Microsoft Announces Availability of Dynamics AX for Retail R2 in February 2011

As part of Microsoft's presence at the the National Retail Federation's annual conference, Microsoft today announced plans to release Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail R2, the next version of its AX retail solution, on February 1, 2011. 

The new release will be available in 50 countries, up from the original 16 countries of the initial release in August 2010.  It also includes enhancements like new retail role centers; expanded "scenarios" and management of customer experience; and new interfaces for assortment and item management.

"The opportunities for ERP in retail are absolutely huge," says Microsoft Dynamics ERP general manager Crispin Read.  "Retail is growing more quickly than the market overall, caused in part by pent up demand," he said. "There will be a major wave of retooling in retail over the next few years."

Microsoft sees AX for Retail as a solution that can provide anything from the full end-to-end solution down to a more modest point solution.  Areas of focus for the AX for Retail include point of sale, store management, supply chain, merchandising and financial data. According to Read, Microsoft partners are seeing strong interest in full-scale solutions linking the back office to financials, logistics, manufacturing and the store.

Microsoft further announced that retailers worldwide, including Paul's TV (as covered here), Bailey Banks & Biddle, Carol's Daughter, China Horizon,