Behind the Latest Microsoft Dynamics AX Statement of Direction: Insights Into Strategy, Support, and Commitment

In any ERP selection, apart from product functionality and technical capabilities customers need to be able to plan for the future development--thus, they need to know about the product strategy, support roadmap, environmental interoperability flexibilities and commitment from the product vendor. The latest Microsoft Dynamics AX Statement of Direction (SOD), which I originally discussed on my blog (http://bit.ly/5ZLkIX) earlier provides precise answers to these critical issues. The SOD also reaffirms Microsoft's long-term schedule for release of future versions of Dynamics AX.

The Product Vision is organized according to three key elements that are the R&D focus areas in the current and future releases on AX. These are people, process, and technology, as shown in the accompanying illustration:

The AX SOD provides us an overview from these three key perspectives on the future of ‘Dynamics AX'

People Perspective

• User Centric Model -One of the main success factors in any ERP is the end user acceptability and usability of the system. Keeping this in mind, Microsoft has focused on the three themes of people productivity, efficiency and usability. AX provides users an intuitive UI, Personalized Role Centre, enhanced Web functionalities and a set of feature-rich tools to enable users to be more productive and efficient, enabling them to focus on the core areas. In other words, AX is ‘people ready'.

Process Perspective