Mazars helps clients maximize Microsoft One Version

Microsoft introduced a game-changing solution to Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations - One Version service updates. This innovative approach ensures that customers get the full value of Microsoft R&D investments with small incremental releases or micro-updates, rather than requiring them to undertake costly and time-consuming upgrades. It also enables users to gradually expand and adapt their use of D365 features and new modules as their business grows and changes over time, eliminating downtime for applications.

How do Microsoft One Version Service Updates work?

A traditional environment upgrade required developer assistance, increased downtime, and serious forecasting, as mentioned above. As a result of One Version Service Updates, Microsoft offers a streamlined, efficient, and developer-free method of delivering updates.

Microsoft provides two bi-annual Release Waves to Dynamics 365 F&O as part of their subscription. These releases include updates on applications, modules, and features as well as general platform and regulatory improvements. One Version enables businesses to customize to their own needs with extensions while still staying up to date with releases. This approach also helps Microsoft ensure that the updates are stable when applied, so customers always have access to the latest features and enhancements.

What are the benefits of One Version Service Updates?

In the past, traditional system upgrades would require organizations to dedicate considerable time and resources to plan, test and deploy a system update. But with One Version updates the heavy cost of traditional system upgrades no longer applies, as Microsoft has eliminated system upgrades and introduced predictable, continuous micro-updates. This allows for a seamless updating within business solutions by accepting changes in smaller increments as opposed to significant changes all at once.

A One Version update format eliminates the need for significant updates that cause serious downtime. As a result, business solutions can be updated seamlessly by accepting small changes rather than significant changes all at once. In addition, One Version updates eliminate the risk of unpatched software and security risks. As a result, Dynamics 365 F&O customers can choose which updates they want to take during the update cycle, so they stay compliant. Microsoft is continuously working to reduce downtime required, and improvements will continue to roll out in the upcoming year.

Microsoft will push an auto-update on Dynamics 365 customers who do not accept a minimum of 2updates per year. Any Dynamics 365 customer who does not accept these updates could experience unplanned performance issues or changes to their system. Among the updates are product extensions, new features, and quality updates.

Lifecycle Services applies One Version Services updates directly. You can find a tile on the environment page that shows the number and type of updates available for the environment. One Version updates are cumulative, just like Windows updates- these saves businesses a lot of time mirroring versioning across environments.

The importance of feature management

With Microsoft Dynamics 365, customers now benefit from technical delivery and 8 annual updates. This can, however, pose a challenge in terms of the resources required for evaluating the best updates for the business. To assist with this process, it might be best to enlist a Live Services partner who can forecast updates, guide new feature implementation, and assess user training needs when rolling out the updated applications. By having this expertise onboard, the company can better manage the update process while avoiding significant downtime.

Support for Microsoft One Version

Many best practices and documentation have been published to help guide small businesses in setting up and activating One Version updates. To get maximum benefit, it is recommended to consider working with a Live Services partner who can comprehend the modifications and releases associated with One Version as well as how they apply to your current operations. The partner may also help promote these changes throughout the business.

Microsoft developed a library of automated regression tests, which include unit/component tests and full process tests. The regression test library ensures that the application's functionality remains functional after each environment update.

A new update could impact the system based on how customized the environment is. It is therefore crucial to test all core processes in a Sandbox environment before releasing the release into production.

Mazars supports clients and One Version

With One Version, organizations still need to dedicate significant internal resources and time to test and manage multiple updates through the year, and Mazars can help. There is automated regression testing software that comes with Dynamics 365 which can reduce the testing process to 1-2 business days that can be managed by a single user in an automated fashion once test scenarios have been developed. After which, only those automated tests that fail would need to be addressed by business users.

As part of our methodology, Mazars has developed best practices and guidance for regression testing including security roles and governance in a way for our customers accomplish One Version updates in an efficient and effective manner. We release updates safely and address any issues that arise. By eliminating extensive downtimes and security patches, One Version revolutionizes how solutions update products. Businesses can stop security, rest, and update Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations more easily and faster by migrating into a seamless update cycle. #microsoftpartner #mazars

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