments remain valuable tomorrow, no matter how the platform evolves.
Transitioning Smartly: Navigating Deprecations and Building a Ready CRM
As the Dynamics platform continues its evolution, organizations relying on older versions of Dynamics CRM must plan for a seamless and sustainable transition. Part of this process includes recognizing which features have been deprecated, understanding modern alternatives, and adopting best practices that not only ensure upgrade readiness but also position your CRM for long-term success. This final part will explore key deprecations, how to work around them, strategies for modernization, and a practical roadmap to building a resilient Dynamics 365 environment.
Understanding Deprecated Features and Legacy Limitations
Every major platform transition comes with its set of trade-offs. In the case of Dynamics CRM to Dynamics 365, several once-popular features and development models have been deprecated. Understanding what these features are and why they were retired is crucial to preparing your environment for the cloud.
Dialogs were once used extensively to provide step-by-step guided experiences to users. They enabled system administrators and consultants to build interactive workflows that captured data, prompted users, and facilitated decision-making. However, dialogs were not optimized for web or mobile experiences, nor were they integrated into the modern Power Platform ecosystem. Microsoft has since deprecated dialogs in Dynamics 365, meaning they can no longer be created in new environments and are no longer supported in future versions. If your current CRM still relies on dialogs, now is the time to redesign these flows using Power Automate and model-driven app capabilities.
Another feature that has faded into obsolescence is task flows. These were designed to allow lightweight, mobile-optimized forms that guided users through a task with minimal interaction. Their usefulness was limited, and adoption remained low. With the Unified Interface and modern app capabilities offering far superior mobile experiences, task flows were retired as part of the transition to a more coherent user experience strategy.
Perhaps the most significant shift has been the retirement of the legacy web client. This classic interface was the foundation for many CRM deployments, and countless customizations were built to suit its specific behavior. However, the modern Unified Interface delivers a responsive and standardized experience across all devices. All customers are now required to adopt it. This means any form scripts, ribbon customizations, or third-party add-ons that rely on the DOM structure or behavior of the legacy client must be re-evaluated and, in many cases, rebuilt.
Replacing Deprecated Features with Modern Capabilities
Transitioning away from deprecated features is not just about replacing old tools. It’s also about embracing new possibilities and tapping into the full potential of the modern Dynamics and Power Platform ecosystem.
Dialogs, for example, can be effectively replaced using a combination of Power Automate, business process flows, and canvas apps. A business process flow can guide users through defined stages in a business transaction, while Power Automate flows can handle the backend logic. Canvas apps offer the flexibility to create custom, mobile-friendly forms that can collect data step by step. These new tools provide a much richer user experience, deeper integration with other Microsoft services, and superior maintainability.
The legacy web client’s replacement, the Unified Interface, is designed to offer a consistent experience regardless of the device or form factor. It allows for a cleaner, more intuitive layout and supports accessibility and responsive design. Adopting it early and testing all existing components in this interface helps avoid nasty surprises during the upgrade process. Scripts should be refactored to use the modern Xrm APIs, and ribbon customizations should be tested thoroughly in the new command bar architecture.
In addition, on-premise features like SSRS reports that depend on direct SQL access should be replaced or redesigned using FetchXML or Power BI. FetchXML works seamlessly in online environments and is supported natively within Dynamics 365. For more advanced reporting needs, Power BI provides a powerful and flexible alternative that can draw from multiple data sources and display insights through interactive dashboards.
The Importance of Planning for Online Compatibility
One of the most common reasons organizations delay an upgrade to Dynamics 365 is the belief that their current customizations are too complex or too entrenched to be moved easily. While this is a valid concern, failing to modernize can leave a system vulnerable to support loss, security risks, and functional stagnation. Taking a proactive approach to compatibility ensures you are ready when the time comes to move online.
Many custom plugins developed for on-premise Dynamics CRM were registered in full-trust mode. This allows them to perform privileged operations such as accessing the local file system or calling internal APIs. However, Dynamics 365 online enforces sandboxed plugin execution. This means that these same plugins, when moved to the cloud, may no longer function unless they are rewritten to respect the sandbox constraints. Developers must plan for this by gradually refactoring custom code to avoid accessing unsupported resources or relying on full-trust operations.
Another example is authentication. On-premise environments often used .NET assemblies that relied on Windows authentication or direct user impersonation. These methods do not translate to the cloud, where secure access must be handled through OAuth2, Azure Active Directory, or Azure-based app registrations. Reviewing all integrations and transitioning them to use the Web API and token-based authentication is a key step in becoming cloud-ready.
Even beyond development, operational practices must evolve. System administrators used to managing Dynamics CRM with SQL queries or server-side tools will need to shift to using the Power Platform Admin Center and cloud-native services like Azure Monitor or Application Insights. Training and documentation should reflect this changing landscape so that system maintenance becomes future-proof.
Building a Sustainable Roadmap for Upgrade and Integration
Once deprecated features are removed and compatibility ensured, organizations must begin crafting a structured upgrade roadmap. This roadmap should be guided by business goals, technical feasibility, and resource availability. Rather than seeing the upgrade as a one-time project, it should be viewed as an ongoing journey of digital transformation.
The first stage is assessment. This involves performing a full inventory of your CRM system. What customizations exist? Which ones are essential, and which are no longer used? What unsupported components need to be replaced? This phase also includes compatibility testing with the Unified Interface and mapping out the changes needed to migrate to cloud-friendly development models.
The second stage is cleanup and optimization. This is where you remove outdated scripts, redundant workflows, and unused entities. The goal here is to simplify the system before the upgrade, reducing risk and accelerating migration. During this phase, it is helpful to work with experienced Dynamics consultants or architects who can evaluate your customizations and recommend platform-native alternatives.
Next comes migration planning. Based on the scope of work uncovered in the assessment, determine whether a direct upgrade is viable or whether a reimplementation is more appropriate. Direct upgrades retain historical data and system structure, but may carry over legacy inefficiencies. Reimplementation allows for a cleaner start but requires careful data migration and user retraining. In either case, documenting data models, business rules, and security roles is essential.
Testing plays a central role in this roadmap. Once customizations have been updated or replaced, each component must be tested in a sandboxed online environment. This ensures that behaviors match expectations and that users will not encounter issues post-upgrade. Automating as much of the testing process as possible using tools like the Power Apps test framework or UI automation scripts can reduce effort and improve reliability.
Finally, training and adoption are key to success. Even the most perfectly executed upgrade will fall short if users are unprepared or resistant to change. Training should focus on new capabilities like Power Automate, app navigation in the Unified Interface, and the use of new forms and reports. Encourage power users and champions within departments to lead by example and share tips with their colleagues.
Embracing Integration with the Microsoft Cloud Stack
Upgrading to Dynamics 365 opens up a world of integration possibilities. While on-premise systems had limited connectivity with the broader Microsoft ecosystem, the cloud offers deep and seamless integration with tools like Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Azure, and the Power Platform.
One important consideration is the use of on-premise data gateways. These allow on-premise data sources to securely connect to cloud services like Power BI, Power Automate, and Azure Logic Apps. For organizations not yet fully in the cloud, this hybrid model ensures that you can benefit from cloud-based insights and automation without compromising data security or compliance.
Azure Relay services provide another avenue for connecting on-premise systems with cloud applications. By exposing internal services securely through Azure, data and operations can be extended to cloud apps without opening firewalls or exposing systems to risk. These architectural patterns are especially useful in regulated industries or scenarios where data sovereignty is important.
As more features become cloud-first or cloud-only, building integrations with Azure services becomes even more critical. Custom connectors, Azure Functions, and Event Grid enable real-time reactions to changes in Dynamics 365 data. Whether pushing updates to an external system or automating business logic, these tools offer scale and flexibility that were difficult to achieve on-premises.
Upgrading Is an Opportunity
Preparing for a Dynamics 365 upgrade is more than just a technical task. It’s an opportunity to reimagine how your business uses its CRM platform, eliminate outdated practices, and harness the full potential of Microsoft’s ecosystem. By removing deprecated features, modernizing customizations, adopting integration best practices, and following a clear roadmap, you can make the transition smooth and strategically valuable.
With cloud adoption becoming the standard, organizations that act now will not only be ready for the inevitable upgrade but will also be positioned to take advantage of innovations as they arrive. Those who delay may find themselves forced to upgrade on short timelines, facing greater risk, cost, and disruption.
Final Thoughts
Upgrading from Dynamics CRM to Dynamics 365 should not be viewed merely as a software update—it’s a strategic opportunity to modernize, streamline, and reimagine your CRM platform for the future. Each part of this series has outlined how organizations can prepare, what to expect, and which practices to adopt to make the transition not just successful, but transformational.
From evaluating current customizations and choosing configuration over code, to embracing the Unified Interface and integrating with Power Platform and Azure services, the upgrade path is a chance to reset legacy limitations and move forward with a platform built for agility, insight, and scale.
The cloud offers far more than a hosting environment. It delivers innovation at pace, seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, and tools that empower users to automate, visualize, and optimize their business processes. Organizations that prepare early and strategically are better positioned to harness these benefits while minimizing cost and disruption.
An upgrade is not without effort—but with the right approach, it becomes less about migrating and more about evolving. By removing unsupported features, modernizing development practices, and investing in scalable architecture, your Dynamics system can become a lasting asset that drives performance and innovation.
The time to begin is now. Whether you’re still on Dynamics CRM 2013 or maintaining a heavily customized 2016 deployment, starting the transition journey today means less risk tomorrow—and greater value long after the upgrade is complete.