Microsoft Says It's (Finally) Getting Serious About Focusing on Industry Verticals for Dynamics

Microsoft is renewing its focus on industry verticals, via adjustments to Dynamics software and stronger encouragement to partners and ISVs, several company officials stated at the Convergence Copenhagen 2008 conference.

Microsoft is focusing on special capabilities for its Dynamics NAV and AX software in five industry ares: manufacturing, retail, distribution, professional services, and the public sector. For NAV, partners develop the actual functional capabilities, while for AX, Microsoft builds the vertical capabilities into the software.

These capabilities are sometimes quite significant, explained Michael Ehrenberg, the chief Dynamics architect. For example, public sector organizations "do their accounting differently." The next version of Dynamics AX, due out within two years, will incorporate the public sector specialty, according to Kees...