Microsoft Dynamics AX 7 – Cloud first, mobile first

The key transformation of cloud computing has changed the way the combination of services and technology supports business efficiency.

The question is wider than how and if an organisation should move from on premise deployments to the cloud. Whether it’s a matter of ever-changing IT spend or moving strategic business processes from on premise data servers to cloud resources, cloud computing has driven the evolution of how technology can be harnessed to further business productivity.

The latest release of Microsoft Dynamics for Finance and Operations (known in its pre-release phase as AX 7) emphasises a meaningful shift to cloud computing. Dynamics AX (Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations) offers both the business processes that enable greater productivity, as well as cloud capabilities. Dynamics AX 7 (Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations) has evolved in vital ways: it runs natively in Azure, it will support hybrid deployment models, and its user experience can be deployed on nearly any device and browser, making it accessible to a wide range of mobile and desktop devices.

Microsoft Dynamics AX 7 on Azure –  A shift to ERP cloud computing for the enterprise – The benefits

1. The Azure cloud platform adds important security capabilities to Dynamics AX (Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations). In the ever changing world of online security and safety, deferring this responsibility to Microsoft and its partners is highly cost effective and provides a level of support for advanced security.

2. Dynamics AX 7 (Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations) is a cloud first application in line with other Microsoft flagship products. Enhancements that started in Dynamics AX 2012 R3 have been extended to make Dynamics AX 7 (Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations) more customisable in the cloud. The latest update takes full advantage of the Microsoft Azure cloud platform, placing the emphasis on offering customers what they need, when they need it.

3. The simplicity of the deployment model for Azure services vastly simplifies the implementation phase when deploying a new business management system. The new cloud optimised platform allows for simplified production environments and a reduction in backup servers, without ever detracting from an emphasis on security. This is vastly beneficial for companies that want to test or pilot advanced technologies without making a commitment in terms of cost or manpower.

4. Using Azure as the cloud platform for Dynamics AX 7 (Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations) enables the use of a wide range of services runningin Azure that can add significant value to a Dynamics AX 7 (Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations) Microsoft Cloud services include Office 365 and Dynamics CRM, as well as Power BI. Basing the new Dynamics AX 7 functionality on Azure also sets up Dynamics customers for the deployment of innovative technologies, such as machine learning and internet of things (IoT) capabilities.
   Whilst all of these services support non-Microsoft technologies, their co-evolution with the Dynamics product set means that Dynamics AX 7 (Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations) and Life Cycle Services (LCS) are certainly better integrated with Microsoft Cloud services, and able to deliver their value to customers.

5. Businesses will have the option of using as much or as little of the cloud as they choose. Although the cloud release comes first with this upgrade, not all businesses are ready to embrace a 100% cloud environment. Hybrid options are available so that businesses can move as much or as little to the cloud as they want, at their own pace. The on-premise option will be released in the second half of this year.

A mobile first strategy for enterprise ERP

As customers are increasingly “digital” and expect to interact across the globe using mobile technologies, the feature of Dynamics AX (Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations) that will be collectively embraced is its mobile first approach. According to Microsoft, productivity is about empowering people and not simply forcing people to work in predefined ways. It’s this philosophy that underpins the common user’s experience whether the user is on an iPhone, Windows Phone, iPad, Surface, or other type of device.

Dynamics AX 7 (Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations) is available across a broad range of mobile devices, making it accessible on nearly any smart phone or tablet. This accessibility is increasingly necessary, as businesses require all operations and data to be available at any time, from any location. Having access to real-time data from Dynamics through a mobile device provides employees and business owners with better information to make informed decisions on the go, without having to refer back to the office.

The new Dynamics AX 7 (Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations) interface and workspaces have been designed for ease of use on mobile devices without a mouse or keyboard.

With the current explosion in technologies that use cloud capabilities, Dynamics AX 7 (Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations) is a preview into the future of cloud-based ERP software. As businesses increasingly look for anytime, anywhere solutions that allow for remote working and mobile access, it’s no surprise cloud and mobility enhancements feature heavily in this release. For more information about the Dynamics AX 7 (Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations) release contact Prodware.