In recent years, there has been a significant transformation in the ways businesses approach customer engagement and data management. Amidst this evolution, Microsoft's announcement of merging Dynamics 365 Customer Insights and Dynamics 365 Marketing into a single unified platform is nothing short of revolutionary. Revealed to the world at the much-anticipated Microsoft Inspire event on 25th July 2023, this amalgamation stands as a testament to the tech giant's unwavering commitment to providing unparalleled solutions that drive businesses forward.
Dynamics 365 Customer Insights has always been the cornerstone of personalized customer engagement for many enterprises. As a pioneering customer data platform, it delivers not only tailored customer experiences but also deep insights into customer personas, their behaviors, and preferences. With its capability to amalgamate data from a plethora of sources, it offers businesses a holistic 360-degree view of their customers. This holistic view ensures that businesses are always a step ahead, predicting customer needs and curating experiences that resonate.
On the other hand, Dynamics 365 Marketing has acted as the catalyst, bridging the divide between businesses and their customers. It meticulously crafts personalized customer journeys across every conceivable touchpoint, fostering relationships that not only last but also thrive. It's a platform that brings together every fragment of a customer's interaction with a business, be it through Dynamics 365 Sales, Customer Insights, Microsoft Teams, or any other touchpoint. The fusion of data and AI in Dynamics 365 Marketing has empowered businesses to make informed decisions promptly, keeping them ahead of the curve.
So, one might wonder, what's the rationale behind merging these two powerhouses? The answer lies in Microsoft's vision of simplifying and enhancing the user experience. By seamlessly integrating a unified customer profile with the capability to orchestrate real-time customer journeys, businesses now have an unparalleled advantage. They can engage their customers at every stage, from the first interaction to post-purchase engagement, ensuring consistency and personalization like never before. Moreover, the unified platform simplifies licensing, making it more accessible for businesses of all scales. This is especially crucial for growing enterprises that need robust solutions without the intricacies of complex licensing structures.
But the merger isn’t just about simplification; it's about setting new industry standards. Consider this: studies have suggested that a significant portion of businesses grapple with the challenge of managing and analyzing data sourced from disparate platforms. A unified platform like the one Microsoft is offering could potentially save organizations a substantial amount in operational costs and boost efficiency by a remarkable margin.
As for the specifics, this unified product will retain the name Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Insights. Within this, there are two distinct components: Dynamics 365 Customer Insights – Data, which was originally the standalone Dynamics 365 Customer Insights, and Dynamics 365 Customer Insights – Journeys, which has evolved from Dynamics 365 Marketing. This combined product will be available to the world from September 1, 2023. Existing users of either standalone product have been given a transition buffer, allowing them to renew their current licenses for one contractual cycle. This thoughtful provision ensures that businesses have ample time to adapt and transition smoothly.
In terms of licensing, Microsoft continues its prepaid capacity model, ensuring that businesses have the flexibility they need. The licensing encompasses 'People Interacted', equivalent to Dynamics 365 Marketing's marketable contact unit, and 'People Unified', which is analogous to the profile meter in Dynamics 365 Customer Insights. To make it even more appealing, the base product comes with a competitive price tag of $1,700 per tenant per month for new customers, with a generous discount for existing Dynamics 365 customers.
In essence, the merger of Dynamics 365 Customer Insights and Dynamics 365 Marketing isn't just a product update; it's a monumental shift in the paradigm of customer engagement. It's an invitation for businesses to step into the future, armed with the most advanced tools, and craft customer journeys that are not just memorable but also transformative.