The Unified Interface (UI) for CE has been around for a little while now and we’re getting nearer the point when it’s going to become the only interface for running CE. We’ve mentioned it now and again in these updates, but this is the first time that we’re saying you really need to start planning to use it now.
So what is it?
Well the result of Microsoft’s move to putting all its Dynamics 365 Suite onto the Common Data Service is that the traditional browser classic way of accessing programs like CE will move into what is essentially a Power App.
The classic experience menu
A classic experience record view
This means the UI will look more like what CE currently looks like in its mobile apps version, hence the term unified, as that means your desktop version is the same version as the mobile app. This brings in useful things like design once, use everywhere and automatic resizing as you change your screen size.
The Upcoming April 2019 UI record view with menu, notice the tabs on the record
So why do we need to plan to use it?
Microsoft have been saying that the UI will become the default user experience and the classic experience will be removed. Up to now we’ve not been keen to push the UI as it hasn’t had all the functionality of the classic interface, but the upcoming April 2019 update gets more equality.
What is even more interesting is that for the first time it appears that some of the new features coming in the April update may only work in the new UI.
But do I have to use it?
Well not yet and even not necessarily after the April 2019 update. Microsoft’s move to the UI has been first to put new customers onto it since October 2018 and let existing customers have the option to use it if they wanted but even as a CE administrator you couldn’t force your users into it, and we all know how well change is accepted.
In April we move a step closer by administrators having the option to set the UI as default, we feel that we are probably then only one update away (perhaps October 2019) from even that choice going away and all CE users will be defaulted to the UI.
So what do I need to do?
You can experience the current version of the UI now by opening either the customer service hub or sales hub as shown below
If you cannot see the above hubs, then let us know and we can enable them for you.
Note that formatting and presentation of your fields may be a bit all over the place as it starts with the format that you currently have in the classic interface and this leads us to the planning that you need to do.
To get ready for using the UI we can take a copy of your current CE and load it into a “sandbox” instance to which you can then control who has access. We can then work with you to design the UI to your satisfaction. If you wish to do this before the April release, we can also upgrade the sandbox to what the April release would look like.
Even though we do not have any definitive statement that October will remove the classic experience altogether we do recommend you consider moving to the UI sometime before the October release in case it does happen and you end up in a rush, plus you may want to utilise some of the new features releasing in April 2019.
Well be updating you on some of the new features coming to Dynamics 365 in the next few weeks.
Further Information
If you have any questions about or need assistance in planning for this change then please contact the GCC Group Support Team on 0845 260 1151 or servicedesk@gccgroup.co.uk
