New Functionality In Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2024 Wave 1: Chat with Copilot

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business CentralThis post is part of the New Functionality In Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2024 Wave 1 series in which I am taking a look at the new functionality introduced in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2024 Wave 1.

The 9th of the new functionality in the Copilot and AI innovation section is chat with Copilot.

For Microsoft’s customers, much of their workday revolves around chatting with coworkers, customers, and vendors to get insights and solve problems. Now, Dynamics 365 Copilot helps them continue the conversation in Business Central with AI-powered chat alongside their data. Copilot in Business Central transforms how people approach business applications by empowering workers to express themselves using their own language.

Enabled for: Users, automatically
Public Preview: Apr 2024
General Availability: –

Feature Details

While in preview, Copilot will be able to assist with the following:

  • Quickly find and go to your data by expressing what you’re looking for in natural language. Locate pages by name or one or more records based on their fields and constraints. For example, tell Copilot: "Show me the latest sales order for Adatum."
  • Explain and guide to learn about Business Central concepts or how to accomplish tasks, based on Business Central’s extensive online documentation. For example, ask Copilot: "How do I save my list filters so that I can use them again later?"

Watch the video

The new chat pane sits alongside your data in Business Central

Chat with Copilot is built on Microsoft’s comprehensive approach to enterprise security, privacy, compliance, and responsible AI. Microsoft’s philosophy is that your data is your data: customer data in Business Central is not used to train AI models.

note Note

  • This feature is available as a production-ready preview for production and sandbox environments in any country localization, with the exception of Canada. Production-ready previews are subject to supplemental terms of use. For more information, see Supplemental terms of use for Dynamics 365 preview.
  • Chat is available only in English. Make sure your user language is set to English in My Settings.
  • AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Try it out

Chat with Copilot starts rolling out with Update 24.0 to US customers, then proceeding to other regions.

In some regions where Azure OpenAI Service is not yet available, administrators must first consent to business data moving across geographic boundaries from the Copilot & AI capabilities page.

Copilot is available exclusively for Business Central online.

To experience this feature, sign in to your Business Central environment and choose the new Copilot icon in the app bar.

Tell Microsoft what you think

Microsoft are excited to have you with them on their Copilot journey.

Help Microsoft improve Dynamics 365 Business Central by discussing ideas, providing suggestions, and giving feedback. Use the forum at aka.ms/bcIdeas, or join the discussion on the Dynamics 365 Business Central Development Yammer network to help Microsoft shape the future of AI in Business Central.

My Opinion

I am still to be convinced that Copilots and other AI features are all that useful. I’ve tried them in a number of places and there always seems to be more effort involved in checking and correcting the results than is saved by using them. I did notice that even Microsoft in the announcement of this feature felt it necessary to note that “AI-generated content may be incorrect“.

Click to show/hide the New Functionality In Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2024 Wave 1 Series Index

New Functionality In Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2024 Wave 1
Use Virtual Tables to Expose More Business Central Data in Dataverse
Improve Approval Processes via Power Automate
Add Table and Field Mappings for Existing Integration Tables
Find a Matching Record in a Power Automate Flow
Archive Projects
Usability Improves for Service and Projects
Use Deferral Codes in Purchase and Sales Journals
Define a Service Invoice Posting Policy for Various Users
Define Default Location for Project or Project Phase
Block Item, Item Variant or Service Item from Use in Service Management transactions
Connect Business Central With Shopify B2B
Set Up Financial Consolidation Runs More Efficiently
Simpler Shopify Connection
Use General Ledger Account Revaluation for More Accurate Financial Statements
Get More Productive While Entering Time Sheets
Create Projects That You Can Invoice to Multiple Customers
Assemble to Project
Invoice a Customer for Multiple Projects
Use New Excel Layouts for 35 Selected Reports
Use Standard Terminology for Project Management
Use Currencies When Posting Employee Transactions
Manage Work Orders in Field Service, Invoice Them in Business Central
Manage Document Attachments in Service Items and Documents
Export and Import Multiline Text Using Configuration Packages
Correct Errors in Service Invoices
Prevent Editing Number Series on Service Documents and Cards
Be More Productive When Approving Time Sheets
Inventory Package Numbers Work Like Item Tracking Dimensions
Assign Salesperson to Customer Ship-to Addresses
View Incoming Documents in Archived Quotes and Orders
Introduce Power Automate Copilot Integration with Business Central
Map e-Documents to Purchase Order Lines with Copilot
Create Sales Lines Easily with Copilot
Extend Copilot Using Richer Development Tools
Get to Insights Faster with Copilot-Generated Analysis Tabs
Complete Bank Account Reconciliation Faster With Copilot
Create Product Information Faster with Copilot
Learn More About Fields with Copilot
Chat with Copilot
Automate IRS 1099 Form Submission in US
Enable Additional Countries and Regions
Install UK Localization as an App
Handle Multiple File Uploads and File Drop Zones
Debug the System Application
Remove Friction When Working with External App Dependencies
Use In-client Page Scripting Tool for Acceptance Testing
Use AL-controlled Barcode Scanning For All Scenarios
Write flexible and performant code with NumberSequences
Use the OData V4 IN Operator in Web Service Queries
Define Extension Objects in Same App as Their Base Object
Use Linked Environment in Dataverse Integration
Audit Business Central Operations in Microsoft Purview
Encrypt Data At-Rest with Customer-Managed Encryption Key
Allow Customers to Consent to Microsoft Support Accessing Their Data
Link Business Central Environments to Power Platform Environments
Copy Companies with Dataverse Integration Safely
View and Filter Users With Additional User Details
Control partner access per environment
See VAT Date in Posting Previews
Automate Country of Origin Listed for Item Tracking Code in Intrastat Reporting
Achieve Sustainable Compliance with Business Central
Discover Report and Data Analysis Content Easily
Use Drag and Drop to Attach Multiple Files
Use Actions to Navigate and Highlight or Fix Platform-Generated Errors
Share Error Details to Get Help from Another User
Access Worksheet Pages from Mobile Phones

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