This conversation is always a spirited one and a topic we address on a daily basis as an AX partner that specializes only in AX and with complex, large manufacturing enterprises in addition to oil and gas related companies.

I don't think anyone on this planet will argue the fact that SAP has traditionally served large, complex, global businesses well over the years. Naturally, this type of solution comes at a price and often several cost concerns that companies are now questioning and looking for alternatives to the monolithic approach.

Having served as an SAP sales executive and also being involved with Microsoft for over a decade, experience has revealed that SAP does not fit all enterprise level clients needs. SAP may work for many companies but today's "CxO" level executives demand more from their systems, their employee's and their data than simply transaction volumes.

What Christian is emphasizing is the reality the market is now asking for which is addressed by Microsoft Dynamics AX at its core. Companies, especially those with legacy experience with SAP want new ways to address the changing business climate. People with experience in SAP want more flexibility as their business changes, increased ease of use for the expanded work force, better reporting tools, quicker time to deploy and a more manageable cost of ownership.

I think the best way to demonstrate what Christian is eluding to is from some of our clients that have chosen to deploy Dynamics AX where SAP would normally have been considered an easy choice. PVR Resource Partners was divested from a company running SAP. Their entire employee base were SAP users...see more here: <a rel="nofollow" target="_new" href="www.youtube.com/watch;>www.youtube.com/watch</a>

Another example where AX is highly successful, is with our client Dell Computer Corporation. They needed an MES system for their manufacturing plants and evaluated all the leading applications. See more here:

<a rel="nofollow" target="_new" href="www.youtube.com/watch;>www.youtube.com/watch</a>

I understand Wynand's position, it is a common viewpoint  that when a company "runs" SAP, that is all they use. When in reality it is quite often with the help of other systems such as Dynamics AX when companies can't justify the large expense and timeline of a full scale SAP or Oracle deployment. Given we are an AX Implementation partner I also agree with his comments that implementation is very, very important as is the need to align the "C" level initiatives to the project outcomes. Executing the project successfully relies on the application doing what it is designed to do. Without that, our services team could not be successful and we wouldn't be able to deliver to the business a system to support their desired outcomes and strategic initiatives.

We have other clients that have evaluated SAP vs. Dynamics AX and selected AX due to the reasons Christian identifies above, in addition to others such as a great match in functionality around LEAN manufacturing that delivers proven ROI to a manufacturing company either starting their lean journey or on the path already. Large, multi-national enterprises are choosing AX more and more because it appeals to the notions of being flexible, simpler to use, easier to manage the lifespan of costs and allow users of all tpes to successfully interact with the business systems.

In summary, we don't go to market looking to replace an SAP installation at a Fortune 500 company as we recognize SAP is entrenched and the risk to a company at that level would be very difficult to manage. However, many companies that qualify as a Fortune 500 member are finding a place for AX in their business. Companies growing into that space certainly see how AX can deliver on Christian's points. Thus, I think it is time for the market to accept the fact there is a very real value to utilizing AX at the foundation of its business....and know there is a very well qualified partner in mcaConnect to help the get there :-)

Even though most of the comments above are technically true, it is important to note that 99% of the Forbes500 companies are run and managed by either SAP or Oracle! it is easy to downplay complexity of enterprise organisations, but I have witnessed 1st hand how Microsoft Dynamics AX had to be replaced by SAP in several instances because it just could not handle the transaction volumes and was completely oversold.

It is very important to note that the success of an ERP deployment is 80% dependant on expectation management, project management, change management and only 20% the software itself.  

The bottom line here is that software is software, and selling software is a process of mitigating risk and lets face it - Customer reference is a way to eliminate risk, and this is something SAP is very good with.

I've never developed a single line of code for any other ERP solution, but as a seasoned .Net developer I can vouch strongly for the developer story and developer experience in Microsoft Dynamics AX.

I would further argue the developer story for Dynamics AX is an important argument for choosing Dynamics AX as ERP solution.  In fact, the story is so strong it would apply for building any business critical solution.