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You're absolutely right to highlight the importance of paid events in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Real-Time Marketing (RTM) and the need for clarity on the roadmap, especially with the deprecation of outbound marketing functionality. Let’s break down the current state, the roadmap, and what we know so far:
Current State of Paid Events in Real-Time Marketing:
As of now, paid events are not yet fully available in Real-Time Marketing (RTM). However, Microsoft has been actively working on enhancing the events functionality in RTM, as evidenced by the 2025 Wave 1 Release Plan and updates to the Microsoft Learn documentation.
Key improvements in the 2025 Wave 1 Release Plan include:
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Portal Landing Page: Enhanced event registration pages hosted on the portal.
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Waitlist Functionality: Ability to manage waitlists for oversubscribed events.
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Custom Registration Fields: Support for custom fields during event registration.
These updates suggest that Microsoft is making significant progress toward enabling paid events in RTM, but the feature is not yet fully available.
Roadmap and Timeline:
While Microsoft has not provided an exact timeline for the release of paid events in RTM, the feature is marked as "planned" in the documentation. Here’s what we can infer:
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2025 Wave 1 Release: The improvements to events (e.g., portal landing pages, waitlists, custom registration fields) indicate that Microsoft is laying the groundwork for paid events.
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Deprecation of Outbound Marketing: Microsoft has announced that outbound marketing will be deprecated, and RTM is its successor. Given this, it’s reasonable to expect that critical features like paid events will be prioritized to ensure a smooth transition for customers.
What to Expect for Paid Events:
When paid events are released in RTM, they are expected to include:
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Payment Integration: Support for payment gateways to handle event fees.
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Seamless Registration: Integration with event management and registration workflows.
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Reporting and Analytics: Insights into event performance, attendance, and revenue.
Recommendations:
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Stay Updated: Keep an eye on the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Release Plans for updates on paid events and other RTM features.
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Engage with Microsoft: If paid events are critical for your organization, consider reaching out to your Microsoft account manager or partner for insights into the roadmap and timelines.
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Plan for Transition: If you’re currently using outbound marketing for paid events, start planning your transition to RTM. While paid events are not yet available, the foundational features (e.g., custom registration fields, waitlists) are being rolled out, which will make the transition smoother once paid events are released.
Conclusion:
Paid events are a highly anticipated feature in Real-Time Marketing, and Microsoft is actively working on enabling this functionality. While there’s no confirmed release date yet, the improvements in the 2025 Wave 1 Release Plan suggest that progress is being made. Keep monitoring Microsoft’s official channels for updates, and plan your transition from outbound marketing to RTM accordingly.
