If your company is using a legacy or outdated business management solution, you face clear challenges as your technology ages and your vendors discontinue support for those applications. You must make the crucial decision whether to upgrade to the next version of your current vendor's product or use the opportunity to migrate to an offering that may better meet your changing business needs. Microsoft Dynamics AX—familiar, adaptable, and designed to be tailored to your individual requirements—is a powerful alternative if you need to upgrade from a business management solution that is becoming obsolete or has a support plan that is expiring.

Microsoft Dynamics AX differentiators

• Familiarity. Microsoft Dynamics AX looks like and works like other Microsoft software that users may be familiar with. Whether working with Microsoft Dynamics AX or the Microsoft Office system, users get a consistent, familiar experience and you can maximize your investment in Microsoft technology.
• Industry support. You want a business management solution that provides for the specific needs you face in your industry. Microsoft Dynamics AX, together with Microsoft Industry Builder solutions and independent software vendor (ISV)-developed add-ons, delivers rich functionality that spans key areas of your business management requirements.
• Adaptable, cost-effective, and easy to maintain. Microsoft Dynamics AX is designed to reduce the time needed to maintain an existing solution and to adapt a solution to changing business needs. You need a solution with low total cost of ownership (TCO), and Microsoft Dynamics AX provides one of the lowest TCO models in the industry. Please see the Nucleus Research Microsoft ROI Support Center for return on investment (ROI) and TCO data and calculators. The Microsoft mass market model helps reduce the cost of development and maintenance, which further lowers the TCO of your installation.
• Deploy on your terms. Microsoft Dynamics AX is designed with an architecture that makes it easier for you to implement Microsoft Dynamics AX in stages—such as if you want to roll out Microsoft Dynamics AX to new divisions before deploying it to the rest of the company. And Microsoft Dynamics AX can also be implemented in subsidiary or satellite sites and linked to a centralized headquarters finance system, such as for mixed-mode manufacturers and distributors.
• Strong partner ecosystem. Microsoft Dynamics AX is supported by a broad network of solution and implementation partners. The Microsoft partner network is already global and growing fast. As of February 2007, Microsoft Dynamics AX has more than 1,500 partners and 7,000 customers worldwide. With the Microsoft Industry Builder program, Microsoft is working with the partner community to deliver best-of-class vertical solutions to support many industries.
• Reporting and BI are built in. With today's increased scrutiny due to Sarbanes-Oxley and other corporate governance requirements, you need robust business intelligence (BI) and reporting capabilities. Business users and information technology (IT) staff benefit from the built-in reporting and BI in Microsoft Dynamics AX. Business users can perform queries, create reports, track business performance, analyze data, and share conclusions.
• Clear road map. Microsoft Dynamics AX is part of a well-designed road map. Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0 provides a roles-based user experience, service-oriented architecture, and a common client technology that works like and with the Microsoft Office system. Future releases are expected to provide a model-driven approach to business processes that draws on the power of Microsoft Visual Studio .NET.
• Long-term support and enhancement. Microsoft has committed to enhance and support today's business management solutions until at least 2013, and will provide a clear upgrade path to future technologies. In addition, Microsoft offers a minimum of five years of mainstream support for each major release.

Easier migration process with Microsoft

To lower the cost and make migration easier when you upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics AX, Microsoft provides a straightforward migration methodology supported by tools. A standardized migration process, together with a new Sure Step Migration Tool for Microsoft Dynamics AX, can help you speed up your implementation process, lessen the risks inherent in any implementation, provide increased transparency, deliver improved accuracy, and ease the pain that can take place when migrating to a new system.

Conclusion

Microsoft Dynamics AX is a compelling and attractively priced solution to companies now facing a technological crossroad and need to update legacy systems.