[Heidi Neuhauser]

Hi Chris! Welcome to the community! You might like one of my recent articles about Viva Sales 🙂
https://dynamicscommunities.com/ug/dynamics-ce-crm-ug/a-week-in-the-life-with-viva-sales/

I’m a big fan! Let me know if you have specific questions, I’d be thrilled to chat more about it. I’ve been sort of documenting my way through it as I implemented it.

[Chris Lewis]

Thanks for your reply! I just skimmed the article briefly and I think it will be very helpful for me. My newly created position is driving innovation through technology in our family of companies, with AI being the HOTTEST topic right now.

I think one of my biggest obstacles right now is wrapping my head around what’s here and what’s to come. My strongest way of learning is also by doing, so I’m craving to get my hands on these tools!

[Heidi Neuhauser]

@kyliekiser is our resident expert in AI – I’m sure she will chime in here with her thoughts! 😄

[Kylie Kiser]

This is a great question!

Viva Sales is a great way to start. Also be on the lookout for all the co-pilot announcements. I do not think we have a date yet when this will be coming to Dynamics but it will help add AI for your users for standard Dynamics functionality.

You could also check out relationship insights and next best action.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/sales/configure-relationship-analytics

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365-release-plan/2019wave2/artificial-intelligence/dynamics365-sales-insights/guide-sellers-next-best-actions-through-assistant-studio

These are features that allow you to embed some AI insights into your sales process. Next Best Action is a new feature in this release wave and you can just turn it on, no configuration necessary! (of course you can refine it but no config to get started).

There is also AI Builder. This is a whole suite of AI tools that you can use with low code in Power Apps or Power Automate. I have a series on this currently going on: https://dynamicscommunities.com/ug/power-platform-ug/an-introduction-to-ai-builder-pre-built-models-in-power-platform/

Here are some other fun applications from my blog

https://kyliekiser.com/2023/03/30/ask-hashtag-openai-in-the-power-platform/

https://kyliekiser.com/category/case-study/ai-at-the-zoo/

I hope this helps you get started and get some ideas! 🙂

[Chris Lewis]

Thanks Kylie! I’m adding your links to my bookmarks as well, I’m preparing to dive into anything and everything over the next several weeks.

From your experience, what do you think is the best first step to dipping your toes into the water? Something low cost to kind of test out and show off to some of our leadership would be really nice. They are all very curious about AI and how we can leverage it. As I’ve started down this path it just seems like there are little bits of it everywhere and it’s really hard to choose a place to start!

[Kylie Kiser]

Sorry just catching up on my notifications! I would start with Viva Sales and the Next Best Action. Basically any of the AI offerings within Dynamics 365 is a great way to start. Then after you see the power you can start customizing and making your own.

[Abby Torres]

The guys at CongruentX are doing exciting stuff with Viva Sales right now. Check them out at http://www.congruentx.com and getvivasalesright.com

[Chris Lewis]

I have been attending their webinars! They have a lot of good information, stats, and some speculation over what’s to come. Trying to get my head around it all is quite hard, as it seems there’s so much kind of sprinkled throughout the ecosystem.