Microsoft has announced a series of new technologies aimed at helping enterprise customers transform their business processes, including a cloud-based management service and business intelligence tools.

The overall aim of the new suite of technologies is to simplify the apps and services that drive business processes, making them more intuitive and helpful in line with consumer-directed apps.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 will evolve Microsofts current CRM and ERP cloud solutions, transforming them into a single cloud service with new purpose-built apps that help manage specific business functions such as financials, operations, marketing, sales and customer service.

The new Dynamics 365 apps are designed so they can be easily and independently deployed, but work together seamlessly to support businesses as they grow and their digital needs change. They include built-in insights, predictive intelligence and workflow optimisation, all of while can be delivered through offline, mobile experiences.

In addition, Power BI and Cortana Intelligence will be natively embedded to help customers achieve their goals with predictive insights, advice and goals, providing, for example, cross-sell recommendations to salespeople in real-time.

The company is also introducing AppSource, its new collection of line-of-business software-as-a-service (SaaS) apps from both Microsoft and its partners.

AppSource will contain more than 200 business SaaS apps, add-ins and content packs including industry-specific apps for CPG businesses, governmental organisations and financial institutions.

“We imagine a better world for business users everywhere,” said Takeshi Numoto, corporate vice president for Microsoft Cloud and Enterprise. “One where you can track leads, automate field service, drive sales and improve operations using modern, mobile, enterprise-ready intelligent business apps from the cloud that are as easy to use as the consumer apps that help us all get rides, book rooms, listen to music and take actions to improve our health.”

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