Microsoft Dynamics AX Community Team Blog

Free Webcast - Wednesday May 22nd - Introduction to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Payroll

2013-05-16T20:20:26Z

Webcast Date/Time: Wednesday May 22, 2013 at 10am PST

Webcast Title: Introduction to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Payroll

Webcast Description: Join us for an introduction to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Payroll. We will explore the new features and functionality of this newly released functional area of Microsoft Dynamics AX.
We will demonstrate an end to end payroll process, from the setting up of earning codes and benefits to the actual processing of payroll. Learn about the integration between Earnings and Compensation, Benefits and Deductions, arrears and tax support. The components of payroll are driven from our Human Resources integration—see how you only maintain one single set of information for both areas.

Register Today for the Worldwide Partner Conference 2013

2013-04-10T20:23:25Z

Have you registered for the Worldwide Partner Conference 2013, taking place July 7-11 in Houston, TX?

In case you aren’t familiar with WPC, it is the annual global gathering of top Microsoft partners which provides the roadmap and inspiration to activate and drive joint business. Partners will be immersed in an environment of devices and services that empower business, will experience various opportunities for business conversations, and hear other partner and customer success stories.

Registration is in full effect so be sure to get yourself registered soon! You can purchase the All Access pass for US$1,995. It’s an exceptional value for an exceptional opportunity.

This year’s WPC content is focusing on the modern era of computing:

Big Data – The Modern Business. Increase business success through data-driven decision making.
Cloud – The Modern Data Center. Reduce costs, increase efficiency and productivity.
Mobility – The Modern Consumer. Provide secure and managed solutions.
Social Enterprise – The Modern Employee. Empowering interaction.

Most importantly we want you to know that Microsoft Dynamics will have a strong presence at WPC!

Don’t miss the exciting and informative Microsoft Dynamics content at WPC 2013. Kirill Tatarinov, President of Microsoft Business Solutions, will be part of the main stage Vision Keynote that will take place on Monday, July 8. Also, be sure not to miss Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Business Solutions, Neil Holloway in his Value Keynote also taking place on Monday, July 8.

In addition to their keynotes, plan to attend more than 30 Dynamics-focused sessions on Microsoft Dynamics. More details around our sessions will be coming soon.

Questions around Dynamics content at WPC? Email MBS Events Inbox

Webcast Tuesday March 5th - Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2 Retail Enhancements

2013-02-26T19:04:07Z

Webcast Date/Time: Tuesday March 5, 2013 at 10am PST

Webcast Title: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2 Retail Enhancements

Webcast Description: The release you've been waiting for!
Join us to discover new retail Omnichannel capabilities released in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2.
Learn about new features including: POS , headquarters, and the brand new eCommerce solution.
Live software demonstrations will also be utilized to convey these powerful new capabilities.

Welcome to the New Microsoft Dynamics Community

2013-02-22T17:28:27Z

Today we've launched a new update to the Microsoft Dynamics Community. It's now easier to signup, navigate and search in the community, and stay up-to-date on information you're interested in.

QUICK SIGNUP
We've made it much faster to join the Microsoft Dynamics Community -- now all it takes is to create a screen name (which is used for the URL to your profile page), enter your name, and select a product group to join.

JOIN PRODUCT GROUPS
Participating in a product-specific community (such as asking a question in a forum, commenting on a blog, or creating a subscription) now requires you to join the group. New members can join right from the signup page. Existing members will see an orange "join" button at the top of the page -- click it, and you're ready to participate.

UPDATED NAVIGATION
The navigation has been updated to provide quick access to everything available, whether you're on the home page or within a product community.

You'll also find three new options in the upper-right of the site: Conversations, Favorites, and Settings. Conversations are private messages you've received from other members. The "Favorites" menu displays any blogs or forums that you've added as a favorite.

You can also favorite individual forum posts, blog articles, and videos and access them from the "Favorites" tab on your Profile page, available via either clicking your name in the upper right area or by clicking the "View All" link on the "Favorites" menu.

Use the Settings link to set preferences such as your time zone, email preferences, and manage your subscriptions.

IMPROVED SEARCH
You can now filter your search results by the type of information you're looking for, author, tags, and date.

STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscribe to topics that are important to you by following author-provided tags or creating your own keywords. View your subscriptions on the home page or schedule email notifications (daily or weekly). Learn more about Subscriptions

FOLLOW EXPERTS
You can now follow community members and easily view all the community information they've authored via the activity feed on the home page. We've also highlighted specific experts on the product group home pages, who are key community contributors.

UPDATED PROFILES
We've simplified your profile and removed many of the fields previously found in the Organization and Professional sections of your profile. If you've used these fields in the past, you'll want to take a minute to update your new profile. You'll also now have the ability to share your social contact information, including Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about your Community Profile and Privacy Settings

We've also made it much easier to add community members as friends, which allows you to follow their activity and send them private conversations (requires the member to accept the friend request). If you've used the previous "Business Card" capability, you'll want to take a few minutes and send new friend requests to those individuals.

SUGGESTED ANSWER REMINDERS
When a community member answers your forum post, they can mark it as a "Suggested Answer", which will send you an email asking you to verify their answer. If you haven't verified the answer and it's been 5 days with no other responses to your forum post, we'll send you a one-time reminder to verify the answer. Verifying an answer makes it easier for other members to find solutions to their questions. Learn more about Managing Notification Settings

POST QUESTIONS TO THE FORUMS QUICKER
You can now quickly create a new question at the top of the forum page. Remember to add descriptive tags that other members can follow to create subscriptions!

ATTEND COMMUNITY EVENTS
We've added a new calendar feature to product groups which provides a central location for all community learning opportunities. Help the community and market your own events by adding them to the calendar.

FEEDBACK?
We hope you like the new Microsoft Dynamics Community. Let us know what you think of the new features by posting in the Community Feedback Forum or send us a tweet with our #MSDynComm hashtag. Thanks!

Eric Parsons, Microsoft Dynamics Community Manager

Register for Microsoft Dynamics AX Technical Conference by 9/14 to save $300

2012-09-12T16:00:45Z

Don’t miss your chance to save $300 off the cost of registration by taking advantage of the early bird registration price before it ends on September 14!

Take advantage of this unique chance to see how Microsoft Dynamics AX can help provide you with innovative solutions for your business at the Microsoft Dynamics AX Technical Conference 2012. Whether you are new to Microsoft Dynamics AX, or are looking to keep your edge by going deeper and staying up-to-date on the new capabilities in the upcoming release of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2, there will be content that fits you! Register now!

Microsoft Dynamics AX Technical Conference 2012

2012-07-23T18:31:00Z

Welcome! Your official guide to Microsoft Dynamics AX Technical Conference 2012 is here!

This conference is the premier technical event that is specifically focused on the Microsoft Dynamics AX product and has multiple learning and networking opportunities for partners and customers alike.

No, I am not a technical genius…but I do know how to spot a valuable event when I see one! Whether you are new to Microsoft Dynamics AX, or looking to go deeper and stay up-to-date on the new capabilities in the upcoming release of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2, the Microsoft Dynamics AX Technical Conference 2012 provides a unique opportunity to make key business connections with the people that build Microsoft Dynamics AX, along with their colleagues from SharePoint, Office, BizTalk, Visual Studio and other areas of Microsoft.

Interested yet? To receive updates on the event just e-mail the MBS events inbox. They will keep you up-to-date on all big announcements around the Microsoft Dynamics AX Technical Conference 2012. If you haven’t already marked your calendar (which you should), this year’s conference will be held in Bellevue, Washington on October 22-25, 2012.

Check out this website for even more information: http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/DynamicsAXtechnicalconference

Considerations for Implementing Dynamics AX in Japan

2012-07-06T02:42:00Z

Like any other country, Japan has more or less unique business practices and requirements. This article is to provide some insight into Japan specific considerations when implementing Dynamics AX or ERP software. We will examine functional, technical and project related requirements in general rather than looking into technical and setup details. This article is intended for key business users and project members as well as technical specialists who just need a quick reference about ERP system requirements in Japan. The article is not to cover all Japan specific ERP implementation requirements. These can differ case by case over various Dynamics engagements and industries. This article is based on the author’s professional experience form Dynamics implementations in Japan and Japanese companies in the region. It does not represent any implementation methodology or best practice recommendations neither provides any product commitments or warranties.

ERP Functional Requirements

Japanese UI and Business Documents

Like in most of the non-English speaking countries, Japanese users would prefer Japanese language user interface (UI) instead of English. Business documents like invoices, delivery notes, accounting documents and various reports in domestic business would normally be requested in Japanese. Dynamics AX localization generally support this requirement.

The final layout of documents and customized functions will depend on company’s requirements since business documents are normally reviewed and adjusted for each organization rather than using “Out of the box” objects. Examples of this work include changing layout, adding logo, adding or removing fields etc. Unique to Japan and some East Asian countries is seal (hanko) graphics or box design required on business documents. Organization or user can ask for a red seal appearing on company address in a document.

While customizing forms, documents and reports to be viewed in multiple languages, it might be necessary to adjust the size of labels in order for layout to look nice in Japanese as well as English.

Consolidated Invoice

Consolidated invoice is one of the often mentioned country-specific requirements in Japan. This means consolidating more than one sales order with posted packing slips into one invoice as of consolidation date. Invoicing schedules can differ per agreement with customer. Consolidated invoice feature is supported in relations sales orders in Dynamics AX. Invoice consolidation practice is also used in other countries than Japan.

T-Account Journal

T-Account journal is preferred form layout for many users in Japan when processing accounting transactions with debit and credit amounts. It allows user to enter debit and credit transaction in the same line. This requirement is normally supported in most of Japanese accounting packages (Glovia, NEC Explanner, Grandit etc.) and is part of Dynamics AX Japan localization.

Kana

Japanese language uses Kanji - adopted and modified Chinese characters. Phonetic guidance of these characters uses kana writing system. This requires additional fields on multiple forms for Kana names to provide correct pronunciation and meaning of Kanji. These fields are normally required on customer, vendor, and employee forms showing a person’s name.

Electronic Banking Standard

In order to upload vendor payments into banking systems directly from Dynamics AX, all the major Japanese banks (Mizuho, Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ etc.) will require payment data files to be prepared according to Japanese Bank Association (JBA) bank format. Dynamics AX localization provides support for this function since version 4.0.

Promissory Notes

Promissory note (bill of exchange) is a document that allows payment to be settled by specifying (promising) that another party will pay for the goods or services. Usually this 3^rd party is a bank. Popularity of promissory notes seems to be declining in Japan due to low interest rates associated with this financial tool. Dynamics AX supports rich functionality for bill of exchange transactions. Recently electronic promissory note integration with bank account has been required by some companies while not yet supported with Dynamics standard functionality.

Rounding

It is possible to set up rounding of different types within the standard system including for JPY. Meanwhile, companies might want to set up rounding on specific criteria like customer base. Some Japanese ERP packages have functionality with different rounding types for the same transaction on sales details (lines) and collective invoice

Fixed Assets

While Dynamics AX offers rich functionality in managing Fixed Assets, there has been some reluctance to adopt it as “Out of the box” solution in Japan. An area requiring further evaluation by a company implementing Dynamics is special tax depreciation rates and reports. To address specific requirements of Japanese companies, product exists to integrate Dynamics AX with OBC Shokyaku Bugyo, a popular Japanese fixed assets accounting package.

Consumption Tax

Japan requires Consumption Tax handling and reporting to the tax authorities. The overall process and logics of consumption tax setup and processing is rather familiar to international practice and largely supported in Dynamics AX. The final calculation method and format of the official tax form shall be confirmed upon implementation of the system. There are no specific tax declaration reports printable from standard system as at the time of this writing.

Japanese Era

Like some other East Asian regions, Japan has its own counting system of years. This counting is based on the name of reigning emperor. The display of year consists of the year (era) name and number of year. This can be followed by month and date. In Dynamics AX, the functionality is addressed by implementing a special date conversion function for Japanese era.

Workflow

Many organizations in Japan might already have workflow system implemented. Therefore, one of the challenging customer requirements would be to integrate their existing workflow solution with Dynamics AX. Such work would require additional customization since no workflow integration solution for Dynamics exists in the Japanese market for the time being. If Dynamics AX workflow system is considered – Japanese organization might ask to have seal (hanko) graphics on the workflow related documents as well as some specific approval workflows like “Googisei”.

Lean Manufacturing

Lean manufacturing originally can be referred to as philosophy derived from Toyota Production System in Japan. “Lean” means a production or business practice that considers the consumption of resources for any other goal than the creation of value to the end customer to be wasteful and to be avoided. Lean is of interest to Japanese as well as many overseas companies. Therefore, Microsoft has implemented rich lean management functionality like Kanban management etc in the global release of Dynamics AX 2012 manufacturing.

Seiban

Seiban is another manufacturing and management practice in Japan likely to require customizing in Dynamics. “Seiban” can be translated from Japanese as “Manufacturing Number”. Seiban number is assigned to parts, materials, purchase orders or other objects for a particular job or project requested by customer etc.

Double-Byte Characters

Languages such as Japanese, Chinese and Koreas require double byte encoding due the vast number of characters in these languages. Double-byte is supported in Unicode. If organization has a non-Unicode system to interface with, then conversion package like HULFT is required.

Managerial Points

Change Management: Avoid Rebuilding Legacy Systems in Dynamics

Japan is no exception - enterprise ERP implementations require strong leadership and substantial team efforts across whole organization along with deep business and technology understanding. When faced with these challenges and various dependencies, key users and management might end up basing their requirements on what the old legacy systems delivered. In most cases, this will not take advantage of opportunity to simplify business processes and systems while preventing Dynamics implementation to be on time and budget with expected returns. Successful implementation will need a complete buy-in by the highest members of the IT and business hierarchy to ensure the project is not jeopardized from the start.

In reality, not every executive really likes to take responsibility of challenging tasks. The result is having irresponsible members doing irresponsible projects. Therefore, responsibility must clearly be defined in the Project Charter and related documents to ensure commitment by the organization. Sign-off process, timing and signatories have to be agreed before execution of any phase of the project.

Lost in Translation

Notable differences between Japanese and English languages in writing, grammar and cultural contexts mean that it takes much longer for Japanese national to acquire business English skills than people in many other countries. Depending on your implementation project and company, chances are that many key users and managers will not be able to discuss or write freely in English. While cultural context and practices are not scope of this article, Japanese unique cultural context also cannot be ignored. It is recommended to consider in advance the language and communication aspect in Dynamics projects in Japan. Partial solution is hiring interpreters and translators or using machine translations. While hiring interpreter would make things easier, it can add to project costs and not necessarily avoid miscommunication in the context of particular industry, company and culture. The same consideration goes for machine translation software. While it is very appealing to have whole project documentation translated in just few minutes, these documents can considerably confuse any team relying on translated information. Consider having bilingual team members in the key project roles. These individuals shall sense local context, understand particular business, technology, organization and are to enable smooth knowledge transfer among team members in various language skill levels.

Focus on Detail

Another experience often pointed out by many doing business or implementations in Japan is high attention to detail. Japan is famous for high quality services and products with attention to every detail. As a result, this approach can take much longer time to achieve project objectives due to longer decision making associated with detail preparations and reviews etc. Furthermore, the Japanese management also would like to see the “complete picture”. The combination of these makes developing innovative and leading edge application very challenging. In the past, Japanese did well through reverse engineering and strict discipline, but is struggling with innovations now.

There can be various explanations from the Japanese business customs, organizational hierarchy, risk management as well as individual’s point of view during engagements. To understand more about Japanese business customs, there are good materials searchable on the Internet.

In Conclusion

In general, the ERP requirements in Japan are not so complicated. Language and local context can make a significant impact on Dynamics project. In the words of long time SAP and Dynamics implementer in Japan, who asked not to be named: “For the project to be a success all the politicians should be aligned from the start and given responsibility and held to those responsibilities – 60% politics, 20% change management and 20% technology is the usual blend of a project here”.

This article is based on the professional experience of the author who makes no representations or warranties regarding the products and advices mentioned. The opinions expressed here do not necessary represent the ones of author’s employer.

Do You Have Development Questions about AX 2012? Get Your Answers Here!

2012-06-25T16:34:00Z

Like many things in life the more you use something the more questions you have. Dynamics AX 2012 is no different, you may have run into some questions on development and have not had time to dive into the problem to come up with a solution on your own or the problem just has you stumped.

Well, the Dynamics Community is here for you! We, the Dynamics Community team, have teamed up with some active members of the Dynamics AX Community to provide you with answers to your top questions around development of Dynamics AX 2012.

Read below for instructions on how to get your upgrade question(s)……..answered.

When can I ask a development question about Dynamics AX 2012?

Between Monday, June 25th to Friday, July 13th, 2012

What kind of questions can I ask?

Feel free to ask any question you have that is technical or business oriented, as long as it is focused on development of Dynamics AX 2012.

How do I ask my question?

A.) You can simply ask your question by signing in and posting your question in the comments section below.

B.) Post them to the forum thread within the Microsoft Dynamics AX Forum.

C.) Email your question to Justin Salter.

How will I receive my answer?

We will post the answers within the Microsoft Dynamics AX Community Team Blog. The answers will come from the panel of Dynamics experts we have teamed up with to provide answers to the greater community. Be sure to follow this blog to receive an answer to your questions.

Are you going to publicize who asks the question(s)?

Only if you want us to, but otherwise no it will remain anonymous. If you would like to remain anonymous please submit your question through e-mail. If the question is posted in the comments section your screen name will be visible

Who are the experts that make up the community panel?

Brandon George - Chief Solutions Architect / Owner, IDB Solutions, LLC. Brandon has focused on implementing and supporting Microsoft Dynamics AX for many years, working on projects that scale from small concurrent user counts, to large enterprise accounts that span the globe. A featured Dynamics Community Columnist, as well as sits on the Editorial Advisory Board for MSDynamicsWorld.com.

You can follow Brandon @ his Blogs http://dynamics-ax.blogspot.com | Twitter | LinkedIn

Jon Rivers – is a Partner Account Manager with Data Masons Software. He has extensive experience with integrating ISV/3rd-party solutions for various ERP platforms, but has spent the last 6+ years working exclusively in the Microsoft Dynamics® eco-system. As a native of England and having also assisted a leading Microsoft ISV in developing its Microsoft channel in Asia-Pacific, Jon contributes a global perspective to his role.

He is also a Social Media Enthusiast for the Dynamics Community and active within the various User Groups: AXUG, GPUG, NAVUG and GP Partner Connections. He has also been the driving force behind building Data Masons’ Social Media presence, from the company blog to posting on other blogs in the Dynamics community, to building awareness on Twitter and his favorite business social network - LinkedIn.

You can follow Jon @ his Blog | Twitter | LinkedIn

Joris de Gruyter – Joris has 10 years experience as a developer with Microsoft Dynamics AX and started on Axapta 2.5. He currently is a Technical Services Supervisor at Sikich. Certified in Dynamics AX development and Microsoft Certified Trainer in AX development.

Joris was part of the AX 2012 beta program, wrote AX 2012 hands-on labs on CLR, Eventing and debugging for Microsoft for Dynamics AX Technical conference in Redmond.

You can follow Joris @ his Blog | Twitter | LinkedIn

Dilip Nair – A seasoned Dynamics AX Expert, Diip is self-driven, highly innovative, customer focused who can research, design/develop, implement and automate cost effective ERP Solutions using Dynamics ERP. Successful delivery of largest retail chain implementation of Dynamics AX 2009 in the world (Go-Live for 800 retail stores across Australia). His current focus is on Dynamics AX and related .Net technology stack using SQL, C#, ASP.Net, Sharepoint and Business Intelligence for AX.

You can follow Dilip @ his Blog | Twitter | LinkedIn

We look forward to receiving your upgrade questions and providing answers that will help you in your evaluation of Dynamics AX 2012!

Justin Salter | Microsoft Dynamics Community Team

Tuesday March 27th - Free Webcast - Microsoft Dynamics CRM Connector

2012-03-26T19:29:05Z

Date/Time: Tuesday March 27, 2012 at 10am PST

Title: Integrating Microsoft Dynamics ERP and Microsoft Dynamics CRM with the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Connector

Description: Attend this webcast to learn how you, as a Microsoft Dynamics AX customer, can make the most of the benefits of natively combining transactional data from your ERP systems with relational data from Microsoft Dynamics CRM by using the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Connector.

Webcast Thursday February 23rd - Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Product Configurator

2012-02-20T23:26:45Z

Date/Time: Thursday February 23, 2012 at 10am PST

Title: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Product Configurator

Description: New to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 is the Product Configurator. This sales force automation tool is designed to assist customers and customer service representatives in customizing products specific for customer specifications. In this webcast, we give an introduction to Product Configurator, cover setup, and take you through an example of a sales order entry by using Product Configurator. Finally, we discuss Product Configurator versus the previous Product Builder solution.

Register here - FREE webcast

Webcast Wednesday February 22nd - Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012: Hire to Retire

2012-02-20T23:23:00Z

Date/Time: Wednesday February 22, 2012 at 10am PST

Title: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012: Hire to Retire

Description: In this webcast, we walk through the Hire to Retire process in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. Join this session to see how Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 gives your organization the ability to manage a changing workforce. By leveraging human resources enhancements in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, you can have flexibility during the hiring process and manage the entire Hire to Retire flow.

Register here - FREE webcast

Webcast Thursday 2/16 - Review Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Licensing

2012-02-14T18:06:41Z

Date/Time: Thursday February 16, 2012 at 10am PST

Title: Review Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Licensing

Description: As companies move from previous versions of Microsoft Dynamics AX to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, they adopt new licensing models. As part of any upgrade, it is important for users to understand their licensing options and the best approach to maximize their Microsoft Dynamics AX investment. In this session, learn about the new, easier to understand licensing model for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012.

Webcast Wednesday 1/25 - Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Model Driven Layered Architecture Overview

2012-01-23T22:25:44Z

Date/Time: Wednesday January 25, 2012 at 10am PST

Webcast Title: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Model Driven Layered Architecture Overview

Webcast Description: During this webcast we will look at the Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Model Driven Architecture and explain how it will accelerate the application development process for our partners and customers by enabling them to build solutions more quickly and increasing their time to value. After attending this webcast you'll have a better understanding how our Model Driven Architecture provides Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 customers the ability to effectively manage the application lifecycle and decrease their total cost of ownership.

Webcast January 25th - Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Model Driven Layered Architecture Overview

2012-01-12T23:51:47Z

Date/Time: Wednesday January 25, 2012 at 10am PST

Webcast Title: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Model Driven Layered Architecture Overview

Description: During this webcast we will look at the Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Model Driven Architecture and explain how it will accelerate the application development process for our partners and customers by enabling them to build solutions more quickly and increasing their time to value. After attending this webcast you'll have a better understanding how our Model Driven Architecture provides Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 customers the ability to effectively manage the application lifecycle and decrease their total cost of ownership.

Wednesday October 19th Webcast - Announcing the Business Ready Advantage Plus

2011-10-13T18:30:05Z

Title: Announcing the Business Ready Advantage Plus

Date: Wednesday October 19, 2011 at 10:00am PST

Attend this webcast to determine the key differentiators for Business Ready Advantage Plus, which is now available to Microsoft Dynamics AX and Microsoft Dynamics NAV customers for the first time. In today's fast-paced business environment, your organization can hardly afford the frustration and inconvenience that comes with system downtime. But the fact is, system-related issues sometimes occur-and usually when you can least afford them. Therefore we are happy to offer the backing of a comprehensive Microsoft service plan-one that provides quick resolution to your technical issues as well as the other powerful, business-building benefits of your Business Ready Enhancement Plan.

While the Business Ready Enhancement Plan works for many customers, there may be times when a more robust service plan is required.

To Register Click Here

Microsoft Dynamics AX - October Webcasts

2011-09-29T20:10:47Z

October 4, 2011 at 10am PST

Title: Transitioning from Module Based Licensing to Business Ready Licensing

Description: In this webcast, learn how to take your business solution to the next level and expand the functionality of your current enterprise resource planning (ERP) system by transitioning from Module Based Licensing (MBL) to Business Ready Licensing (BRL). BRL offers you the choice of two license editions-Business Essentials Edition and Advanced Management Edition-to best support your business processes and needs. It also streamlines the pricing of your Microsoft Dynamics solution with a model based on the number of users who actually use the software. Your business is constantly changing. The most efficient software licensing model will change with you. View this webcast to find out more.

Microsoft offers an option for customers who are interested in making a license model transition. We will highlight the details in this webcast.

October 6, 2011 at 10am PST

Title: The Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace

Description: Attend this webcast to learn about the Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace. This online solution catalog gives you access to over 2,000 innovative applications and professional services from Microsoft partners around the world.

Key Marketplace benefits include:

The ability to find applications and services to specific to your business needs and maximize your technology investment.
Reassurance you are buying solutions which have been designed, tested and certified to work with Microsoft Dynamics

Join us to learn how you can:

Easily search for applications and services to increase your team's productivity
The value of buying tested and certified solutions that have been reviewed by your peers.
Get tips and tricks on how to fine-tune your search to find exactly what you need. With listings to serve you both locally and worldwide,

Finding the right Microsoft Dynamics expert, application or service is easier than ever, and we're here to help!

October 13, 2011 at 10am PST

Title: Productivity, Process, and Time Management with Microsoft Dynamics ERP, Outlook and CRM

Description: People have more expected of them than ever before. In this webcast, Bill Hoffman, productivity and time management expert at Microsoft Corporation, discusses some common time management challenges people face. He also provides insight on using technology that you may already have, such as Microsoft Dynamics ERP, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft Dynamics CRM, to address these time management challenges. Learn how applying processes, sharing data, and making a few simple changes can free up time and help prioritize the tasks most important to you. Whether you are in finance, operations, sales, marketing, or customer service, if you use a computer, this session can help you.

October 18, 2011 at 10am PST

Title: Intercompany Planning and Planning Setup in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

Description: This session covers the planning setup for intercompany master scheduling and planning, including for example intercompany planning groups and planning hierarchies. You will learn about the different ways of handling the intercompany demand and supply in various scenarios. The improvements compared with earlier versions are explained along with setup considerations. After the session you will have a good understanding of how to perform master planning in Microsoft Dynamics AX, both within a company and across companies.

Register here - FREE webcast

October 19, 2011 at 10am PST

Title: Announcing the Business Ready Advantage Plus

Description: Announcing the availability of customer support for Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Microsoft Dynamics AX. Beginning October 3rd, 2011 the Microsoft Dynamics^TM Business Ready Advantage Plus Plan is available for Microsoft Dynamics AX and Microsoft Dynamics NAV customers. This plan offers Support from Microsoft and compliments the services offered by your partner. Join us for this webcast to learn more.

Microsoft Dynamics AX Fall Webcast Series - Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 is here!

2011-09-15T18:33:25Z

The release of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 is set to define a new generation of enterprise resource planning solutions. Building on the proven strengths of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009, this release brings rich functionality, advanced architecture and the full power of the Microsoft stack to the business application developer.

Attend this webcast and learn how these powerful new innovations, still will allow for simplicity by streamlining application deployment, maintenance and upgradability.

Date: Tuesday September 20, 2011

Time: 10:00AM PST

To Register, click here

Microsoft Dynamics® AX on-demand webcasts

2011-07-14T16:33:07Z

During the past year Microsoft has offered a series of live FREE one-hour webcasts designed to ensure you have full exposure into how you can maximize and extend your current Microsoft Dynamics® ERP investment. We want to ensure you are aware these webcasts are also available on CustomerSource “on-demand” for you to watch at your convenience.

For a full list of Microsoft Dynamics® AX on-demand webcasts please visit:
https://mbs.microsoft.com/customersource/OnDemandWebcasts

Learning leads to possibility. Take the first step.

Microsoft Dynamics AX - May Webcast Series

2011-04-28T18:53:00Z

This spring, Microsoft will be hosting a series of webcasts exclusively for Microsoft Dynamics® AX customers. These FREE one-hour webcasts include content designed to ensure you have full exposure into how you can maximize and extend your current ERP investment.

To view the full calendar of events and to register click here:

www.microsoft.com/dynamics/webcasts

Additionally we want to highlight the following:

May 4, 2011 at 10am PST

Title: Microsoft Dynamics AX Quality Management Today and Tomorrow

Description: Get your arms around quality management capabilities in Microsoft Dynamics AX. In this webcast, we describe the quality control and quality management capabilities of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009. We cover setting up quality management, and we demonstrate quality management functions in action. Additionally, we discuss the quality management features that are coming in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012.

Register here - FREE webcast

May 5, 2011 at 10am PST

Title: Improve Your Operational Efficiency with Shop Floor Control Capabilities in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009

Description: Take a walk through discrete manufacturing in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 as we spotlight the features that help you improve your operational efficiency. We explore the untapped business value of plant floor visibility, democratizing information and empowering more efficient decision making. Learn how your employees can more easily interact with the system through areas such as time and attendance, job scheduling, work instructions, and business intelligence. Everyone from implementation consultants to end users who are connected to plant floor operations should watch this webcast to gain deeper insight into how Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 helps improve your company's manufacturing processes.

Register here - FREE webcast

May 19, 2011 at 10am PST

Title: Integrating Microsoft Dynamics AX and Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Description: Do you want to integrate Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Microsoft Dynamics AX? Join us to learn about the new Connector for Microsoft Dynamics. The Connector provides the ability to integrate key data between Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Microsoft Dynamics AX. You can leverage prebuilt templates or create your own by using a straightforward toolkit. In this webcast, we talk about delivered features and benefits and describe how the Connector can enable the sharing of data across your organization.

Register here - FREE webcast

Microsoft Dynamics AX March Webcast Series - Free

2011-03-01T19:25:07Z

This winter, Microsoft will be hosting a series of webcasts exclusively for Microsoft Dynamics® AX customers. These FREE one-hour webcasts include content designed to ensure you have full exposure into how you can maximize and extend your current ERP investment.

To view the full calendar of events and to register click here:

www.microsoft.com/dynamics/webcasts

Additionally we want to highlight the following:

March 17, 2011 at 10am PST

Title: Special Pre-Convergence webcast for Microsoft Dynamics AX Customers
Description: Are you thinking about attending Convergence? Watch this webcast to get a better understanding of what Convergence, the Microsoft Dynamics premier customer event, is about and what Microsoft Dynamics AX sessions are planned. You'll also see a sneak preview of the next release, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, a highlight of this year's Convergence.

Presenters: Todd Bergeson, Product Marketing Manager, Microsoft Corporation, Trevor Gilchrist, West Region Product Technical Specialist, Microsoft Corporation, Dan Burke, Central Region Technical Specialist, Microsoft Corporation, and Chuck Juhnke, West Region Technical Specialist, Microsoft Corporation

Register here - FREE webcast

Microsoft Dynamics AX January Webcast Series - Free

2011-01-07T19:38:09Z

This winter, Microsoft will be hosting a series of webcasts exclusively for Microsoft Dynamics® AX customers.

These FREE one-hour webcasts include content designed to ensure you have full exposure into how you can maximize and extend your current ERP investment.

To view the full calendar of events and to register click here:

http://www.microsoft.com/events/webcasts/calendar/MonthView.aspx?product=Dynamics%20Existing%20Customer

Additionally we want to highlight the following:

January 12, 2011 at 10am PST

Title: Management Reporter and Performance Management with Microsoft Dynamics AX

Description: Management Reporter replaces Microsoft FRx and represents a key milestone in delivering upon the Microsoft performance management vision. Management Reporter retains many elements of the popular FRx product, but Management Reporter is built on a completely updated architecture that provides an unprecedented level of scalability and reliability. Management Reporter is extending the proven functionality of Microsoft FRx and enable users to quickly and easily create, generate, help secure and publish professional-looking financial statements, such as profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports

It will also allow you to take advantage of the following:

Custom reports without IT assistance
Cross-functional analysis
Reduced training time and increased productivity
Familiar navigation pane and toolbars to Microsoft Office applications
Improved data integrity and report accuracy

Attend this webcast to gain an understanding of how Management Reporter provides the foundation for financial reporting.

Microsoft Dynamics AX November Webcast Line Up - FREE

2010-11-08T21:19:16Z

Date: Wednesday, November 17, 2010 10:00 AM Pacific Time

Title: Two-Tier ERP Deployment: connect Local Entities to Headquarters using Microsoft Dynamics AX
Description: Large organizations find that some enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions are too complex to adapt to the unique requirements of their smaller, local entities. Microsoft Dynamics AX provides a viable alternative for these companies to easily customize their solution to meet specific requirements, implement vertical functionality, and to manage change easily and cost-effectively. Attend this webcast to see how Microsoft has implemented a two-tier ERP solution within its own organization.

Register here – FREE Webcast

Date: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 10:00 AM Pacific Time

Title: Addressing Changes in the Retail Market with Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retai
Description: In an ever-evolving marketplace, an end-to-end view of the retail operation can be a formula for success. With this in mind, Microsoft introduced the Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail business management solution. Attend this webcast and learn how this new business solution offers retailers a deep level of integration across point of sale, store management, supply chain, merchandising, and financials to address business productivity while enhancing customer service in a single solution.

Register here – FREE Webcast

Date: Tuesday, November 30, 2010 10:00 AM Pacific Time

Title: Microsoft Dynamics CRM or Microsoft Dynamics AX CRM, Which Fits Your Business?
Description: Do you have questions as to which customer relationship management (CRM) solution you should use in your company? Attend this webcast to learn about Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Microsoft Dynamics AX CRM and why one of these two CRM solutions may be a better fit for your company over the other solution

Register here _ FREE Webcast

This fall, Microsoft will be hosting a series of webcasts exclusively for Microsoft Dynamics AX customers

2010-09-27T15:21:00Z

These FREE one-hour webcasts include content designed to ensure you have full exposure into how you can maximize and extend your current ERP investment.

To view the full calendar of events and to register click here: http://www.microsoft.com/events/webcasts/calendar/MonthView.aspx?product=Dynamics%20Existing%20Customer&r=61&l=3

Additionally we want to highlight the following:

October 7, 2010 at 11am PST
Discover Microsoft Dynamics AX Offerings for People without a Full User License - Extend Microsoft Dynamics AX business insight and productivity to everyone in your organization.

Do you have people in your organization who need access to information and processes, but are more of a light user? If so, then attend this webcast to discover the business insight and productivity that Microsoft Dynamics AX has to offer people—whether or not they have full user rights.

Microsoft Dynamics AX Light User is a partial-access licensing choice for Microsoft Dynamics, a cost-effective way to provide your employees with access to Microsoft Dynamics data.

By using the Microsoft Dynamics AX Light User license, your employees can interact with Microsoft Dynamics financial, human resources, and operational information within the Microsoft Office software they use daily. Using Microsoft Office desktop productivity tools, such as Microsoft Excel®, Microsoft Outlook®, and Microsoft Word, helps reduce the time required for training and gives your employees time to focus on what matters most.

Keeping it Fresh: Peet's Coffee & Tea prepares for future growth with an ERP system from Junction Solutions

2010-08-30T19:54:00Z

Peet’s Coffee & Tea has a reputation for providing nothing short of the best roasted coffee to order on a daily basis. But with record growth and a commitment to superior customer service, the company needed an ERP system that could pave the way for the future. Lindsay James investigates.

On the day Alfred Peet opened his first coffee store in California in 1966, he was unwavering in his desire to change the way Americans thought about coffee. Appalled at the poor quality of coffee being consumed by the nation, his way of doing things was a radical departure from what was then the norm, emphasising smaller batches, freshness, superior quality beans and a darker roasting style that produced coffee with richness and complexity.

By 1969, Peet’s Coffee & Tea had garnered a reputation for providing the best coffee in town, and became a gathering place for coffee devotees. Not only this, but Alfred Peet catalysed the speciality coffee movement further when he mentored and inspired a generation of coffee entrepreneurs whom he supplied with Peet’s roasted beans during their first years of operation.

Since then the business has grown at a phenomenal rate, and today Peet’s has 196 stores across the US, and sells its coffee in over 8,000 grocery locations, as well as through its Web site. Maintaining its ‘Gold Standard in Coffee’ philosophy, it goebeyond the call of duty with its roast-to-order, grind-to-order, quick-turn manufacturing and fulfilment process. Orders received by three o’clock in the morning are consolidated for small-batch production, and the coffee beans are then roasted, packaged and shipped out by the end of the working day.

Additionally, Peet’s has a strong network of food service distributors that deliver its award-winning coffee to a variety of highend hotels, hospitality establishments and corporate offices. Bringing in revenues of more than US$300 million a year, the company is unquestionably successful, and has not only maintained its commitment to superior quality coffee, but is also investing heavily in the Tanzanian coffee trade to ensure a better quality of life for farmers.

But with growth comes complexity, and as more stores opened and more buying channels came into the mix, Peet’s IT environment, grew equally more complex. “In just one year we had opened 20 new locations,” explains Shawn Conway, the group’s chief supply chain officer. “Each store had its own way of order processing, making it impossible to have a complete view of what was going on. Not only this, but as we invested in new channels such as the Web, we had more new systems. The result was a spaghetti infrastructure that was incomprehensible.”

Add to this a layer of outdated systems running core business functions such as financials, order management, inventory management, fulfilment, procurement and manufacturing, and the result was something far from ideal. “We did try to integrate these systems,” says Conway. “But it ended up with integrated systems connected to other integrated systems that were in and among the sales channel system. Reports were inaccurate and the systems were getting increasingly difficult to maintain.”

It became clear that the company needed updated technology with the flexibility to streamline its business processes and serve its customers better, while enabling it to grow. So the team at Peet’s began a mission to find a new, end-to-end, multi-channel retail, ERP and manufacturing management solution set that would connect the customer, supplier and distribution channels.

“We sent out a request for proposal (RFP) to the biggest players in the ERP space, including Microsoft, Oracle and SAP,” explains Conway. “But we were already a Microsoft shop, and so it didn’t take much to realise that the Microsoft Dynamics AX solution was the perfect fit.”
With the solution chosen, Peet’s Coffee & Tea had to decide who would be best placed to implement it. The team at Microsoft suggested a number of partners, but it was Microsoft Dynamics AX specialist Junction Solutions that stood out from the rest. “The team at Junction Solutions impressed us with not only their solution, but also their deep industry knowledge,” says Conway. “They had a lot of experience with Dynamics AX implementations, and their Multi-Channel Retail (JunctionMCR) and Food & Beverage (JunctionF/B) solutions matched our requirements perfectly.”

Recently named Microsoft’s 2010 retail partner of the year, Junction Solutions has an enviable reputation in the Microsoft ecosystem. “Junction has done a very good job in the multi-channel, and food andbeverage verticals,” explains Chetan Malavia, Microsoft’s general manager of national sales and operations for Dynamics. “And it has also done a very good job of leveraging its relationship with customers. The team there has deep people expertise to bring their projects to fruition in a consistent creditable fashion. And they have also done a very good job of leveraging the Microsoft relationships to make sure they’re building solutions that are deeply integrated in the Microsoft stack over time.”
“Junction Solutions is one of our key partners in this space,” adds Dilip Popat, Microsoft’s global retail industry director for Microsoft Dynamics. “The company has an amazing ability to bring technology and people together, and to bring that value to customers.”

Junction Solutions used its experience in past ERP system implementations to create a vertical layer on top of Microsoft Dynamics AX that funnels data from Peet’s different sales channels into a consistent order and fulfilment process. The use of JunctionMCR would enable control over the multi-channel aspects of the operation, streamlining order entry by providing a single, user-friendly workbench for customer, inventory and fulfilment information.

“Peet’s is unique in that it starts with zero inventory each and every day,” explains Jeff Grell, Junction Solutions’ president and CEO. “With this in mind we tailored the solution to take orders from all different channels and consolidate them into one transaction, so there was just one source of truth. We then used pre-built integration maps along with promotions management tools for the Web channel, adding address verification tools for new orders. In addition we used our multi-channel workbench to share inventory across the different channels. This, along with batch expiration logic and traceability logic from the Junction F/B solution would allow Peet’s to replenish stock within the business.”

Taking time to ensure user buy-in, Junction and Peet’s worked together to prepare for the switchover to the new system. Implemented in two phases, the whole project took just 18 months from the initial design stage to the final installations. “This was the largest software implementation we have ever undergone,” says Conway. “The entire project required a dedicated team to test, provide feedback and manage change within the company. This required us to work collaboratively among employee groups, as well as with the consultants at Junction Solutions.”

The benefits following the implementation were instantly apparent. Peet’s now has a 360-degree view of the entire business value chain – from sales and merchandising, supplier acquisition and management, through to manufacturing, warehousing –and all of its sales channels.
“Dynamics AX, combined with JunctionMCR and JunctionF/B has provided the operational transparency for Peet’s to provide an environment of connected people,” says Grell. “Now, everyone has visibility and access to critical information throughout the enterprise in real time.” The availability of accurate, real-time data also provided Peet’s with the ability to be responsive to changes in orders, business trending and being able to combine its directto- consumer and direct-to-business channel data into an enterprise-wide view. “We’ve gone from having a periodic inventory system to a perpetual inventory system, which brings huge benefits for us,” explains Conway. “Having accurate daily reporting means that we no longer have to compare multiple reports from different systems to work out which one is right. Instead we have instant access to one version of the truth.”The ability to aggregate order information across all channels and then implement a complex scheduling matrix to handle the immediate fulfilment of orders has enabled Peet’s to remain competitive in the marketplace. “The end result is Peet’s is now better able to achieve connected customer relationships, improving the accuracy of its shipments and service levels, which results in greater customer satisfaction and loyalty,” adds Grell.
Microsoft’s Popat agrees: “Technology has become a real enabler to ensure that customers at Peet’s are really satisfied, this is really powerful. It’s a great example for the rest of the industry in terms of how you can use solutions to connect people, giving great insight about their business and use that to drive great customer service.” Conway believes that the solution will pave the way for a very successful future. “With
Dynamics AX and the solutions provided by Junction Solutions, we now enjoy a single source of data that is scalable with our business growth and flexible enough to accommodate change,” he concludes.

“This will allow us to meet our goal of establishing Peet’s as the leading premium-quality coffee and tea brand in every meaningful consumer segment.”

A Connected Experience with Microsoft Dynamcs AX for Retail

2010-08-26T16:50:00Z

Michael Griffiths, Microsoft's director of Dynamics ERP retail product management, looks at how retailers can create customer-centric, connected experiences with the new Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail solution.

Today’s consumers are digitally empowered, well informed, in a hurry and socially conscious. Increasingly, they demand a premium, endto-end shopping experience in return for their business. For retailers, meeting and exceeding this demand is all about customer-centricity: delivering connected experiences that foster lasting relationships withtheir customers and set them apart from the competiton.

The Microsoft vision is to empower retailers to become connected: connecting people, insight, and customer relationships to deliverinnovative, cost-effective solutions and capabilities that resonate with consumers and suppliers, and lead to rich, lasting customer relationships. Introduced to the retail market this year, Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail has been designed to help realise this vision, allowing retailers to use IT to create an end-to-end shopping experience, gain insight into all areas of the business and turn customer interactions into customer relationship enhancement opportunities.

Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail allows retailers to make the critical connection of subsidiaries, divisions and stores to their headquarters’ solution in a flexible, scalable and cost-effective manner. Aimed at the mid and upper-mid market space, as well as specific enterprise scenarios, the solution is differentiated in the implementation flexibility it offers, helping to drive investment protection to retailers. Retailers benefit from being able to deploy it as an end-to-end solution out of the box, or can use it in a ‘two tier' scenario, which means they aren’t forced to overhaul what they already have in place, but can add functionality in concert with their existing infrastructure.

In line with this, we recently announced a new Microsoft Dynamics ERP two-tier connector for SAP business scenarios. This connector accelerates deployments between Microsoft Dynamics AX and SAP Business Suite to enable common business process integration scenarios for headquarters and subsidiary locations across financial consolidation, intercompany supply chain integration and plant automation. So, if you look at the midmarket, upper mid-market and enterprise space, there will be organisations that will deploy Dynamics AX for Retail as a complete end-to-end offering, as well as deploy it as a strategic part of their operation in the two-tier model. Both deployments will allow the organisation to connect people, insight and customer relationships.

According to a recent analyst report, as many as 84 per cent of respondents recognised that they do not have good integration and connectivity between stores, headquarters and the supply chain, thus preventing them from having the strong visibility that they so need. Dynamics AX for Retail is the only solution purpose built with out-ofthe- box integration from the store to the headquarters, ERP and beyond – offering complete control of critical data flow across the organization including real-time customer updates, inventory lookup from the point of sale and more. This is why today’s retailer needs more than a list of features from IT. They need a powerful, extensible architecture that will allow them to truly be a ‘dynamic’ business.

Connected information about the customer and the organization guarantees meaningful customer engagement that drives loyalty. Take the example of a customer who is looking for a medium-sized shirt in black but can’t find it. The sales assistant can do a real-time look up from the POS into the entire organisation’s inventory, as well as distribution centres and other stores. They have the information they need at their fingertips to help the customer get what they want. While doing this, they can also add the customer's information and preferences into the POS, which will the immediately update in the main system to allow the retailer to reach out to the customer with relevant product information and promotions in the future.

In addition to the deep connection with customers, retailers must be able to leverage IT to drive productivity of their most important asset – people. A key tenant of Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail is allowing retailers to create role-based user experiences.

In fact, the role-based aspect of Dynamics AX for Retail is a key differentiator from other solutions out there. This capability allows the retailer to define as many roles as it likes in the organisation, and in each of these roles determine specific security settings; look and feel; and functionality. These roles can then be assigned across various groups or even made specific to individuals. So if you have a role called manager, within that role each manager can have their own unique security settings, and also their own unique look and feel. This allows you to optimise the software in a way that helps drive the greatest productivity of your people and organisation.

While Dynamics AX for Retail already comes with these key capabilities and more out of the box, we are also working with our partners to leverage the powerful extensibility of the solution to deliver solutions to our customers that are truly optimised for their businesses. We don’t ask retailers to conform their business to rigid, complicated software. We provide strong functionality and powerful integration on an extensible platform – delivered through a rich ecosystem of partners to meet the needs of our customers. If a furniture retailer needs vertical-specific scheduling capabilities, then we have partners who can enable that. Our software has been built specifically to be very adaptable and to provide a lot of investment protection to the retailer, so they know that they don’t have to replace their system or invest significantly every time the business fundamentally changes.

New technologies have revolutionised the way shoppers discover, engage with and purchase products. Now, Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail is allowing retailers to meet customer demands and provide truly connected experiences across channels – experiences that are personalised by clear visibility to customer interactions, comparative store analyses, financial results, and supply chain data and that are facilitated by connected sales and service personnel who have been transformed into customer relationship agents, equipped to drive greater value for both shoppers and the business.