Microsoft Officially Announces Dynamics GP 2013, NAV 2013, Additional Plans for Azure, Industry Expansion

Microsoft officially opened Convergence 2012 for Dynamics customers and partners with today's keynote session that promoted the product line's advances, a focus on engagement, and new stories of customer success.  The keynote included more specific cloud plans for the upcoming Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 and GP 2013 releases and more assurance of the company's ability to make good on its promises of an evolving product line that includes cloud-based options.

"We've talked about our long term investments in the cloud ... but now it is in full mainstream," Kevin Turner, Microsoft COO told the audience.  "We're building the cloud where you decide abd when you want... As long as you have Acitive Directory and System Center, weacan offer [a solution for companies]  through common technology."

Dynamics AX 2012 R2 will be available in Q4 of 2012, the company announced.  It will deliver industry enhancements like multi-channel retail with web storefronts and "RoleTailored" in-context business intelligence capabilities using "the latest Microsoft SQL Server technologies," according to the company. The company also reiterated its commitment that the next major release of Dynamcs AX will evolve as an enterprise cloud service offering.

Microsoft also announced both Dynamics NAV 2013 and Dynamics GP 2013 as the formal names for what had been codenamed NAV 7 and GP 12, respectively.  And they confirmed that both products will be cloud-enabled for Azure and generally available in Q4 of 2012.  The beta for NAV 2013 is expected in May 2012, and GP 2013 is planning a beta for the August or September time frame.

Dynamics NAV 2013 will include multiple vertical services hosted on Azure including industrial equipment manufacturing, specialized retail and fashion, and more offerings planned over time.