NGO invests in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2 upgrade to broaden utilization, escape legacy customizations

As a center for research, development, training, and farming systems for maize and wheat, at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) has used Microsoft Dynamics AX for eight years. Its latest investments in the product was a recent AX 2012 R2 upgrade that frees the organization from older customizations and adopt the latest budgeting and project-based capabilities that a global NGO needs to operate efficiently.

The organization has offices throughout the developing world. Headquartered in Mexico, the center works with partners worldwide to reduce poverty and hunger by sustainably increasing the productivity of maize and wheat cropping systems.

As part of its mission, CIMMYT maintains one of the world's largest and most diverse maize and wheat seed collections and is best known for work leading to the Green Revolution-the widespread adoption of improved crop varieties and farming practices that have saved millions of lives across Asia.

Interested in learning more about this innovative organization's journey with Dynamics AX, MSDynamicsWorld.com spoke with CIMMYT business solution analyst Jonalyn Gumafelix about the organization's history with AX and the challenges of expanding ERP to its numerous worldwide locations.

MSDW:  How did CIMMYT get AX to the point it is at now?

Jonalyn Gumafelix:  CIMMYT began implementing Dynamics Axapta in 2006 as a replacement for the accounting system at that time. CIMMYT was using only the basic financial modules and reporting was done outside the system using an Excel add-in tool. ...