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Microsoft Dynamics AX (discontinued)

Score9.1 out of 10

139 Reviews and Ratings

What is Microsoft Dynamics AX (discontinued)?

Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations (or Dynamics AX) was an ERP product in the Dynamics family. It has been split into separate Dynamics 365 products and is no longer available.

Top Performing Features

  • Warehouse Workforce Management

    Set goals, measure actuals, and analyze productivity for warehousing tasks and activities

    Category average: 6.6

  • Forecasting

    Statistically forecast based on historical patterns and sales input, monitor accuracy and estimate new demand

    Category average: 6.9

  • Pay calculation

    Pay calculation provides for computation of employee pay with state and federal deductions.

    Category average: 7

Areas for Improvement

  • API for custom integration

    An API (application programming interface) provides a standard programming interface for connecting third-party systems to the software for data creation, access, updating and/or deletion.

    Category average: 7.6

  • Single sign-on capability

    The software system supports a centralized authentication mechanism allowing the user to access multiple systems with a single, centrally managed password.

    Category average: 8.3

  • Credit card processing

    The software facilitates credit card processing.

    Category average: 7.4

D365 helps keep our production alive

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

D365 is utilized as the backbone of the business. We run all of our production, Customer Service, Quality System, warehouse management and Finance through the system. It allows us to see the overall picture of work to produce, work in progress and inventory status. Tracking of customer information and orders is easily accessible. Also, data analysis through embedded Power Bi reports makes tracking current capacity and financial information easily accessible and readable.

Pros

  • User setup is easy when tied to an Azure AD.
  • Task recordings create wonderful training tools for new hires.
  • Integrated Power Bi reports fit seamlessly into the environment.
  • Out of the box Data Entities are easy to connect to.
  • End user tasks are pretty straightforward.

Cons

  • Integrations for not included functionality can be expensive.
  • Sorting and searching Work Orders for starting and tracking can be cumbersome.
  • Error Reporting on transactions is awful and requires development to be of any use.
  • Speed can be inconsistent.
  • Cost.

Return on Investment

  • The switch from AX on Prem to D365 F&O cloud has been costly.
  • ROI has not been realized yet and maintenance costs have whittled away at the budget.
  • Other projects are shelved until we get the system fully tuned to our business.
  • As we get scheduling up and running it will greatly improve production time accuracy.

Other Software Used

Microsoft Power BI Embedded, Microsoft Teams, Adobe Acrobat DC

Usability

Comprehensive software suite for agility in managing and organizing daily tasks

Pros

  • Ability to use the cloud and use Microsoft resources and tools in a managed way
  • Integration and agility features in data transformation
  • Workplace automation, live access to all financial reports and outcome forecasting

Cons

  • The design and construction of the dashboard are more suitable for desktops and laptops, and no attention has been paid to users who want to work through tablets or mobile phones, and UI and UX designers should pay attention to this issue.
  • The number of modules and plugins is very large and this is good, but several comprehensive and professional modules should be designed for daily tasks that do not require the installation of several modules for a simple process.

Return on Investment

  • Direct communication with the team of employees and customers and reviewing the implementation process of projects live and instantaneously
  • Transformation our business to the digital world

Alternatives Considered

SAP ERP

Other Software Used

Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Advertising (formerly Bing Ads)

Usability

One of the best ERPs for mid-sized companies

Pros

  • ERP
  • Accounting
  • Product management
  • Service agreement / service order management
  • Warehousing

Cons

  • Large data volume processing
  • Mobile sites / apps
  • Complicated deployment

Return on Investment

  • Fast mass billing for thousands of customers with invoice issuing
  • Advanced accounting with intercompany capabilities
  • Problematic processing for large data volumes

Alternatives Considered

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (formerly Dynamics NAV) and Sage 500 ERP

Other Software Used

Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Dynamics 365 (formerly Microsoft Dynamics CRM)

Microsoft Dynamics AX: an ideal ERP solution for wholesale distribution.

Pros

  • 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.

Cons

  • Call center does not easily support orders taken from multiple locations.
  • Payment integration has been challenging, but ultimately doable.
  • There are several minor bugs that pop up from time to time.

Return on Investment

  • Dynamics AX has given us greater flexibility and capabilities in creating efficient business processes.
  • The implementation process has taken longer than expected.
  • Working with Microsoft partners during the implementation has been a struggle.

Alternatives Considered

SAP

Other Software Used

Adobe Acrobat DC, Adobe Illustrator CC, Bluehost

Appreciation of Microsoft Dynamics AX

Pros

  • Managing employees from Hiring to retiring. Through the HR module, a recruitment project could be initiated and followed through to receiving applications, conducting interviews, hiring and retiring.
  • Stock Management. Items can be managed to ensure that re-order levels are always updated. When re-order level is low, the Microsoft Dynamics Ax allows for a purchase request to be initiated on those items, goes through a workflow of approvals, a request for quote is sent to vendors and then a purchase order sent to chosen vendor.
  • Management of payroll system. Employees are created through the HR Module and set up for payroll. Any additional earnings or deduction are applied on the same employee's details to complete the pay structure and this is made possible through the inter module relations in Microsoft Dynamics.

Cons

  • 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.

Return on Investment

  • Timely payment of employee salary and other earnings.
  • Reduction in budgeting constraints due to proper stock management using Microsoft Dynamics.
  • Improved vendor satisfaction due to timely payment of services rendered.