7 Reasons to Adopt Dynamics 365 Business Central Project Management
Ifra Amin
Introduction
As businesses rely increasingly on technology and project management continues to evolve, innovative solutions like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central empower them to stabilize and thrive. This trend is at the forefront of small and medium-sized businesses increasing their adoption of cloud-based ERP solutions. Whether you’re a decision-maker looking to adopt such a solution or just peeking around exploring Dynamics 365 Business Central project management and more, this blog is for you.
For a decision-maker like yourself, landing on Dynamics 365 Business Central means that you are not simply looking for a cookie-cutter solution for project management. What you want is an ERP software that is the ‘jack of all trades.’ You recognize that mastering one aspect of the business doesn’t result in a profitable run! Your eye is on Dynamics 365 Business Central, a system known for supporting continuously growing businesses that checks all the boxes – easily accessible, check! Simple to use, check! Easily integrated with other solutions and customizable, check! You understand that business requirements are directly related to the size and growth of the business; therefore, your ERP solution should be able to accommodate changes such as more cloud storage, more complex customization, or anything your growing business needs when it comes to project management.
In this blog, we will explore the numerous advantages of Dynamics 365 Business Central for enhancing project management efficiency, enabling you to comprehend and benefit from the capabilities of this ERP solution. Here are the top seven reasons why you should consider Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 Business Central.
Top 7 Reasons to Consider Dynamics 365 Business Central Project Management
Dynamics 365 Business Central streamlines the most important routine project management tasks, including configuring jobs, scheduling resources, and regulating information to aid budget and monetary decisions. As a project manager, your vision and role extends to every detail, from individual tasks and assigned personnel to the allocated resources that ensure project completion.
“Work smarter, adapt faster, and perform better with Business Central”—named the best ERP system of 2023 by Forbes Advisor.
1. Project Reports and Analytics in Dynamics 365 Business Central:
Project reporting is essential to ensure you’re following the right path toward achieving your goal. Business Central project reporting allows executives and users to stay insightful about the numbers and statistics related to past and current project activities. The table below will equip you with all the information you need to understand reporting in Dynamics 365 Business Central’s project management module.
| Report Type | Description |
|---|---|
|
Job Analysis |
This report analyzes the job as per your system. For instance, you can compare options like budgeted, usage, and billable prices to make a customized report.
Or you can create a report using a combination of available ‘Amount’ fields. You can categorize each field as Schedules, Usage, Contract, or Invoiced. You can also choose between Local or Foreign Currency.
|
|
Job Planning Lines |
This report lets you analyze various job planning and job task lines, their type, quantities, measuring units, total cost, and much more. |
|
Job Actual to Budget |
Use this report to compare scheduled amounts with used amounts for each job. You can see all the information for the selected job, like quantity, line amount, and total cost. This report can be used at the end of the job or even when it’s partially completed. |
|
Job Suggested Billing |
Let’s you analyze all jobs on various bases, such as: grouped by customer, amount already invoiced to the customer, and remaining amount to be invoiced. |
|
Jobs per Customer |
Shows all the jobs grouped by the customer’s name. You can compare the scheduled amount, percentage of completion, the invoiced amount, and the percentage of invoiced amount for each bill to customer. |
|
Items per Job |
This report gives you an overall picture of items used for a job. You can set additional filters for an overview of items allocated to a project depending on the type of report required. The report shows total items and their costs. |
|
Job Transaction Detail |
Reports on resources and items for the job tasks posted in the system-- including details on total price, total cost, and total line discounts etc. |
|
Job WIP to G/L |
This report lets you compare the amount initiated in general ledger with the value of the work-in-process for the jobs that you specify. |
Are you a project leader confused about the Dynamics 365 Business Central implementation process and how it helps C-level executives? Read our recent blog: Navigating Dynamics 365 Business Central Implementation.
Our Business Central Experts can Help you!
Whether you’re looking for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central pricing information, searching for a Business Central partner, or interested in learning more about Business Central capabilities, we’ve got you covered. Contact us today!
Request a Demo2. Creating Jobs in Business Central:
For a , creating jobs isn’t just a mundane task; it’s a strategic opportunity. This major task demands a significant chunk of time and distracts from other project goals. However, since job efficiency ultimately results in project success, investing in automating this task is worthwhile.
After creating a new project in Business Central project management, you can create a job card that has more job planning lines and job tasks integrated under its umbrella, divided into two layers.
Managing your project’s intricate details becomes effortless with Business Central’s layered structure. Each project starts with basic building blocks called “Job Tasks,” where you define upcoming work, estimate resource needs, and track actual usage throughout the project. These tasks act as a foundation for diving deeper with “Job Planning Lines.” Here, you can meticulously track every resource used, monitor expenses against your budget and quotas, and closely follow progress, ensuring milestones are met and tasks stay within budget.
Business Central even caters to complex scenarios where the service recipient and payer are different. Simply specify separate “Sold-to” and “Bill-to” parties, choose specific “Ship-to” addresses for project execution, and utilize “External References” to streamline communication within project teams. Finally, don’t worry about adapting to standard financial terms; Business Central allows you to rewrite the project’s financial settings to match your exact needs.
3. Resource Management in Business Central:
Again, managing each resource- people, tools, budget, materials- is an arduous task for a project manager. Each element needs to balance perfectly to achieve the desired project outcome on time and within the budget. This is where solid resource management strategies can be a lifesaver. However, while it’s crucial, it is also error-prone and time-consuming.
As a solution, Business Central project management helps you record the consumption of resources in the job journal so you can keep track of costs, prices, and work types associated with each job.
There’s also a separate resource journal that lets you record the usage of a resource. The entries recorded in this journal do not have any impact on the general ledger. Dynamics 365 Business Central Project Management allows you to allocate multiple resources to a project just like it allows decision-makers like you to allocate a budget to each job.
4. Timesheets in Business Central:
Catching issues early saves time and money. Tracking time can help you identify these issues and avoid delays and cost overruns. Timesheets enable a resource to report on time usage on several tasks or machines so that a project leader or a manager can review if the allocated resources are utilizing time effectively. This section will give you serious insights into how the times sheets in Business Central Project Management can track absence, time, and resources assigned to a project.
After approving the time entries for a job, you can add them to the respective job or resource journal. However, before using the timesheets, you must allow one or more administrators to approve them.
To access the time entries, you can go to the Time Sheets page. Each timesheet lists lines with entries of your time usage ready to be submitted for approval. Use the table to see the type of entries you can make to your timesheet:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
|
Absence |
You can use this time entry to report the time of your absence during the work week. The Cause of Absence Code field lets you specify the reason or type of absence to provide complete information. |
|
Assembly Order |
This field allows you to enter the time for assembly orders. |
|
Job |
This field helps a user record time spent on a project. You can enter the job number and the job task number to complete the line. |
|
Resource |
This field enables you to record time for resource usage. To complete the line, you can add a description of the work or the job task. |
|
Service |
This field helps you enter the time spent on a service order or the service credit memo. |
5. Budget Management in Business Central:
Sticking to a budget can be just as challenging as navigating a complex maze, demanding calculated decisions and careful adjustments. As a project manager, you are expected to minimize costs to the best of your ability. Every decision made, from team selection to resources and software purchases, has a financial implication that can make or break the project’s success.
Dynamics 365 Business Central Project Management offers solid tools and strategies for managing project budgets that help you consistently maintain control over the project costs and financial side of the project.
Aside from offering job tasks and timesheets, Business Central also offers a way to track the usage of resources for multiple jobs under a project. Each job can have its budget, which ultimately defines how many resources can be allocated for the job. The budget can either be structured in layers of multiple activity levels or presented as a general entry with a few details. This gives you visibility into the budgeted amounts and compares actual usage posted in the job journal. Monitoring this difference can help you exercise complete control over the ongoing project and the quality of the job. With these features, Business Central empowers you to move beyond simply “minimizing” budget deviations. It’s about taking complete control of project finances, making informed decisions with clear data, and ultimately delivering projects on time and within budget.
Remember, it’s not about navigating a complex maze, it’s about having the right tools to land your project smoothly and successfully.
Further read: Dynamics 365 Business Central Essentials vs. Premium Licenses Explained
6. Management of Job Supplies in Business Central:
Every project has an ecosystem of its own, and there are some aspects that, although critical, are often overlooked. Supply management is one of those aspects. Imagine not having the right materials for a construction project- that’s the kind of risk ineffective supply management can bring to your project.
Management of project supplies such as items, services, and machinery crucial for the execution of each job. Using Business Central Project Management, you can make job-specific purchases or enter inventory quantities based on purchase orders of invoices. For example, a computer service might require a new disk. You can use Business Central to create a purchase invoice against the job.
7. Invoice Management in Business Central:
While completing tasks and reaching milestones might mark the technical end of a project, effective invoicing is the crucial final step that concludes it. It goes beyond simply sending a bill; seamless invoice management holds a multifold benefit that span financial health, legal compliance, and client relationships.
Streamlined invoicing ensures you receive payments promptly and accurately, maintaining a healthy cash flow and avoiding potential disputes. Business Central, for instance, allows you to create accurate invoices directly from project data, minimizing errors and streamlining the process.
Timely and accurate invoices with clear details are essential for meeting tax obligations and avoiding legal issues. By integrating with accounting systems, Business Central ensures invoices comply with regulations and simplifies record keeping.
Prompt and professional invoicing also fosters positive client relationships. By showcasing efficient project management and clear communication, you earn trust and encourage timely payments. Business Central offers customization options for invoices, allowing you to create professional-looking documents that reflect your brand. Beyond streamlined job-related invoices, Business Central seamlessly handles external expenses too. Invoice vendors for services independent of the job with ease. Choose to invoice the entire project at once, partially based on specific billable tasks, or at defined milestones. This flexibility empowers you to tailor your invoicing cadence to project needs and client preferences, ensuring smooth cash flow and transparent communication.
Remember, effective invoicing is not just an ending note; it’s a cumulation of your project’s success. By leveraging tools like Dynamics 365 Business Central, you can ensure the financial, legal, and relational benefits of seamless invoicing, leaving a lasting positive impression on your clients and solidifying your project’s successful completion.
Want to Learn More About How your Company can use Dynamics 365 Business Central?
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Request a DemoConclusion
As your business scales and evolves, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central’s adaptability shines. Effortlessly add and configure powerful applications to stay ahead of the curve. That’s where AlphaBOLD comes in. We, as your Business Central implementation partner, unlock the full potential of this system by introducing you to a curated ecosystem of seamlessly integrated apps.
Our Business Central experts simplify your growth journey. We partner with you to identify relevant solutions that perfectly align with your needs and seamlessly integrate into the smart Microsoft Cloud. By combining Business Central’s flexibility with our expertise, you’ll not only manage your present but empower your future.
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