Intelligence &
Insights
Deep dives into D365, Power Platform, and ERP strategy. No fluff, just engineering.
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Invoice Capture vs. ExFlow: Which AP Automation Tool Actually Wins in D365 Finance?
We ran a side-by-side on the two leading AP automation tools for Dynamics 365 Finance — native Invoice Capture vs. ExFlow by SignUp Software. The ROI numbers and implementation timelines might surprise you.
Read Analysis →Paginated Reports 101, Part 1: When to Use One
Power BI reports are built for screens; paginated reports are built for pages. What an .rdl actually is, the three situations that call for one, and what it costs to get started.
Paginated Reports 101, Part 2: Using a Semantic Model
Report Builder has Power Query now, so why connect to a semantic model at all? Untangling the three things called a “dataset” and the governance case for reusing the model you already trust.
Paginated Reports 101, Part 3: Building the Dataset
Drag a column into the Query Designer and you get 3,601 rows instead of a total. Implicit measures, SUMMARIZECOLUMNS, and the Performance Analyzer shortcut that writes the DAX for you.
Paginated Reports 101, Part 4: Parameters and Filters
Four things in Report Builder reduce what your report shows, two are nearly interchangeable, and picking wrong costs you performance. Where filtering should actually happen.
Paginated Reports 101, Part 5: Print and View Ready
Blank pages, headers that won’t repeat, and the worst-named property in Report Builder. Page setup, ConsumeContainerWhitespace, running heads and page numbers.
Paginated Reports 101: Sample Files and Setup
Download the sample s’mores sales data used throughout the series, build the semantic model in Power BI Desktop, and validate your numbers against ours before you start Part 2.
Don't Skip the Close: Why Inventory Recalculation and Close Matter
Recalculation estimates, close settles. What each process actually does in D365 F&O, how often to run them, and the unexplained GL swings that show up when month-end gets skipped.
Catch Weight in D365: Pricing the Steak You Actually Shipped
No two cases weigh the same, and your invoices should know it. The catch weight setup decisions you can't undo, the order entry quirks, and the warehouse picking gaps to budget for.
Which Inventory Costing Method Is Right for You?
FIFO, LIFO, weighted average, moving average, standard cost — the seven D365 F&O costing methods in plain English, with the tradeoffs and switching traps that actually matter.
Making D365 and Your 3PL Agree on the Truth
When a third party runs the warehouse, D365 and the 3PL each think they hold the truth about your inventory. The EDI handshake — 940, 945, 943, 944 — and the daily reconciliation that keeps them honest.
When One Plant Runs Three Kinds of Manufacturing: Solving Mixed-Mode Chaos in D365
Discrete, process, and lean production under one roof. How D365 Supply Chain Management models all three honestly in one instance — and where the real master-data work actually is.
Navigating Tariff Volatility with D365 Landed Cost: A Practical Playbook
How to configure D365 Supply Chain Management's Landed Cost module to handle volatile tariff environments without breaking your margins — with real setup steps and field names.
How to Spot a Great ERP Partner (Before You Sign the Contract)
Red flags and green flags in the ERP partner selection process. How to avoid the senior-sales-junior-delivery bait-and-switch, scope fights, and reference checks that lie.
How to Spot the Best ERP Implementation Partner for Your Business
ERP implementations are high-stakes. Here's how to separate the real partners from the smoke-and-mirrors shops — methodology, change management, data migration, and the questions that actually matter.
How to Fix Date Pickers in Paginated Reports
The DateTime vs. formatted string conflict that causes the error — and the four-step fix for getting a working date picker with smart defaults in Power BI Report Builder.
ERP Project Sponsor: CIO or CFO?
The choice between CIO and CFO as your ERP project sponsor isn't just an org chart decision — it shapes your entire implementation. Here's how to think about it.
AS400 & JD Edwards to D365 Finance & Operations: Data Migration Roadmap
A step-by-step roadmap for migrating from AS400 or JD Edwards to D365 F&O — covering data mapping, financial management, supply chain, and the gotchas that trip up most projects.
Caf2Code's Guide to Multiplexing and Licensing in Dynamics 365
Multiplexing is one of the most misunderstood licensing concepts in D365. What it actually means, when it applies, and how to avoid surprise compliance issues.
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Moving from GP to Business Central
Microsoft is ending Dynamics GP support. Here's a practical migration guide for moving to Business Central — timeline, data mapping, and the decisions that matter.
How to Overcome Common CRM Implementation Challenges
CRM implementations fail at a surprisingly high rate — and the culprits aren't usually technical. Eight common pitfalls and the practical fixes for each.
10 Dynamics 365 Features That Will Streamline Your Business
Most companies use about 30% of what D365 offers. Ten underutilized features across Finance, Supply Chain, and Sales that drive real operational efficiency.
From the Archive
Classic D365 Finance & Operations and Power BI tutorials and field notes, originally published in 2021–2022 and restored to caf2code.com.
How to Use Power BI Drillthrough
Today, we’re going to explore one of the most powerful features in Power BI: drillthrough. This feature is a game-changer when it comes to data…
Dynamics F&O Year-End Close Screen Update
As the calendar turns to December, it’s time to start seriously preparing for year-end. Throughout this year, Microsoft has introduced changes to…
No Data Entity? No Problem!
Do you ever find yourself wishing your journal entry form had the ability to export and import using excel, but you don’t have the data entity for…
Data Modeling Building Blocks
If you’re new to Power BI, you’d be forgiven for seeing it as just a data visualization tool. That initial “click, drag, and drop” introduction to…
How to Add an RSS Feed to Teams Using Power Apps and Bulletins
Teams is quickly becoming the all-in-one hub for work management. In this post, I will be sharing how to use the Teams’ Bulletin app with Power Apps…
The Microsoft D365 Task Recorder and How to Capture Screenshots
There is nothing quite like coming off a long weekend just to have to jump into 1099 preparation and reviewing regulatory compliance. Happy New Year,…
IRS 1099 Regulatory Compliance Updates to D365 Finance
There is nothing quite like coming off a long weekend just to have to jump into 1099 preparation and reviewing regulatory compliance. Happy New Year,…
Data in Design Thinking
Today's blog post is about "design thinking!" and what is design thinking you may wonder as there are so many new terms in our business jargon every…
Quick Tip: How to Refer to Custom Labels in D365 F&O
This is one of the simplest tips you'll see on here but it is really good to know if you are new or just haven't come accross the specific syntax.…
Buffet-Style Security: All the Access You Need, Only the Access You Want
What’s different about security in Dynamics 365 Finance versus its predecessor, AX 2012 R3? On its face, D365 Finance doesn’t seem to add major…
How to Create a Calculator in D365 F&O: Programming Functionality
Now that we’ve set up our D365 F&O VS environment, we can create a model and project in visual studio for our simple calculator project.
How to Create a Calculator in D365 F&O: UI Design
Now that we’ve set up our D365 F&O VS environment, we can create a model and project in visual studio for our simple calculator project.
How to Create a Model and Project in D365 F&O Using Visual Studio
Now that we’ve set up our D365 F&O VS environment, we can create a model and project in visual studio for our simple calculator project.
How to Set Up and Configure Dynamics 365 F&O in Visual Studio
Before you can start developing for D365 Finance and Operations, you need to set up your environment in Visual Studio. If that sounds intimidating,…
How to Personalize Your D365 F&O Dashboard in 3 Simple Steps
One of the best things about D365 is the ability to store vast amounts of information and implement complex processes. However, an overabundance of…