Comparing Supply Chain Management Capabilities in the New Microsoft Dynamics AX versus AX 2012 R3

Editor's Note: The following article is drawn from Dr. Hamilton's new book about Supply Chain Management using Microsoft Dynamics AX.  The book focuses on supply chain management in manufacturing and distribution businesses, and covers the software capabilities within the new Dynamics AX as well as AX 2012 R3.   

The new Microsoft Dynamics AX now in public preview contains the proven business logic of the previous AX 2012 R3 version, where both options share the same embedded conceptual models and business processes.  However, a comparison indicates some substantive differences. 

This comparative analysis of AX 2012 R3 and the new Dynamics AX focuses on changes in SCM-related functionality for manufacturing/distribution businesses.  It does not cover the many changes related to retail-oriented operations, or the changes related to business intelligence.  The major differences include the analysis of delivery alternatives for a sales order line, the approach to calculating demand forecasts, and the introduction of SCM-related workspaces.  Other differences include changes in the user experience and in AX terminology, as well as deprecated functionality. 

A previous article summarized the major SCM-related differences between the older AX 2012 version and the newer versions of AX 2012 R3 and the new Dynamics AX.

1.  Analyze Delivery Alternatives for a Sales Order Line 

The delivery alternatives for meeting a customer's requested ...