Sebastián Barbosa O. /January 26, 2023 /Dynamics 365/ 5 min read

IoT Dynamics 365: what it is, how to use it, and why you should use it

Keep this entry for future references

What is IoT Dynamics 365?

IoT Dynamics 365 is a set of services and tools that allow organizations to connect, monitor, and analyze data from Internet of Things (IoT) devices and sensors. It can help companies to enhance operations, automate processes, and gain insights into the equipment and assets’ performance.

Internet of Things can be integrated with other Microsoft Dynamics 365 applications such as Power BI, Power Automate, and Dynamics 365 Field Service to provide complete IoT solutions. The data collected from IoT devices can be used to trigger actions, create alerts, and generate reports. This data can also be utilized to create a detailed view of the performance of equipment and assets, which can be used to improve maintenance, reduce downtime, and increase efficiency.

This powerful technology can be used across various industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, aquaculture, retail, transportation, and more. It includes features such as:

  • Real-time data visualization
  • Predictive maintenance
  • Automated workflows
  • Remote monitoring & control
  • Asset tracking
  • Integration with other Dynamics 365 apps

Power BI and IoT

Internet of Things on Power BI refers to the ability to connect and collect data from various IoT devices and sensors. This allows for real-time data monitoring and analysis from IoT devices, such as temperature, humidity, and other sensor readings. Power BI can also be used to trigger alerts or take other actions based on the received data from IoT devices.

With Power BI, you can also create visualizations and reports that provide insights into the performance of your IoT devices and help you make better decisions. Additionally, Power BI can be integrated with other software and systems, such as Azure IoT Hub and Power Automate to create a more comprehensive IoT solution.

Power Automate and IoT

Internet of Things on Power Automate allows you to connect and automate actions based on data received from IoT devices. With Power Automate, you can create workflows that trigger actions based on the data received from IoT devices, such as sending an email notification or updating a spreadsheet when a sensor reading exceeds a particular threshold.

For instance, you can create a workflow that sends an email notification to the maintenance team when a sensor reading indicates that a piece of equipment is malfunctioning. Additionally, Power Automate IoT can also be integrated with other Microsoft services such as Power BI and Azure IoT Hub to create a more comprehensive IoT solution. This can enable you to not only automate tasks but also extract insights, visualizations, and predictions from your IoT data.

Dynamics 365 Field Service and IoT

Internet of Things on Dynamics 365 Field Service helps improve the efficiency and effectiveness of field service operations. By integrating IoT devices and sensors into D365 Field Service, organizations can gain real-time visibility into the performance of their equipment, proactively identify, and resolve issues before they become major problems, reduce downtime, and increase customer satisfaction.

Additionally, by integrating IoT devices and sensors with D365 Field Service, organizations can also improve their inventory management and parts logistics, optimize their scheduling and dispatching, and gain insights that can help them improve their overall field service operations.

Advantages of IoT Dynamics 365 for business

One of the main benefits of IoT Dynamics 365 for businesses is the ability to gain valuable insights into their operations and make data-driven decisions. By connecting and monitoring IoT devices and sensors, organizations can collect large amounts of real-time data that can be used to identify patterns, trends, and opportunities for improvement.

For example, an IoT-enabled aquaculture facility experiences effective monitoring of environmental conditions and fish farms, predictive models for better decision-making, and more productive, sustainable, and profitable operations. As another example, a transportation company could use GPS data from vehicles to optimize routes and reduce fuel consumption. This can help businesses of any industry to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase revenue.

Another key advantage of IoT D365 is the ability to automate certain processes and tasks. For instance, enterprises can set up automatic alerts to notify them when certain conditions are met, such as when a machine is running at an abnormal temperature, or any issue is encountered. This can help businesses to respond quickly to issues while minimizing downtime and manual labor. Furthermore, by connecting IoT devices to other systems, such as CRM or ERP, companies can automate tasks such as inventory management, as well as reducing the need for manual data entry and increasing efficiency.

How does IoT Dynamics 365 work?

IoT Dynamics 365 works by connecting IoT sensors and devices to the Dynamics 365 platform, allowing businesses to collect, monitor, and analyze data in real-time. This technology helps automate tasks and processes, and remotely monitor and manage connected devices, enabling organizations to improve operations, reduce costs, and increase revenue.

Dynamics 365 and IoT work in the following way:

  1. Connectivity: IoT devices and sensors are connected to the Dynamics 365 platform, either directly or through a gateway. The devices can be connected via wired or wireless communication protocols, such as Ethernet, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi.
  2. Collection: The IoT devices and sensors start to send data to the Dynamics 365 platform. This data is collected and stored in a centralized location, where it can be easily accessed and analyzed.
  3. Analysis: Using built-in tools, such as Power BI and Azure Machine Learning, companies can analyze real-time collected data. This allows them to identify patterns, trends, and anomalies that can provide insights into the performance of their operations.
  4. Automation: The data can also be used to automate various tasks and processes, such as sending alerts, triggering actions, or updating other systems. For example, a transportation company could use GPS data from vehicles to automatically re-route them in case of traffic congestion.
  5. Remote management: IoT Dynamics 365 also allows businesses to remotely monitor and manage their connected devices and sensors. This can be done through a web-based interface, or through mobile apps, enabling businesses to access and control devices from anywhere, at any time.
  6. Visualization: IoT Dynamics 365 also provides tools for visualizing data and creating dashboards, which can be used to monitor the performance of devices and equipment, and to share data with stakeholders.

Why should you use IoT Dynamics 365 in your organization?

With IoT Dynamics 365, organizations gain valuable insights into operations and make data-driven decisions. Businesses can collect large amounts of real-time data that can be used to identify patterns, trends, and opportunities for improvement.

As mentioned before, IoT D365 automates different processes and tasks while allowing for remote monitoring and management of devices and equipment, which can be especially useful for companies with a large number of field-based employees or assets. Thus, helping businesses to reduce the need for on-site visits, improve response times, and minimize travel costs.

Additionally, organizations can also detect potential issues before they cause a failure, allowing them to schedule maintenance and repairs at a convenient time, reducing idle time and increasing productivity. Therefore, customer satisfaction is improved and overall costs of ownership of devices and equipment are reduced.

IoT D365 FAQs

What types of devices can be connected to IoT Dynamics 365?

IoT Dynamics 365 can connect to a wide range of devices and sensors, including industrial equipment, vehicles, medical devices, temperature sensors or underwater cameras for aquaculture, consumer electronics, and more. The platform supports different communication protocols, such as Ethernet, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi, making it compatible with a wide range of devices.

Can IoT Dynamics 365 integrate with other systems?

Yes, it can integrate with other systems, such as CRM, ERP, and other enterprise software, to automate tasks and processes. For example, data from IoT devices can be used to automatically update inventory levels, trigger work orders, or update customer records.

Is IoT included in every Dynamics 365 business app?

Internet of Things is not included in every Microsoft Dynamics 365 solution. Some Dynamics 365 solutions, such as Dynamics 365 Field Service, have built-in IoT capabilities, while others do not. If you are interested in using IoT with D365, it is recommended to check the specific solution you are interested in to see if it includes IoT capabilities.

Additionally, you can also use Microsoft’s Azure IoT services to connect and collect data from IoT devices and then use Dynamics 365 to analyze and act on that data.

Thank you.

I hope you’ve found this information insightful and beneficial to help you enhance your operations and improve overall efficiency.

Sebastián Barbosa O.
TECHNICAL CONTENT WRITER

Read more blog entries by Sebastián Barbosa O.

Read more: Dynamics 365

Contact us to discover what IoT Dynamics 365 can do for your organization and stay updated in this modern era.

NULL