15 Proven Ideas to Boost Your Dynamics 365 Experience in 2025

As we move into the final quarter of 2025, this is the right time to reflect on how well Dynamics 365 is supporting your business goals and to identify areas for optimization. With 85% of enterprises now using AI in at least one business function, organizations that continuously refine their CRM strategy are better positioned to achieve efficiency, agility, and stronger customer engagement.  
In this article, we will discuss 15 proven ideas to boost your Dynamics 365 best practices in 2025 and set the stage for even greater results in the year ahead.

1. Automating Workflows

In 2024, Microsoft strengthened its focus on workflow automation by introducing AI agents, with autonomous agents quickly becoming one of the most discussed features. Through Copilot Studio, organizations can now use AI-powered agents to handle repetitive tasks and reduce manual effort. Microsoft is releasing a range of prebuilt agents for common business roles, but the real advantage comes from building trigger-based custom agents that follow your business rules to modernize tasks such as approvals, reviews, and other routine workflows.

Research shows that automation can reduce operational costs by up to 30% while improving process efficiency. At the same time, a Gartner study predicts that by 2026, 80% of enterprises will have used generative AI APIs or deployed generative AI-enabled applications in production environments.

2. Modernize Reporting

Many organizations still have valuable insights hidden within their data because of outdated reporting methods and limited analytics capabilities. With Power BI, Dynamics 365 users can bring this information to life through interactive dashboards, real-time analytics, and visual storytelling that enable faster and more confident decisions. 

According to Forrester, companies that adopt advanced analytics and BI tools experience a 127% ROI within three years. Another survey shows that 74% of businesses believe self-service BI tools help them make better decisions more quickly.

3. Modernize Reporting

Many organizations still have valuable insights hidden because of outdated reporting methods and limited analytics capabilities. With Power BI, Dynamics 365 users can transform raw data into interactive dashboards, real time reports, and clear visuals that support faster and more confident decision making. 

According to Forrester, businesses using Power BI reported a 366% return on investment over three years along with significant time savings for decision makers. In another survey, 74% of companies said self service BI tools improved the speed and quality of their decisions.

4. Time-Saving Hotkeys

Small shortcuts can make a big difference in day-to-day productivity. In Dynamics 365, hotkeys allow users to complete tasks more quickly without disrupting their workflow. For example, pressing CTRL + click opens a record in a new tab, while Shift + click opens it in a new window. This is much faster than right-clicking each time. 

These minor efficiency gains add up over time. Research shows that employees spend an average of 6 weeks per year searching for information or performing repetitive computer actions (IDC). By adopting simple productivity practices such as hotkeys, organizations can save valuable time and enable employees to focus on higher-value tasks.

5. Recent Records

Need to get back to something you were just working on? Dynamics 365 has a useful Recent section in the site map that shows records or views you’ve accessed lately. You can also pin the records or views you use often so they stay easily accessible without hunting through menus. 

This little change adds up over time. According to Microsoft user-experience studies, reducing clicks and navigation steps can save users up to 10-15% of their working day just in navigation and search tasks.

6. Record Set Navigation

When you are working with multiple records in Dynamics 365, switching back and forth can feel tedious. The record set navigator control, available on the record command bar, makes this much faster. It displays your grid list right alongside the current record, so you can move through related records without constantly returning to the main view. 

This feature helps reduce clicks and keeps users focused. Research shows that minimizing context switching can improve productivity by up to 40% in knowledge-intensive work. By using the record set navigator, you save time and ensure smoother workflows.

7. Optimizing Data Storage

Organizations that are approaching their Dataverse storage limits or paying for additional capacity can achieve significant cost savings by optimizing how data is stored. Options include setting automated retention policies, archiving older or unused data, or leveraging Azure Blob Storage for lower-cost, scalable storage. 

Proper data management not only reduces costs but also improves system performance. According to Microsoft, organizations that implement structured storage strategies can cut up to 25% of their cloud storage expenses.

“Manual sales processes lead to errors, time wasted, and money left on the table.”- Eyal Orgil, DealHub Expert

8. Upgrade Portal Experiences

Connecting self-service portals to Dynamics 365 allows customers secure access to their data, which can improve engagement, satisfaction, and overall user experience. Portals let users find information, submit requests, and interact with your organization without relying on support teams, making interactions faster and more efficient.

The impact is significant. Research shows that 67% of customers prefer self-service options over speaking with a company representative and organizations that offer robust self-service portals often see lower support costs and higher customer satisfaction.

9. Simplify Web Forms

The rise of Copilot and AI agents is transforming how users interact with Dynamics 365 data. These tools reduce the need for manual data entry and limit the need to switch between multiple applications. As a result, routine tasks such as creating, reading, and updating records become faster and more accurate. 

Simplifying web forms can have a measurable impact. According to a Forrester study, organizations that streamline data entry processes see a 25% improvement in employee productivity.

10. Restoring Deleted Contacts

Accidental deletions or workflow errors can sometimes remove important Dynamics 365 records, creating disruptions for your team. In 2024, Microsoft introduced a Dataverse recycle bin, allowing administrators to restore deleted records quickly and securely. With just a few clicks, lost data can be recovered, reducing downtime and preventing workflow interruptions. 

Data loss can be costly. According to Gartner, the average cost of data loss for an organization is $3.9 million per year. Features like the Dataverse recycle bin help organizations minimise risk, protect critical information, and maintain business continuity.

11. Optimizing Data Storage

As organizations grow, so does the volume of data stored in Dataverse, and hitting storage limits can quickly become a costly challenge. If your environment is nearing capacity or you are paying for additional storage, there are practical ways to reduce costs. These include implementing automated retention policies to clear unnecessary records, archiving older data that is rarely accessed, and leveraging Azure Blob Storage for large files and attachments. 

Efficient storage management is more than cost control. A study by IDC found that companies that optimize their cloud storage can reduce expenses by up to 36% annually (IDC). By proactively managing your Dynamics 365 data, you can ensure smoother performance, maintain compliance, and free up resources for more critical business processes.

12. Integration Maintenance

When integrating third-party APIs with Dynamics 365, one critical but often overlooked aspect is the management of client secrets. These digital keys authenticate integrations, and if they expire unnoticed, dependent automated processes can stop working, causing workflow failures and costly downtime. 

Regularly monitoring and tracking client secret expiry dates helps ensure smooth operations. Microsoft recommends proactive lifecycle management to avoid disruptions, as nearly 70% of system downtime incidents are linked to misconfigured or expired credentials (Microsoft Learn). Implementing automated alerts or using Azure Key Vault to securely manage secrets can further reduce risk and improve resilience.

13. Dynamics 365 – 2025 Release Waves

For the past four years, Microsoft has published its Dynamics 365 release wave plans in late January, giving organizations early visibility into the features and improvements scheduled between April and September. These release notes are crucial for IT teams and business leaders as they highlight upcoming capabilities, potential UI changes, and key updates that could impact workflows. 

The 2025 Release Wave 1 plan, published on January 23, 2025, outlines enhancements across Dynamics 365 applications, from AI-powered Copilot updates to improved reporting and customer engagement features.

14. Simplify Web Forms

The rise of Copilot and agents is reshaping how users interact with Dynamics 365 data. These innovations reduce manual data entry and minimize the need to switch between applications. This trend will continue to evolve, making routine tasks such as creating, reading, and updating data possible without being directly in Dynamics. 

For now, record forms remain the default experience for most users until these advancements fully mature. In the meantime, organizations can simplify data entry and improve navigation by reviewing the effectiveness of their current table forms. For example, identify and remove redundant fields, optimize the display of sub-grids, or add calculation fields that save users time and effort.

15. Continuous Improvement

Maximizing the value of Dynamics 365 is not a one-time task but an ongoing process. Keeping up with new features and release updates is a vital part of a continuous improvement programme that ensures your system evolves with your business needs. 

Beyond updates, continuous improvement means regularly assessing workflows, refining processes, and optimizing dashboards to drive efficiency and better user adoption. Partnering with a certified Microsoft expert can make a big difference, helping you manage change requests, reduce backlog, and stay aligned with best practices. 

The impact of this approach is measurable. Research by PwC shows that organizations that adopt a continuous improvement mindset are 30% more likely to achieve higher ROI from their technology investments. 

Ready to Elevate Your Dynamics 365 Experience in 2025?

As you refine your Dynamics 365 strategy, explore how these ideas can boost performance. From quick productivity tips to AI-driven innovations, there are opportunities for both immediate wins and long-term improvements. At Intelegain, we help you maximize the value of your Dynamics 365 investment. Reach out to us, and let’s work together to ensure your CRM continues to grow and evolve with your business needs.