Microsoft technology to watch: Where, when, and how it touches Dynamics ERP and CRM

Earlier this week, Microsoft Technical Fellow Mike Ehrenberg took the stage at Convergence 2014 Europe to demonstrate Microsoft's approach to predictive analytics in Dynamics AX, including the use of Azure Machine Learning to drive decision making in AX ‘7', the upcoming major release.

But there are a range of technical product advances at Microsoft that will also shape the future of Dynamics ERP and CRM. As the company reshapes itself under the renewed "One Microsoft" banner, this week's event was an opportune time to hear about where, when, and how Dynamics is crossing paths with other products. I sat down with Mike Ehrenberg to learn more about three specific areas of investment: the evolution of Azure SQL, the future of predictive analytics, and the expansion of Lifecycle Services.

Azure SQL matures

Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2015 running in Azure will be able to start using Azure SQL as a database almost immediately. Azure SQL support was a requirement for the new release, Ehrenberg said. Use of Azure SQL with NAV 2015 is further along in terms of high availability and disaster recovery. Dynamics AX has not made as much progress yet - Azure SQL will be supported with the next major release, AX ‘7' in conjunction with Microsoft's releases its public cloud version of the product.

As a product, Azure SQL has come a long way in the last two years, Ehrenberg says. So much so that he sees SQL innovation now originating in the cloud, and that will accelerate adoption by Dynamics ERP products.

"The [SQL] Team has really pivoted to doing innovation in the cloud product first. So whereas before the cloud product was catching up, now innovation is ...