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Reflections on AXUG Summit 2008: Hints About Microsoft's Investment and Product Plans for Dynamics AX

by Bill Knapp
President of vSync,

As a first-time participant, I attended the AXUG Summit 2008 last month with a number of preconceptions. Given that Microsoft Dynamics AX is relatively new to the U.S. market, and that American sales, according to Microsoft, were the lowest of the four Dynamics lines, I thought attendance would be low. My second thought was that because AX is  a "young" ERP solution, that the problems and issues expressed by users would be many and voiced with intensity. 

Well, I was surprised on both fronts. There were roughly 300 AX users in attendance, as compared to GPUG Summit 2008, whose total attendance (users and partners) was about 120.

As for the AX users, I heard very few negative comments--which either meant that those in attendance were holding back or that the VARs and the product were meeting their needs.  I prefer to think that it was the latter.

Overall, I think users were very pleased with the AXUG Summit 2008.  I came away from the conference pleasantly surprised and took back several observations: 

  • Microsoft Dynamics is investing in this ERP platform well beyond the other three Dynamics platforms in terms of product development. Though no official message has been delivered regarding resource allocation for the four platforms, it is clear that personnel are being moved to the Dynamics AX team.  I anticipate that this will start to become apparent through increasing vertical features/functionality. Additionally it is the designated ERP platform being introduced into new markets such as China and Brazil.
  • Microsoft is positioning AX across the middle market. Several years ago, AX was being touted as the upper mid-market "enterprise" class solution, which would go toe-to-toe with the likes of Oracle and SAP.  In the ...

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About Bill Knapp

Bill Knapp is the President of vSync. Bill has extensive experience in the evolution of supply chain compliance and EDI, having held executive positions at Compuserve and Sterling Commerce. Over a six-year span, Bill served in multiple capacities at Sterling Commerce, including President of Sterling Commerce's Internet Services Division, Director of Network Sales, Director of Vendor Implementation Services for large retailers, Enterprise Outsourcing, and Director of Market Development. Bill holds a B. A. from Bethany College and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University.

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