Key updates across Finance, Supply Chain, Sales, Customer Service, and Commerce
With Release Wave 1 2026, Microsoft continues to shift its focus toward automation, AI-supported processes, and tighter integration across business functions. The new features will roll out between April and September 2026 and impact core areas such as Finance, Supply Chain Management, Commerce, Sales, and Customer Service.
In addition to individual new features, there is a strong emphasis on targeted improvements to existing processes.
Dynamics 365 Finance
Supporting modern business models
A key focus is the ability to better support modern business models. Dynamics 365 Finance will increasingly enable rental- and usage-based scenarios, allowing companies to more effectively manage subscription models and recurring services within the system.
Further automation in finance
Microsoft continues to drive automation forward, with the goal of reducing manual effort and making financial close processes more efficient. At the same time, financial journals are becoming more flexible to better handle complex structures.
Keeping global compliance in focus
Through its globalization approach, Microsoft continues to standardize and automate tax and regulatory requirements, particularly for companies operating internationally.
Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management
Improved planning and greater reliability
A central focus is the closer alignment between pricing decisions and demand planning. Companies gain better visibility into how price changes impact demand and can directly incorporate these insights into their planning processes. At the same time, planning becomes more stable. Enhancements in capable-to-promise improve reliability, enabling more accurate delivery commitments, especially in complex supply chains.
Stronger collaboration and more efficient operations
Microsoft is further expanding supplier integration. Capabilities around supplier communication and engagement increase transparency and enable closer collaboration, for example through portals or structured communication processes. At the same time, operational processes are being optimized. AI-supported capabilities, such as improvements in picking routes or inventory movements, help drive more efficient warehouse operations and day-to-day activities.
Dynamics 365 Customer Service
AI-supported service processes and daily assistance
Customer Service continues to evolve into a more AI-driven solution. Existing AI agents, for example in case management or customer intent recognition, are being expanded and increasingly enable automated or semi-automated service processes. At the same time, Copilot supports service agents directly in their daily work, for example through summaries, suggested responses, and contextual information related to customer inquiries.
Greater transparency and control in service operations
Managers gain better visibility into ongoing service processes and can react more quickly, for example in cases of negative customer sentiment or high workload. This allows service quality to be managed more proactively and consistently.
Dynamics 365 Sales
More support in the sales process through AI and data
Dynamics 365 Sales is evolving into a system that actively supports users rather than simply managing data. Leads and opportunities can be analyzed more effectively and supported by AI-based capabilities, allowing teams to focus on the most relevant sales activities.
At the same time, AI helps identify patterns in data more quickly and enables more targeted customer engagement. Enhanced analytics capabilities support better data evaluation and more informed decision-making throughout the sales process.
Dynamics 365 Commerce
More seamless B2B and omnichannel processes
B2B scenarios are becoming significantly easier to manage. Multiple locations can be centrally controlled, while customers can manage their orders through a unified interface. At the same time, order processing becomes channel-independent, regardless of whether an order originates from an online shop, a call center, or a physical store. This enables end-to-end processes and reduces system fragmentation in daily operations.
More flexibility in pricing and inventory visibility
There are also improvements in pricing and inventory management. Attribute-based pricing logic enables more flexible and scalable pricing strategies. At the same time, inventory can be viewed across multiple legal entities, creating additional sales opportunities and improving transparency in the sales process.
What does this mean for your business?
Release Wave 1 2026 introduces a range of improvements that directly enhance existing processes. Workflows become more automated, better connected, and increasingly supported by AI.
Companies that adopt these capabilities early and integrate them into their existing system landscape can improve efficiency, reduce manual effort, and respond more quickly to change.
For a full overview of all new features, we recommend reviewing Microsoft’s official Release Wave 1 2026 plan.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at any time.