Looking for a robust enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution that can help streamline complex business processes and combine all of its customer relationship management (CRM) solutions into a single system?
Enter Microsoft Dynamics AX!
This dynamic enterprise management system is designed to help people work effectively, compete globally, and manage change more efficiently. Microsoft Dynamics AX offers pre-built integrations with familiar Microsoft software, automates business and financial intelligence operations, and optimizes supply chain processes in a way that can improve overall business efficiency.
Read on to learn more about Microsoft Dynamics AX and how our senior-level Microsoft Dynamics consultants can help your organization!
What is Microsoft Dynamics AX?
Microsoft created Dynamics AX, an intuitive, robust ERP solution with pre-built integration functionality that connects applications across the Microsoft suite to help companies manage back-end activities and keep their organization operating as expected.
What is Microsoft Dynamics AX Used For?
The Microsoft Dynamics 365 suite was initially released in 2003 and consisted of five products: Microsoft Dynamics AX, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Microsoft Dynamics GP, and Microsoft Dynamics SL, and all ERP software; and Dynamics CRM, Microsoft’s customer relationship management software.
Dynamics AX is part of the Microsoft Dynamics package, including Microsoft Dynamics CRM and ERP solutions (referred to as “apps” by Microsoft).
Here are a few of the key capabilities included in Dynamics AX:
- Business Intelligence
- Financial Management
- Retail and E-commerce
- Inventory Management
- Project Management
- Service Management
- Human Capital Management
- Manufacturing
- Supply Chain Management
- Distribution
- Sales and Marketing
What is Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations?
Microsoft rebranded Dynamics in November 2016, combining all of its CRM and ERP products into one, all-encompassing product: Dynamics 365.
The other software was renamed and compiled into Dynamics 365, while Dynamics SL and Dynamics GP are sold separately. Microsoft Dynamics NAV was revamped as Dynamics 365 Business Central, Dynamics AX was redesigned as Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations apps, and Dynamics CRM was redesigned as Dynamics 365 for Sales.
Businesses can be picky about the elements they want from a smaller, more modular program with some of the apps’ functionality. There are nine core applications in Dynamics 365 and several minor sub-apps. So, technically speaking, Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations is simply Dynamics AX under a new name.
Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations Apps vs. Dynamics AX
The cloud-based version of Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations (F&O) offers a few new capabilities, but it includes most of the same capabilities formerly known as Dynamics AX7.
The intuitive deployment and interface offerings are two of the most significant changes that users will likely notice between the old and new versions. With new browser-based applications, users no longer need to install an application on their computer to use Dynamics 365 apps, and they can be accessed from any device with an internet connection.
Since Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, F&O capabilities have experienced a significant revamp, providing enhanced functionality and modern application designs to improve user interaction and promote user engagement. With current interface flexibility, users can customize their homepage with personalized colors and default start pages to meet their unique needs.
Dynamics 365 surpasses earlier versions of Microsoft Dynamics AX in all things reporting and business intelligence, providing intelligent analytics capabilities driven by artificial intelligence and comprehensive collections of company data.
Although F&O can be extended through third-party add-on tools or extensions as needed, Dynamics AX can only be customized through comprehensive application development.
Static cubes produced in SQL Server Analysis Services in previous versions of Microsoft Dynamics AX have been restored with real-time, in-memory, multidimensional analysis capabilities to facilitate better reporting across the board.
Benefits of Microsoft Dynamics AX
Here are a few critical advantages of the Microsoft Dynamics AX solution:
Improved Customer Satisfaction
Through advanced logistics management, Dynamics AX helps businesses streamline the movement of supplies and goods, improving the efficiency of their supply chain operations across the entire organization.
Additionally, Microsoft Dynamics AX provides integrated order processes and supply chain functions to facilitate quicker client responses, improve product quality, and leverage in-the-moment insights to identify and resolve problems more quickly.
Increased Visibility
Dynamics AX helps companies track assets more efficiently, reducing reporting errors and automating processes when appropriate. It also provides intelligent predictive analytics and data collection capabilities to improve accessibility and visibility for every aspect of your supply chain.
Reduced Operational Costs
Who wouldn’t want to reduce total operational costs across their business? Microsoft Dynamics AX includes enhanced budget planning control, encumbrance management, and even three-way matching capabilities for financial processes. And, after implementing Dynamics AX, users can benefit from supply chain automation and reduced purchasing costs across the board.
Enhanced Productivity
Microsoft Dynamics AX empowers employees to make smart, proactive decisions through intelligent, integrated systems. Microsoft Dynamics RoleTailored solution consolidates data, insights, and tasks related to specific jobs. The RoleTailored application includes task prioritization, automation, and integration abilities to ensure employees have the necessary resources to work faster, better, and smarter.
Scalable Solutions
With Dynamics AX, you can easily modify your system to accommodate your organization’s specific needs over time. Its model-driven, layered design makes creating, managing, and upgrading applications to new releases of particular business procedures simple.
With instant-on capabilities, users can simplify and expedite deployment operations to satisfy changing business requirements. Users can leverage an adaptable design to adopt Microsoft Dynamics AX capabilities all at once or system-by-system. And, by implementing one business scenario at a time, companies can shorten implementation timeframes and improve overall efficiencies.
Pair Additional Microsoft Software with Dynamics AX
With Dynamics AX, customers can also access additional Microsoft software and improve communication and collaboration across teams and systems. The AX solution also helps organizations connect with other business solutions, such as communication platforms and on-premise or cloud-based applications, making improving consistency across teams and maximizing investments easier.
Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail and Distribution
For a better user experience for users and customers, Dynamics AX streamlines multichannel management, merchandising, financial processing, and shop operations. With retail solutions in Dynamics AX, you can:
Connect with Customers: Customers may be reached with omnichannel control, regardless of how, when, or where they shop.
Provide Excellent Service: Utilize comprehensive order management and real-time insights to improve customer engagement and productivity.
Scale Easily: With an agile, multichannel solution, Microsoft Dynamics AX allows users to expand online stores without interruption.
Dynamics AX for Manufacturing
Dynamics AX provides operational and customer service solutions that help companies compete in the global manufacturing market. Using manufacturing solutions in Dynamics AX, you can:
Address Ever-Changing Customer Needs: A flexible, scalable, and agile platform like Dynamics AX is essential for expansion, as customer needs continuously change.
Improve Efficiency: Gaining visibility and streamlining internal operations will accelerate time-to-market and enable quick customer service, increasing productivity and efficiency in the process.
Empower Your Employees: Leverage a scalable, customizable ERP platform and advanced management tools to give your employees the tools they need to accomplish their best work.
How Can Microsoft Dynamics AX (D365 F&O) Help Businesses Grow?
Through powerful business intelligence services and best-of-breed reporting solutions, Dynamics AX enables customers to extract more useful, contextual information from their data and reduce the time spent on report generation.
With Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations, companies can:
- Achieve corporate compliance
- Enhance visibility across the organization
- Improve financial controls
- Accelerate cash flows
- Increase forecasting accuracy
- Manage budgets and enhance resource scheduling
- Improve engagement with project teams
- Control project time, expenses, and invoicing
To establish operational processes specifically tailored to the demands of the business, Dynamics 365 F&O allows manufacturers to combine various processes, including discrete, lean, and process operations in a single, unified solution.
It also gives users real-time visibility and automation capabilities to review and streamline logistics and improve supply chain management, enhancing service delivery speed and communication between suppliers and clients.
Dynamics AX software can be customized to match certain company requirements, enabling businesses to grow, innovate, and create the resources they need to be successful.
How Can We Help?
Whether you need help implementing Microsoft Dynamics AX, integrating Dynamics AX with other applications, or anything else Dynamics-related, we understand that it’s quite a daunting task to take on alone.
That’s where our team of consultants at Surety Systems comes in to help!
Our team of senior-level Microsoft Dynamics consultants has the experience and resources needed to help your team succeed, no matter how complex your project is or what the nature of your project needs looks like.
Contact Us
Ready to learn more about Microsoft Dynamics AX and how our Microsoft Dynamics consultants can help improve your organization’s key business processes?
Contact us today!
