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Customer Field Types in Microsoft Dynamics 365

Post Author: Joe D365 |

Out of the box entities in Dynamics 365 have always had an advantage over custom record types due, in part, to the very cool features provided by the "Customer" field type. This allows either a Contact OR an Account record to be linked to a record via a look up field which provides an activity roll-up. For example, a typical structure has an Account at the top of the hierarchy and the Contact is linked to the Account using the Customer field type - in this case called "Account Name." Let's look at this closer in today's blog!

Customer Field Types

Opportunities, Invoices, Orders, and Cases (among others) all have the "Customer" field type  included out of the box, ensuring that if we add the Contact to that field and have the Account linked as above, any task linked to one of these record types using the "Regarding" field will be visible from the Contact AND Account.

See below for Tasks linked to a case but rolling up to the Account level using the "Customer" type field:

Customer Field Types

All that is great but what if you need this functionality for a new record type? Maybe you want to create a custom Invoice or Quote record? In the past, we'd be unable to get an activity roll-up view but no more! In Dynamics 365 we can now add this field type to any custom record. Now if we have tasks around a custom invoice record, these will roll-up to the Account for the sales person or case manager to review without additional clicks.

Note we've added a Customer type to our list on new field creation. Now we can add this to our custom records and as an activity linked to the records that are visible along the hierarchy!

Customer Field Types

And there you have it. "Customer" field types in Dynamics 365! To learn about the NEW updates coming to Dynamics 365 in the July 2017 Update, be sure to tune into our webinar series – now through August 22! Register here.

Happy Dynamics 365'ing!

Joe CRM
By Joe D365
Joe D365 is a Microsoft Dynamics 365 superhero who runs on pure Dynamics adrenaline. As the face of PowerObjects, Joe D365’s mission is to reveal innovative ways to use Dynamics 365 and bring the application to more businesses and organizations around the world.

2 comments on “Customer Field Types in Microsoft Dynamics 365”

  1. Hello!
    There is the function, when create new record it`s open Contact create form by default.
    How to change it to Account create form by default?

  2. Hello!
    There is the function, when create new record it`s open Contact create form by default.
    How to change it to Account create form by default?

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