Successfully Navigate the Transactional Document and Reporting Challenges of International Trade Using Microsoft Dynamics AX

Last month I described how companies leveraging Microsoft Dynamics AX could increase the benefits associated with their accounts receivable output through different transactional document process automation (DPA) projects.

Given all the ways in which globalization is quickly reshaping long-standing business practices, I thought this would be an ideal time to take a closer look at some of the document and reporting challenges that can be created as a result of international trade. And how, with help from a Microsoft Dynamics AX partner, along with an add-on DPA solution for more sophisticated enhancements, organizations can drive new process efficiency gains to reduce costs and enhance customer services.

Where domestic trade is concerned, the transactional documents most associated with exchanging goods and/or services with a customer include sales confirmation, picking lists, packing slips, bills of lading and invoices. When you throw cross-border trade into the mix -- be it to South America, Europe or Asia Pacific -- that manageable universe of ERP output expands to include import/export documentation, which is always complex.

But that's not all. There can also be a language barrier to consider. Accommodating other languages such as Spanish or French could likely force your business to maintain pre-printed forms in more than one language.

In working with a broad range of Microsoft Dynamics AX users, I've had the opportunity to see different approaches to addressing output inefficiencies for international business up close. One such example involves an organization that had developed a proprietary piece of software for document generation and output, and relied on fax machines for document delivery to customers and suppliers.

While this approach was functional, the less-than-seamless integration between the home-grown application and Microsoft Dynamics AX meant that shipping personnel, for instance, had ...