Description:

Currently, Dynamics 365 Customer Insights – Journeys relies on Microsoft-managed email delivery using DKIM delegation to authenticate emails on behalf of customer domains. While this approach simplifies initial setup, it limits customers' ability to leverage their own email infrastructure, such as SMTP gateways or Exchange Online connectors.

Improvement Suggestion:

Introduce a configuration option that allows organizations to route outbound marketing emails through their own email infrastructure. This could include:

• SMTP relay configuration: Allow customers to define SMTP credentials and server details to send emails via their own relay (on-premises or cloud-based).
• Exchange Online connector integration: Enable routing through existing Exchange Online connectors to maintain consistency with organizational mail flow policies, DLP rules, and journaling requirements.

Benefits:

• Full control over email delivery, including throttling, compliance, logging, and failover.
• Better alignment with internal security, compliance, and archiving policies.
• Improved email deliverability and reputation management using trusted infrastructure.
• Enables use of internal monitoring and alerting tools for email-related events.

Use Cases:

• Regulated industries with strict email compliance requirements
• Organizations already using centralized email security solutions
• Multi-brand enterprises needing granular control over sending domains and gateways

Conclusion:

Providing this level of configurability would enhance Customer Insights – Journeys’ flexibility and appeal for enterprise customers, without compromising current DKIM-based delivery for those who prefer a simpler model.