Currently, much of what Dynamics 365 offers is simply a rebranding of the traditional on-premise Microsoft Dynamics® AX and Microsoft Dynamics® NAV products. The most significant difference is a change in the pricing and packaging structure. Businesses can subscribe to individual applications, which means that it’s possible to pay for only the features that users need. Another main difference is that Dynamics 365 is a fully multi-tenant application. (In this regard, it is a logical successor to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, which was the first multi-tenant Microsoft Dynamics application.) This means that all users are running the same version of the software and will all receive updates at the same time. It also means that customizations are limited. In the future, Dynamics 365 will likely offer more high-tech features similar to the artificial intelligence currently offered in the CRM-related apps.

The theme of business intelligence is heavily emphasized in Microsoft’s marketing, as well as the ability to seamlessly integrate Dynamics 365, Office 365, and other Microsoft software. In addition, the fact that Dynamics 365 is designed specifically for the cloud means that the software offers a degree of mobility and flexibility that the traditional Dynamics offerings could not provide. As with most cloud-based offerings, the Dynamics 365 software will be well suited for continually developing upgrades and add-ons to meet the needs of markets as they change.