Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Non-Profits: All You Need to Know!

Different functions of business use different applications to operate. Generally, each application is sourced, from a different technology partner and as, such the functions and features of all the applications involved are different. Dynamics 365 aims to bridge this gap by unifying capabilities into a single application that works seamlessly across multiple functions. Dynamics 365 has features to cover almost any aspect of a business.
Dynamics 365 is a cloud-based application platform that has been designed by Microsoft in a manner that combines the customer relationship manager (CRM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) to improve productivity.

Dynamics is available in two editions that are designed depending on the scale of the business. For small and medium scale enterprises, there is a Business Edition of Dynamics 365, and for large corporations, there is an Enterprise Edition of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Services.

Here is how Dynamics can boost your business processes:

1. Flexibility - Dynamics 365 is available in a modular licensing model which allows businesses to select only those functions that they need, thereby reducing costs. It can effortlessly integrate workflows and tasks with familiar Microsoft interfaces of Outlook, Excel, and Word helping different businesses functions operate without silos.

2. Intelligent Insights - Dynamics 365 comes with Microsoft's Azure-based Artificial Intelligence Tools that can provide you dashboards and report in ways you had never thought before.

3. Productivity - Integrating all business functions and being able to get a complete picture of workflows for the entire organization reduces duplication and consequently helps users work more productively.

4. Data Security - Since Dynamics 365 is a cloud-based application, you do not have to worry about data servers. All the data stored, in back-end frameworks controlled by Microsoft’s secure software. You do not have to worry about losing any data since all data always stored in the cloud, and you have full control over the data access.

An example of a business that uses Dynamics 365 for its functions is Copper State Bolt and Nut, a building materials company which migrated to Dynamics 365 to transform its distribution. The company had 37,000 different part numbers serving close to 6500 customers per month. To keep up with so much inventory and customers was a tough task for the company, a goal made much easier with Dynamics by their side.

Dynamics 365 has 11 core modules ranging from Sales to finance and operations to artificial intelligence that helps bring all business operations under a common system. Various industries, such as manufacturing, real estate, healthcare, or non-profits, have successfully used Dynamics 365 to achieve business transformation. And, you would be surprised to know, the non-profit sector to has gained plenty by incorporating Dynamics in their business operations.

Microsoft Dynamics for Non-Profits

Non-profits are organizations focused on achieving a positive change in society through altruistic means. Since the focus is on bringing a change and not bottom line, these organizations operate in extremely tight budgets. The metrics on which non-profits function are different compared to normal profitability metrics of for-profit organizations.

But for non-profits to be effective, they do need access to technology to enable them to engage with different groups like sponsors, donors, volunteers, etc.

To function effectively, such organizations need a tremendous amount of collaboration, support, and hence access to a well-built CRM that can boost their performance.

It is where Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 comes into the picture; it has enhanced the operations in non-profits by offering a range of features to help these organizations increase their efficiency and cut costs. Dynamics 365 provides an eco-system to non-profits at extremely low costs for them to succeed in their endeavors.

The CRM of Dynamics 365 is available at discounted prices for non-profits with comprehensive applications to focus on all aspects of non-profits.

What does Dynamics 365 bring to non-profits?

System Integration / Unification – Dynamics 365 has built-in capability to manage all aspects of a non-profit’s operation such as contacts, donors, volunteers, members, etc. in a single app so that all departments have access to the same data offering transparency and improving efficiency. Also, all the Dynamics 365 apps can function, with Microsoft software like Word, Excel, and Outlook enabling faster integration.

Grant management – One important function of a non-profit is grant management. It is necessary to keep track of grants right from initial interest to final disbursement. Dynamics 365 helps non-profit organizations automate this process by automated reminders.

Donor management – Fundraising personnel in non-profits need to have a strong understanding of donors so that they can focus on fundraising efforts accordingly. Dynamics 365 helps users track all their donors and analyze donor behavior, including other non-profits, so users can learn about current trends and issues where donors are currently focused. Through the donor management system, effective campaigns are made to achieve a greater impact.

Volunteer management – One of the key aspects of non-profits is the careful management and support of volunteers. These are the people who give time and effort for the non-profit’s cause. Through timesheets, spreadsheets, and profile-management, non-profits can assign the right kind of volunteers for the right cause.

Cost-cutting – Dynamics 365 does not require installing any physical infrastructure of servers or hardware. It is an extremely cost-effective solution since Microsoft manages all applications on the cloud. Microsoft provides Dynamics 365 to non-profits at around 75% discounts when compared to that of for-profit organizations, making them super affordable.

Reporting - Dynamics 365 ensures that all the relevant metrics are displayed on a real-time basis on user-designed dashboards so that incentives and efforts can be directed in a manner to get the desired outcomes.

Final thoughts
Numerous non-profits have successfully transitioned to using Dynamics 365 and transforming their operations to enhance the effectiveness of their actions. To facilitate and realize their vision in the best possible manner, Dynamics 365 has helped them develop a cloud-based and mobile-based CRM to keep track of rapidly increasing database and customer database. Implementation of Dynamics 365 has enriched the productivity of these organizations significantly. If you are a non-profit looking to take your operations to the next level, look no further than Dynamics 365.