Implement Row‑Level Security in Power BI Embedded – I
Scenario: With the advancements in technology and the advent of new use case scenarios comes the need to implement new and different methodologies. In this blog, we are going to talk about one such scenario. This blog is divided into two parts – one dealing with configurations on the side of the cloud, analytical, and reporting tools, and the other on the application built and use of tokens generated from the previously mentioned tools. The scenario we are dealing with is that we have an Azure SQL database from which there is a need to create Power BI reports and view them in a custom application built on .NET core. The database contains data from different companies, and hence, there is a requirement to create a company-based filtered report. But the reports should be live and optimized, and therefore comes the need for a middle layer like the Azure-based analysis services where all the data pre-processing, modeling, and shaping is performed, and a live connection is built to Power BI Desktop where visualization happens. Also, row-level security in Power BI reports must be implemented for company-based filtering. But the problem here is when there is a live Azure Analysis services connection in Power BI, row-level security cannot be implemented in Power BI Desktop using the normal routine process of USERPRINCIPALNAME(). Also, this row level security should be visible in the embedded Power BI report in the application. This article discusses the approach followed to implement this complex but-if scenario. Pre-requisites: Microsoft Power BI Desktop (preferably 64-bit should be installed) Azure Subscription Azure Active Directory (AD), where user emails are stored, will be used in Row Level Security (RLS). Azure app registration for Azure AD app. Azure Analysis services instance with a developer edition, which is the basic license required. In the Azure analysis services instance, the AD app should be the admin. A .NET framework/core. A Power BI service account/workspace Embedded license or PPC license. Visual Studio with SSDT toolkit. 9. In Visual Studio, to create Analysis services models or Tabular models as per the vocabulary of a developer, there is a requirement to install its SQL Server Analysis Services. The steps here are: Open Visual Studio and select Continue without Code Click on Extensions and select Manage Extensions. In the Visual Studio Marketplace, search for Analysis services and install the extension if not installed. 10. A dataset on which dynamic row-level security needs to be applied. 11. Microsoft excel for testing the dynamic row level security. Azure Analysis Steps: Open Visual Studio and create the tabular model with different data sources. There should be a table or column in which email id’s should be provided. These email id’s should be a part of the Azure Active Directory. Create an Azure AD app by going to app registration and include this app id as part of the Azure Active Directory. This will act as the service principal for our Power BI workspace. In Visual Studio, right-click on Roles. 5. In the role manager pop-up window, provide the name of the role and define the appropriate permissions. 6. In the same pop-up window, under the role details, in the row filters, type the DAX expression against the table in which the row-level security needs to be applied. The DAX expression will be applied on the column and would be as below: = table_name[column_name] = CUSTOMDATA() 7. Then click on the members section and click on Find Users. 8. A Microsoft pop-up box will open, prompting the user to log in. Login with ID, which is a part of the Azure Active directory. Type the name of the user, click on search, and then click add. 9. Once the login is completed, search for the users/groups which need to be included for row-level security implementation. Also include the AD app created here. 10. Once completed, click on the OK button. 11. Once completed then in the solution explorer, right click and select properties. Provide the server name which the Azure based analysis server on which the model needs to be deployed. Also, provide the database in case the user does not want the solution name as the database name. Click OK. 12. Once done, in the solution explorer, right click and select deploy. It will prompt the user to enter credentials. Complete the sign in and let the model deploy. Once completed, click on Close. Power BI Steps: 1. Once the deployment is complete, open the Power BI and go to Get data and search for azure analysis services. A pop-up window will open to type in the server name and select the connection mode. Select Live and click OK. It will open Microsoft authentication window. Authenticate the credentials and click OK. Select the model and select OK. 2.Create the report as needed. 3.Publish the report in the workspace which has the Embedded license or PPC license. 4.Open the Power BI workspace on the Power BI service and go to manage access. The service principal i.e. AD app needs to be added as the admin of the workspace. .NET Application: 1. Open Visual Studio and create a new ASP.NET web application project. (This article uses the ASP.NET framework; however, this can be built on any other .NET framework as well.) 2. To display the Power BI report, an embed token needs to be generated. This can be accomplished using the function GenerateToken, which is present in the namespace Microsoft.PowerBI.Api. In this function, the parameters that are required to pass include Power BI workspace/group ID, Power BI report ID, and a token request. 3. The token request can be created using the function GenerateTokenRequest, which uses the parameters – the Power BI report access level, which can be (View/Edit/Create) and the dataset id. This function is present in the namespace Microsoft.PowerBI.Api.Models. 4. To display the Power BI report using row level security (RLS), an EffectiveIdentity object needs to be created using the in-built function EffectiveIdentity() which is defined in the namespace PowerBI.Api.Models.
Scale operations with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
In the ever-evolving realm of modern business, maintaining a competitive edge demands a finesse for adaptability and the art of efficient operational orchestration. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a powerful solution that empowers businesses to scale their operations seamlessly. This article delves into the various aspects of scaling business operations with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, exploring its capabilities, benefits, and practical implementation. Understanding the Need for Scaling Before we dive into the specifics of how Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central can help scale your business operations, let’s explore why scaling is crucial. The Growth Dilemma Many businesses face a common challenge: growth. While growth is a positive sign, it often brings along operational complexities that can hinder progress. As a business expands, so do its operations. More customers, increased inventory, and a growing workforce can strain traditional systems, leading to inefficiencies, errors, and missed opportunities. To address these challenges, businesses need a robust solution like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. The Power of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is an all-in-one business management solution designed to streamline operations, drive growth, and adapt to changing business needs. Let’s explore the key features and benefits that make it a game-changer for scaling business operations. The Power of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 1. Key Features for Business operations: Microsoft Business Central streamlines and integrates various business functions. It is a central hub for managing financials, supply chains, sales, and customer relationships. Business Central eliminates the need for separate, disparate systems by providing an all-in-one solution that can be accessed securely from anywhere at any time. Integrated Financial Management: Business Central provides a comprehensive financial management platform, allowing you to efficiently manage your company’s finances. From accounts payable to receivable, it offers real-time insights and automates financial processes, reducing errors and improving accuracy. Inventory Optimization: Managing inventory effectively is critical for scaling operations. Business Central provides tools for tracking inventory levels, demand forecasting, and order management. This ensures you have the right products in stock to meet customer demands, minimizing stockouts and overstock situations. Streamlined Sales and Customer Relationship Management: Scaling your business often means engaging with a larger customer base. Business Central’s CRM capabilities help you nurture customer relationships, track sales opportunities, and provide exceptional customer service. This leads to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty. 2. The Flexibility of Business Central: Business Central is incredibly flexible, fitting the needs of businesses of all sizes. It can adapt, customize, and grow with your company, ensuring it remains a valuable tool in an ever-changing business world. Integration with Other Microsoft Cloud Services: Business Central seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft Cloud services. This integration enables businesses to leverage the full power of the Microsoft ecosystem. For example, users can access Business Central data directly from Microsoft Outlook or leverage Power Platform to build custom applications and workflows. Scalability and Customization: One of the key advantages of Business Central is its scalability. Whether you’re a small startup or a large enterprise, this solution can adapt to your needs. Furthermore, it’s highly customizable, ensuring that it aligns perfectly with your unique business processes. App Marketplace and Ecosystem: Business Central benefits from a thriving app marketplace and ecosystem. Businesses can explore a wide range of pre-built extensions and add-ons to enhance the functionality of Business Central. The app marketplace allows businesses to adapt and expand their ERP system as their needs evolve. 3. Enhanced Business Intelligence: Data is the lifeblood of modern businesses. Business Central offers robust analytics and reporting tools, allowing you to make data-driven decisions. Identify trends, spot opportunities, and optimize your operations for growth. Integration with Power Platforms: Business Central seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft platforms like Power Platform to build custom applications and workflows. The pre-designed integration with Power BI Platform ensures seamless dataflow for enhanced reports generation and attractive dashboard and MIS reports for informed decision-making. Predictive Analytics: Harnessing the power of machine learning, Business Central can predict future trends and outcomes based on historical data. This predictive capability aids in proactive decision-making, optimizing inventory levels, and identifying sales opportunities. Advanced Analytics and Reporting: The platform offers advanced analytics and reporting tools, allowing users to create customized dashboards and reports. Whether you need financial reports, sales performance metrics, or inventory analysis, Business Central provides the means to generate them effortlessly. 4. Cloud-Based Accessibility: In today’s digital age, accessibility is crucial. With Business Central’s cloud-based architecture, you can access your business data and applications from anywhere, on any device. This flexibility enables remote work and supports global expansion. According to Gartner, by 2025, 80% of enterprises will have shut down their traditional data centers, opting for colocation, hosting, and cloud-based solutions. Fortunately, with the rise of cloud computing, businesses can leverage cloud-based solutions to achieve unparalleled flexibility as specified below: Access from Anywhere, anytime: One of the primary advantages of cloud-based accessibility is the ability to access critical business data and applications from virtually anywhere, at any time. Business Central leverages the cloud to provide this flexibility, enabling employees to work remotely and stay productive. Automatic Updates: With Business Central in the cloud, you no longer need to worry about manual software updates and patches. Microsoft handles these updates, ensuring that your system remains secure and up to date. Cost-Efficiency: Cloud-based solutions like Business Central eliminate the need for substantial upfront hardware investments. Instead, you pay for what you use, making it a cost-efficient choice for businesses of all sizes. 5. Security and Compliance: Protecting your business data is paramount. Business Central offers robust security features and helps you stay compliant with industry regulations, giving you peace of mind as you scale your operations. Role-Based Permissions: Not all users within an organization need access to the same data and functionalities. Business Central implements role-based permissions, allowing administrators to define access levels for each user. This restricts unauthorized access to sensitive information. Audit Trails: To maintain transparency and accountability, Business Central keeps detailed audit trails. These logs
How data helps corporations drive sustainability goals
Transparency and accountability are at the core of data integrity. Sustainability refers to integrating these two factors in order to support business growth, manage risks and enable companies to find their place in society. Businesses can utilize the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) as a guideline for managing economic, environmental, and social risks while improving their position within their industry. Business models incorporating the SDGs are expected to create at least US $12 trillion worth of opportunities by 2030 and up to 380 million jobs. Today’s ecosystems require action. Left unaddressed, environmental and social issues can inhibit an organization’s ability to expand. Supply chain inefficiencies lead to additional expenses; by 2026, businesses may bear US $120 Billion of direct costs from environmental risks in their supply chains alone; manufacturing, food, beverages, agriculture, and electricity generation will all bear their burden most heavily. How can data analytics contribute to sustainable development? Sustainability is about knowing your business’ impact and purpose. But you need the right data and technology to take action. Analytics and business intelligence can be used to help businesses make better decisions. They will become more proactive, transparent, and accountable. Big Data for sustainable development seeks to collect and cross-correlate physical components such as weight and volume of recyclable and non-renewable inputs used in production, percentage of recycled materials utilized, hazardous and nonhazardous waste generated, the disposal methods utilized, CO2 emissions, etc. into meaningful insights for analysis and action. Data are extracted for interactive visualization by utilizing advanced data analytics solutions. Examining all these datasets together helps avoid geopolitical conflict, understand employee behavior during unexpected mishaps during the operations as well as improve understanding of vulnerability and resilience. Opportunities data analytics offers to business leaders: Data analytics and visualization tools are prevalent across a wide range of industries, from government, e-commerce, manufacturing, EPC, hospitality, and transportation to healthcare. Data can be leveraged for applications including consumer profiling, individualized prices, marketing/advertising efforts, as well as predictive analysis. Firms today face the daunting challenge of striking a balance between long-term viability and profit maximization goals. Data plays an essential role in the decision-making process and accountability – big data analytics has now become part of marketing, advertising, and management practices. Consumer profiling, personalized services, and predictive analytics are standard practices within the private sector, but similar digital transformation solutions could also be utilized in humanitarian relief to track real-time information on well-being among individuals and target humanitarian aid to those in need. New data sources such as satellite data, technologies, and analytic tools should be utilized responsibly in order to facilitate more rapid, agile decision-making based on evidence while simultaneously broadening and improving monitoring progress toward meeting Sustainable Development Goals. Data analytics offers companies an invaluable way to gain an in-depth view of their environmental footprint and identify areas for improvement before taking steps toward reaching sustainability objectives. There are numerous examples of how data analytics solutions can be utilized to support sustainable development. By harnessing data analytics, companies can gain invaluable insights into their environmental impacts, pinpoint areas for improvement and take strategic actions to meet their sustainability objectives. Supply chain analytics for sustainable initiatives A supply chain is a group of parties that exchange material and information in order to fulfill a customer’s request. Supply chain analytics offers types of tools that help companies use the data generated by their systems to gain insights and optimize operations. Data analytics for a green transformation Logistics operations often emit carbon footprints that can have a negative impact on the environment. Descriptive data analytics tools can help organizations reduce the Co2 footprint by optimizing the frequency of deliveries. With the right data analytics tools, logistic businesses can get information on all the routes and traffics depth, and these actionable insights help managers to visualize and find the optimal route that reduces travel distance and frequency and cut carbon emissions. How does Advaiya enable businesses to transform their business models? Advaiya’s consultants stand at the intersection of data science, business strategy, and sustainability. We currently offer data-driven insights and analytics solutions based on products like Microsoft Power BI, which utilize artificial intelligence as the power behind transformational change. We can provide customized Power BI dashboards and reporting solutions designed to facilitate ESG (environmental, social, and governance) insight across multi-brands, markets, and portfolios allowing companies to visualize, track and pilot all ESG insight in one convenient location. It ranks their efforts towards moving from ESG reporting to long-term impact measurement. Businesses using this sustainable business intelligence platform can see at a glance how to move beyond greenwashing; and evaluate positive impacts from activities including carbon intensity reduction, decarbonization initiatives, science-based pledges, and business goals, as well as sectoral trajectory analyses and simulation of future actions/commitments made. Our tailored BI dashboard offers a suite of data-driven sustainability tools, from analysis of all unstructured text and data documents that report on climate and environmental issues relevant to your business, from corporate websites, activist websites, news media reports, financial analysts’ reporting to social media posts and content from social networks such as LinkedIn or Facebook. With this dashboard, businesses can identify where their time and resources should be invested for maximum impact while knowing where not to waste time and money. This intelligence platform empowers business leaders to make more informed business decisions with knowledge on where best to invest their resources as well as what to avoid doing when investing their time in ESG measures or reporting their time on climate and environmental-related matters – saving both time and resources as well as knowing exactly where investments should be made. Final words: Time is running out for us all to make changes that benefit the environment, from changing business models and transitioning from linear economies to circular ones or decarbonizing supply chains. There’s no time to waste; now is the time for action in order to reduce our impact on an increasingly fragile ecosystem – not years later! AI and other digital technologies provide every business
What Construction Companies Need for Project Management
Some unanticipated global factors were a catalyst for digital transformation initiatives a few years back. Businesses of all sizes were forced to invest in new technologies to adapt to this new reality. These investments were not temporary but an answer to economic uncertainty and changing customer demands for greater efficiency, productivity, and resilience. The case is no different for the construction sector. It can be difficult for construction firms to keep up with rapidly changing technologies. It’s crucial that construction business owners understand the trends in digital transformation as they evolve because it is a critical component of such a company’s success. As customer needs change, the technology that was crucial yesterday may not be as effective tomorrow. Construction companies must be confident in their ability to adapt to the constantly changing digital landscape in order to stay ahead of the curve in digital technology advancement. What technologies are changing the construction industry? We have come up with the top digital transformation solutions that almost every modern construction business is adopting to stay competitive. Automation-driven efficiency and no-code Automation will become more popular in 2023, even though many businesses have already implemented business process automation as a result of digital transformation trends. This is to enable corporate leaders to achieve better results with fewer resources. This will help them to drive efficient growth, improve productivity, and generate cost savings. Mobile apps to worksite access Construction industry mobile applications allow for worksite access like no other. This includes real-time inspections and on-site accountability. Also, accurate measurements can be taken with a mobile camera. Mobile apps also offer day-to-day reporting of work progress from remote locations. One of the leading EPC organizations has implemented mobile project portfolio management solutions to track QHSE Index Score and other KPIs over the period across the project portfolio. While working on-site, it can be difficult to collaborate physically between colleagues, mobile apps for worksite access have grown in popularity. For instance, Microsoft O365 offers great collaboration tools like Teams, Outlook, and SharePoint for virtual meetings for project management. Using technology to advance sustainability Sustainability is becoming a more prominent part of the construction industry. Because of the fixed nature and high energy costs of embodied CO2, as well as limited resources, sustainability is essential. Autodesk reports74% of AEC firms invest in technology to improve their sustainability. According to the report, globally, around $4.5 billion was invested in green construction technology in the last five years. Only $2.2 billion was invested in 2022. Construction management software can be leveraged to support sustainability. For instance Power BI dashboards and reports can be used to analyze the levels of gases and filter the data as per the requirements. Effective use of such tools arms construction companies with valuable information about resource usage. Augmented reality and virtual reality Virtual and augmented reality are two of the latest construction technologies. They provide visualizations. AR/VR technology was also demonstrated in numerous remote site inspections. It allows for safety, collaboration, and communication between AEC personnel. Mixed Reality technology such as Microsoft HoloLens enables construction professionals to holograms of their construction projects in their physical environment and provides a new way to execute their work. Construction project management Construction project management can be difficult for large capital projects. They are often late, over budget, and poorly executed. The following are the most common problems facing the construction industry: Repetitive reporting Multiple data systems Data that is not prioritized or organized Reporting is largely paper-based Inadequate system connectivity It is difficult for construction managers to gain deep insight across their portfolios, which can reduce on-time and on-budget performance. Microsoft Project is the leading construction project management software. Microsoft Project is a platform that allows you to plan, manage and control construction projects at any level. It’s a communication tool that gives project managers a roadmap for project execution. It helps to manage deadlines and reduce cost overruns. Government organizations are increasingly requesting MS Projects as part of the bidding process. Subcontractors too are required to submit such schedules. Construction analytics Large capital projects have high failure rates, according to observations. Construction business intelligence tools can be used to reduce risk and plan for success. Analytics in construction is becoming a popular choice for large capital project owners. Advaiya’s comprehensive construction analytics solutions help organizations combat low-performing trends. It asks the right questions of the “right people” at the “right time” to obtain meaningful insights that can be used to help clients manage and improve performance. A dashboard with real-time key performance indicators at project, portfolio, and program levels is created by the predictive analytics solution. Construction analytics software compares real-time insights to determine performance thresholds. This allows for the analysis of trends over time and transforms information into insight. This improves decision-making and project delivery. Field service automation Construction companies need to ensure that worker productivity and equipment quality are maintained at the highest level. Every construction company must manage its workers and fleet remotely because a large portion of services is performed in the field. Field service managers have lots of work to do. It should not be difficult for them to ensure that workers in the field are providing their best effort on every project. field services solutions that are reliable can be used to help construction companies reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction. Enterprise organizations can use field service automation to automate and improve their field operations, while still remaining competitive in the marketplace. It streamlines and automates all processes including dispatching, routing, and routing as well as inventory and work order management which is necessary to provide field service. This can help reduce the company’s workforce’s workload, and increase its accuracy and productivity. Last words: AECO (Architecture, Engineering, and construction owner) will continue to invest in technology to digitize their workflows and improve them in the future. This will be an investment in digital transformation for some companies — moving from excels to pixels. Others will make an additional investment
Build custom content templates in SharePoint easily
Your business is losing customers, whether you like it or not. McKinsey & Company recently discovered that only 13% of customers surveyed were loyal to one brand. According to the research, 87% said they shop around, and 58% have switched brands at least once. Why do people shop around? Why do customers look elsewhere for products and services? It’s time to determine why your business is losing customers and what you should do to remedy the situation. What are some ways you can check how healthy your customer engagement is? Your growth metrics, such as profits, conversions, brand retention, loyalty, profitability, etc., will all suffer if engagement levels drop. Here are some possible explanations for why these metrics might be declining: Not every customer is the perfect match for your product. It doesn’t matter if it isn’t right – like the diabetic who bought Ben & Jerry’s for their shopping cart or the environmental activist who purchased a Humvee. This could have been an honest mistake; they may have been sold misleading information. This would mean that such customers would no longer take your services. Some organizations can create this problem by intentionally targeting the wrong customers. For instance, there are many ‘family-oriented’ hotels that identify a business opportunity but lack adequate amenities. This results in wasted time and money as customer retention efforts must compete against new customer acquisition efforts. Partial vew of customer It can be frustrating for customers if you don’t have a comprehensive view of them. They need to share and reshare information with each other every time they call, but what if there was an automated system that could do all this work for you? The customer relationship management software keeps track of every client detail, such as past conversations and support queries. All these details can be accessed with the click of a button, freeing your team to focus on what they do best: selling, retaining, and developing customer relationships. Delivering poor customer service Today’s consumers have high expectations for customer service. In turn, Amazon and Apple have set high standards for customer loyalty: By placing customer satisfaction at the core of your business model, companies will experience greater success and improved customer retention. Both large and small businesses can learn from these examples to boost competitiveness and retain more clients. What defines customer service? Customer service is about being consistent, reliable, and responsive to every interaction. A bad customer experience can quickly turn potential customers away from your business and cause them to search elsewhere for services. During interactions with customers,– the most impactful thing is how much you know about the customer and how promptly you respond when questions or problems arise. A business needs to set goals for positive resolutions and response time targets, train customer service and sales teams properly so they know how to do the right thing when necessary and reward them accordingly. Use of outdated technology Technology plays an integral role in today’s brand loyalty equation. Consumers have high expectations and short attention spans, plus they are less tolerant of inefficiencies. If customers experience slow checkouts or a lack of online payment options, they may switch to businesses offering better customer service. Lacking adequate technology can cause customers to leave, leaving you with the task of keeping them satisfied. Make sure your websites load quickly across all devices, maintain a strong presence across social media channels and stay up to date. Furthermore, technology can be used to enhance products and services – for example, restaurants may want to consider listing on delivery apps so customers who prefer ordering takeout online can easily do so. Your product/service did not meet their expectations. Customers who are dissatisfied are likely to vent on social media platforms. Furious buyers may also post negative reviews in order to let others know they are not contented with their purchase. Your service should be tailored according to customer feedback. This feedback should be available to your product and service teams in terms of actionable data. Take this into account when creating or redesigning the offering. Partner with an experienced customer experience design consultant and someone who can help you draw customer insights into something meaningful. It takes a lot to produce or deliver a quality product or service that makes customers happy. Lack of coordination between team members Imagine you need to reassign one of your top sales reps from your company who leaves unexpectedly. The handover is incomplete and disorganized, lacking context regarding past interactions with prospects. This scenario frequently occurs within companies. Your team’s disarray will be evident to customers. What does this mean for customers and prospects alike? What outcome is likely to emerge? Customer engagement solutions like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales enable you to build strong relationships and take action based on insight, and close more deals quickly. This tool enables you to store all previous conversations (email, phone calls, messages) in one central location for the easy handover of information. Because the system records all customer interactions, it doesn’t matter if a query isn’t answered by the same person each time. Customer engagement in an age of fluttering loyalty In today’s highly competitive environment, running a business can be challenging. Acquiring new customers is expensive while existing ones don’t tend to stick around. Your business must survive in this climate of diminishing brand loyalty. Therefore, improving the customer journey is essential – even if it means uncovering signs that it might be declining. Recent findings by Gallup indicate that customers who are highly engaged generate 23% more revenue per customer than average customers. A customer engagement plan can help foster trust and enhance communication with clients. Customer success for any business isn’t solely determined by the number of new subscribers it attracts; it also depends on how well existing customers are retained. To keep customers engaged, create clear customer engagement and marketing strategies. Connect with your customers in a way they enjoy. Customer relationship management solutions offer
Why is your business losing out on productivity?
Organizations have always prioritized keeping employees connected and providing them with the tools to do their jobs efficiently and effectively. Technology has become an invaluable asset in recent years, contributing significantly to improved productivity levels. Today’s workplace is witnessing more disruption than ever before. Employees desire the flexibility to work from anywhere on any device with tools that boost productivity and enhance their work experience. These issues have driven organizations to embrace modern workplace solutions to provide seamless data and app delivery across multiple locations while safeguarding their endpoint devices. What are the advantages of this digital workplace era, and what workplace solutions should we expect? Here is our list of five modern workplace solutions. Modern workplace solutions offer numerous advantages. Over the past several years, digital technologies have rapidly advanced to enable people to work on the go. Now we can work from anywhere with cloud-based and mobile solutions. These are just a few of the numerous advantages modern workplace solutions provide. Five digital workplace solutions you must consider Intranets were once the go-to way of communication among colleagues. But as technology has progressed and changed, there are now numerous technological options for meeting, chatting, and working that you may not have considered before. Let’s take a look at the five top choices in modern workplace solutions today. 1. Communication tools Communication is fundamental for any company’s success. Communication plays an integral role in enterprise productivity and the success of employees and organizations – no matter how successful they become. Digital communication platforms offer more security than email since they eliminate the risk of misplacement or incorrect distribution of information. By centralizing all relevant data, these systems become a one-stop source for corporate communications. Setting up dedicated work groups using tools such as Slack or Microsoft Teams allows everyone to stay informed. This simplifies communication and maximizes participation from key stakeholders. Every member of the team can contribute by suggesting solutions, offering feedback, and answering questions – engagement is essential in motivating teams and helping them reach their objectives. 2. Collaborative suites According to TravelPaerk, 76% of businesses have already made the switch to a hybrid workspace model. If your company is following suit, then you will require a digital workplace tool in order to facilitate this transition. Digital workplace suites are modernized alternatives to traditional office spaces that can be utilized by distributed teams. They can replace traditional offices and offer more features than what a traditional workspace environment can provide. So, which are the ideal digital workplace tools for you? Cloud-based collaboration suites are a no-brainer when searching for the ideal solution. Mobility has become essential in today’s workforce, as employees require constant access to data and other resources. You must be able to adapt and utilize a collaborative suite in order to maximize the potential of your digital workplace. For instance, Google’s G Suite provides a suite of digital transformation tools such as Gmail, Docs, and Drive. Employees can easily share information and gain access to an expansive set of tools designed to enhance communication and collaboration at work. Want more information about our workplace productivity solutions? Connect with us. Dynamics 365 suite is Microsoft’s collaboration suite that facilitates communication, storage, and management of information as well as business activity. Word, Excel, and OneDrive are essential productivity tools for your employees. 3. Business process automation software Selecting the appropriate business process automation solutions is essential for businesses in today’s digitalization era. Companies are always on the lookout for technology solutions that will enable them to run their operations more efficiently and effectively. Over 80% of corporate leaders report increasing work process automation and using remote labor. Selecting the appropriate tools to accelerate intelligent Automation is essential, as these solutions can produce quicker outcomes with fewer programming skills required. 4. CRM tools Cloud CRM solutions are an integral component of digital transformation. A cloud CRM solution acts as a hub of tools that support companies’ sales, marketing, and customer service operations. Enterprise CRM systems are not limited to CRMs alone. Many CRM tools give salespeople and marketers all of the features they need in one convenient place – even including CMS software! As a small business or early-stage startup, it’s wise to opt for simpler solutions like Super Office or SugarCRM.Large enterprises can benefit from various CRM platforms like Salesforce CRM or Microsoft Dynamics CRM. 5. Project portfolio management tools Achieving project management success means increased efficiency, faster time to market, and beating your competition. Selecting the ideal digital tool for your company and ensuring its widespread usage are essential factors in making it successful. PPM solutions that are effectively utilized will enable your team to create tasks, plan timelines, monitor progress, and increase efficiency. It also gives managers and team members visibility into project activities which in turn leads to happier customers, more productive employees, and successful projects. Microsoft Project Online, Jira, Monday, and Trello are some of the top project management solutions. Research your options carefully so you can choose one that best meets your requirements. Adopting digital workplace trends Innovation is inevitable in the IT industry. Organizations that embrace digital transformation solutions often experience cost savings, enhanced security, and an improved employee experience. Yet it must not just be about using cutting-edge technology to boost productivity – each organization must have a personalized digital workplace tailored specifically for its needs – from design and optimization to taking into account people and processes. These tools can make people more productive and enable the digital transition strategy. Adopt the mantra “Work Smarter not Harder” with these capabilities that enable organizations to automate repetitive tasks, freeing employees to focus on more intellectual projects. Talk to our team today about modern workplace productivity solutions. We’ll help you work efficiently and stay connected with your team without a glitch from anywhere in the world.
How your organization should draw the benefits of remote work
At a glance: How modern cloud-based business productivity solutions are revolutionizing the way of working remotely How technology is enabling organizations to manage staff online and reduce office overload. Helping business improve their enterprise productivity by maintaining effective communication between team members as well as clients. Providing great flexibility and improved employee experience by addressing the needs of remote workers Hybrid work became a norm during the pandemic as companies tried to cope with the lockdowns and travel restrictions. Employees not being able to come to the office or go meet the clients were initially seen as a crippling situation, but it quickly became an advantage with a leap in modern workplace technology. Modern organizations now have access to the kind of infrastructure needed to adopt hybrid work, thanks to the availability of modern work management and business productivity solutions like cloud applications. In fact, data suggests that the number of patents filed for technologies that support remote-work capabilities has doubled since 2020. This has remarkably improved the applications and software products that aid in online collaborations, digital data, and document management. The biggest example is the marked enhancement in features and capabilities of Microsoft Teams since its launch in 2017: The meeting recording features became refined Meeting transcription quality improved and became a default feature Earlier, there were restrictions on the number of participants. Now we can host up to 100-200 participants easily Meeting duration cap was removed. We can have long meetings on Teams now Overall network latency reduced, which allows for better screen sharing and collaboration The video and audio calling quality was improved Background noise cancellation ensures that you can effectively participate in calls, even from noisy environments Auto-join, auto-recording, and attendance report functionalities reduce the moderation efforts Now, even external participants can join easily without needing to have a Teams login. Browser capabilities have improved remarkably Overall processing requirements to run these applications are better optimized According to projections, SMEs will spend more than US$100 billion over the next few years on collaboration platforms, cybersecurity solutions, and cloud-based apps. This technology is a part of our daily lives now. Modern tech is used to run schools, hospitals, offices, and colleges. You can now work anywhere you want, collaborate seamlessly, offer enhanced customer service, and learn new skills online. How remote work has evolved Remote work was possible with the basic tools available before. There were always email and chat applications. Things like Dropbox and Google Drive were allowing data and document sharing. However, they were not integrated into a comprehensive suite of applications. Things had to be managed on separate disconnected platforms. For that reason, it was thought to be cumbersome and inefficient. It was fine to hire a part-time freelancer for remote work, but we were not used to seeing “remote” full-time positions at companies. Now, we have broken that barrier. Technology has made it possible to do the same job, no matter where we live. It has allowed us to always stay in touch with clients and coworkers. Reduce your office overhead According to a Gallup survey, 43% of employed Americans said they have spent at least some time remotely.” This means companies have already understood the benefit of remote work. They can more economically manage staff online than hire people for a particular location. Maintaining full-time office spaces is expensive. Think of the electricity bills you will save. HR can save relocation bonuses, transportation and conveyance allowances, and many such expenses. Improve productivity You’d agree that most of the time spent by employees in the office goes into doing unproductive work like gossip, unnecessary discussions, and just idling. It’s because the actual time to do things that are necessary is much less than the working hours. Having a remote workforce can help your team members get on to the priority tasks with to-the-point communication. They can also track their performance with productivity tools like planners and task managers. Enterprise productivity solutions can be used by organizations to maintain effective communication between team members. Greater flexibility and improved employee experience Companies are projecting themselves to be modern and progressive by adopting hybrid work culture and sophisticated workplace productivity solutions to address the needs of remote workers. Employees working remotely, whether they are in coworking spaces, at home, or elsewhere, can benefit from videoconferencing, file-sharing platforms, and project management tools. Want information about our business productivity solutions? Click here. In times of global crises like pandemics and geo-political turmoil, many see the option of working from home as a safe and considerate way of working. Companies willing to be flexible about working hours, location, and time zones are more lucrative as employers. Are you looking for a business productivity services partner? Advaiya provides digital transformation solutions for enterprise-level organizations. Our team includes certified professionals who can customize and implement the latest business productivity solutions according to your business needs. Saurav Pranay Saurav is a Microsoft certified member for Dynamic and Project Online and has over fifteen years of experience in Project and Process management and has been involved in many Dynamics and Project Online implementations and have addressed solutions to challenging business needs by clients.
Top business process automation trends for 2023
The automation process was initially about increasing output and reducing labor costs. The post-pandemic boom has significantly accelerated digital adoption as businesses look for newer strategies to deal with market uncertainties such as supply chain disruptions and labor shortages. The top business process automation trends for 2023 indicate that business process automation is shifting towards intelligent automation. This unlocks more business benefits. Trending in business process automation We live in the digital age where information is everywhere, and everyone wants to make the most of every opportunity. The information age has seen a paradigm shift that allows enterprises to use advanced technologies to efficiently process the information they hold. Data-driven companies have begun automating complex tasks that were difficult to perform with the advent of enterprise resource planning systems (ERP) in the 1960s. BPA is a strategy that allows companies to use technology to organize their systems and personnel through workflows. Business process automation tools allow companies to automate, integrate and execute their processes. Because it preserves the computing architecture, it unifies processes with transparency. It integrates business functions that should be logically more connected and spreads them across the company. AI and ML allow IoT devices to be connected for tedious, day-to-day tasks. They make it possible to analyze and automate IoT systems. This technology can be seen in fitness watches, smartphones, and other wearables. The global predictive maintenance market was valued at $5.66 billion in 2021. According to Next Move Strategy Consulting, it is expected to reach $64.25 Billion in 2030. Predictive maintenance is an application of the Industrial Internet of Things. In 2026, 60% of IoT-enabled predictive maintenance solutions will be included in enterprise asset management products. This is an increase from 15% in 2021. Future trends expected in business process automation The growth story of business process automation is set to continue as we move into 2023. To improve profitability and efficiency in critical areas of their business, organizations will be more focused and inclined to implement business process automation solutions. Like all years before following the preceding years, 2023 will set a new trend for business process management and automation trend. We have identified some of the most anticipated business process automation trends in BPA implementation for the coming year. Low-code development allows businesses to build and automate applications using little to no coding knowledge. This visual language can be used to create great applications for your business. It’s only going to get more popular. Gartner predicts that low-code platforms will account for 65% of all app development functions by 2024. Low-code is a way for you and your employees to quickly create rich apps that allow you to work with IT departments more effectively at lower costs. According to 2019 research, more than half of Europe’s leading manufacturers have already implemented at least one AI use case in their manufacturing operations. By 2030, the artificial intelligence market will reach $78,744 million. Predictive maintenance is an application of the Industrial Internet of Things. In 2026, 60% of IoT-enabled predictive maintenance solutions will be included in enterprise asset management products. This is an increase from 15% in 2021. Robotic process automation bots can replace manual work. They can manage almost all business processes that humans can. Plus, they’re user-friendly. It’s as easy as flipping a switch and snapping a picture to set up an RPA Bot. They can be used for copying and pasting, connecting APIs, or scraping data. It is also possible to schedule, share and clone any data. RPA bots can seamlessly integrate with your existing workflow so that you don’t need to create or modify a completely new system. Different tools, such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Digital Process Automation (DPA), will soon be integrated to enhance the power of business process automation platforms. AI-powered BPA solutions can revolutionize automation and transform digital workflows. It will speed up delivery times and enable organizations to do more with what they have. Business process automation will remain a key focus for growing companies. Every year, new trends emerge that influence the way companies operate. For business process automation, 2023 promises to be an important year. Automating processes will become necessary for business growth and will be regarded as good. Business process automation software can help organizations overcome many of the most demanding business challenges and boost productivity. It also increases employee satisfaction as they will get a chance to move from menial, repetitive tasks to more meaningful and intellectually fulfilling jobs. Well, that’s the aim, notwithstanding the Luddites. Advaiya’s intelligent BPA solutions have been helping organizations improve process efficiency, enhance customer experiences, optimize operations and increase workforce productivity. They also help to reduce costs and risks. To discuss your process challenges, contact us! Ankit Panchal Ankit Panchal is a Consultant in the Biz App Development team at Advaiya. He is an expert on business process automation. He is Microsoft Certified professional keen on building solutions using Power platform, Office 365 and SharePoint and has over 5 years of experience in IT and various Microsoft technologies.
Mobile field services management is rapidly changing the industry
Nearly every industry is now embracing remote work, including field service. While field workers have been working outside the traditional office and work environment, modern field service now includes a wide range of roles. These include independent contractors, frontline workers, home healthcare providers, salespeople, volunteers, and non-profit workers. It can be challenging for field service organizations to monitor and manage the activities of their employees because they have so many different roles, responsibilities, and schedules. This can be especially challenging if field workers don’t have the tools they need throughout the day. Field employees may have to switch between different collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams, text messages, email, phone calls, etc., which take away a lot of time and leads to scattered information. If field persons have immediate, seamless access to customer information and helpful resources at one platform with an updated scheduler, optimized routing, and a continuous connection to back-office support, it can greatly improve efficiency. Expectations of instant service and field service management Field service businesses must adapt to new technologies and trends as the industry changes. With the advent of field service-focused business models like Uber and Doordash, it has become increasingly important for companies to improve their service experience. Time is of the essence. Even traditional B2B companies need to up their game when it comes to delivering their services. It is the awareness that a customer is not going to wait around for two weeks for the company serviceman to come by which is compelling the companies to invest in mobile app-based field service management systems. If a business can’t deliver installations, repairs and maintenance services, and field inspections within 48 hours, then the brand image is going to suffer. Key drivers for mobile field service management Four key factors have led to the rapid rise in the popularity of mobile field service management: The field service industry is undergoing digital transformation. Accentuate information enablement and data-driven decision-making. Field service customers are increasingly looking for self-service options. Due to the skilled labor shortage and pandemic, remote-first tools should be given priority These key drivers have had a significant impact on the field service industry and created an environment that encourages reliance upon mobile-first technologies. These new technologies must provide field service companies with real-time information, enable field service customers to manage their schedules and appointments, and allow field service teams to access remote-first, intelligent tools. Field service organizations will reap the many benefits of mobile field service management solutions by aligning mobile-first technology and these four key drivers. Let’s look at some of the biggest impacts of modern field service management on the industry – Customer Experience Modern field service customers have high expectations about the customer experience from the company. Customers expect digital communication channels, self-service scheduling capabilities, visibility into time and service workflows, and timely feedback. Modern field service management apps with an intuitive, intelligent customer portal can help exceed these expectations. Sure, having a strong customer service team with experienced field service staff is essential, but relying on old systems like spreadsheets and scheduling software with limited capabilities to handle service requests would reduce the efficiency of the team. They need professional, customized field service automation software that enables your organization to enhance the customer experience. Digital-first Paradigm Companies need digital-first field service management, which allows customers to communicate easily with technicians and schedule service appointments. Businesses should be able to track technician routes in real-time and complete customer surveys from within the app. A self-service portal for customers can also help to improve customer retention and profitability in field service. Completely digitally transformed field services would enable organizations to reach the customer within a shorter timeframe, with complete knowledge of the issue, along with the necessary equipment and inventory of items to resolve the issue in a single visit. In the case of machinery or critical system installations, advanced field service management can get automatic notifications from the installed system about any fault, which can then be picked up by the nearest field service personnel. This can enable a host of service features like preventive maintenance. Data-enabled decision making Due to the increased reliance on mobile technology within the field service industry, companies are now able to access insights previously unobtainable. These insights are driven by data collected through various data points of the mobile service application. Field service organizations can leverage the mobile application to collect detailed service data and work order information. Compared to paper-based service forms and challans, which were used in field service earlier, mobile field service applications made it much easier to access service reports instantly from all locations and feed directly into the system to provide advanced analytics. That company-wide data can then be converted into actionable insight. These reports enable companies to make data-driven decisions using historical data to improve forecasting and planning. Companies are investing in this to ensure continuous improvement and find future revenue streams. Empowering field technicians Field service companies can help retain and attract the best technicians by empowering them with mobile field service management. Mobile field service management reduces silos and gives employees a greater understanding of previously chaotic and incoherent processes. Field technicians will find mobile field service management extremely beneficial for promptly delivering value to the ever-changing customer base. By automating complex scheduling processes, technicians can also be assured that their schedules and appointments will always be properly planned. Field management software provides field technicians with remote support capabilities. This includes access to customer information, troubleshooting and training materials. It is also possible to use Augmented Reality as an interactive visual aid that field technicians can use to better resolve the issues. Customers can use AR to communicate with their technicians remotely, eliminating the need to travel to the customer’s house to complete simple jobs. Advaiya offers advanced Field Service Management and automation solutions consultancy. The company has a long experience implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Service for major companies. Our Microsoft-certified specialists are always available