Dynamics Hotdish

Troubleshooting technology problems is a skill that takes time to develop.  Once you've worked with a particular platform long enough, you're often able to identify exactly where to start for an issue that's reported.  However, there are still new problems that arise and you have to put on your troubleshooting hat to figure out where to begin. The skills you develop with experience will propel you forward to troubleshoot these new issues much quicker.
In this episode, we outline five basic troubleshooting steps to help jumpstart your troubleshooting skills. As we outline each step, we'll provide examples of what can be done in each step and share resources that have helped us in the past.
This episode isn't only for admins, though!  We also share some tips for end users on how to clearly and concisely report issues to your CRM Team that will result in a quicker response or resolution to the issue you've uncovered.
Did we miss anything that you've found helpful in your experience?  Share it with us in the comments! Check out https://www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information and show notes.

Welcome to a very special bonus episode of Dynamics Hotdish! We've hit a milestone - 100 episodes! 🎉 Join us as we take a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about our journey from episode one to now. We'll dive deep into some of our all-time favorite episodes, sharing behind-the-scenes stories, the laughs, the challenges, and the moments that made us go "Aha!"

Whether you've been with us since the beginning or you're a recent listener, this episode promises a delightful mix of nostalgia, insights, and a fresh perspective on the world of Dynamics. It's not just a celebration of our 100 episodes, but a celebration of you, our listeners, who've made this journey so rewarding.

Tune in, and let's relive the magic of Dynamics Hotdish together! 🎙️🎊

Check out https://www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

In this episode, we discuss a topic that's debated often within organizations that use a CRM platform. Should your CRM admin sit on a team within in the IT department or within "the business"? This is often up for debate because business teams are the people heavily using the CRM system and making requests that an admin must complete. We've said this before, but your business users and your Admin need to be BFF's! Further, CRM tool are a software that require maintenance like other platforms managed by the IT department.
There are benefits of having your admin sit on either team, and we'll share our opinions on the nuances throughout this episode.
Let us know your thoughts after you listen!  Does your CRM admin sit on an IT team or within the business? Visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information and show notes!

The first episode in a series for CRM Admins and people who work with CRM Admins (which is probably most of our listeners)!
A CRM Admin is someone who is required to wear many hats, understand the technology behind your CRM tool to help customize it, and translate requirements from business users to make the tool do what they need. In this episode, we discuss in more detail what a CRM Admin does and why that role is incredibly crucial for managing your CRM tool. Ashley shares from her extensive experience as an admin to give us tips about what she's learned along the way.
This episode will lay the foundation for the next episodes to come, where we'll dive deeper into topics around administrating your CRM platform.
Come back in two weeks for the next episode in the series where we'll discuss what team your CRM admin should reside on. Visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information and show notes.

Discover the highlights of the Power Platform Conference in this episode of Dynamics Hotdish, guest Heather Cook, Principal Manager at Microsoft, delve into the event's cutting-edge content. Heather sheds light on keynotes featuring Charles and other industry leaders, emphasizing the integration of Power Platform apps within Teams and the co-pilot functionalities spanning Microsoft 365. She elaborates on the growing role of AI and generative AI in the low-code landscape, enabling users to create sophisticated applications with ease. Heather unveils the engaging interaction between attendees and product teams, with sessions, focus groups, and roundtable discussions offering deep insights and technical skill-building opportunities. The episode also hints at exciting announcements on AI advancements, encouraging listeners to watch Microsoft's blogs for updates. With over a hundred sessions, workshops, and a plethora of expert speakers, this episode offers an immersive exploration of Power Platform's future. Visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information and show notes.

This is the third episode in our series on Azure DevOps (ADO) and we’re diving deep into one of the most challenging topics: how do you get your team to use it?

We share ideas on how to get your teams to buy into ADO and how it benefits your team on using it effectively on projects. It can be hard to convince people to “do extra work” by logging hours on tasks or closing work items as they’re completed. If you explain WHY they’re being asked to do these things or shown the reports that are used to see project status, you can begin to get more buy in from your teams.

We also share some best practices that we’ve learned from working with ADO! We had so many ideas to share that we almost ran out of time again 😫

If you’ve uncovered best practices while working with ADO, please drop a comment below to share with others!

Visit https://dynamicshotdish.com for additional information.

In the second episode of our series on Azure DevOps (ADO), we discuss the importance of determining a sprint cadence for your project or product and how that sprint cadence can be used within ADO. Sprints are a great way to determine how much time you have to get work items complete. You’ll learn a lot about your team and how to structure sprints by monitoring burn down rates and how many story points you finish in a sprint. 🏃🏽‍♂️🏃‍♀️

We dive into using sprint views and configurations within ADO, and how you might use backlogs and board views instead. 🗓️

If you want to learn more about managing your products or projects within ADO while working within sprints, this episode is for you!

Come back again next week for another episode on ADO that covers everyone’s favorite topic, ADOPTION. How do you get your team to use ADO effectively? 🤔Come back to find out! 😉

Visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

Azure DevOps (ADO) is the ultimate tool to help you stay organized on projects or for the lifecycle of product management. We LOVE using ADO because it gives your whole team insights into what’s happening on projects, what’s coming next, and overall helps everyone stay organized.

In the first part of our series on ADO, you’ll learn about some commonly used Work Items and how to navigate through the tool. (And some under-utilized work items that help you keep track of decisions or project changes!)

We’d love to hear how you use ADO! Leave a note in the comments.

Visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

It’s hard to believe the inaugural Microsoft Power Platform Conference was just last year! It began with a BANG where industry professionals flocked to Florida to learn all about the capabilities of the Power Platform. It’s time to start thinking about Power Platform Conference again this year since it’s coming up quick in Las Vegas.

Asif Rehmani joins us this week to give some insider info and tips about the conference, including what sessions you can expect to find at the conference and who should (and should not) attend.

Register for the Power Platform Conference using the Hotdish code for a special discount. Visit our website for more information: https://www.dynamicshotdish.com.

Aaron Back, Chief Content Officer from Dynamic Communities, joins us to tell us about what we can expect from Summit North America. Summit will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina October 15-20 and has a lot of fun and exciting new stuff this year! Everything from a NASCAR simulator, to local NC moonshine, and a new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) showcase has us buzzing with excitement over this event. Tune in to hear about how sessions are selected, the types of sessions you can expect (including their all new AI-focused event on Monday), and much more!

Register for Community Summit using "SummitHotdish" for an additional discount. Register here: https://www.summitna.com.

Visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com for additional information.

In this episode, we explore the future of the Power Platform, AI, and low code development. Our special guest, Julia Kasper, a Program Manager at Microsoft, joins us as we uncover the most recent advancements and what’s on the horizon. Julia shares her insights and perspectives, highlighting the importance of embracing a growth mindset and fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation within Microsoft.

During our discussion, we explore the concept of the Modern Workplace and its seamless integration with E5 licenses. We specifically focus on the transformation of collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams and Office, shedding light on how they have evolved to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of hybrid work environments.

We highlight the key takeaways from the MS Build Keynote, which introduced the era of AI Coplit. We delve into the impact of AI on APIs and software development, emphasizing the importance of an API-centric approach for effective data utilization. We also chat about the exciting presentations of the Imagine Cup Championship.

In addition, we explore the Power Apps Developer Plan and provide insights on how to pursue a career in technology. We cover essential topics such as getting started with learning the Power Platform, Microsoft's company culture, internship program, and career opportunities in the tech industry.

Whether you're a newcomer or aiming to enhance your skills, we share valuable information to help you successfully enter and thrive in the tech field. Tune in to gain insights into the future of the Power Platform & AI!

Visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

In this first of two episodes recorded at the Microsoft Build conference in Seattle, Liz interviews Bob Serr, VP of Azure Communication Services at Microsoft. They delve into the world of Azure Communication Services (ACS), discussing its real-time communication features like voice calling, video calling, SMS messaging, and chat functionality. The episode also unveils exciting new AI announcements tied to ACS. Listen in to discover how businesses can leverage ACS to enhance customer satisfaction by creating tailored communication solutions for global users. Visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

Wrapping up our three-part mini series on the user-focused side of technology transformation, this week we talk about Change Management. We're focusing on the people side of change and how you (or your organization) can guide their team through a technology or process change. Training ties in closely to change management and helps ensure your teams know how to do their jobs following the change. Change Management takes training further by identifying issues that may arise due to the change (such as detractors or people with negative attitudes about the change) and gives you tools to overcome these obstacles and make sure everyone impacted by the change is prepared. Visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

We have a secret for you. You can build the best possible tool for your end users, but they won’t know how to effectively use it without adequate training. Technology tools need to be intuitive, but training on these tools still needs to be comprehensive enough so your users know where to go as soon as they access the tool for the first time. In our last episode, we hinted (ahem, declared) that UAT is not training, and in this episode we discuss what training means and how to empower your end users with effective training. Spoiler alert - this is another topic that we’re all very passionate about!

User Acceptance Testing (UAT) can be ran in many different ways - from small single feature tests, to gigantic enterprise platform releases. We discuss how there are many different views on how to plan and execute successful UAT sessions, and highlight important aspects regardless of your project size. There’s so much more to UAT than just identifying bugs vs. features, though sometimes that can be the most difficult part! Visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information!

DynamicsCon Live is coming up on May 22-25 in sunny Scottsdale, Arizona! Whether you're a conference veteran or a conference newbie, DynamicsCon is a great choice to learn all about Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform. Going into its third year, the Dynamics User Group (DUG) has made some changes that will make this the best year yet. Join us this week as we discuss what you can expect at this event with Kylie Kiser and Chad Althaus. Visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

Join us as we discuss all things Omnichannel for Customer Service! There are many new and exciting things in Omnichannel and we're delighted to discuss all the capabilities with you. Omnichannel in Dynamics 365 is truly amplifying the way businesses interact with customers by bringing all the different ways customers can reach out to a business into a single work area. In this episode, we take a deep look into Omnichannel capabilities. Spoiler alert - there are so many capabilities, there's likely a part 2 coming soon!

We have some exciting news to share this week!  A familiar voice and a new voice are joining the permanent crew of the podcast. Meet Ali, who is a Functional Consultant at Stoneridge Software and actually likes going to the dentist.  Liz is back and is thrilled to be talking about a topic that's been all over the media recently: ChatGPT. Join us as we discuss what ChatGPT is and how generative AI is the future, though it has some road bumps to overcome. What are your thoughts on the future of AI in the workplace and its place in the world?  Share with us in the comments!

 For more information, visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com.

For this week's episode, we cover a few news-worthy items, including some notes on the upcoming Wave 1 release, the events we're looking forward to in 2023, and an announcement. For more information, visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com.

This week we talk about how Customer Service has improved over time and some of the coolest features available today. We go down a short rabbit hole on Power Virtual Agent but it ties back up into the omnichannel capabilities Microsoft has built out over the years. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments! Visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

This week we talk about a Dynamics 365 module we haven't spent much time on in the past - Project Operations! Ashley's been working with it recently so we discuss some cool features, potential limitations, and why you need a lot of data setup to make it work.  Leave your thoughts or experiences in the comments! Visit https://dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

This week's episode kicks off 2023 with an extension of our user adoption and training content with Marquis Caldwell from ClickLearn. We discuss user learning styles, how different types of learning materials and content supports these different styles, and where ClickLearn can help.  We also just generally have a great conversation with Marquis! For more information, visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com.

This week we jump into the Dynamics 365 Marketing module to talk at a high level about the capabilities Marketing brings to the table. We focus specifically on the outbound features and customer journeys, which allow organizations to set up automated marketing plans that customers progress through by time or action. If you're using Marketing, let us know your experiences! For more information, visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com.

A frequent question from companies implementing a software system is "how do we manage this thing after go-live?" This week, we share our perspectives on how best to administer and maintain your Dynamics system after the consulting team walks away, leaning heavily on Ashley's experiences as an administrator. If you've found anything that works well for you, please share a comment! For more information, visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com.

At the conferences this fall it seemed like AI Builder is all the rage, so we thought we might cover an introduction for this episode. We discuss what it is and isn't, how it fits into the overall Azure Cognitive Services picture, and consider use cases where it could add business value. If you're using AI Builder in your organization, tell us how you're using it! (And yes, our episode image was AI generated.) For more information, visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

User adoption is always a hot topic, and this week we have a guest speaker who is passionate about user adoption, and has been advocating for its importance for years. Asif Rehmani is the CEO of VisualSP, a tool built to help drive user adoption in web-based apps like SharePoint and Dynamics 365, and we get his perspective and expertise this week for the Hotdish! Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

In this week's episode, we dive into one of Ashley's passion areas - business process flows! While Microsoft (and partners) sell BPFs heavily during demos, it seems that users don't often find much value in using them. We discuss why that might be and consider best practices to make BPFs more useful (and used). Visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

We've talked about canvas vs model-driven apps in the past, but we admit that we generally try to solution in model-driven apps because it's our comfort zone. This week, we discuss some areas where model-driven isn't the right answer, or simply won't work, and expand on how canvas apps can help. Have a scenario you're trying to find the right solution for? Leave us a comment! Visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information and show notes.

For our first episode under our new format, Ashley and Merlin wanted to discuss a few exciting Wave 2 updates coming for the Power Platform and Dynamics 365 as a way to ease back into the Hotdish. We also go through an important draft (listen/watch to learn more). Feel free to comment your own exciting Wave 2 feature!

We kick off our return from summer vacation with an interview, hosting Liz Hallen from Dynamics User Group (DUG) to discuss DynamicsCon Live (happening next week!) and all other things DUG-related. Thanks for tuning back in!

This week we dig into the different ways you can bring data into Dataverse/Dynamics 365, from the out-of-the-box tools to various external solution, and evaluate the pros and cons of each.

Part 2 of our dive into Dataverse security continues this week with more tips and best practices. This week we expand beyond the "basic" security components to discuss extended features like column security, and form security. We also ponder some use cases - leave a comment if you have an example!

This week we got back to the basics and dug into security within Dataverse and Dynamics 365. We go through some history, discuss best practices, and some things to consider when setting up your security. We had so much to discuss that we have a part 2 coming up next week!

Somewhat late to the party, but the fourth episode of our diversity series this week is a conversation about how those of us in positions of privilege can be effective allies to those who are in marginalized positions or populations.  We even forgive Allie for working with Salesforce (*gasp*) because we appreciated her message and the way she helped define allyship.

This week we decided to pick up one of those ongoing topics that never really end or get the perfect answers - data quality.  Anyone with any sort of database (or even a spreadsheet!) has run into issues keeping data clean and organized, and a CRM system is certainly no different.  We cover a few tips that we've learned over time, a couple of tools that might help, and generally discuss how we approach data quality solutions.

On the podcast this week, we have the pleasure of talking to Matt Beard, a Microsoft MVP based in the UK, who is also on the organizing team for Scottish Summit. We discuss some of the details of Scottish Summit, including some aspects that make it a unique conference, and general fun conversation. Listen in to learn more! Visit www.dynamicshotdish for more information. 

Our episode this week brings us back into slightly more technical territory with a discussion on implementing sales processes into Dynamics 365 Sales. We cover the importance of starting at the process and bringing technology later, as well as considering the broader picture of what a process looks like outside of the CRM tool.  Have any best practices you'd like to share? Leave a comment! Visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

Finding data in Dynamics 365 and Dataverse has always been a bit of a struggle - you had to search the right way in the right place or you might not find what you were looking for, and using Advanced Find was not for the faint of heart. Now, for the first time in over a decade, Microsoft has changed Advanced Find, and this week we discuss these changes as well as other changes to searching over time.  In short, it's getting better! Visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information!

Users and executives love dashboards, but as with most Microsoft solutions, there are a number of different ways to solve the problem.  This week we discuss using standard Dynamics dashboards or Power BI as different options to provide users with that one stop view of important data, with some pointers on how to decide which solution fits best. Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

For the third episode of our diversity series, we have a conversation with two Minneapolis-based entrepreneurs, Tayo Daniel and Nabil Ghebre. Both bring enlightening perspectives on bringing more diversity into the tech space, and both bring passion to this area with community-based action.  We also talk more about TechFluent, as both Tayo and Nabil are involved as well!

In the second episode of our diversity series, we have a conversation with DJ Baker, a Minneapolis business owner and entrepreneur, about some of the complexity in dealing with wealth inequity and why the wealth gap extends beyond simply having better jobs.  We also share a nonprofit organization that all of us are part of launching - TechFluent. Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com & www.techfluentacademy.org for more information.

This week we are starting a new series focused on diversity within the Microsoft biz apps space, and what better place to start than with our guest, Lucas Diaz, co-founder of Ludia Consulting.  Ludia is one of the few (if not the only) minority-owned Dynamics 365 partners, and Lucas offers some compelling points on the benefits and importance of diversity in the team, as well as some instructive points on fostering a healthy diverse team. Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

This week we take a look at a choice that many Dynamics professionals consider at some point in their careers and that is whether or not going independent is for you. Conveniently for our conversation, Liz went down this very path two years ago and gives us some insights on the benefits as well as the risks and things to consider when determining if becoming an independent consultant is the right choice for you.  If you've gone independent and have feedback, leave it below; likewise, if you're considering and have specific questions, just ask! Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

Every single person who has ever looked at licensing for Microsoft Dynamics 365 or Power Platform has definitely had questions. Lucky for us, this week we have a guest on to help give us clarity - Jay Lendl from Microsoft! Jay helps explain the different licenses available, the intention behind each, and gives us a sneak peek into what might happen next with the Team Member license. If you have any licensing questions, post them in the comments and we'll try to get them answered with Jay's help. Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

As historically CRM people, we tend to approach the Power Platform and Power Apps mostly from a CRM perspective - salespeople, customer service, etc., but not very often from a financial or accounting lens.  Our episode this week goes into a unique financial tracking use case for a Power App, to manage a high volume of interest-bearing loans for a financial services firm.  It might give you a whole new perspective on where Power Apps can help solve business problems! Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information!

Have you ever felt like you don't belong in your role, or that you don't deserve a promotion so you don't pursue it? Commonly known as impostor syndrome, we discuss this week the idea of not feeling like you're good enough with our guest AJ Hawley, an independent consultant in the Dynamics space. AJ shares some great perspectives and some tips that he uses when he starts to question himself.  If you have any of your own suggestions to help, leave them in the comments! Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

This week we take a departure from technology topics and discuss something more personal - the struggles that women can face working with (or for) other women in industries, like tech, where women are in the minority.  This is something that both Liz and Ashley have encountered and have worked to avoid doing themselves so it's close to home. We have some ideas on how to make things better, and would love to hear any others our listeners may have. Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

We kick off the new year with a discussion of a (somewhat) newer feature in the Power Platform, dataflows. As Merlin has just been working hands-on with them and Ashley is currently in a project that uses dataflows, we dig in and discuss what they're good for, a couple of considerations, and at least one complaint. Leave your dataflow impressions in the comments! Visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

As you might imagine, we're not always perfectly polished as you may see or hear on our podcast, so our parting gift for 2021 is blooper real. Probably best viewed on YouTube - enjoy! For more information on Dynamics Hotdish, visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com. 

Earlier this fall, we decided to have our own book club and read a book over the quarter to discuss in an episode.  Here is that episode!  Here to wrap up 2021 is our casual discussion of this quarter's book, "Get Your Sh*t Together" by Sarah Knight.  We debate which of the Chipmunks we each align with and discuss the things that really stuck with us from reading it, and the things maybe we didn't care for.  We're thinking of doing a book quarterly, so if you have any suggestions leave them in the comments.  Happy New Year! Visit https://www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

For our final installment of our DynamicsCon Live content encore, listen in as we discuss Dynamics 365 Customer Voice, the features it offers, and some use cases where it fits well. If you need to survey your customers, Customer Voice is a great option - and you may already own it! Visit https://dynamicshotdish.com/ for more information.

Continuing our DynamicsCon Live encore content, this week is Dynamics 365 Customer Insights. We discuss what it's good for, what it does and doesn't replace, and contemplate the best ways to get benefit from the product. Feel free to ask any questions you may have about Customer Insights in the comments! Visit https://dynamicshotdish.com/ for more information.

Our first encore of our DynamicsCon Live session, this week we jump into Dynamics 365 Marketing and discuss some of its capabilities, strengths, weaknesses, and why you might want to consider it (or not) now that it's grown up a bit. If you have any direct experience with Marketing, leave your thoughts in the comments! Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

The shift to remote work made everything virtual, including training on new software or processes, which meant many organizations had to do virtual trainings for the first time (others have been doing it for years anyway). This week we discuss some of the key things to keep in mind that are different with virtual trainings as compared to a live, in-person session, and offer some suggestions to help keep virtual audiences engaged and learning. Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information!

This week we return with a guest speaker, Matt Fleming, to discuss Azure DevOps (ADO) and the benefits of using it to keep track of your work in any project, but especially some benefits for use with Dynamics and Power Apps.  If you've been looking for a better way to keep track of the work you need to do and collaborate with a team (internal or hybrid with a partner), ADO might be the answer you're looking for.  Listen in! Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for additional information.

We are so excited that in person conferences are back! Join us as we talk about the experience of being back in person and the great content from DynamicsCon Live in Anaheim, CA. Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

Over the last couple of years Microsoft has been slowly moving functionality from the legacy interfaces (which have been unchanged since CRM 2011) to the updated UI. This week we talk about the pace of changes (and a promise from Microsoft) in the Power Platform Admin Center, and some things you can now find there, plus we discuss the recent release of the new solution management preview and it's benefits. Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

As Merlin starts the episode discussing, training is often shorted - often it is viewed as something nice to have, or something that can be done quickly and cheaply and still get good results. This week, we unpack the issues with considering training in this way and talk about how to make sure your training plan actually teaches the audience the things you want them to learn. Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

Anyone working in Dynamics 365 has gone through some sort of implementation or go-live event where a checklist (would have) helped. In this week's episode, we discuss the importance of having a checklist to make sure you get all of your steps done, even in a process that you feel comfortable with. We also provide a few key checklist items that we recommend for things like go-lives, trainings, or just general moving of solutions from dev to test. Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

Perhaps the better question is, who doesn't love custom controls? In this week's podcast we go through a handful of our favorite custom controls, where we like to use them, and Merlin learns something. Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for notes.

Any company that has been using Dynamics for a while is going to have a few older processes that would benefit from a new feature (or three), but how do you make it a priority?  Our discussion this week covers the idea of implementing new features into your existing deployment while still trying to meet the needs of new processes or projects.  We give our thoughts on how to determine when to add features, how to get help rolling them out, and a hack on figuring out what that new feature you've got your eye on even does.

A few months ago we did an episode on negotiation strategies and how to get what you need in a job or paycheck, and we'd said at the time we might need to circle back to persuasion and influence in general.  Well, this week is that time and Liz educates Ashley and Merlin on how we can persuade others to do what we want and presumably take over the world. Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for notes.

If there is one constant in the internet age, it's that there is always too much email to read. How many vacation days are destroyed by fear of the inbox when you return?  This week, we extend on our productivity discussions to touch specifically on email as a productivity destroyer - and we discuss the many times Dynamics users want to be notified of something via email, and why you should tell them no (and what to tell them instead).

On the heels of discussing integration Office tools, the next logical question is how best to manage things like contacts and activities to avoid double entry and still have Dynamics 365 help you out.  This week, our discussion starts into this topic, with some best practices on managing contacts so they appear everywhere but minimize your data entry, as well as conversation on what syncs and what doesn't when thinking about tracking your activities like phone calls and appointments. For more information, visit www.dynamicshotdish.com.

For years Microsoft has been pitching the ease of integration with their business and Office tools with Dynamics, yet for a long time those integrations were still not great.  It feels like we've finally reached the golden age of integration, so this week we discuss various integrations with other Microsoft tools and applications that we think work well and makes users' lives easier. For more information, visit www.dynamicshotdish.com.

Following up on our last episode about managing time, this week we cover some of the tools we appreciate to help manage time and make us more productive. As you might guess, the conversation is heavily Microsoft-centric, but we like some others too! If you have any tools you like to evangelize, let us know in the comments! Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

Where does the time go? This week, we discuss some tips and challenges to effective time management.  We also discover that Liz is the best at this among us, Ashley has grown the most over time, and Merlin is still a novice (but he's working on it). Join us, and share your time management tips in the comments! Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

Anyone who has gone through a Dynamics 365 project has a few things that they wish they would have known when they started.  Well, this week we dig into some of those things that have stuck with the three of us over years of CRM projects for the benefit of our faithful listeners.  Listen in to learn from our mistakes!

Over the last 2-3 years, Microsoft has gotten back into the accelerator game, providing industry-specific data schemas for organizations and partners to use to jump-start their configuration in some use cases. This week we discuss the value that an accelerator provides, the best ways to approach them, and cover the accelerators that are available today. Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

This week we discuss something important for everyone with a job - negotiating! Negotiations can be difficult or stressful but they are essential parts of getting a new job, a promotion or every day business dealings. Listen to hear our tips and feel free to leave your own pointers in the comments. Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

Since the dawn of CRM 2011, a debate has raged within the community - should one use managed or unmanaged solutions when moving configuration from lower development and testing environments to production?  As with any debate so long-running, the variables have changed and our current recommendation is different than it was then.  Listen in and provide your comments on the debate as well! Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

We of Dynamics Hotdish started a podcast as a way to give back to the community that brought us together, and this week we talked to Molly Fuchsel of Dynamics User Group about the importance of being part of and supporting the overall Dynamics and Power Platform community.  Listen in, just in time to learn about DynamicsCon and get a reminder to go vote for sessions you think would be valuable in their free fall virtual conference. Check out www.dynamicscon.com for more information on the September event. Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

This week we took a bit of a break from Microsoft-specific topics, and had a lovely chat with a professor that Liz recalled from her MBA program, Beth Campbell. Her recent research is around the impact of high performers on teams and the workplace overall, with some other research around gender in the workplace as well.  We probably could have continued chatting for hours with all of the interesting insights she provided.  Our thanks to Professor Campbell for joining us - it was very educational! Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

The software industry is full of best practices, processes, and procedures, yet many of them are aimed at large enterprise-scale projects.  This can be a challenge for smaller projects or smaller organizations, who want to be more nimble and cost-conscious but also want to get good outcomes.  This week we discuss a few areas of project delivery where considering the size and scale are important to make sure you get your expected return on that investment. Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

This week we wanted to get some outside perspectives on women in technology, and we were fortunate to get Susanne Lake, Founder and CEO of Slake Consulting, a CRM partner supporting both Dynamics 365 and Salesforce, to join us.  Susanne turned an unexpected unemployment into a series of jumps that put her at the helm of an entire consulting organization.  Listen in to hear how she approaches being a woman in tech, as well as some cool VR tech!  Thank you to Susanne for joining us on the Hotdish! For more information & notes, visit www.dynamicshotdish.com.

Each of us on the Hotdish remembers a time when we weren't as well connected in the Dynamics and Microsoft community and we wanted to start making a name for ourselves by presenting some content at a conference.  Years ago this meant speaking at the User Group Community Summit, but now there are numerous conferences, both virtual and in-person, all driven by user-submitted content.  So if you want to contribute, how do you start?  What are some things to consider to get your session chosen?  In this episode we cover some pointers and tips to getting selected, and things to consider for your topic.  And just in time for submission deadlines for a few conferences! Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

For the final episode in our Field Service series, we brought in industry veteran Bill Kern to discuss some of his favorite new features coming out in the 2021 Wave 1 (fka Spring Release) update, as well as the sort of skills that are helpful in grasping Field Service overall.  Don't miss it - there are some really cool features on the way!  And thank you so much Bill for joining us! Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

Having covered a lot about Field Service at a large scale in our previous episodes in the series, we wanted to discuss how smaller organizations might be able to leverage Field Service capabilities without the large implementation usually required.  We also discussed some options to offer field-based functionality via Power Apps instead of with full Field Service.  Many thanks to Adam for joining us for this discussion! Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

For part 3 of our series on Dynamnics 365 Field Service, we brought in Jon Bohlinger (JB), also with Hitachi Solutions, to discuss best practices when considering a Field Service implementation.  We also cover some guidelines on when your organization is large enough to really benefit from Field Service.  Thanks to JB for joining us on the podcast! Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

In part 2 of our series on Dynamics 365 Field Service, we talk to Will Mclendon of Hitachi Solutions about different use cases and applications for Field Service.  From Connected Field Service leveraging IoT to helping front-line workers, Will has some great perspectives.  A huge thank you to Will for joining us! Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

This week kicks off a Dynamics Hotdish series on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Service.  We begin with the history and evolution of Field Service from none other than the Principal Program Manager at Microsoft, Kyle Young.  Kyle shares with us how companies large and small are using Field Service, and offers a glimpse into how Microsoft views the future of the product.  A big thanks to Kyle for being on the podcast! Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

In any relationship, sometimes you see some red flags and wonder to yourself "is it me, or are these real and I should get out of this relationship?"  This is no different than your relationship to your Dynamics/Power Platform partner!  This week we discuss some red flags that we've seen during our time in the industry to help you identify if you're in a bad relationship doomed to fail (or at least let you know these are issues you should discuss to maintain a healthy partnership). Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information!

Dynamics security hasn't changed much since the launch of the product (aside from a few additions like access teams and field-level security) and we've all had a great time clicking those little circles.  However, with the shift to model-driven apps, the ways you can solve security-related problems are both easier and more flexible.  This episode we have a quick discussion on how this shift has impacted your security design. For more information, check out www.dynamicshotdish.com.

A fairly common occurrence for all of us on the Hotdish is discussions with others on what sorts of career paths are available to people who are already in the Dynamics community, either as consultants or as end users/admins.  As a result, we decided to discuss it this week.  Spoiler: there are a lot of options! Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

A Dynamics implementation needs care and feeding, but how do you know when it's time to get someone to care for it full time?  This week we talk through a few considerations, including not just when you should look for an admin, but the sorts of skills required to be successful as an admin. Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

User adoption is always a hot topic around the community, so this week we decide to wade into the topic ourselves.  We cover how to define and measure adoption, the importance of having high adoption, and a few different strategies and approaches to help boost yours. Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

The Microsoft Dynamics space has a healthy community of independent software vendor (ISV) products, and this week we discuss some of our favorites. If you're looking to fill any of these gaps in the base product, hopefully our discussion will be valuable. Rest assured that these are opinions influenced only be experience and not sponsorship, because we didn't get cash to promote any of these! Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information on these great ISV solutions!

Is it possible for a project to come in on time and on budget? This week's debate centers around managing these aspects of your project, and the trade-offs you may encounter. Check out more information on www.dynamicshotdish.com.

As every Dynamics admin is aware, users can be very particular about how they want forms to look and where they expect fields to be.  In this episode, we cover a variety of best practices and considerations when designing your form and view layouts to help your users use the system. Check out more notes on www.dynamicshotdish.com. 

Most Dynamics professionals already are aware of the XrmToolBox, but for anyone not familiar, or who haven't used it in a while, this week we cover some of our favorite tools in the toolbox and a reminder that for your tedious tasks, there's probably a tool for it! Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information!

This week we get into a topic that some of us feel very strongly about - running projects in an agile or waterfall fashion. We include the importance of being on the same page with the entire team (customers and consultants) and some pitfalls of agile even when everybody thinks that's what they want. Visit www.dynamicshotdish.com for more information.

With Microsoft finally adding some new tools for sales users in the last year or two, we decided to dig into the Sales Insights features and discuss their potential value.  Spoiler - there are a lot of useful features! Check out www.dynamicshotdish.com for notes!

Since Ashley recently went through integrating her Dynamics instance with LinkedIn, we decided to discuss the current capabilities of the integration (vastly improved!) and debate the value of both the integration and the Relationship Sales license in general. More information available at www.dynamicshotdish.com.

The Dynamics Hotdish podcast wouldn't be here without Dynamics events - it's how we all became friends!  This week we discuss some upcoming events (DynamicsCon, Scottish Summit) and the value that events (virtual or in person) bring when trying to grow your skillset.

You've been hearing about Microsoft Dataverse but you're not entirely sure what it is? This podcast is for you! We'll discuss what it is, some of the benefits, and help clarify how it fits into the broader Power Platform and Dynamics 365 picture. See show notes at www.dynamicshotdish.com.

As Microsoft transitions Dynamics into the Power Platform, the administrative and configuration experience is shifting. This week we discuss the new configuration portal and when to use it versus the "classic" experience. See show notes on www.dynamicshotdish.com.

This week we go over Power Automate as it relates to Dynamics 365 and debate when it's appropriate to build processes there instead of the classic workflow engine. Check out show notes on www.dynamicshotdish.com.

The success of any CRM software implementation is entirely dependent not on the software itself, but on the partner. So how do you choose the best one for you? Check out www.dynamicshotdish.com for show notes and more information!

When your company is getting ready to implement Dynamics 365, what should you do to prepare? We discuss ways to get ready and what to expect. See show notes at www.dynamicshotdish.com.

Today we explore how and where to get started on your D365/Power Platform career.

Check out more information & resources on www.dynamicshotdish.com.

What is Dynamics Hotdish and why did we start a podcast?  Quick introduction to the podcast!