Guide · Dynamics 365
How to update Dynamics 365 opportunities faster
Keeping Dynamics 365 Sales opportunities up to date usually means changing stage, estimated revenue, estimated close date and next steps across many deals. Here are the main ways to do it and where each one slows you down.
Updated 26 October 2026 · by the CRM Assist team at ShiftRight
1. The opportunity form
Open each opportunity, change the fields and save.
- Good for: deals that need many fields, the business process flow, products or the timeline.
- Slows you down: one deal at a time.
2. Editable grids
Editable grids let you change values directly in a view's rows instead of opening each record.
- Setup: they are not on by default. Someone with customization rights adds the Editable Grid control to the opportunity table in your app.
- Limits: some field types can't be edited in the grid, including customer lookups, composite address fields and status fields. Microsoft has also removed the editable grid from its mobile and desktop apps, where it shows as read-only.
3. Excel
Export a view to Excel, change the values, and import them back.
- Good for: many records at once, if you are comfortable with imports.
- Slows you down: exporting and importing is a round trip, and a wrong column can change many records at once.
4. CRM Assist
CRM Assist opens your Dynamics 365 pipeline in a fast, spreadsheet-style grid. Change stage, amount, close date and next step in place and they save straight to Dynamics 365.
- No extension needed: sign in with Microsoft. If your company requires approval for new apps, a Microsoft admin approves CRM Assist once (about 2 minutes); nothing is customized in your Dynamics 365.
- Paste a column from Excel to update many deals, with undo.
- Meera, the built-in AI assistant, prepares the updates you describe and flags deals that need attention; you approve every change.
- Works on your phone too: Dynamics 365 users who sign in with Microsoft can use the full app on their phone.
14-day free trial, no credit card, then US$9.90 per user per month. How CRM Assist works with Dynamics 365.
Which one to use when
| If you need to… | Use |
|---|---|
| Change many fields on one deal | The opportunity form |
| Edit simple fields across a view, on the web | Editable grids (once your admin has turned them on) |
| Change hundreds of records | Excel export and import |
| Update your whole pipeline every week, including on your phone | A pipeline tool such as CRM Assist |
Questions
How do I turn on editable grids in Dynamics 365?
Someone with customization rights adds the Editable Grid control to the table (for example Opportunity) in the app's solution, then saves and publishes. Ask your Dynamics 365 admin.
Why are some fields read-only in my editable grid?
Some field types can't be edited in editable grids, such as customer lookups, composite address fields and status fields. Others may be read-only for your security role.
Does CRM Assist change my Dynamics 365 setup?
No. CRM Assist works through Dynamics 365's API with your own Microsoft sign-in and permissions. Nothing is customized, and it never deletes records.
Get your Friday back.
CRM Assist: a fast, spreadsheet-style workspace and AI assistant on top of Salesforce or Dynamics 365. 14-day free trial, no credit card, then US$9.90 per user per month.