MSDW Podcast: Microsoft Dynamics AX to 365 upgrade journeys, Part 11 – A cloud skeptic

This episode of the MSDW Podcast is sponsored by Avalara.

Priefert Manufacturing is a Microsoft Dynamics AX customer that operates in a rural location in the US that still loses internet connectivity to the outside world from time to time. The company maintains its own data center and IT expertise, ensuring that its critical systems are never lost due to failures beyond its control, like when all three of its ISPs fail at the same time.

Darren Goebel, VP of Technology at Priefert, joins our upgrade podcast series to share his experience looking into the company's path forward from Dynamics AX 2009 to something new. While Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations would seem to be the obvious choice, Goebel explained that, after lengthy discussions with Microsoft, his team is nearing the conclusion that the company will likely migrate to another vendor.

He speaks frankly about his observations, research, and skepticism about moving to the public cloud. He recounts conversations with Microsoft representative and he explains why he most likely does not see Microsoft's ERP priorities as the best match for his organization's future plans.

Our cohost for the AX to D365 upgrade series is Peter Joeckel from TurnOnDynamics, specializing in Microsoft Dynamics AX to D365 Upgrades and Project Rescues.

Show Notes

• 2:30 – Priefert's history with Microsoft Dynamics, and how the company's evolution has impacted its ERP usage.
• 7:00 – challenges of transitioning the business model to process manufacturing
• 15:30 – Assessing capabilities and cost of moving to D365FO – why stay on maintenance for an out of support product, and what the cost comparison looks like
• 19:30 – How their license transition to D365FO might look.
• 20:30 – Using AX on forklifts, kiosks, and other devices, and what it means for a cloud vs hybrid vs on-prem architecture for a business in a rural location that loses its internet connection.
• 23:15 – Conversation with Microsoft reps about assessing total cost of ownership
• 26:30 – What Priefert was told about hybrid D365FO, and why they can't afford manufacturing to lose connectivity for an hour.
• 36:30 – Considering alternatives like private cloud or other ERP vendors
• 39:30 – Recounting support calls to Microsoft – two in the last ten years.
• 44:00 – How other vendors compare to D365FO for Priefert's needs
• 45:45 – Is D365FO an ERP product or a development platform? And what is reasonable for customers to expect from Microsoft in weighing cloud vs on-prem?
• 51:30 – How another ERP vendor's on-prem to cloud mix compares to Microsoft's
• 53:30 – What does the next year hold for Priefert's ERP plans?