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Dynamics 365 Community / Forums / Finance | Project Operations, Human Resources, ... / How is F&O & C...
Finance | Project Operations, Human Resources, ...
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How is F&O & CRM ?

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Posted on by ShaqAX 709

Hello everyone,

This is probably a stupid question, but I want to know, in D365 F&O experts POV, do we need to know or might as well excel in CRM too ?

Is having to learn and saying that we (as F&O consultant or maybe developers) have a skill set in Dynamics CRM is 'cool' or is confusing to understand what is your focus and "specialised" then ?

Also, in development's POV, CRM is more on web and JAVA, whilst F&O is more close to C#, so it is kinda two different ways.

Any input or comments are highly appreciated.

Thanks

I have the same question (0)
  • Suggested answer
    Faisal Fareed Profile Picture
    Faisal Fareed 10,796 User Group Leader on at
    RE: How is F&O & CRM ?

    Hi ShaqAX.

    These are two different products MS D365 Finance Operations and Customer Engagement (formerly known as CRM). These two have become apps now under Microsoft Dynamics 365 and benefit of it now you can integrate these two applications easily.

    Now, if you are FinOps consultant and not working on an Integration then you dont need to know about CRM and vice versa.

    Two separate applications, completely different technologies for development so cannot be compared in this area.

    However, what are you trying to learn here, please?

  • ShaqAX Profile Picture
    ShaqAX 709 on at
    RE: How is F&O & CRM ?

    Hi Faisal,

    Thank you for your input. Yes I do know about the different. And I'm not referring to integration, because by integration by means we still "sit" as F&O consultant and probably what we had to do is handling the mapping and export it out to CRM (either CE or Field Service etc).

    And with CDS and DualWrite, I think this is just ok with me.

    So, what I want to know is, is it good if we know both, more of it, is it possible (which I still think can;t)

    Agreed that this is two different technology. and I come from F&O development as well so really hesitant to try "jumping" into CRM/CE. More over, is it worth ?

    Reason being of course because these days CRM becoming more and more "happening", also of course the job listing, it is swarm by D365 CRM needed.

    As a consultant, especially if we're not sitting (employed) by end user company, means we live on implementation, and now days it seems it is more CRM implementation than F&O.

    Thanks,

  • Suggested answer
    Faisal Fareed Profile Picture
    Faisal Fareed 10,796 User Group Leader on at
    RE: How is F&O & CRM ?

    If you have an opportunity to learn CRM then why not? I did not find complex and also does not require in depth knowledge from development background. You just need to spend time on Java scripting which again you can learn out of CRM too.

    I would also suggest to explore more Power Platform as that's the future and you will learn CRM automatically with that.

  • ShaqAX Profile Picture
    ShaqAX 709 on at
    RE: How is F&O & CRM ?

    Yes, speaking of Power Platform, I do in the middle of this, but still more to what it can help F&O, which is not too much.

    This is why actually, my concern whether or not  the need to 'jump' into CRM. Even the certification from Microsoft is 'bundling' this Power Platform with D365 CRM, the non-F&O.

    So, as you're saying it is best to excel in Power Platform more, rather than goes into CRM development then. but still ok on CRM functional side because Power Platform more helping on CRM apps. At least this is my understanding.

    Thanks,

  • Suggested answer
    Faisal Fareed Profile Picture
    Faisal Fareed 10,796 User Group Leader on at
    RE: How is F&O & CRM ?

    Again, there is no harm or no disadvantage to learn CRM being the AX developer if you think there are more opportunities for it. I am still trying to understand that this is your own choice and depends on the time availability. With no code and low code, learn Power Platform and more doors are opened for you.

  • Faisal Fareed Profile Picture
    Faisal Fareed 10,796 User Group Leader on at
    RE: How is F&O & CRM ?

    Hi ShaqAX,

    If we have answered your question please make this as verified. Thank you

  • ShaqAX Profile Picture
    ShaqAX 709 on at
    RE: How is F&O & CRM ?

    Hi Faisal,

    Just a final conclusion, when you said "If you have an opportunity to learn CRM then why not? I did not find complex and also does not require in depth knowledge from development background. You just need to spend time on Java scripting which again you can learn out of CRM too."

    I honestly haven;t start to learn CRM, and yes, to answer your question, this is all based on my free time and self learning only. So there is no push, just I need to decide whether or not,

    1. start learning CRM,

    2. start learning CRM development

    The 1st one I think an easy choose, I would say 'Yes', but the development part, when you said the above, Java scripting, this is JAVA or JavaScript coz they both different, only by chance the name looks same. But then again, as you mentioned Power Platform is better, which is what I'm doing right now, meaning to say better to concentrate with Power Platform instead that Java thing. Can I say that ?

    Thanks, 

  • Verified answer
    Martin Dráb Profile Picture
    Martin Dráb 236,312 Most Valuable Professional on at
    RE: How is F&O & CRM ?

    Many customers use both F&O and CRM, and it'll be even more common as the integration becomes easier and easier. Being able to understand both parts may be beneficial, and crucial for people designing business processes across both systems.

    Also, CDS is built on the same platform as CRM (XRM). Understanding the platform will help you with both CRM and CDS.

    Therefore I do see benefits, but I pesronally haven't dived to it any deeper. I'll probably do it only when it's needed for one of my projects.

    I wouldn't go into development of internal CRM stuff, though. There are other specialist in that area and I can't do everything. Learning (and following changes of) things like X++, F&O extension model, C#, Azure DevOps, VIsual Studio, Powershell, SQL, XSLT (and so on) seems enough to me.

  • ShaqAX Profile Picture
    ShaqAX 709 on at
    RE: How is F&O & CRM ?

    Hi Martin,

    Yes, that is exactly my concern. No one can understand everything, even you as the top contributor here and has been in Dynamics AX for many years, said that 

    Many thanks for your input.

  • Verified answer
    Faisal Fareed Profile Picture
    Faisal Fareed 10,796 User Group Leader on at
    RE: How is F&O & CRM ?

    Javascript it is if you want to do in depth development in CRM (CE). Again there are many areas to explore and based on your original concern that there are many jobs out there for CRM :) . I have been exploring Power Platform too and recently got a chance to work on CRM project even my whole experience is with FO, I found it interesting and I was fortunate to work on such a project :)

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