Introduction
Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) provides businesses with a wide range of solutions for managing customer relationships, financials, operations, and more. One of the critical capabilities that Dynamics 365 offers is seamless integration with other systems and platforms to ensure that data is synchronized across applications. Two key tools for integration within the D365 ecosystem are Dual-write and Data Integrator.
While both of these tools facilitate the integration of data between Dynamics 365 applications and other systems, they each serve distinct purposes and operate in different ways. Dual-write enables real-time, bidirectional data synchronization between Dynamics 365 applications such as D365 for Sales and D365 Finance and Operations, whereas Data Integrator provides a more generalized approach to data integration, with the ability to handle bulk data imports and exports from various systems.
In this article, we will explore the features, use cases, and differences between Dual-write and Data Integrator, helping you understand which solution might be better suited for your organization’s needs.
What is Dual-write?
Dual-write is a robust integration framework within Dynamics 365 that enables real-time, bi-directional data flow between Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations and Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement applications (such as Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service). Dual-write provides a seamless, automatic synchronization of business data between these applications, ensuring that the data remains consistent and up to date across platforms.
How Dual-write Works
Dual-write operates by using an out-of-the-box integration model, which maps fields between Dynamics 365 applications. It uses the Common Data Service (CDS) to store shared data between applications, facilitating seamless data transfer between Finance and Operations apps and Customer Engagement apps.
- Real-time Data Synchronization: Dual-write provides real-time data synchronization, meaning that any changes made in one application are reflected instantly in the other. For instance, a sales order created in D365 Sales will be automatically reflected in D365 Finance and Operations, and vice versa.
- Predefined Data Integration Templates: Microsoft has created predefined templates for common scenarios such as customer, sales order, inventory, and finance integration. These templates simplify the setup process and ensure that the integration between the two platforms is efficient and accurate.
- Customizable Field Mapping: Users can customize the field mappings to suit their specific business needs. If an organization requires additional data fields to be synchronized or data transformations to occur during the sync, Dual-write allows users to define these mappings in a flexible way.
Key Benefits of Dual-write
- Real-Time Integration: Dual-write allows for seamless and immediate data synchronization, reducing the need for manual intervention and ensuring that all applications have the most up-to-date information.
- End-to-End Process Automation: By connecting various Dynamics 365 applications, Dual-write automates business processes across departments, enhancing operational efficiency. For example, when a customer order is placed in D365 Sales, the data is automatically updated in the finance and operations systems without requiring manual data entry.
- Unified Data Model: With Dual-write, organizations can leverage a unified data model, ensuring that all applications use the same data and that discrepancies between systems are minimized.
- Simplified Data Management: As data is synchronized automatically across systems, businesses can maintain a single source of truth, reducing data inconsistencies and duplication.
What is Data Integrator?
The Data Integrator tool in Dynamics 365 is a more general-purpose integration tool that allows users to transfer data between D365 applications and external systems or databases. Unlike Dual-write, which is specifically designed to handle the real-time synchronization of data between certain Dynamics 365 apps, Data Integrator is designed to facilitate bulk data imports and exports from and to a wide range of systems, including databases, cloud applications, and external APIs.
How Data Integrator Works
Data Integrator uses an intuitive, low-code interface to create data integration projects. Users can connect different data sources, define mappings between source and destination fields, and schedule or manually trigger data imports or exports. The tool operates on a batch basis, making it ideal for bulk data transfer and integration.
- ETL Capabilities: Data Integrator follows the ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) model. It allows users to extract data from external systems, transform it to meet the destination system’s requirements, and load it into Dynamics 365.
- Wide-Ranging Data Sources: Data Integrator can be used to integrate data from a variety of sources, including SQL databases, Excel files, cloud-based services (like Microsoft SharePoint or Azure), and even external applications through APIs.
- Data Mapping: Just like Dual-write, Data Integrator also allows for field mapping, but with more flexibility to accommodate different data structures. It is ideal for scenarios where data comes from various non-Dynamics sources or when you need to load large volumes of data.
Key Benefits of Data Integrator
- Flexible Data Integration: Data Integrator can connect to a wide variety of data sources, making it an excellent solution for integrating D365 with external systems such as legacy applications, third-party software, and custom-built solutions.
- Batch Processing: Unlike Dual-write, which operates in real-time, Data Integrator allows users to handle bulk data transfers efficiently. It’s perfect for scenarios like migrating data during an initial implementation or regularly transferring large datasets between systems.
- Ease of Use: The Data Integrator tool is designed for business users and administrators, offering an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. There’s no need for complex coding, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
- Data Quality and Transformation: With built-in transformation features, users can manipulate data during the integration process to meet the requirements of the destination system. This can include transforming data formats, mapping fields, and handling discrepancies.
Dual-write vs. Data Integrator: A Comparison
While both Dual-write and Data Integrator are essential tools for integrating data within the Dynamics 365 ecosystem, they are suited for different types of integration tasks. Let’s break down the differences and similarities to better understand which tool is right for your organization.
| Feature | Dual-write | Data Integrator |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Real-time, bidirectional data synchronization between D365 apps (Finance & Operations and Customer Engagement) | Bulk data integration from external systems into D365 |
| Data Flow | Real-time, continuous synchronization | Batch-based processing (scheduled or manual) |
| Integration Type | Primarily designed for integrations within D365 ecosystem (Finance & Operations, Customer Engagement) | Can integrate data from a variety of external systems (SQL, SharePoint, APIs, etc.) |
| Use Cases | Seamless integration of business processes across D365 applications (e.g., Sales, Finance, Operations) | Bulk data transfers, initial data migration, and integrations with non-D365 systems |
| Field Mapping | Customizable field mapping within predefined integration templates | Flexible field mapping for various data sources |
| Data Sources | D365 apps (Finance and Operations, Customer Engagement) | Multiple external data sources (databases, files, cloud apps, APIs) |
| Data Sync Frequency | Real-time sync, automatic updates | Scheduled or manual batch processing |
| Configuration | Out-of-the-box templates, low-code configuration | Intuitive low-code interface, flexible configurations |
| Ideal for | Real-time updates between related D365 apps | One-time or periodic data transfers from external sources |
| Complexity | Easier to implement with predefined templates, but requires careful setup of field mappings | More flexibility but may require more effort for complex integrations |
| Customization | Customizable, but within the scope of the predefined templates | Highly customizable to suit unique data transformation and integration needs |
Which Tool Should You Choose?
The choice between Dual-write and Data Integrator largely depends on your organization’s specific integration needs. Here’s a breakdown of which tool to use in different scenarios:
Use Dual-write When:
- You need real-time synchronization of data between two or more Dynamics 365 applications.
- Your organization has a well-defined Dynamics 365 ecosystem (e.g., integrating Finance and Operations with Sales, Marketing, or Customer Service).
- You want to automate end-to-end business processes such as order processing, inventory management, or customer data updates across D365 apps.
- You require bi-directional data flow between D365 applications without manual intervention.
Use Data Integrator When:
- You need to integrate data from external systems (e.g., legacy systems, third-party applications, or SQL databases) into Dynamics 365.
- Your use case involves bulk data transfers, such as during an initial data migration or regular data imports from external sources.
- You require batch-based processing rather than real-time updates.
- You need to transform data during the integration process (e.g., format conversion or custom field mapping).