Teams using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management (D365 F&SCM) and related business apps spend a surprising amount of time doing “work around the work.” For example, searching for the right procedure, interpreting error messages, chasing supplier confirmations, or manually translating email updates into system changes. The D365 F&SCM Sidecar architecture introduces a different model: an AI agent that sits alongside your core ERP experience, helping users take action faster without over-customizing the application itself.
What is a Sidecar agent?
A Sidecar agent is an AI-powered assistant delivered as an adjacent experience (the “sidecar”) that connects to business data and processes through approved integration points. Instead of embedding experimental logic directly into your ERP customizations, the agent can retrieve knowledge, interpret user requests in natural language, and guide or automate steps, while still keeping the user in control of what gets executed. This approach supports faster iteration, clearer governance, and a cleaner path to scaling AI across multiple processes.
Key benefits
- Faster work, fewer context switches: Users can ask for guidance or next steps without leaving the transaction they’re trying to complete.
- Consistent execution: Step-by-step instructions and standardized responses reduce “tribal knowledge” and variation across teams.
- Lower support burden: The agent can help interpret issues and point users to the right resolution path, reducing tickets and time-to-fix.
- Better exception handling: When something doesn’t match the happy path (missing data, conflicting requests, unclear email intent), the agent can surface questions and proposed actions for review.
- Scalable architecture: Because it’s built beside the core app, you can extend capabilities over time without piling on ERP customizations.
Use case: sales order entry how-to
Watch this short demo of Sidecar showing how a user can enter a sales order with Copilot guidance—starting from creating a new sales order header, then adding line details, and following the suggested next steps right inside Dynamics 365.
Where to start
If you’re evaluating agents, start with a high-volume, high-friction workflow where the “inputs” already exist (emails, tickets, recurring questions) and the downstream actions are well-defined. Establish clear approval points, measure baseline cycle time and rework, and pilot the Sidecar agent with a small group. The result is a practical path to AI adoption that improves outcomes now, while keeping your core Dynamics 365 environment clean, secure, and ready for what comes next. Contact us to see how this can help your business.
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