In this engaging conversation, host AJ Ansari interviews Kenny Pontoppidan, Principal Program Manager at Microsoft, exploring his journey in Business Central, cultural insights from living in the US, and the evolution of telemetry and reporting tools. Kenny shares his experiences and thoughts on the importance of data-driven strategies, the modernization of reporting tools like Power BI and Word layouts, and the significance of mental health awareness in the tech community. The discussion highlights the diverse needs of organizations and the role of different reporting tools in meeting those needs.

Chapters:

⁠00:09⁠ Introduction to Kenny and His Journey⁠02:00⁠ Cultural Experiences in the US⁠04:40⁠ The Evolution of Telemetry in Business Central⁠06:23⁠ The Role of KQL and Data-Driven Insights⁠08:29⁠ Understanding Telemetry Costs and Value⁠10:50⁠ Power BI and Reporting Innovations⁠13:17⁠ The Future of Word Layouts in Business Central⁠15:50⁠ Feedback Mechanisms and User Engagement⁠20:24⁠ Navigating Reporting Regulations and Tool Selection⁠27:04⁠ Modernizing Manufacturing Reports⁠32:55⁠ From Reactive to Proactive Reporting⁠37:19⁠ Personal Insights and Professional GrowthKey Takeaways:

• Telemetry was introduced to provide partners with actionable insights into customer environments.
• Power BI is a crucial tool for reporting and analytics in Business Central.
• Modernizing Word layouts is essential for improving document reporting.
• Different reporting tools serve different needs within organizations.
• Manufacturing reports are being modernized to enhance usability and relevance.
• A proactive approach to data and reporting can drive business improvements.
• Understanding the philosophy behind reporting tools is key to effective data usage.
• Mental health awareness is important in the tech community.

#BusinessCentral #msdyn365bc #telemetry #PowerBI #Reporting #WordLayouts #Microsoft #SMB #DataDriven #Analytics #CulturalInsights #AJAnsari #KenniePontoppidan #OnlyBCFans

Returning from his first trip to Directions ASIA, AJ Ansari recaps all the major announcements and shares his impressions of the event held at the Avani+ Riverside hotel in Bangkok, Thailand. Got questions about what you heard? Write AJ on his LinkedIn profile at bit.ly/ajansari.

** Note: Please excuse background noise - this episode was recorded in a loud hotel lobby and we didn't have access to anything except for a phone and airpods. **

Guess where Directions ASIA is going next year? Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam!

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:34 Impressions about Directions ASIA 2025 and reflecting on my sessions

01:54 Announcement: Price change coming October'25

02:24 Announcement: CPOR for CSP Business Applications

02:58 Reminder: CSP Deployment Vouchers for Business Central through June 30, 2025

03:15 Announcement: Business Central Update Management will allow skipping updates

03:58 AI & Business Central: 2025, the year of the AI Frontier Firm

04:52 Announcement: Autonomous Agent experiences coming to Business Central

05:07 Announcement: Timeline announced for ability to extend 1st party agents and build own Autonomous Agent experiences in BC

05:53 Announcement: How Agent experience usage in BC will be billed

06:55 Announcement: Business Central AI Test Toolkit

07:35 Business Central events coming up in the next few weeks

08:04 Reminder: Sign up for 8 hour Copilot Studio Workshop on June 10/11 at BC TechDays (only 4 seats left)

08:40 Final Thoughts and upcoming OnlyBCFans Office Hours Livecast reminder - Coming this June

Memorable line from the episode:

In 2025, Human-Agent teams will upend the org chart and every employee will become an "Agent Boss"

Details of BC Price Change Announcement: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics-365/blog/no-audience/2024/04/12/new-pricing-for-microsoft-dynamics-365-effective-october-2024/

#msdyn365bc #businesscentral #microsoftpartner #directions4partners #onlybcfans

Welcome to the first of a two-part inaugural episode combo of the OnlyBCFans show. In this episode, host AJ Ansari (Business Apps MVP) welcomes Dmitry Katson (Business Apps and AI Platform MVP) to discuss the evolution of Business Central, the impact of AI, and the upcoming Directions ASIA conference. Dmitry shares his journey from blogging about NAV / Business Central to developing CentralQ.ai, an AI search engine for BC that leverages community contributions. The conversation highlights the importance of community engagement, the role of AI in enhancing Business Central functionalities, and insights into upcoming events and workshops.

You can't spell ASIA without AI

• Business Central has reached 45,000 customers worldwide.
• CentralQ.ai was developed to improve user experience with Business Central.
• CentralQ.ai has around 25,000 users and generates significant answers daily.
• Future developments for CentralQ.ai include enhanced data insights capabilities.
• 00:00 Introduction to Business Central and Events
• 05:00 Dmitry Katson: The Godfather of AI in Business Central
• 06:58 Directions ASIA Conference: A Personal Journey
• 15:21 Dmitry's Evolution in the Business Central Community
• 25:07 CentralQ.ai: The AI Revolution in Business Central
• 39:11 Tips for Speaking at Directions ASIA

Memorable line from the episode:

You can't spell ASIA without AI

Key Takeaways:

• Business Central has reached 45,000 customers worldwide
• CentralQ.ai was developed to improve user experience with Business Central
• CentralQ.ai has around 25,000 users and generates significant answers daily
• Future developments for CentralQ.ai include enhanced data insights capabilities

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction to Business Central and Events
• 05:00 Dmitry Katson: The Godfather of AI in Business Central
• 06:58 Directions ASIA Conference: A Personal Journey
• 15:21 Dmitry's Evolution in the Business Central Community
• 25:07 CentralQ.ai: The AI Revolution in Business Central
• 39:11 Tips for Speaking at Directions ASIA