Microsoft has delivered on its promise to launch its Dynamics AX ERP suite on the Azure cloud platform, with general availability in 137 markets and in 40 languages.
While expected for some months (see our recent interview with Dynamics technical fellow Mike Ehrenberg right here) the arrival has great symbolic significance for the ERP industry, as Dynamics AX is being launch only on the cloud at first, with an on-premises version not set until the end of the year. Here are some key details from Microsoft's press release on the launch:
Customers across the globe are already using Dynamics AX to run their business processes in the cloud — from single domains like human resources and manufacturing to end-to-end business. Companies already live in production includeHagler Systems, Haldex, Icon, Renault Sport Formula One Team, Priva, Smiles, Travel Alberta and Umbra Group.
The new Dynamics AX moves beyond traditional business solutions and brings ERP, business intelligence, infrastructure and database services together in a single offering, empowering organizations to run industry-specific and operational business processes that are extendable with specific solutions from partners. Wednesday, Microsoft announced more than 50 ISV solutions that are available on the Azure Marketplace. These Microsoft-curated, pre-configured industry and vertical solutions help customers discover and implement the solution they need quicker than ever before and, like Dynamics AX, enable fast consumption of updates and improvements. In addition to the 50-plus solutions already available, hundreds are in development today.
The new Dynamics AX takes the capabilities of Lifecycle Services (LCS) to the next level. Businesses will be able to combine the best practices for their mission-critical apps with the flexibility and simplicity of upgrade via the cloud. With LCS, Dynamics AX will formalize the concepts of development, test and production, making the ongoing upgrade quicker to implement and deploy and easier to manage.
Microsoft had an important reason for launching AX on Azure first—namely, as a means to battle-test the cloud platform with a mission-critical application like ERP.
Other features of AX include a touch-enabled UI and Workspaces, role-tailored application scenarios that bring together information different types of business users need on a single screen.
AX is priced by subscription with three user types: self-serve, Task and Enterprise.
Digging Into the Details
During an online launch event, Microsoft took audience questions and provided some important additional details for customers considering AX, which are summarized below.
- Currently, Dynamics AX is available only on Azure with production environments operated by Microsoft. Later this year, public cloud instances that can be operated by customers will become available. The on-premises version will be based on Azure Stack, which is scheduled for release in December. Only then will Microsoft provide an availability timeline for the on-premises edition.
- AX CRM has been carried forward with the same functional scope as Dynamics 2012 R3, although there are more capabilities.
- It's possible to make customizations in Dynamics AX today.
- Each tenant on Azure will receive their own database and isolated compute.
- Microsoft is focused initially on migrating data from AX2009, believing AX2012 customers have made recent investments and won't want to upgrade in the short term. A data migration tool for AX2009 is set for release later this year.
- Dynamics AX will support up to 1,000 users in the initial release but this will rise as SQL Azure's capabilites improve.
- Dynamics AX used 2012 R3 as a foundation, so changes to table structures are minor in contrast to earlier major upgrades.
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