Microsoft Dynamics ax is a cloud platform which has now been renewed as microsoft dynamics 365. This article will give you a comprehensive description of the features, services, language, and cost of both versions.
What is Microsoft Dynamics AX and how does it work?
There had been many old versions of Microsoft dynamics ax such as 4.0 etc, however, the main version was released in 2012 and was supported in more than 30 countries, and was available in 25 languages.
Microsoft Dynamics ax is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software created by Microsoft, for large and midsize businesses to help them plan, manage resources, and work effectively.
Dynamics ax revolves around different types of management such as; inventory management, service management, project management, financial management, and warehouse management.
How does Microsoft Dynamics AX compare to other cloud-based ERP solutions?
ERP systems have proved to be one factor that boosts business success by easing the process of operation management and providing flexibility. In the emerging era, all businesses seek AI tools or technology to make their business management more flawless and efficient.
Hence, there are many ERP systems introduced other than dynamics ax and some are mentioned below:
- 1
Scoro
Being a project management ERP, this tool helps businesses to organize team activities, financial files, billing and sales, and professional services automation. It helps to track daily activities and productivity.
- 2
NETsuite ERP
This platform has helped many businesses to cater to supply chain management, and project management including all sales forecasting, billing methods, order management, etc.
- 3
Oracle ERP Cloud
This platform is similar to all other ERP systems, however, it has a unique selling point which is its adaptable pricing strategy. It offers this feature where you can pay for only the service you want to use.
- 4
SAP ERP
This German platform is known for its longevity and reliability, as it offers the best solutions regarding accounting and financial matters, along with other CRM features.
Users of every platform have different opinions, however, Microsoft dynamics ax has proven to be more user-friendly. Its simple and easy-to-use interface has been liked by customers more than any other platform.
Additionally, surveys have shown that users of SAP ERP need help finding the user interface. So conclusively, the User Interface of dynamics ax makes it more special than other ERP platforms.
How to get started with Microsoft Dynamics AX, and what kind of support and training is available?
There are many steps to get started with Microsoft Dynamics AX, however, we will make your journey easier by giving you a simple and brief guide.
- 1
Firstly, you need to acquaint yourself with the guidelines of this platform. You will need to understand the purpose and usage of the dynamics ax along with its new features.
- 2
Plan with your teammates regarding what type of deployment will suit your business (cloud-based, hybrid, and on-premises).
- 3
You must prepare the proper software and hardware arrangements to install and work with Microsoft Dynamics ax 2012.
- 4
The installation process will be a crucial step, however, you can easily install the software by reading the guidelines given by Microsoft, which come in handy when you purchase the software.
- 5
Subsequently, you will have to configure the system according to the needs of your business. Customization can help you achieve your desired aims more easily, and users will be able to work more fastly and efficiently.
- 6
After the setup process, you will need to import all the necessary data into the software so that the dynamics ax 12 can run smoothly.
- 7
Lastly, you must train all the users who will be operating the software and familiarize them with all the features and services.
Support and training have been accessible to all users of Microsoft dynamics ax 2012. There are different platforms but the best guidelines can be found on the official Microsoft website which offers all kinds of support and training.
Steps on how to deploy and run Microsoft Dynamics AX on Azure?
This is one of the crucial parts of the integration, however, we have jotted down the main steps of how you can efficiently perform the deployment without any major inconvenience.
With the release of a cumulative update for dynamics ax 2012, AIF (application integration framework) can be set up to utilize the windows azure service bus for integrating with external applications.
Simply put, you need to set up an azure service bus to integrate.
The service bus functions as an intermediary by forwarding messages to the virtual machine that is azure; however, in order to make this service available you will have to set up a service bus namespace and register it with AIF.
To configure an environment to deploy Microsoft Dynamics AX services to the Service Bus, you will need to follow these steps:
- 1
Set up AD FS or request your ACS namespace added as a relying party application by the AD FS administrator.
- 2
Get the thumbprint of the X.509 token signing certificate used as the digital signature by the Security Token Service (STS) on AD FS.
- 3
Configure ACS with the necessary parameters, such as the relying party and identity provider information, along with rule groups containing a claim rule for the identity provider.
- 4
Establish trust relationships between Service Bus and AD FS, Microsoft Dynamics AX, and Service Bus by enabling authentication.
- 5
Register the Service Bus namespace with AIF in Microsoft Dynamics AX and enter authentication parameters using the Microsoft Dynamics AX client.
- 6
Create an enhanced integration port utilizing the Service Bus adapter.
- 7
Once your Azure service bus is in operation, the integration will take place smoothly.
Most common use cases of the Microsoft Dynamics AX and Azure integration:
There are many ways in which your organization can use and benefit from this integration;
Microsoft Dynamics AX vs Microsoft Dynamics 365: A feature & Pricing Comparison
Microsoft Dynamics AX | Microsoft Dynamics 365 |
|---|---|
Cloud-based or desktop based? | |
Desktop-based | Cloud-based |
Pricing | |
One-time purchase license that costs around $400 for premium and essential subscription. | Subscription-based pricing which can cost up to $12.5- $35 per month. |
Existing features | |
New features | |
What are the key benefits of deploying Microsoft Dynamics AX on Azure?
The deployment of Microsoft Dynamics AX on Azure offers several key advantages, including:
How to overcome the challenges when using Microsoft Dynamics AX on Azure?
Conclusion
Conclusively, it is deduced that the Microsoft Dynamics ax has been quite useful for businesses.
However, the newer version of Dynamics 365 would be a better option for your organization to manage and handle all business matters through this software.
The new features and ease of access enable all users to work more efficiently, in turn increasing productivity.
Additionally, your business organization can save up to large amounts of money by utilizing the new pay-per-service model and web login feature.
