Microsoft Dynamics AX Roadmap: AX 2012 R2, Retail Push, and Looking Back

With the initial release of Dynamics AX 2012 in the marketplace, Microsoft product managers took some time at AXUG Summit 2011 to look at the product's history and what 2012 means for the product's roadmap. As they frame it, the 2012 release represents a well planned platform from which we can expect to see more vertical capabilities, more BI and reporting integration, and a broad view of what it means for a Dynamics ERP solution to be "cloud enabled".

Dynamics AX general manager Sri Srinivasan reviewed the evolution of AX from its acquisition in 2001 through to the 2012 release, which he framed as a steady push from proprietary technology and architecture to full adoption of the Microsoft technology stack. The benefits of this transition, Srinivasan said, have been improvements in performance, lots of added features, improved security, and a "real world service oriented architecture".

AX 2012 represents a "confluence of things from a functionality standpoint," Srinivasan told the audience. "In terms of code base, it is about twice the size of [AX] 4.0 and 2009 put together." This growth is due, at least in part, to the addition of functionality from five industry verticals in the core product and a single installation process. The result, he said, is a product that has three tenets: a model-driven layered architecture allowing for more configuration and less customization; unified natural models; and better interface familiarity for improved productivity and adoption.

The first release of AX 2012 positions the product for several upcoming roadmap goals, according to AX director of product management Kees Hertogh. Six additional languages will be available in 2012 Q1, and a January 2012 feature pack will bring AX for Retail up to AX 2012 as well (it is currently ...