When Healthcare Finally Jumps In the Pool
The 2025 Wave 2 release for Microsoft Dynamics ERP is one of the most advanced iterations we’ve seen in years and one of the first to feel like it’s pulling major verticals off the fence. Healthcare, for example, may finally be ready to move past curiosity and into serious investment.
We’re seeing the first real momentum where CoPilot, task automation, and embedded AI aren’t just abstract demos anymore. They’re powering workflows, reducing labor burdens, and nudging adoption over the line. Some institutions that have historically stayed on legacy systems are now building actual deployment plans around what Microsoft is offering.
So, does this release change everything? Not quite. But it changes enough that serious organizations should be paying attention. Here’s what matters and what doesn’t.
What’s Actually Different in Wave 2
- Real vertical traction: CoPilot tools have finally matured enough that regulated industries like healthcare are responding with real-world pilots and budget allocations. No longer just window shopping and part of everyone’s strategic planning.
- Tighter AI integration: It’s not just CoPilot in Outlook or Teams anymore. This release offers functional, embedded AI inside ERP workflows, such as automating payment matching, purchase order risk scoring, and inventory forecasting.
- Improved data governance: Microsoft has put effort into making environments cleaner, permissioning more granular, and data flows more controllable, especially important for those concerned about compliance.
What’s Not Changing (Yet)
- Customization pain still exists: ERP still has its fair share of slow rollouts and upgrade friction, especially for highly customized environments. Wave 2 makes things smoother but doesn’t erase this reality.
- Licensing confusion: Pricing and licensing for advanced tools, particularly AI-driven modules, is still complex. Many firms won’t get true ROI without a trusted partner to help navigate what they actually need.
- Change management is still hard: Having better tech doesn’t automatically mean faster adoption. The internal cultural gap between old workflows and AI-augmented processes still has to be crossed the hard way: with people.
Final Thought
This release won’t replace your ERP overnight, but it might make the upgrade decision a lot easier, especially if you’re in a sector like healthcare where real ROI can now be modeled, not just imagined.
If you’re trying to separate the sizzle from the substance, talk to someone who’s worked both sides of the Microsoft table. There’s still complexity to navigate, but the upside of moving now is clearer than it’s ever been.
So, What Can IT Leaders Do?
Instead of trying to tame the entire AI universe, focus on building adaptable guardrails.
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Establish principles for safe AI experimentation.
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Create oversight checkpoints, even if the tech changes every quarter.
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Align with partners who are already testing these tools at scale and can share the playbook.
The goal isn’t to keep up with every single advancement. It’s to create confidence that your organization can adapt safely and quickly when needed.
Final Thought
This release won’t replace your ERP overnight, but it might make the upgrade decision a lot easier, especially if you’re in a sector like healthcare where real ROI can now be modeled, not just imagined.
If you’re trying to separate the sizzle from the substance, talk to someone who’s worked both sides of the Microsoft table. There’s still complexity to navigate, but the upside of moving now is clearer than it’s ever been.
