Prospect-to-cash with dual write introduces workflows that share data between Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations applications and Customer Engagement applications.
Microsoft Dynamics 365
One of the highest priorities of almost all businesses is converting leads and prospects into paying customers. While this is a simple and obvious statement, the processes that go on in the background from an operational and technical perspective can be less straightforward.
Dual write is a Microsoft integration that connects Dynamics 365 applications to Dataverse creating near real-time data sharing between finance and operations and customer engagement applications.
The prospect-to-cash process involves multiple steps from users in Dynamics 365 Sales as well as Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations users.
Key responsibilities of Dynamics 365 Sales users include managing leads and opportunities in the system, creating accounts and contacts as well as the creation of quotes and orders in the system.
Trade and sales agreements are maintained on the Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations side but quotes and orders flow bidirectionally with Dynamics 365 Sales because of the dual write integration. Orders are then confirmed and completed in the Finance and Operations applications.
The prospect-to-cash process is important to understanding data flow and sharing rules between Dynamics 365 applications through a dual write integration.
This graphic shows how customers, contacts, and accounts are defined between D365 Sales and D365 Finance & Operations applications. Flow between D365 Sales and Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations is not triggered until an account is created.
Product models are defined differently in Dynamics 365 Sales and Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations.
Sales has a simple model that defines product families, relationships, properties, units, and unit groups.
However, the product model is far more complicated in Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations, taking into many factors such as bill of materials (BOM), information on product dimensions, specific product attributes, and much more.
The actions relating to quotes occur almost exclusively in Dynamics 365 Sales. Once a quote is activated, it becomes read-only in Sales. However, if revisions to the quote are needed, the quote becomes editable in Sales again.
In the scenario of quotes, there is a bidirectional sync between Sales and Finance and Operations, meaning the entire process can be completed in either system.
As with quotes, there is a bidirectional sync between sales order headers and lines in Finance and Operations with orders and order lines in Sales.
The only exception to this is the “processing status” that is pushed from Finance and Operations that provides updates on the order after confirmation.
Invoicing is a single direction sync originating in Dynamics 365 Finance. Invoice headers and lines are pushed to Dynamics 365 Sales so that invoices and invoice lines can be viewed in that system using dual write.
Another key component is the ability to view inventory on-hand in Sales from Supply Chain. This is useful for Sales personnel to prevent them from over-selling past their available inventory for a given product.
Using the same maps as needed to determine inventory on-hand and factoring in uncommitted inventory, planned receipts, lead times, and potential issues, Sales personnel will be able to determine inventory that is available to promise (ATP) on a certain date.
Enabling prospect-to-cash with dual write allows your Dynamics 365 Sales users and Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations users to work with all the data they need to perform their duties in the most efficient manner.