Advisory & Architecture
Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations solution architecture
We design the technical and functional foundation of your Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations environment — so configuration, development, integrations and reporting are built on decisions that hold up for years, not just until go-live.
Finance & Operations
X++ extensions · data entities · batch framework · security model
- Synapse Link / Fabric (data lake export)
- Dataverse: dual-write, virtual entities, business events
- OData, custom services, DMF recurring jobs, business events
- BYOD entity export to Azure SQL
The challenge
Most ERP problems are architecture problems that surfaced late
Slow month-end closes, fragile integrations, security models nobody can explain and customisations that break on every service update rarely start as bugs. They start as early decisions made under time pressure — or never made at all — while a project rushes towards configuration.
Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations gives you a deep platform: legal entities and organisation hierarchies, a shared data model across finance and supply chain, data entities, the batch framework, extension points for X++ and a growing set of Power Platform and Azure services around it. Architecture is the work of choosing how your business maps onto that platform, and where it should not be customised at all.
Capabilities
What we cover in D365 F&O Solution Architecture
- 01
Functional architecture
Fit-gap analysis against standard D365 F&O processes, module selection and the decisions on where configuration ends and development begins.
- 02
Data model & master data
Legal entity structure, shared versus company-specific data, global address book, product and customer master ownership, and data migration scope.
- 03
Integration architecture
Interface inventory with patterns per flow — OData, custom services, business events, recurring data jobs or dual-write — including error handling and monitoring.
- 04
Extension strategy
Rules for X++ extensions, Chain of Command and event handlers, naming and model structure, so customisations stay upgrade-safe and reviewable.
- 05
Security & compliance
Role, duty and privilege design, segregation-of-duties rules and an approach for auditability that does not depend on spreadsheets.
- 06
Environments & ALM
Tier-1 and sandbox environments, Azure DevOps branching, build and release pipelines, and a cadence for service-update validation.
How the engagement works
A clear sequence, agreed up front
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Discovery workshops
Process walkthroughs with finance, operations and IT, plus a review of the current landscape and any existing D365 or AX design.
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Architecture decisions
Key decisions are written down with options, trade-offs and the chosen direction — so they survive staff changes and audits.
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Blueprint & validation
The blueprint is validated against end-to-end scenarios, volumes and integration timings before configuration starts.
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Handover to delivery
We hand over to your implementation team — or stay to deliver it — with design authority through the build.
Technical approach
Our approach to D365 F&O Solution Architecture
Start from standard, extend deliberately
D365 F&O is updated by Microsoft several times a year. Every customisation is code you will carry through every one of those updates. Our default position is to solve a requirement with standard functionality and configuration first, then with a well-placed extension, and only then with new development — and to write down why when we choose the last option.
Design for volume, not for the demo
Architecture decisions look different at 2,000 sales lines a day than at 200,000. We ask for realistic transaction volumes, peak periods and batch windows early, and use them to shape decisions on posting setup, inventory dimensions, number sequences, batch design and integration throughput.
One pattern per interface, chosen on purpose
Not every integration should be OData, and not every integration should go through a middleware layer. For each interface we decide direction, frequency, volume, latency, error handling and ownership, then choose the pattern: synchronous services, business events, recurring data management jobs, dual-write or Azure Integration Services.
Security is part of the model
Roles, duties and privileges are designed together with processes, not bolted on before user acceptance testing. That keeps segregation-of-duties rules enforceable and audit questions answerable from the system itself.
Benefits
What changes for your organisation
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Fewer late surprises
Volume, integration and security questions are answered on paper, where changes cost hours instead of sprints.
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Upgrade-safe customisations
A clear extension strategy keeps your solution compatible with continuous service updates.
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A reference for every team
Implementation partners, developers and auditors work from the same documented design.
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Room to grow
New legal entities, warehouses or integrations fit into a model that was designed to expand.
FAQ
Questions about D365 F&O Solution Architecture
What does a D365 F&O architecture review include?
A review covers module fit, organisation and data model decisions, integrations, security, environments and ALM, extension and customisation approach, and deployment readiness. You receive findings ranked by risk and a set of concrete recommendations.
When should solution architecture work happen?
Before major configuration, customisation, migration and integration decisions are made. In practice that means during or straight after the initial analysis phase — although an architecture review is also valuable mid-project or after go-live when problems start to appear.
Can Codefine assess an existing D365 F&O environment?
Yes. We regularly review environments delivered by other teams, identify structural risks in data model, integrations, security and custom code, and recommend practical improvements for scalability and supportability.
Do you replace our implementation partner?
Not necessarily. Many clients use Codefine as independent design authority alongside an implementation partner, or bring us in for the technically demanding parts such as integrations and performance.
Related services
Often combined with
Discuss D365 F&O Solution Architecture with Codefine
Describe the situation in a few lines — what you run, what is not working and what has to happen next. We reply with concrete questions and a suggested first step.