New to dual write? Here's where you should start from. This isn't a deep-dive into this new capability from Microsoft, but the first step for you to understand the key differences between noth Dynamics 365 CE and F&O and why was this required.
What is Dual Write?
Dual Write is an out-of-the-box infrastructure that ensures data consistency between customer engagement apps (CE) and finance and operations (F&O) apps.
Customer engagement apps, such as Dynamics 365 Sales and Customer Service, focus on managing customer relationships, sales, and marketing interactions. These are process driven and can tailor to your customer's needs and business processes.
On the other hand, finance and operations apps, like Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management, handle back-office functions such as financial transactions, inventory, and supply chain operations. These are more rigid applications because they fulfil a certain purpose and cannot be customized to the extent that a front-office app can be.
Historically, these two areas operated in silos, leading to data duplication and inefficiencies. Dual Write was introduced to bridge this gap, ensuring real-time data flow between the front office and back office, enabling businesses to operate with a unified and accurate data set across departments.
Key Benefits of Dual Write
- Seamless Data Synchronization – Ensures that customer, product, and financial data remain consistent across systems.
- Enhanced Business Processes – Provides a unified experience across sales, customer service, supply chain, and financial management.
- Real-Time Updates – Improves decision-making by reducing latency in data updates.
- Reduced Customization Efforts – Eliminates the need for complex custom integrations.
- Improved Customer Experience – Ensures that all teams have access to up-to-date customer information, leading to better service.
Use Cases of Dual Write
- Customer Data Management: Keep customer records synchronized between CRM (D365 CE) and ERP (D365 F&O), ensuring all departments have access to accurate information.
- Product and Pricing Updates: Synchronize product catalogs and pricing details across sales, e-commerce, and finance platforms.
- Order Processing & Invoicing: Automatically sync order details and financial transactions across systems to streamline the order-to-cash cycle.
- Inventory & Supply Chain Management: Ensure accurate stock levels, purchase orders, and logistics data across finance and operations teams.
Technical Considerations
- Customization and Extensibility: Dual Write supports custom tables and extensions, allowing businesses to tailor integrations to their needs.
- Data Security & Compliance: Ensure that data policies and governance are in place to comply with industry regulations.
- Performance Monitoring: Regular monitoring and performance tuning can help prevent sync failures and maintain optimal system performance.
- Error Handling & Troubleshooting: Implement robust error logging and resolution mechanisms to address data conflicts or sync issues.
In conclusion, I see this as a game-changer for businesses using Dynamics 365. By using this organizations can achieve real-time data consistency and reduce costs. As companies adopt digital transformation strategies, dual write becomes a key enabler for a unified and connected enterprise.
