Unlocking the power of financial data has become essential for organizations seeking to navigate challenges, make informed decisions, and maintain a competitive edge. With the complexity of financial data and the demand for accurate predictions, innovative AI-powered solutions are on the rise.
One such solution that has gained significant traction is Finance Insights by Microsoft.
In this beginner’s guide, we will explore the key features, benefits, system requirements, configuration steps, and best practices for using Finance Insights.
A Brief about Finance Insights
Finance Insights is an advanced financial forecasting tool designed to integrate with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance. It combines the capabilities of Microsoft Dynamics 365, Dataverse, Azure, and AI Builder to provide organizations with intelligent insights into their financial data.
By analyzing historical information and utilizing machine learning algorithms, Finance Insights enables businesses to predict cash flow, anticipate customer payment patterns, and generate accurate budget proposals.
These predictive capabilities empower organizations to make informed financial decisions, proactively manage cash flow, and optimize their budgeting processes.
With its seamless integration and predictive capabilities, Finance Insights serves as a valuable tool for organizations seeking to gain a deeper understanding of their financial landscape within the Microsoft Dynamics 365 ecosystem. Both SAP & Microsoft Dynamics 365 are quite competent ERP software, business should opt for the software that meets their business requirements.
5 Exceptional Benefits of Finance Insights
Here are the top 5 benefits of Finance Insights that illustrate its significant impact on financial management.
Accurate Cash Flow Predictions
Finance Insights harnesses the power of historical data in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance to deliver precise cash flow forecasts. By analyzing critical factors like customer payment patterns, outstanding receivables, and historical trends, Finance Insights provides organizations with a comprehensive view of their future cash position.
This enables businesses to make informed decisions regarding investments, expenses, and working capital management within the Microsoft Dynamics 365 environment.
Improved Receivables Management
By utilizing the Customer Payment Predictions feature in Finance Insights, organizations can anticipate the timing of customer payments for outstanding invoices using the capabilities of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance.
This proactive approach enables businesses to optimize their collection activities, reduce delinquencies, and improve cash flow management within the Microsoft Dynamics 365 platform.
Streamlined Budgeting Process
Finance Insights leverages historical data to generate intelligent budget proposals by analyzing previous budgets and actuals. This data-driven approach provides organizations with accurate recommendations for future budgeting, streamlining the process, saving time, and enabling more effective resource allocation within the Microsoft Dynamics 365 ecosystem.
Enhanced Decision Making
By providing accurate and reliable financial insights within the context of Microsoft Dynamics 365, Finance Insights empowers organizations to make informed decisions.
By leveraging the predictive capabilities of Finance Insights within Microsoft Dynamics 365, businesses can anticipate market trends, identify potential risks, and capitalize on emerging opportunities. This empowers organizations to stay competitive, make informed financial decisions, and achieve their financial goals within the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance environment.
Configurable and Extensible Solution
With its seamless integration into Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and other modules, Finance Insights offers extensive configurability within the Microsoft Dynamics 365 framework. This allows organizations to customize the tool to meet their specific requirements.
Finance Insights can also be integrated with other Microsoft tools and third-party applications, providing enhanced financial analysis and decision-making capabilities across the broader Microsoft Dynamics 365 platform.
System Requirements for Deploying Finance Insights
To deploy Finance Insights, the following system requirements must be met:
– A Tier-2 environment (multi-box) with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance version 10.0.21 or later installed.
– Currently, Finance Insights is available in select regions, including the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
– AI Builder credits are necessary for creating financial predictions with Finance Insights. Each Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance tenant is provided 20,000 AI Builder credits per month. Additional credits can be purchased directly from AI Builder if needed.
– At least one year’s worth of customer invoices is required for accurate customer payment predictions, while three years of historical data are recommended for cash flow forecasts and budget proposals.
Configuration Steps for Finance Insights
To configure Finance Insights within the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance environment, follow these steps:
Step 1: Verify System Requirements
Ensure that the system meets the prerequisites outlined above, including the appropriate version of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and the availability of AI Builder licenses within the Microsoft Dynamics 365 framework.
Step 2: Enable Finance Insights
Access the System Administration module within Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance. Navigate to “Feature Management,” and enable the “Finance Insights” feature.
Step 3: Set up AI Builder
Access the Power Platform Admin Center and enable AI Builder, if it is not already enabled. Assign the necessary AI Builder licenses to users within the Microsoft Dynamics 365 environment to leverage the ML capabilities of Finance Insights effectively.
Step 4: Configure Data Connectors
Next, to extract data from Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance for analysis within Finance Insights, configure the appropriate data connectors. This ensures that relevant data, such as customer invoices and payment history, is available for generating accurate predictions within the Microsoft Dynamics 365 ecosystem.
Step 5: Train and Publish Models
Utilize the AI Builder capabilities to train machine learning models based on historical data within Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance. Once trained, publish these models to make them available for generating predictions within the Dynamics 365 environment.
Step 6: Set Up Dashboards and Reports
Utilize Finance Insights to create interactive dashboards and reports that showcase key financial insights. Configure tiles, charts, and views to present projected cash flow, customer payment patterns, and budget recommendations, providing stakeholders with a comprehensive overview of the organization’s financial health.
Best Practices and Tips for Using Finance Insights
Here are some best practices and tips for using Finance Insights effectively:
1. Ensure Data Accuracy: To obtain accurate predictions, maintain accurate and up-to-date data within Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance. Regularly reconcile and validate data to ensure its integrity.
2. Monitor Model Performance: Continuously monitor the performance of machine learning models within Finance Insights. If predictions deviate significantly from actuals, retrain the models using updated data to enhance accuracy.
3. Involve Finance and Operations Teams: Involve finance and operations teams in the configuration and usage of Finance Insights. Their expertise and input can help fine-tune the tool to align with business processes and improve effectiveness.
4. Regularly Review and Refine Predictions: Consistently review the predicted cash flow, customer payment patterns, and budget proposals. Adjust forecasts based on changing market conditions, customer behavior, and evolving business strategies.
5. Leverage Other Microsoft Tools: Integrate Finance Insights with other Microsoft tools, such as Power BI, to create comprehensive financial reports and visualizations. This enables stakeholders to gain a holistic view of the organization’s financial health.
Conclusion
In summary, Finance Insights is an invaluable tool integrated with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance that enables organizations to make informed financial decisions. By predicting cash flow, managing receivables, and streamlining budgeting processes, Finance Insights empowers businesses to optimize their financial operations within the Microsoft Dynamics 365 ecosystem.
To unlock the full potential of Finance Insights and implement Microsoft solutions tailored to your industry, schedule a call with DynaTech’s experienced experts today!
