The Future of Microsoft Dynamics AX Promises Improvements Against Flat IT Investment

In the face of stagnant  IT budgets through 2012, Kees Hertogh, Product Manager for Microsoft Dynamics AX laid out a vision of incremental enhancements, smoother upgrade capabilities, and expanded vertical solutions that encourage customers to "build a program for success" at the Dynamics General Session at Convergence 2010 in Atlanta.  Topics of the talk included a demonstration of AX for Retail, a look at AX "6" planned features, and the Dynamics AX vision for "2-tier" ERP deployments.

Dynamics Corporate Vice President Hal Howard joined Kees and addressed Microsoft's recent vertical solution acquisitions.  "We'll be up-leveling the solution in manufacturing in concert with a partner," Howard told the audience. "The retail solution was an acquisition we brought in that really enhanced our delivery to market.  And there was also a professional services solution.  But in general what we're really doing is taking our game to the next level - the next level of functionality and bringing it in house ... and really delivering an industry solution.  There will still be vertical solution partners, lots of them.  We have the richest ISV ecosystem out there, but we actually think we're providing an even richer platform for those ISVs to build on by taking bets on particular retail solutions, manufacturing, and professional services solutions."

Howard also described how Dynamics R&D teams are also taking a hard look at the "2-tier" ERP deployment model that multi-site manufacturers like Dell have adopted.  The focus will fall largely on automation of end-to-end processes in the operational ‘spokes' of the large enterprise where improved efficiency can have the greatest impact on the bottom line. 

Dell IT strategist John Biegel joined Kees on stage and explained that the aim was to achieve a lean transformation of their manufacturing systems to get lower total ...