Deploying Project Operations Core vs Integrated with ERP

So what was known as “Project Operations Lite“, “Project Operations Non-Stocked/Resource” and “Project Operations Stocked/Production” type of deployments are now – Core, Integrated with ERP and Manufacturing. In this post, we’ll focus on Core and Integrated with ERP.

And with LCS sunsetting, this is even easier with just the Power Platform Admin Center. Let’s see how!
But first, a quick look at the differences between them –

Which Deployment Type do you need?

	Core	Integrated with ERP
Old Name	Lite	Resource / non-stocked
App Layers	Dataverse	Dataverse + Finance (dual-write)
Distinguishing Features	Proforma invoicing, URS, Project for the web	Customer invoicing, revenue recognition, full expense with receipt OCR
PPAC App Selection	Project Operations	Project Operations ERP

If you are unsure what applies to your use case, it helps to take this questionnaire to get to what Microsoft suggests – https://admin.powerplatform.microsoft.com/projectoperations

1. Deploy Project Operations Core

Deploying Project Operations Core is fairly simple, just like deploying any other Dynamics 365 App. Let’s breeze through this quickly –

Given you have access and the right privileges in the Power Platform Admin Center, create a new Environment.
Give your environment a suitable name and then make sure to enable the Data Store, meaning Dataverse will also be deployed with the environment.
Then, make sure the correct Currency and Security Group are selected as they are required.
Then, select Enable Dynamics 365 Apps? as this will help you choose which Apps to deploy for your Environment.
Then, select only Project Operations. This is the Core type amongst the others and will be deployed as CE only, without any integration to ERP/F&O.

Click Save and let the environment get provisioned for a while. This will be relatively quicker than the other Project Operations deployment type.

2. Deploy Project Operations Integrated with ERP

So, you already have the right Power Platform Admin privileges. Here are the steps to create both the Project Operations environment and a new F&O environment, and tie them together –

Start by creating a New environment and enter the right region and name of the environment. Make sure to select Add a Data Store before you move to the next page.
Then, give it an appropriate URL. Note that this is also what the URL of the F&O environment will end up being.
Then, select Enable D365 Apps and in the list, select the Project Operations ERP app.

And once you click Save, it’ll start Provisioning as below –
Once it’s deployed, you’ll find that you also get the F&O link in it –

But what if you already have an environment with Project Operations only and want to set up F&O with it?

Already have an environment? Install the Finance and Operations Provisioning App on it instead of creating a new one. But first, you’ll need to install the Finance and Operations Platform Tools. Here’s how you go about it –
In your Project Operations environment, drop down Resources and select Dynamics 365 Apps.
Then, click Install app.
Then, look for Finance and Operations Platform Tools and click Next.
Confirm the details you see – the Finance and Operations Package Manager will get installed.
Once this is installed, install the Finance and Operations Provisioning App.
Confirm when asked – this opens up in a new tab. Select the options and proceed.
Then, select the latest version available to you when you set this up [it could vary when you are reading this] and click Next.
Confirm that the options you selected appear checked.
It’ll install for a while and once ready, the Finance and Operations URL will appear on your Project Operations environment.