In 2024, we initiated a centralized PPM (Project Portfolio Management) approach to manage our internal projects using Microsoft-native solutions, without additional investment.
Initially, we evaluated Project Online but decided against it due to its upcoming deprecation and limited long-term viability. We then adopted the Microsoft Project Accelerator, which aligned well with our requirements. Our pilot was successful, and we began scaling it across multiple projects globally.
However, over the past 6–12 months, we have encountered several limitations impacting user experience and adoption. Some key challenges include:
- No notifications when tasks are assigned
- No reminders for task due dates
- Limited functionality for tasks created within plans generated via Project Accelerator
- Missing basic features expected in standard task management tools
Upon raising support requests, we were informed that these limitations are primarily due to the setup—specifically, hosting in a custom (non-default) Project/Dataverse environment, even though the deployment followed Microsoft-recommended guidance.
These gaps significantly impact usability and create a suboptimal user experience compared to standard Microsoft offerings.
We are seeking guidance on the following:
- Is there a way to enable full Planner/Project functionality (notifications, reminders, etc.) in a custom Dataverse environment?
- Can existing plans/projects from Project Accelerator be migrated to the new Planner (native) environment? If yes, what would be the recommended approach?
- Are there alternative Microsoft-native solutions or architectures better suited for managing multiple global projects with full functionality?
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We would greatly appreciate insights, recommended approaches, or best practices from the community.
Thank you in advance for your support!
