DALLAS— March 26, 2006 — Today at Convergence 2006, the Microsoft Business Solutions Group’s annual customer conference, Microsoft Corp. previewed Microsoft Dynamics™ AX 4.0, an adaptable, global business management solution. Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0 is proof that Microsoft is delivering on its vision to provide next-generation business value to customers in the form of powerful role-based activity. As a composite application, Microsoft Dynamics AX enables the use of business logic and data from multiple systems to show a complete view of a customer’s business processes, keeping the focus on people and the work they need to do.
“The extensive use of Windows® SharePoint® Services, the delivery of the Application Integration Framework (AIF) with extensive pre-defined Web services and an extraordinary level of integration with Microsoft® SQL Server™ will deliver a solution that challenges the competitors by providing a true role-based composite application,” said Mark A. Jensen, general manager of Microsoft Dynamics AX for the Microsoft Business Solutions Group at Microsoft. “Microsoft Dynamics AX not only seamlessly integrates technology, but also truly delivers a solution that helps make workers more productive.”
Microsoft Dynamics AX (formerly Microsoft Business Solutions–Axapta®) is a multilanguage, multicurrency enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution that addresses intricate business scenarios involving complex collaboration within and across companies. Its core strengths in the manufacturing, supply chain management, wholesale and distribution, retail, government, and services industries are extended with Web services integration and portal technology to enable an end-to-end view of a customer’s business.
“We’re excited about the way Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0 builds on the business strengths of the existing version and the assets of Microsoft technology innovations,” Jensen said. “It provides users with a rock-solid solution that is industry-specific and will allow them to collaborate even more broadly than before with their customers, partners, employees and suppliers.”
Enabling Business Success
Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0, available later this year, will allow customers to expand into global markets such as Japan and China. Microsoft Dynamics AX provides significant out-of-the-box functionality to get customers up and running quickly, and the adaptability for customers to tailor the solution to the unique ways in which they may want to compete in their markets while offering an uncomplicated path to future upgrades. Customers will experience faster total cost of ownership advantages through the use of wizard-based implementation and configuration tools, and the familiar Microsoft Office user experience can help significantly reduce the time it takes for Microsoft Dynamics AX users to become productive.
Deep Integration With the Microsoft Technology Stack
As part of the Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0 release, customers and partners will benefit from additional functionality across the Microsoft technology stack.
Collaboration Across Applications
The adoption of Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services within the Microsoft Dynamics AX enterprise portal sets a new standard for out-of-the-box collaboration capabilities. By creating a single view across transactions, analysis, work flows and documents, Microsoft Dynamics AX enables employees to do their jobs easily, providing them with the power of role-based activity.
Contextual Business Intelligence
SQL Server-based contextual business intelligence using SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services allows business users to perform ad hoc reporting and data analysis. In addition, unlike most enterprise software applications, Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0 will expose the entire data model within Microsoft SQL Server and enforce the security model within the application to help ensure data integrity.
Web Services
Microsoft Dynamics AX is already winning customers based on its object-oriented, metadata-driven customization model, which allows organizations to easily extend the application to fit unique business needs. With the addition of the Application Integration Framework, customers will be able to extend the Microsoft Dynamics AX solution by easily inserting business logic from other vendors’ applications with no dependencies created within the core solution. AIF also acts as a Web services toolbox by exposing all the application components and gives developers a head start by publishing an extensive set of Web services for core business processes such as receiving and fulfilling orders.
“The Linc Group is growing rapidly, both organically and through acquisitions,” said Greg Lush, CIO of The Linc Group Inc. “Acquisitions have created an environment with many systems including Oracle-, PeopleSoft- and UNIX-based environments. Microsoft can provide the entire platform with business applications, infrastructure and support. We needed a platform agile enough to support our growing business that works the way we do with rich field service capabilities. We found this with Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0 and its field services module. With Microsoft Dynamics, we are able to take advantage of our investment in SharePoint, CRM and corporate performance reporting. The Microsoft Technology Adoption Program has allowed us to contribute our domain expertise to the development of the 4.0 product and will allow The Linc Group to become the world’s first Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0 customer when the product is released later this year.”
Tomorrow in Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates’ Convergence keynote address, a demonstration of the Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0 vendor procurement scenario will be highlighted.
Columbus IT is a technology consulting company with 900 employees working in 22 countries worldwide. A Microsoft Certified Partner, Columbus IT specializes in providing customers with best-in-class solutions for ERP, business intelligence (BI) and customer relationship management (CRM). “The choice of Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0 is an obvious one for us and for many of our customers,” said Henrik Albinus, IT manager at Columbus IT. “So many users know Microsoft Dynamics AX and rely on it in their daily work. And Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0 integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft technologies.”
About Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Dynamics is a line of financial, customer relationship and supply chain management solutions that helps businesses work more effectively. Delivered through a network of channel partners providing specialized services, these integrated, adaptable business management solutions work like and with familiar Microsoft software to streamline processes across an entire business.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Microsoft, Microsoft Dynamics, Windows, SharePoint and Axapta are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Development Center Copenhagen ApS or their affiliates in the United States and/or other countries.
Microsoft Development Center Copenhagen ApS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corp.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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