IFS Applications vs. Microsoft Dynamics AX (discontinued)

Not every Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System does not cover all the industry verticals and all the functionalities and requirements for a specific industry as built-in features. Although IFS Applications does not completely cover all the requirements and all the industry verticals, it can be implemented for any industrial company with minimum configurations and customization, which is very good when implementing an ERP system. Since it supports web and mobile versions of the application as well, the users ind it easy to use.

Incentivized

It integrates fully with the other Microsoft software we use daily, and this coordination speeds up our work and gives us the agility to run easily. For example, in a purchase inquiry, the customer, after submitting a request, identifies the teams that should work on the project, and if they need further review by other people, they are added to the process, and everything is managed seamlessly rather than the sales process. Get the result as fast as possible.

Incentivized

• Accounting
• Finance
• Complex Inventory

• Pricing: Microsoft Dynamics AX gives us good flexibility in how we price our products.
• UX: Microsoft Dynamics AX has a good user interface to put valuable information on the screen for users.
• Inventory Management: Microsoft Dynamics AX does a great job at giving us insight into our inventory.

Incentivized

• Project Budget control other than Procurement
• Customer Advance settlement process should be Manual rather then Auto Adjustment
• IFS GSO Support should be more proactive

• Sales Ledger. Currently, the idea behind the sales ledger module is that the company prepares a sales order for another company. I would prefer the developers consider the scenario where a sales order is prepared for the same company but for another branch or unit.
• Postings of issues items are currently possible but none of the modules caters to "departmental material or item request". Further tweaks have been done on our Project Module to cater for this but it's not entirely perfect. This will enable aid in cost allocation per departmental request of materials or items.
• Challenges with the bank module - does not allow for easily reconciliation as the statement from the banks can not be uploaded except for specific format.

Incentivized

Microsoft Dynamics continues to evolve by bringing more functionality to the customer. Also there are several independent software providers that offer a wide range of solutions for vertical markets.

Incentivized

In overall, the companies get many advantages, where we can forget most of the things which can be considered for room for improvement. The user interface is good. It supports mobile versions an has several mobile applications for specific areas with Android, IOS and Windows versions. It allows several deployment options such as remote hosting, IFS Cloud hosting and on-premise hosting of the servers. IFS Applications can be easily and safely integrated with other systems.

Incentivized

Overall the product does what we need it to do in order for us to function as a company. While there are some concerns over ongoing costs, the belief is, once we have it fully acclimated to our business the cost should settle into alignment with our original expectations. The new features that are consistently being added do add value to the product as they are usually customer request directed.

Incentivized

Some integration and high volume ramping challenges, particularly with BizTalk and SQL Server, but getting sorted out. Outages over time appeared to be more dependent on integration complexity than AX MES.

Some integration and high volume ramping challenges, particularly with BizTalk and SQL Server, but getting sorted out. Outages over time appeared to be more dependent on integration complexity than AX MES.

We have been unable to get answers to our questions, solutions to our problems, and they don't seem interested in working in the construction industry.

We use a 3rd-party Microsoft Partner for the system. They are responsive and very knowledgeable. While costs have been mentioned several times in this review they are very aware of costs and have developers who are more economical they use to help offset the level of work required to meet our changes and fix our issues.

Incentivized

It took a lot of work, but Microsoft ultimately did a good job with in-person training, including being onsite in multiple global locations for extended periods.

Our solution deviated from a number of key out-of-the-box standards that were included in Online training. We just used that for introduction to the general functionality.

Some rough spots, but ultimately worked out. The contract didn't appear to be structured to support the level of overlapping facility deployments required to meet timeline commitments. Merging cultures on the program was also challenging. Overall, not an easy implementation by any stretch. Everyone did the best they could.

Microsoft AX, QAD (in continuation of our previous ERP), Sage X3 was an out of the box ERP that was part of initial RFP. We have chosen IFS based on the compromise between costs & budget, functionality, technical features, and feedback from similar customers that gave their feedback. The project manager team and qualification level of technical or consultant teams were differentiating factors too. Finally IFS application was named in the Gartner’s mid-market ERP Magic Quadrant, along with SAP, and helped us to finalize our choice

Incentivized

Cost and local regional compliance were primary factors in chosing Microsoft Dynamics AX over SAP Access Control for our need. SAP AC would have provided easier integration into our primary ERP system SAP but there were some regional compliance with ASEAN countries as well as the cost of implementation was more over Microsoft Dynamics AX.

Incentivized

• Positive impact in terms of global process alignment.
• Positive impact in terms of a single system of truth and reporting.

Incentivized

• Clients have seen better cost containment on inventory based on better on hand management and supply chain visibility.
• Faster closing process for the finance team, where by day 3 of 4 you can generate a trial balance and look to balance ledger to sub-ledger.
• Better reporting allows for real time analysis and can get to predictive metrics in certain areas.

Incentivized