High-level project management solutions with AI integration: Dynamics 365 Project Operations vs. the new Planner
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Do you want to switch from your personal planning to a game-changing project management solution for your business? Then, the new Microsoft Planner might be the tool of your choice. We show you what to expect from the solution and how it is different from Dynamics 365 Project Operations.
Let’s take a closer look at both tools and compare their features and their limits.
Key features of the New Planner
The new Planner experience combines higher-level program and portfolio management, project (and multi-project) management, and individual task management in one single tool.
Its key features help save valuable time and effort:
- Power Platform
By using the Power Platform with a Dataverse backend, the New Planner provides the ability to use Power BI reporting, Power Automate workflow scenarios, and Power Apps extensions. - Project for the Web features
The New Planner contains dependencies, expense allocation, and various visualization options, such as the Gantt charts and Kanban boards. - Microsoft Copilot
Create project plans and work breakdown structures and fully defining tasks with simple instructions in natural language. Copilot also can automatically write and send out status emails.
AI-powered tools in Microsoft Planner
Planning
Generate and add tasks, goals, and buckets based on user prompts, and even create a full plan including these elements.
Managing
AI features help you identify what to work on next or break up a large work item into actionable steps. You get support in tracking a new goal, identifying which tasks are behind or which team members have the highest workload.
Tracking
Based on your plan, Copilot provides answers to questions on progress, priorities, workload, and helps you stay informed about the latest developments.
Video: Meet the new Microsoft Planner:
At the moment, the New Planner runs only in Microsoft Teams and is not yet available as a standalone app.
Key features of Dynamics 365 Project Operations
Dynamics 365 Project Operations covers the entire project life cycle from prospect to contracting, project execution and invoicing to overall analysis.
It goes beyond just one project issue and combines all aspects of the project business:
- Leads and opportunity management
The sales component of Project Operations lets sales teams handle the entire project-based sales process starting with leads and opportunity management. - Project and resource management
Scheduling and management features allow precise planning with Kanban planning views, Gantt charts and work breakdown structures for optimal project management. Also, resource managers have all the insights they need into project requirements and resource availability and can thus assemble the ideal team. - Project accounting
The financial features in Project Operations generate and customize invoices without any manual effort or additional solutions. - Microsoft Copilot
The AI assistant helps you create task plans, risk assessments, and status reports throughout the entire project process.
AI-powered tools in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations
Task plan generation
AI-generated task plans with automatic time specifications help complete tasks quickly and machine learning algorithms accelerate project creation.
Risk assessments
Evaluate risks, receive mitigation plans, and monitor project issues. By leveraging project metadata like scope, schedule, and budget, it identifies potential hurdles and alerts stakeholders.
Project status report
Project managers receive AI-generated project status reports, incorporating critical KPIs, tasks, and financial activity.
Interactive, chat-like experience
Access the chat format Microsoft Copilot assistant to ask questions and receive assistance in creating task plans, risk assessments, and status reports.
Video: Upgrade your project management with new Copilot features in Dynamics 365 Project Operations:
Dynamics 365 Project Operations vs. the new Microsoft Planner
Find here an overview of both tools and a comparison of their strengths and limits:
Planner or Project Operations: Which is right for you?
Whether a company should choose Microsoft Planner or Dynamics 365 Project Operations depends on their requirements and individual situation. Crucial for making the right choice is: How important are other Microsoft Dynamics 365 tools in your company?
What makes Project Operations unique is that it includes comprehensive end-to-end capabilities that cover the entire project life cycle without any disruptions of media. If you are already using Dynamics 365, you can easily add other modules to scale your existing solution.
If being part of Dynamics 365 is not a major factor in choosing the product and if you want a straightforward project management process, then the New Microsoft Planner is a good choice for you.
Plans and pricing for the new Planner
You may be familiar with the previous Microsoft Planner solution which was offered in the Planner Basic Plan license. This is now included in your Microsoft 365 subscription.
For the new Planner experience with the maximum range of functions, you need the Planner Premium Plan license (Project Plan 5) where Microsoft has combined three popular tools: To Do, Planner, and Project for the Web.
If you want to learn more about all Planner options and licensing packages, please contact us.
Our experts have the answer to all your questions and will help you find the right option for your individual needs.
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As a Microsoft partner, we are experts in both solutions. We would be happy to help you discover how your company can benefit from them – let’s talk!
