Microsoft to Shutdown Its Dynamics 365 Unified Service Desk (USD)

The tech giant is encouraging customers using the app to switch to its Customer Service Workspace (CSW)

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Microsoft to Shutdown Its Dynamics 365 Unified Service Desk (USD)
Contact CenterLatest News

Published: January 24, 2025

Charlie Mitchell

Microsoft will retire its Dynamics 365 Unified Service Desk (USD) in June 2028.

The solution offers a configurable framework that allows users to bring multiple apps together in a unified agent desktop, without the need for large-scale coding.

As a result, it promises to present contact center agents with a single view of customer data.

Additionally, USD eliminates much of the need for reps to launch additional programs on their desktops and toggle between them.

Given these benefits, the solution became popular amongst many businesses leveraging Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Customer Service.

However, the tech giant is bidding a fond farewell to the offering, announcing that – as of April 1, 2026 – it will stop investing in the application.

After, all versions before the latest update will also become unavailable because “they will lack critical security features”.

Another key date to look out for is April 30, 2027. Thereafter, Microsoft will stop providing security and quality updates for the solution.

Finally, June 30, 2028, is the USD’s end-of-support date, after which the company will take the app out of service once and for all.

Microsoft’s Recommendation: Upgrade to the Customer Service Workspace (CSW)

Microsoft is encouraging teams to transition from the USD to its Customer Service Workspace (CSW).

In a LinkedIn post, Vinoth Balasubramanian, Director of Business Applications for Dynamics 365 R&D, proclaimed:

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Unified Service Desk (USD) will soon retire, making way for the modern and powerful Customer Service Workspace (CSW)—an adaptable and feature-rich platform tailored for today’s dynamic customer service needs.

As Balasubramanian suggests, CSW presents many advantages over USD. For starters, it offers faster load times and a more responsive interface that aids “seamless” customer conversations.

Additionally, it’s multi-session, and users may personalize their dashboards, forms, and workflows to better suit their individual preferences.

Yet, perhaps most crucially, CSW supports AI-driven agent-assist. Via its productivity pane, users may access suggested knowledge articles, relevant cases, and scripts pertinent to the conversation they’re actively handling.

Moreover, Microsoft plans to continually update CSW, enabling Copilot and autonomous agents.

Citing several of these benefits, Balasubramanian summarized:

We encourage all organizations currently using USD to start planning their transition to CSW to unlock these advantages and maintain operational excellence.

Consider Microsoft CSW, But There Are Other Options

Microsoft offers several agent interface options for customer service.

For instance, there’s an Omnichannel for Customer Service app. Like CSW, this offers a tailored interface with a conversation panel where agents can interact with customers, manage multiple sessions, and receive smart assistance.

Typically, this is geared towards large organizations and acts as an extension of Dynamics 365 Customer Service Enterprise.

Additionally, Microsoft has a Customer Service Hub (CSH). However, from February 2025, the vendor will stop selling CSH to new customers.

In making this announcement, Microsoft again directed its customers towards CSW, signaling that it’s going all in on the solution.

Nevertheless, there are similar apps made available by rival contact center providers.

Consider Microsoft’s chief tech competitor: Google. It offers a ChromeOS Desk Connector to provide service teams with that “single pane of glass” view of each customer.

Meanwhile, Here – previously Openfin – launched an Enterprise Browser in 2024 that allows brands to create “super tabs” for common customer contact reasons.

These super tabs present a desktop layout ideal for navigating the specific contact.

 

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