Microsoft Dynamics 365 Commerce [Features, Pricing, and Reviews]

What is Dynamics 365 Commerce?

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Commerce is a cloud-based solution that integrates e-commerce, back-office operations, and customer engagement into a unified platform. This omnichannel platform helps businesses deliver consistent and personalized customer experiences across all touchpoints—whether online, in-store, or via mobile. It allows businesses to manage inventory, process orders, handle customer relationships, and gain valuable insights into operations—all from a single platform.

With its seamless integration into the broader Microsoft ecosystem (including Dynamics 365 Sales, Customer Service, and Power BI), Dynamics 365 Commerce offers businesses the flexibility to scale while maintaining control over their retail operations.

Dynamics 365 Commerce Features [What’s New and What Still Works]

Commerce is moving fast. Customers want flexibility. Associates want simplicity. And businesses? Well, they want a system that doesn’t break under pressure. That’s why Dynamics 365 Commerce is evolving—again—with updates in the 2025 Release Wave 1 that sharpen its focus on pricing, payments, and store performance.

If you’re wondering what still holds up and what’s fresh, here’s a breakdown—straightforward, updated, and written like a human.

Is Dynamics 365 Commerce Right for You?

So, how do you know if Dynamics 365 Commerce is the right fit for your business?

If you're a business looking to unify your operations across multiple sales channels—whether in-store, online, or mobile—Dynamics 365 Commerce could be the perfect solution. It's particularly well-suited for businesses in retail, manufacturing, and e-commerce sectors looking for a seamless connection between digital storefronts and back-office operations.

Here’s a breakdown of use cases where Dynamics 365 Commerce shines:

• Retailers with both brick-and-mortar stores and online presence
• Manufacturers who need a complete solution for order management, inventory, and supply chain
• E-commerce businesses looking to enhance their online shopping experience with robust AI-driven personalization

Things to Know Before You Choose Dynamics 365 Commerce

Getting started with a new eCommerce platform isn’t just about picking the one with the flashiest features. Sometimes, the real make-or-break lies in what happens behind the scenes—setup, access, compatibility, and costs.

If you're thinking about Dynamics 365 Commerce for your business, here are five things to think through before making the jump:

Dynamics 365 Commerce Customization Best Practices

When you build an online store on Dynamics 365 Commerce, you’re not just setting up products and pages—you’re working with a platform that offers deep customization. From homepage modules to product filters and themes, there’s a lot you can tweak to match your brand and customer needs.

But here’s the thing: not every customization is equal. Some can slow down your site. Others may break important features if not done right. So before your developers jump in, it’s worth understanding the best practices that lead to a faster, cleaner, and more reliable Commerce experience.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

Keep Code Clean and Lightweight

When developers build custom modules or themes, the system compiles them into JavaScript and CSS files that your shoppers' browsers have to load.

What helps?

• Remove any modules you’re not using
• Avoid unnecessary JavaScript or CSS files in your builds
• Use the “excludeModules” setting in the platform config to keep your site lean

This keeps your site faster, especially on slower connections or mobile devices.

3. Optimize Your Images (Seriously)

Images are often the biggest reason web pages take forever to load.

Here’s how to avoid that:

• Upload high-quality images to the Commerce Media Library, not inline in code
• Always set width and height attributes in image code—this helps caching

Use formats wisely:

• JPEG for general photos (small file size)
• PNG for sharper graphics or images with text
• GIF only for simple animations or low-color visuals

The platform resizes and compresses images automatically, but only if you follow these steps.

Use Lazy Loading—But Use It Where It Makes Sense

Lazy loading delays loading certain images or modules until the user scrolls down to them. It improves speed—if done right.

Use it for:

• Content blocks further down the page
• Product carousels or videos not visible at first glance

Avoid lazy loading for:

• Images at the top of the page (they’ll appear late and feel broken)
• Key features users interact with immediately

Developers can enable or disable lazy loading in the module settings in Site Builder.

Set Up Smart Caching Rules

Caching saves time by temporarily storing parts of your site. But not all content should be cached the same way.

Things to do:

• Images: Default cache time is 5 minutes, but you can request more
• Product data: Controlled through cache.settings.json in the SDK
• Pages: Can be cached at the server or per template in Site Builder

Caching improves speed—but if it's misconfigured, it can also cause outdated content to show.

Fine-Tune Search & List Performance (Using Top N)

Modules like product lists and search results often load too many items by default—up to 1,000!

That slows everything down.

You or your developer should:

• Set realistic page sizes (e.g., show 12, 24, or 48 products per page)
• Adjust the “Top(N)” setting in module configurations or Site Settings
• Confirm the API isn’t overloading pages with excessive results

Less data = faster load = better experience.

Use Preload Tags for Faster Browsing

Some browser-level hints can speed up site loading. For example:

<link rel="preconnect" href="https://yoursite.com">
<link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://yoursite.com">

These tell browsers to “get ready” to load important resources ahead of time. Developers can add these tags using the MetaTags module in Commerce Site Builder.

Prevent Your Site from Being Framed Elsewhere

To protect your storefront from being loaded inside another website (a potential security risk), use Content Security Policy settings to block iframes from unknown domains.

You’ll find this setting in Commerce Site Builder under Site Settings > Manage Content Security Policy.

Test Before You Publish

Always test site performance before going live.

Use:

• Your browser’s F12 Developer Tools (look at “Network” tab)
• Google Lighthouse or other page speed tools
• Simulate mobile and slow network conditions

It’s better to catch issues early than lose customers to a slow checkout or a page that won’t load.

What Peers Say About Dynamics 365 Commerce?

You can talk features and pricing all day, but at some point, you just want to know: “What’s it really like to use this thing?”

Across dozens of reviews from users in IT, retail, education, finance, and even government, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Commerce scores a steady 4.0 out of 5. That says a lot—especially considering the wide range of businesses using it, from 50-person teams to global enterprises.

Here’s what stands out when you listen to real users:

Scalability Without the Growing Pains (Mostly)

A common thread in the reviews is how well Commerce scales—from small online shops to multi-location chains. It’s especially appreciated by companies already deep in the Microsoft ecosystem. One IT services reviewer mentioned how “moving to Commerce felt natural” because they were already using Microsoft 365 and Azure.

That said, teams also mention a learning curve—particularly when setting up integrations or handling custom workflows. But once you get past that early stage, many say the platform becomes much easier to manage.

Strong Integration with Microsoft Tools

A lot of users love how Commerce connects smoothly with Power BI, Azure, Office 365, and the rest of the Dynamics suite (like Supply Chain, Finance, and CRM).

One reviewer even called it “an IT director’s dream” because of how unified the whole Microsoft environment becomes. Whether you’re tracking customer orders, running inventory reports, or managing a storefront, it’s all tied together.

Customization Has Pros and Cons

Yes, you can tailor Dynamics 365 Commerce to suit your business—but not without effort. Several users pointed out that customizing workflows or UIs can be time-consuming and sometimes requires outside help or partner support.

One user noted, “The product is powerful, but advanced customizations do need technical guidance.”

Strong Fit for Omnichannel Commerce

If your business runs both online and offline, reviewers agree that Commerce is built for that. Storefronts, call centers, and eCommerce can all run under the same umbrella. Some education and retail users said they were able to run their entire operations on one system—from managing promotions to customer service.

A few even highlighted the AI-powered personalization and automation as a major plus for customer engagement.

Pricing and Complexity: The Usual Trade-Off

While many reviews are positive, smaller businesses did raise concerns around setup cost and technical onboarding. One media industry reviewer put it bluntly: “The running costs wore out our budget.”

There’s also some feedback around the system slowing down when handling large data volumes—especially if the implementation isn’t optimized early.

Conclusion

Most reviewers call Dynamics 365 Commerce a retail-friendly solution. It takes a little time to get comfortable with, and yes, the setup can feel like a lot. But if you're already in the Microsoft ecosystem—or planning to move there—this platform brings everything together in one place.

And as more than a few users put it: “It just works better when everything is Microsoft.”

Of course, the difference between a smooth rollout and a bumpy one often comes down to having the right support. That’s where we come in. Whether you’re exploring your options or already planning your transition, our team can help you make the most of Dynamics 365 Commerce—from setup to integration to ongoing optimization.