Dynamics Community Forum Thread Details

Check what app a user is using and the last time they used it in CRM?

Hello James,

Unfortunately, Dynamics 365 doesn't offer a direct, built-in feature to track specifically which app (like your custom app vs. Sales Hub) a user is using and their last access time for that app. The platform tracks user logins and activity at a broader level, but not down to the individual app usage.

However, there are some approaches you can take to get some insights, although they might not be perfect:

1. Audit Logs (Partial Information):

Enable Auditing: If you haven't already, enable auditing in Dynamics 365. Auditing can track user logins and some activities, but it doesn't usually record specifically which app was used.
Review Audit Logs: You can review the audit logs to see user login times. This will give you a general idea of when a user was active in Dynamics 365, but not which app they used.
Limitations: Auditing is more focused on data changes than app usage. It might give you indirect clues (e.g., if a user accessed records related to a specific app), but not definitive proof of app usage.

2. Model-Driven App Usage Insights (Limited):

App Insights: For Model-driven apps, there are some usage insights available at the app level but not at the user level. You can see how many times an app has been opened and other aggregate usage data, but you cannot see which user opened the app.
Limitations: This is not granular enough to see each user's app usage.

3. Custom Solutions (Most Accurate, but Complex):

Custom Logging: The most accurate way to track app usage would be to develop a custom solution. This could involve:
- JavaScript in Apps: Add JavaScript code to your Model-driven apps that logs when a user opens or interacts with the app. This log data could be sent to a custom entity in Dataverse or an external logging service.
- Plugins/Webhooks: You could use plugins or webhooks to track app access when users log in. This would require some development effort.
Power Apps Analytics (If Applicable): If you're using Power Apps (Canvas apps) embedded within Dynamics 365, Power Apps has its own analytics that might provide some usage information.

4. Network/Server Logs (Advanced, but Potentially Useful):

IIS Logs (On-Premises): If you have an on-premises Dynamics 365 deployment, you might be able to analyze IIS logs to get some information about which URLs users are accessing. This could give you clues about app usage, but it would require technical expertise to analyze the logs.
Azure Activity Logs (Online): For Dynamics 365 online, Azure activity logs might provide some insights, but again, this would require technical skills to analyze.

5. Third-Party Solutions:

App Usage Tracking Tools: There might be third-party solutions or add-ons for Dynamics 365 that offer app usage tracking. You could research the Dynamics 365 Marketplace to see if any such tools exist.

Which Approach to Take:

For general insights: Check Model-driven app usage insights (if applicable) and consider enabling auditing.
For detailed tracking: A custom solution with JavaScript logging in your apps is the most accurate approach, but it requires development effort.
For on-premises deployments: Analyzing IIS logs might provide some information, but it's a more advanced technique.

Key Considerations:

Development Effort: Custom solutions require development skills and time.
Performance: Logging app usage could potentially impact performance if not implemented carefully.
Privacy: Be mindful of privacy regulations when tracking user activity.

If my answer was helpful, please click Like, and if it solved your problem, please mark it as verified to help other community members find more. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me.

My response was crafted with AI assistance and tailored to provide detailed and actionable guidance for your Microsoft Dynamics 365 query.

Best Regards,

Daivat Vartak

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