News

Microsoft Updates FastTrack for Dynamics 365

• By Gladys Rama
• August 01, 2017

Microsoft this week announced some additions to its FastTrack for Dynamics 365 program aimed at driving more active usage of the cloud-based CRM/ERP suite.

Launched in January of this year, FastTrack for Dynamics 365 is an extension of Microsoft's program to increase customer adoption of its various cloud brands. Under FastTrack, Microsoft's in-house engineering team facilitates the cloud migration process for customers, though in certain cases Microsoft will direct those customers to its partners, enabling them to lead the migration process and providing support on the back end.

Besides Dynamics 365, there are also FastTrack programs for Windows 10, Office 365, Enterprise Mobility + Security and, now in preview, Azure.

On Monday, Microsoft unveiled three new components in the FastTrack for Dynamics 365 program that are designed to educate customers on the benefits of Dynamics 365. They are:

• Adoption Services for Customer Engagement enables customers to ensure awareness for successful adoption and drive usage, boost engagement, and improve user experience.
• Onboarding Service for Field Service empowers customers to achieve an understanding of the core value of this service to improve their satisfaction, apply first-time fix rates, and resource for user productivity.
• Onboarding Service for Project Service Automation allows users to manage sales, resources, delivery, and billing for client-facing projects and to better understand the interaction of Dynamics 365 and Office 365 components with the service.

Customers are able to access these services after being "nominated by partners," according to Microsoft's announcement.

"Participating partners will be able to work in concert with the FastTrack team to guide their customers along the learning process that may include technical talks, workshops, and regular touchpoints," Microsoft said. "All sessions are delivered remotely by the FastTrack engineering team. We have time zone-based resources to cover major markets in the Americas, EMEA, and APAC."

In other Dynamics 365 news this week, Microsoft also announced the general availability of Dynamics 365 for Talent, a standalone app aimed at human resources departments. First announced in April, Dynamics 365 for Talent is a workforce management platform that integrates with LinkedIn's Recruiter service to give HR departments tools for employee recruitment, onboarding and retention.