A user interface modeled on Office 2007 and improved features for large companies are among a long list of improvements in Dynamics AX 2009, Microsoft's top enterprise resource planning (ERP) application and development platform, which became generally available in June 2008. The release will help workers learn the product and find relevant information faster than with previous versions, and will help manufacturers better manage production and inventory across multiple locations and time zones. The upgrade will be welcomed by existing customers and could attract new customers in the low end of the enterprise market, which is dominated by Oracle and SAP.

Although it is less complex than similar Oracle and SAP products, AX 2009 is not a simple product. Organizations should expect to undertake major setup, integration, and training efforts before benefits are realized. Such projects present opportunities for integrators and ISVs to implement, customize, and extend the product for customers, and to assist with training.

Dynamics AX Overview

Dynamics AX is one of four ERP applications that Microsoft gained when it acquired Great Plains in 2001 and Navision in 2002. The term "ERP" generally refers to the processes organizations use to manage core business operations, such as financial accounting, managing supply chains, and interacting with customers.

Features Support ERP

Dynamics AX supports the following main ERP functions:

Financial management supports accounting and financial reporting and analysis processes. It includes features for bank management, tracking accounts receivable and payable, financial accounting for organizations that are made up of multiple companies (such as holding companies), and forecasting cash flow.

Supply chain management (SCM) supports organizations' production processes, from the acquisition of materials, inventory management, and manufacturing of products to the distribution of finished products to customers. For example, Dynamics AX includes features for tracking warehouse inventory, managing production schedules, and forecasting demand.