Time Entry Delegation (Preview) in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations
IntroductionIn this blog, I’m going to talk about another productivity-boosting enhancement in Dynamics 365 Project Operations, the Time Entry Delegation (Preview) feature. This feature, released as a production-ready preview on September 24, 2025, allows a resource to log, modify, or submit time entries on behalf of another user for a limited duration. In simple words, if someone is on leave or unavailable, another trusted team member (delegate) can take over their time entry responsibilities without disturbing project timelines. Problem Statement In traditional setups, only the assigned resources could log or submit their time entries.This created challenges when: These scenarios resulted in missing time entries, delayed invoicing, and reporting inconsistencies. To address this gap, Microsoft has introduced the Time Entry Delegation feature. UPDATE: The Time Entry Delegation feature enables a resource (called the delegator) to temporarily assign another user (called the delegate) who can: Enabling Time Entry Delegation (Preview) Enabling the Feature Once activated, a new menu item called “Delegates (Production Ready Preview)” will appear under the My Work section in both the Project Operations and Team Member apps. Setting Up a Delegate After enabling the feature, setting up a delegate is simple: Once saved: Other Views Available Logging Time as a Delegate When you are assigned as a delegate, you can log and manage time entries for another user: Example: Let’s say William is on leave from October 7th to 11th.He assigns John as his delegate for that period. Now, during these dates, John can: After October 11th, delegation automatically ends, and Priya regains full control of her time entries. Time Entry Experience for Delegates When delegation is active, a few changes appear in the Time Entry form: Other fields (like Project, Task, and Role) automatically adjust based on the delegator’s assignments. This ensures that the delegate only logs time on projects or tasks relevant to the original user. Note: These changes apply only during weeks when a delegate relationship exists. Outside of delegation weeks, time entry behavior remains normal. Tracking Time Entries Logged by Delegates Both the delegate and delegator have dedicated views: For Delegates For Delegators Audit Trail for Delegated Time Entries During the preview phase, Project Operations tracks delegated actions using two key fields: Current Limitations Conclusion The Time Entry Delegation (Preview) feature is a major productivity booster for organizations using Dynamics 365 Project Operations. It brings flexibility to resource management by allowing temporary delegation of time logging and submission responsibilities — ensuring that project timelines, invoices remain accurate and up-to-date, even during employee absences. Thank you, Kalyani for your valuable inputs to these blogs!
Time Entry Calendar Interface (Preview) in Project Operations
IntroductionIn this blog, I’m going to share about Time Entry Calendar interface (Preview) for Dynamics 365 Project Operations (version 4.141.0.X or later). In this feature users will gain a more visual and intuitive way to log, edit, and manage time entries—far beyond what the classic grid offered. Public preview: May 30, 2025; General availability: Sep 2025 Problem Statement In the existing setup, users rely heavily on the Time Entry Grid to input and review hours. Teams often face challenges such as: These limitations slow down task logging, increase errors, for managers and team members. UPDATE: Time Entry Calendar (Preview) To address these challenges, Microsoft has introduced the Time Entry Calendar, a calendar-style interface integrated into Project Operations. Key features include: How It Works: Enabling the Feature Viewing Entries Creating Entries You can also copy entries using Ctrl + C / Ctrl + V. Pasted entries carry most fields (project, task, description), while the duration adjusts based on where they’re pasted. Editing Entries Submitting / Recalling / Deleting UI Use the view picker to toggle between Daily, Weekly, Monthly, or Agenda views. Use the date Icon to switch the dates Use the refresh icon to refresh the page Submit all the records directly by clicking on submit button Tracking & Filtering EXAMPLE: Sarah is a consultant who logs time across multiple projects. Before vs After: Time Entry Experience Aspect Before (Grid View) After (Calendar View – Preview) User Interface Tabular grid, requires manual entry for each day/task Visual calendar (Daily/Weekly/Monthly/Agenda views) Ease of Entry Manual typing of hours -> repetitive and error-prone Click, drag, resize, or copy entries directly on calendar Status Visibility Must open each entry to check Draft/Submitted/Approved Color-coded (Yellow = Draft/Returned, Blue = Submitted, Green = Approved) Editing Flexibility Open form -> change values -> save Drag-and-drop to new time slot, resize, or double-click to edit Tracking Progress Requires reports/dashboards Built-in charts for logged vs. target hours, daily/weekly trends Clarity Hard to spot missing/duplicated entries Tooltip details make it clear immediately Productivity Impact Slower, manual, error-prone Faster, intuitive, reduces errors, boosts efficiency Conclusion The Time Entry Calendar (Preview) brings a fresh, user-friendly approach to logging and managing time in Project Operations. While still in preview, it promises to enhance productivity and clarity by enabling users to visualize their hours, correct entries quickly, and remain aligned with targets—all within a single, intuitive interface. Thank you, Kalyani for your valuable inputs to this blog!
Implementing Access Restrictions in Project for the Web iFrame
IntroductionIn this blog, I’m going to share about Project for the web iFrame which plays an important role in task planning. It allows users to view, create, update, and manage project tasks directly inside Dynamics without leaving the system. However, one major challenge has been the lack of restrictions inside this iFrame — meaning that anyone with access to the project record could freely make changes. With the upcoming update, Microsoft is bringing access control inside the Project for the web iFrame. This gives project managers and admins the power to decide who can do what. Public preview: May 16, 2025; General availability: Mar 2026 Problem StatementUntil now, once a user had access to a project record, they could: This lack of restrictions often led to: For example, if a sales executive (who is not part of the project delivery team) but has access to the record, opens the iFrame, they still had access to create or delete tasks which could cause confusion and project delays. UPDATE: The new feature introduces a security system for Project for the web iFrame that allows: This means if a user is part of project team member, their access can be limited to read-only mode. Availability Timeline: HOW TO ENABLE?? After Enabling, within few minutes, Go to Project team member you will see a Read only column on form. EXAMPLE: A team member can only read the iFrame. So, for that we will provide read access. After, providing read access, User will not be able to edit anything on the iFrame. Everything will be read only. CONCLUSIONThe new access restriction system for Project for the web iFrame ensures that only the right people can make the right changes, at the right time. By giving admins and project managers fine-grained control. With this feature rolling out from May 2025 (preview) and March 2026 (GA), organizations can start planning their access control strategies to take full advantage of it. Thank you, Kalyani for your valuable inputs!
Schedule modes in Project Operations
Problem Definition: It has always been a confusion for the Project Manager to choose between the Schedule modes, whether it should be a Fixed effort, Fixed duration or a fixed unit project. And the primary reason behind it was, that most of the PM wanted to a have a fixed duration/unit project without impacting the effort they have added to that specific task. This was not possible earlier, as the OOB formula to calculate the effort, duration or unit, would only respect one fixed value (effort, duration, unit). Solution: With the new release wave feature named “Include effort-driven schedule modes” it now possible to have a fixed duration As you can see, in the above image the efforts changed the moment an additional resource was tagged to the task. As you can see, in the above image the efforts were not impacted even when an additional resource was tagged to the task. As you can see, in the above image the efforts & duration changed the moment an additional resource was tagged to the task. As you can see, in the above image the efforts were not impacted even when an additional resource was tagged to the task, and the duration value changed. Conclusion: This feature will help the Project Manager to have duration/unit as a schedule mode without impacting the efforts, which might be useful for different Projects across various industries. Thank you, Sankalp for your valuable inputs for this blog!
Check out the Lead Qualification Experience in (Release wave 2)
Introduction: The business landscape is constantly evolving, and staying ahead means adapting to the tools and features that can streamline processes. With the 2024 Release Wave 2, Dynamics 365 Sales has introduced an exciting enhancement that promises to revolutionize the way businesses handle lead qualification. This update brings a fully customizable lead qualification experience, empowering administrators and sales teams with more control, flexibility, and precision. Description Lead qualification is a crucial step in the sales process, determining whether a lead is worth pursuing further. The traditional Dynamics 365 lead qualification experience had limitations, auto-creating certain records without giving users much control. However, the latest feature allows administrators to fine-tune this process, adapting it to their unique business needs. Here are some of the key highlights of the new lead qualification experience: 1. Multiple Opportunities from a Single Lead Sales cycles aren’t always linear. With the new feature, you can now create multiple opportunities from a single lead, enabling your team to pursue various avenues simultaneously without needing to duplicate the lead. This offers more versatility when nurturing complex sales scenarios. 2. AI-Powered Lead Summaries with Copilot AI is taking center stage in the world of CRM. Dynamics 365 Sales now integrates Microsoft Copilot to assist in generating AI-based lead qualification summaries. This not only saves timebut also helps create more accurate and data-driven insights, enabling sales teams to make informed decisions faster. 3. Administrator Control for Enhanced Customization Unlike the previous rigid system, this feature grants administrators the ability to configure which records (account, contact, opportunity) are auto-created upon qualification. Whether you want to skip certain steps or capture additional information, the flexibility of the system ensures it works in alignment with your business goals. The Business BenefitsThe ability to customize lead qualification offers multiple advantages:• Improved Efficiency: By customizing the qualification process, sales teams can avoid unnecessary steps and focus on converting high-quality leads into valuable opportunities.• Enhanced Insights: With Copilot summarizing leads based on AI, businesses can leverage real-time data and insights to better evaluate lead quality.• Scalability: For businesses dealing with multi-channel or large-scale sales processes, the ability to create multiple opportunities from a single lead ensures a more dynamic approach to lead nurturing.How to Get Started with the New FeatureTo enable this feature, administrators need to access the early access features for Dynamics 365 Sales 2024 Release Wave 2 and configure the lead qualification settings based on their organization’s requirements. Follow these steps:1. Navigate to the Sales Hub app.2. Go to Settings > Lead Management.3. Enable the new qualification experience and customize it according to your business needs. Once activated, sellers will notice an immediate difference in the lead qualification process, from the way opportunities are created to how AI-driven insights are integrated into their workflows.ConclusionThe new lead qualification experience in Dynamics 365 Sales brings a fresh approach to an age-old process, combining flexibility, AI-driven insights, and the ability to handle multiple sales paths simultaneously. If your business is looking to stay competitive and maximize sales potential, embracing this new feature should be a top priority. Stay ahead of the curve by exploring this feature as part of the 2024 Release Wave 2 and elevate your sales process to new heights. Thank you, Subhash! for your valuable inputs to this blog!
Explore Dynamics 365 Sales vs. Sales piece in Project Operations: Crucial Distinctions to Remember
For most organizations running on Dynamics 365 (D365), the traditional Sales module and the specific Sales in Project Operations are some of their best options of choice. These solutions are designed to serve distinct purposes that are aligned with different business needs. In this article, we will delve into various particulars of these differences, or more specifically, what the Sales module has that Sales in Project Operations does not and vice versa. Dynamics 365 Sales: Towards More Efficient Product-Based Services and Relationship Management Dynamics 365 Sales is targeted towards product-based services and all-encompassing relationship management. The following are its distinguishing features: Sales in Project Operations, on the other hand, is appropriate for companies whose sales procedures are closely related to project management and service provision, such as: Whereas Dynamics 365 Sales is focused on sales team activities and basic tracking related to sales transactions like manage leads, opportunities, and customer interactions for product sales. Dynamics 365 Project Operations includes project planning, resource allocation, and financial tracking for service-based projects. It is used for Comprehensive management for project teams, including scheduling and utilization and detailed fiscal management, including project budgets, costs, and billing. BUSINESS SOLUTION: How to Choose the Right Solution for Your Business: Choosing between Dynamics 365 Sales or Sales in Project Operations depends on your industry focus, business model and specific operational needs. Therefore, if you are running a product-based business that requires advanced sales management capabilities such as relationship analytics, goal management among others with LinkedIn and SMS providers integration then you should opt for Dynamics 365 Sales (Sales Hub). On the other hand, if your firm operates within project-oriented sectors that require highly integrated selling procedures revolving around resource planning and project management, then you should go for Sales in Project Operations which comes with specialized tools that cater to these requirements exactly. CONCLUSION: Project Operations focuses on integrating sales operations with project management, whereas Dynamics 365 Sales handles more comprehensive CRM features and product sales management. Project operations serve the demands of sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and professional services, where project delivery and service execution are vital to sales success. Thanks, Kalyani for your valuable inputs!