End of May 2018 CAPcargo published the latest release compatible with Microsoft Dynamics 365 for finance and operations, release 7.3, platform update 15. For the first time together with the new Graphical Planning Board.

The 7.3 Release is basically just a technical release, containing some bug fixes and it is in line with the D365FO release. In the background of the application, still a lot is ongoing. Insiders know, as of release 8.0 no code overlayerings are possible anymore. In preparation for this, most of the overlayerings have been replaced by extensions. But why is this important? Under D365 Microsoft is publishing new releases twice per year. Especially when running Dynamics 365 in the cloud, organizations must follow the release track more closely. Since no organization can go through heavy migrations twice a year, this process is heavily automated and supported by the integrated Lifecycle Services (LCS). The key to this is the change from overlayerings to extensions.For the user much more important is the newly integrated Graphical Planning Board. For a dispatcher it is important to have an overview, he needs to take decisions within seconds, therefore the system is highlighting the key decision elements. The Graphical Planning Board is the response to this challenge. A wrong decision can cost a lot. Several windows on two, three or more monitors interact with each other and bring the dispatcher on top of the current resources/orders situation. Technically CAPcargo was supporting this within AX2012. Tempi passati. Dynamics 365 brought a state of the art user interface in the browser; by the way with very positive user reactions. The downside of this is that working across several windows or a drag & drop functionality are technically not possible. For CAPcargo it was clear from the very beginning, unique application benefits can’t be given away only because the platform is not supporting it anymore.

The result of GPB 2.0 is now available as third community technical preview (CTP3). An application closely connected to D365 by means of web-services; and: that very same app can be connected to D365 but also to AX2012! With this approach we support AX2012 customers even better on their future path to D365. All data still managed and stored in the ERP system, only the user front end is running in an app. An offering with the best of both worlds. GPB 2.0 can be installed on the local client, on an on premise server or in the cloud and hence is supporting cloud, edge or on premise scenarios. The next version with a richer functionality range is already scheduled for late summer 2018.