Microsoft Dynamics 365 localization - what is it?

Are all Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems compatible with any company or industry? This is probably not the only question company executives ask themselves about functionality of the ERP systems, but also about the ease of use and compliance with local country requirements. Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERPs, like Dynamics 365 F&SCM (former Finance and Operations) used by enterprises can be a adapted to the local requirements and national laws of each region or country in the world. Microsoft Dynamics 365 localizations include:

Availability of solutions in your country.
Storage servers.
Language.
Local solutions.

A number of Microsoft Dynamics 365 applications are available on the market, and new functionalities and hotfixes are continuously released. Some of the functionality is market-specific, giving users secure internationalization of the systems and the ability to expand their business without limiting the system’s capabilities.

Dynamics 365 localization solutions developed by GO-ERP and Microsoft

Microsoft provides an entire group of Dynamics 365 localization solutions for the Lithuanian and Polish market, making sure they are available in the local language and complies with government regulations.

However, while Microsoft Operations Apps such as Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management (former Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations) are available on the Lithuanian and Polish markets, they do not support all the legal or regulatory requirements in the countries.

This means companies need to use complementary solutions. Microsoft verifies the localization solutions developed by partners and hosts them on the Microsoft AppSource platform for business applications. They enable companies to adapt their business management system to the requirements of the Lithuanian market. Examples of such solutions (the list is continuously updated in response to market needs):

Dynamics 365 F&SCM (former Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations) localizations for Lithuania

In recent years Lithuania has become a hub for various companies both from foreign markets and local startups. The Lithuanian market presents various government regulations and mandatory requirements for businesses intending to operate within its borders. In response to this, GO-ERP has developed multiple integrations for Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations localization in Lithuania. These integrations are designed to meet every government mandate, ensuring that the submission of documents and the management of operations is easy and efficient. These solutions are necessary for businesses looking to integrate into the Lithuanian market while adhering to all legal requirements:

GO.iSAF – transfers data on VAT invoices to the smart tax system i.MAS according to state tax authority (VMI) requirements.
GO.iVAZ -automatically submits electronic waybills to i.MAS in accordance with VMI requirements.
GO.SAF-T – quickly and conveniently transfers required standard accounting data file to i.MAS system.
GO.GPAIS – provides information on packaging and products, as required by the Ministry of the Environment.
GO.SEPA PRO SEB – data exchange between Microsoft Dynamics 365 and SEB Bank.
Other functionalities – multiple additional functionalities to support your business operations.

Moreover, these Dynamics 365 F&SCM (Finance and Operations) localization solutions are approved and checked by Microsoft and can be found in App source. Check out our solutions on Microsoft App Source.

Dynamics 365 F&SCM (former Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations) localizations for Poland

There’s a high number of companies that are operating in United Kingdom, Germany and other countries that want to enter the Polish market because of its exponential growth past few years. There are multiple government regulations and requirements that are mandatory for businesses that want to operate in the Polish market. GO-ERP has developed integrations for Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations localization that meet every government requirement and makes submitting mandatory data and operations a breeze:

e-Invoice KSeF – A structured invoice, which is issued and shared by the National e-invoice System (KSef).
NIP Validation – verify by NIP number whether a given contractor is an active entrepreneur.
VIES VAT – verify the validity of a VAT number issued by any State.
JPK – a standard Audit File of Tax, the whole schema, all necessary elements.
Split Payment – the value of VAT is transferred to a special sub-account.
Whitelist of VAT payers – checking correctness of a contractor’s bank account number while processing a transaction.
e-Invoice Procurement – generates electronic invoices necessary while processing public procurement.
e-Financial Statement -generates whole financial statement into electronic document.
REGON database (GUS) – automatic retrieval of data about new contractors.

Projects can also include solutions that are not hosted on the Microsoft AppSource platform. In this case, it is important to get to know the Dynamics 365 localization partner well and to assess their experience and capabilities.

At GO-ERP we started working and researching Microsoft Dynamics as soon as it was available, thus gaining considerable experience in the field – more than 10 Microsoft Dynamics 365 deployments, 6 of which are in the Cloud, and we have been localizers in 6 international projects. So we help our clients find the best Enterprise Resource Planning solutions.

Choosing a data centre for D365 localization

An important aspect of Microsoft Dynamics 365 deployment projects in the planning phase is the right choice of data center. Technical advisors guide the customer through the options. The client can choose the region where the data is stored, and can replicate the data in other regions in the same area to ensure data persistence. Wherever customer data is stored, Microsoft does not control or restrict the locations from which customers or their end-users can access their data.

Microsoft’s global network of data center offers three levels of localization to help you meet your data locality, sovereignty and compliance requirements.

Global. Access highly scalable, globally connected cloud services over the public internet, deployed from regional Microsoft data center.
Local. Please note the local data storage requirements when allowing all public cloud users in a country to store their data in that country.
Sovereign. Keep your data in your country of residence. Access high-volume cloud services isolated from global cloud services and deployed from local data center.

Additional options for D365 localization solutions

It is important to note that Microsoft has extended the capabilities of Dynamics 365 localization solutions by adding no-code/low-code methods to the application family. This makes it easier, faster and more cost-effective to create or expand the number of local solutions. This can be done using the Power Apps technology capabilities, which can be easily adapted to any business needs

The process of Dynamics 365 localization

There are several ways in which Microsoft partners carry out localization projects:

The partner is carrying out a full implementation of the Enterprise Resource Planning system across several countries.
The partner carries out the localization work in a specific country, usually the country of residence, but the main installer of the system is someone else.

In the first case, GO-ERP deploys locally available solutions and engages a local Microsoft partner in the respective country to help the customer communicate and coordinate requirements.

In the second case, GO-ERP becomes part of another installer’s team and tailors the country-specific solutions, trains the client and usually remains as the maintenance company for that country.

Successful examples of localization by GO-ERP

Two recent successful examples of GO-ERP’s localization of Dynamics 365 are the projects of AJ Produkter and Peikko Group Corporation (hereafter Peikko) to customize their ERP systems to local country requirements.

Swedish company AJ Producter operates in 20 European countries and improves the workplaces of more than half a million of its customers every year. As part of the migration from AX2012 to Dynamics 365 Could, GO-ERP was used to tailor the financial part to Lithuania. The choice of a local installer ensured easier involvement of AJ Produkter’s Lithuanian team, while the GO-ERP localization solutions GO-SAF-T, GO-i.SAF and GO-Intrastat ensured the system’s market readiness.

Peikko Group Corporation is a leading global supplier of slim floor structures, wind energy applications, and connection technology for precast and cast-in-situ construction. Peikko’s innovative solutions offer a faster, safer, and more sustainable way to design and build. Peikko has sales offices in over 30 countries, including Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and North America, with manufacturing operations in 12 countries. Peikko generated a turnover of EUR 314 million in 2022. Peikko is a family-owned and managed company that employs over 2,000 professionals. Peikko was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Lahti, Finland.

In order to manage business processes and make decisions efficiently and quickly on the basis of unified data, the company chose Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management. GO-ERP localization solutions and expertise were selected for the deployments in Lithuania and Latvia: the GO-i.VAZ, GO-i.SAF and GO-SAF-T solutions for the Lithuanian market, and the VAT return package for the Latvian market.

In summary, it is not only the choice of a Enterprise Resource Planning system and its smooth implementation that is important, but also the adaptation to local requirements and the continued support of the systems in the local language, with an understanding of the specific market. This is best advised by experienced Microsoft partners.