Machine Learning with Dynamics 365 and Power Platform

Apply cutting-edge AI techniques to your Dynamics 365 environment to create new solutions to old business problems

In Machine Learning with Dynamics 365 and Power Platform: The Ultimate Guide to Apply Predictive Analytics, an accomplished team of digital and data analytics experts delivers a practical and comprehensive discussion of how to integrate AI Builder with Dataverse and Dynamics 365 to create real-world business solutions. It also walks you through how to build powerful machine learning models using Azure Data Lake, Databricks, Azure Synapse Analytics.

The book is filled with clear explanations, visualizations, and working examples that get you up and running in your development of supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning techniques using Microsoft machine learning tools and technologies. These strategies will transform your business verticals, reducing costs and manual processes in finance and operations, retail, telecommunications, and manufacturing industries.

The authors demonstrate:

• What machine learning is all about and how it can be applied to your organization's Dynamics 365 and Power Platform Projects
• The creation and management of environments for development, testing, and production of a machine learning project
• How adopting machine learning techniques will redefine the future of your ERP/CRM system

Perfect for Technical Consultants, software developers, and solution architects, Machine Learning with Dynamics 365 and Power Platform is also an indispensable guide for Chief Technology Officers seeking an intuitive resource for how to implement machine learning in modern business applications to solve real-world problems.

Foreword vii

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xi

About the Authors xiii

Chapter 1: Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and Machine Learning 1

Introduction to Dynamics 365 1

Introduction to Power Platform 6

What Is Machine Learning: How Has It Evolved? 11

Definition of Machine Learning 12

Chapter 2: Artificial Intelligence and Pre- Built Machine Learning in Dynamics 365 33

Azure AI Platform 33

Azure Machine Learning Service 41

Knowledge Mining 67

Chapter 3: ML/AI Features and Their Applications in Dynamics 365 71

Customer Insights 71

Customer Service Insights 77

Sales Insights 83

Product Insights 95

Virtual Agent for Customer Service in Dynamics 365 96

Artificial Intelligence in Power Apps with AI Builder 99

What Is Mixed Reality? 102

Chapter 4: Dynamics 365 and Custom ML Models Using Azure ML 107

Azure Machine Learning 108

Azure Machine Learning Studio 115

Azure Machine Learning Service 146

Chapter 5: Deep Dive in Machine Learning Custom Models 149

Azure CLI Extension 149

Visual Studio Code 153

Chapter 6: Machine Learning with Dynamics 365

Use Cases 161

ml for Finance 162

Demand Forecasting 190

Connected Store 192

ml for Human Resources Management 195

Machine Learning at the Workplace 200

Afterword 205

Index 207

AURELIEN CLERE is a Microsoft MVP, Global Solution Architect with 10 years of experience in the Dynamics world (ERP, CRM). He is a speaker and organizes weekly webinars.

VINNIE BANSAL is an independent Dynamics 365 Business Advisor. He liaises between business and IT teams and serves as technical advisor to clients in assigned subject areas.

Microsoft offers robust and flexible solutions for businesses seeking to harness the capabilities of machine learning and artificial intelligence. But how these solutions work in the field—and how the various tools fit together—remains a mystery to some.

In Machine Learning with Dynamics 365 and Power Platform: The Ultimate Guide to Apply Predictive Analytics, a team of accomplished digital transformation and data analytics professionals delivers a comprehensive discussion of exactly how to integrate AI Builder with Dataverse and Dynamics 365. Readers will learn how to build adaptable and functional machine learning models using Azure Data Lake, Databricks, and Azure Synapse Analytics.

Complete with crystal-clear explanations, revealing visualizations, and working examples that will get readers’ supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning strategies up and running, the book offers businesses the potential to reduce costs and manual processes in finance and operations, retail, telecommunications, and manufacturing industries.

Machine Learning with Dynamics 365 and Power Platform explores the fundamentals of machine learning and how to apply it to your Dynamics 365 and Power Platform Projects, as well as how to create and manage environments for developing, testing, and producing a machine learning project. Finally, you’ll learn how adopting machine learning techniques will redefine the future of your enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management system.

Perfect for Microsoft and machine learning solution architects, software developers, and technical consultants, Machine Learning with Dynamics 365 and Power Platform also belongs in the libraries of chief technology officers looking for an authoritative reference on the implementation of machine learning to solve modern business problems.

Praise for MACHINE LEARNING WITH DYNAMICS 365 AND POWER PLATFORM

"A wonderful book for MSBizApps practitioners who want to incorporate machine learning in their day-to-day work without necessarily spending an enormous amount of time going through a formal degree program."
—Samit Saini (MVP), PowerApps Champion, Heathrow Airport

"Artificial intelligence and machine learning will empower every individual and organization to do more. This book takes you on the journey of applying it to the Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365."
—Mark Smith (MVP), Microsoft Power Platform Evangelist, IBM

"Machine Learning with Dynamics 365 and Power Platform is a one-of-a-kind book covering the breadth and depth of the intelligent and predictive features in Dynamics 365 business solutions. As businesses look to transform their processes from reactive to proactive, this book will guide them, providing a list of prebuilt solutions/use cases in Dynamics 365, as well as a step-by-step, practical guide on the application of Azure Machine Learning and other Microsoft AI technologies to transform business processes."
—Shivam Pandey, Principal Product Manager, Microsoft

"The most comprehensive guide to AI and machine learning for the whole Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform Business Applications ecosystem, including use cases, reusable patterns, and tips to help you successfully adopt the benefits of machine learning rapidly across your organization. A must-have for all consultants and solution architects in the thriving Microsoft business applications space."
—Raz Choudry, Microsoft MVP; Azure Technical Architect and Dynamics 365 Consultant Developer; STEM Ambassador, Power Platform Community

"Data is everywhere, and AI algorithms and models are more and more accessible. This statement raises a lot of questions: How do we use them? Which scenarios should they be used in? Who can use them? This practical book provides a detailed description from Low Code to Pro Code of what you can do, how, and with which technologies in the context of Microsoft Clouds (Dynamics 365, Power Platform and Azure)."
—Mehdi El Yassir, Business App Architect, Microsoft

"Machine Learning with Dynamics 365 and Power Platform is a great book. From early chapters describing fundamentals to in-depth topics, this book covers the most important topics in Machine Learning by explaining the theory and applying examples. Aurelien and Vinnie have put together a concise guide that will most definitely help students and well-versed professionals gain more knowledge in this ever-growing industry."
—Victor Dantas, Microsoft MVP; Power Platform Community Ambassador