Real Talk from DynamicsCon: What We Learned About the Future of CRM, AI, and Low-Code Innovation

 

This year, Elevate brought more than giveaways – perspective, expertise, and honest dialogue about what’s working, what’s not, and where the Power Platform can truly unlock value. Across dozens of conversations, we heard three pain points on repeat:

 

Attendees asked: “How do we unite all this tech?” Power Platform promises integration, but guidance is needed to navigate where out-of-the-box (OOTB) functionality ends and custom code begins. Our approach focuses on simplifying integration through careful solution design, which involves mapping business needs first, maximizing native capabilities, and introducing custom components only where they create real, sustainable value.

 

Copilot is everywhere, but many teams are still trying to figure out how to make it useful in their actual day-to-day work. It’s one thing to generate emails. It’s another thing to truly embed AI into the way people get things done in their daily workflow. The conversation is starting to shift: instead of asking, “What can Copilot do?” the question is becoming, “How can Copilot help us work smarter?” The answer begins with real business context — observing where people spend their time, where decisions get made, and where AI can take something off their plate in a way that sticks.

 

Decision-making was central to the biggest questions: Which tool, which method, and why? When multiple paths lead to the same result, which is truly optimal and sustainable? The answer usually isn’t about picking the most advanced solution — it’s about choosing the one that fits. The best decisions are grounded in business needs, uplifting the existing team, and long-term maintainability. Sometimes that means keeping it simple. Sometimes it means investing in something more flexible. Either way, the goal is the same: build something that works today and support tomorrow, with ease

 

One of the most resonant moments was the Power Automate session, a walkthrough, building a flow for the very first time. Not a slick demo — a real journey from “I’ve never done this” to a working outcome. The audience witnessed something rare: a Microsoft MVP learning in real-time, alongside the audience. And it worked.

 

People connected to the authenticity. They saw themselves in the demo, recognizing the questions, the missteps, the lightbulb moments – the honest process. And more importantly, they left understanding why Power Automate unlocks scale, not just how it works, but why it matters.

 

In another session on Project Operations, attendees’ frustrations resounded with: it’s often “too much platform” for what they need. We explored how custom Power Apps are being built to isolate and elevate only the relevant pieces of Project Ops — a sign that the low-code movement is enabling fit-for-purpose solutions at scale.

 

AI isn’t a future state — it’s a current gap. Across conversations, we heard a clear refrain: “We’re interested in Copilot, but don’t know where to start.”

 

The takeaway? Most organizations need Copilot readiness, not just Copilot access. They need help rethinking data models, security, user workflows, and governance — or they risk implementing tech with no traction.

 

This is where Elevate’s approach resonates: we blend Microsoft expertise with human-first transformation, helping clients integrate.