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Microsoft Dynamics AX or GP: Understanding the fundamental differences

by Jivtesh Singh
Dynamics GP specialist, MVP, SACI

According to recent Microsoft customer figures, Dynamics GP is leading the growth in the Microsoft Dynamics ERP space, adding new customers at the rate of 9.3%. Meanwhile, in the last year, AX has added new customers at the rate of 5.6%.

As somebody who has been working with Microsoft partners reselling both Dynamics GP, AX and NAV, these numbers are not very surprising. Each product has its target markets and areas of strengths. Microsoft has been pushing AX very strongly for large scale deployments, and GP for small to mid-sized organizations. The question about comparing GP against AX comes up so often that I have a few slide in my typical presentation that I run though as soon as somebody brings up the question.

Disclaimer: Although the comparison below is aimed to be unbiased, I am a certified Dynamics GP Technology specialist and a Dynamics GP MVP. So my love for the product might have seeped through accidentally.

Microsoft's recommendation on GP vs AX

If you go to Microsoft's ERP Selection page, you are directed to Dynamics GP for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses, and AX for Enterprise Organizations (this exact structure may vary by country). See the next table for a breakdown.

Microsoft Dynamics web page

Drilling down further, the recommendations for GP and AX are as following -

Dynamics GP

Dynamics AX

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About Jivtesh Singh

Jivtesh Singh is a Microsoft Dynamics GP MVP, and a Microsoft Dynamics Certified Technology Specialist for GP 2010. Through his blog, which is widely read in the Dynamics GP community - he covers Dynamics GP Tips and tricks, news and walkthroughs of doing common and not so common tasks. The blog covers and highlights resources from other Microsoft Dynamics GP MVPs and experts for various GP related topics. Jivtesh has recently setup a custom search engine for Dynamics GP Blog at www.gpwindow.com to help with easier access of Dynamics GP resources for the GP Community.

Jivtesh's Blog on Dynamics GP - www.jivtesh.com
Jivtesh's Custom Search Engine for GP Blogs - www.gpwindow.com

Jivtesh recently built a Kinect interface to control the Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 R2 Business Analyzer with gestures. This was covered at Channel 9, ZDNet, MSDynamicsWorld, Official GP Blog and more - Using Gestures with Business Analyzer for Dynamics GP.

Jivtesh is a Dynamics GP Consultant and Systems Implementer and has been associated with the Microsoft Technologies since the launch of Microsoft .Net framework. Jivtesh has over 10 years of experience in development and maintenance of enterprise software using coding best practices, refactoring and usage of design patterns, and Test Driven Development.

More about Jivtesh Singh