Streamlining Automotive Program Management with Microsoft Dynamics 365

iLink Digital helped a global automotive leader modernize its Program Launch System by automating project creation, standardizing collaboration, and enabling real-time analytics with Microsoft Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and Teams. The solution streamlined program management, saved over 80 hours per launch, and improved visibility, collaboration, and decision-making across business units.

Industry

Automotive

Company Size

1000 – 5000 Employees

Headquarters

Peachtree City, Georgia

Client Overview

The client is a leading global automotive manufacturer known for innovation, quality, and large-scale program execution across multiple business units. With complex projects requiring thousands of deliverables, the organization needed a unified system to ensure collaboration, efficiency, and visibility across teams.

Challenges

The client’s existing project management tools created silos and inefficiencies, preventing smooth collaboration across departments.

Key challenges included:

• Limited Visibility: Existing tools lacked consolidated views for projects, KPIs, assigned tasks, and statuses, resulting in fragmented collaboration.
• Content Proliferation: No standardization in folder structures or document classification, leading to inconsistencies.
• Low Adoption: Project Management group was licensed only for Wrike, preventing other business units and contributors from engaging in the PLS process.
• High Manual Workload: Each program required creation of 1,500+ tasks, consuming nearly 80 hours of project manager effort per program.

Solution

iLink Digital deployed a modern Program Launch System (PLS 3.0) leveraging:

• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations & Scheduling API for centralized project management.
• Power Platform (Dataverse, Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI) for automation, analytics, and executive reporting.
• Microsoft Teams for real-time collaboration with structured channels, tabs, and folders.
• SharePoint Online for document management and standardized classification.

The solution automated project creation, streamlined team setup, standardized documentation, and delivered real-time dashboards for PMs and executives.

Business Outcome

80 Hours Saved per Program

Automated creation of 1,500+ tasks per project drastically reduced PM workload.

Seamless Team Collaboration

Automated Teams setup with predefined structures and integrated project members from EARS.

Standardized Document Management

Consistent folder structures and classification improved knowledge sharing.

Real-Time Dashboards

Automated Power BI reports provided PMs and executives with KPI and trend visibility, eliminating manual report preparation.

Higher Adoption Across Teams

Unified system enabled all business units and contributors to collaborate effectively.

Conclusion

By modernizing the Program Launch System with Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and Microsoft Teams, iLink Digital helped the client eliminate silos, automate repetitive tasks, and drive efficiency across large-scale programs. The new PLS not only saved significant project manager time but also empowered cross-functional teams with visibility, consistency, and real-time insights—ensuring smoother, faster, and more successful program launches.