In November 2015, Microsoft announced that the next big release of Dynamics AX (formerly the Dynamics AX7 release) will simply be known as Microsoft Dynamics AX. The name change is significant because this release, due early in 2016, will be architected specifically for the cloud. As a cloud based application, Dynamics AX will now be under continuous maintenance. So, no version name necessary.

Soar to New Heights with Dynamics AX 2015

The next major version of Microsoft Dynamics AX, codenamed ‘Rainier’ or version ‘7’, should be released in the next month February 2016. The general direction Microsoft is heading with all its products is ‘cloud first, mobile first’, with Dynamics AX 2015 being no exception. This new philosophy espouses a vision of increasing the productivity of consumers and businesses through better delivery and usability of technology.

‘Cloud First, Mobile First’

Cloud first in Dynamics AX 2015 translates to a new cloud optimized platform for both public and private deployments, but with an on-premises option too.

Mobile first means Microsoft believes that productivity is about empowering people and not simply enacting artificial technological walls that force people to work in predefined ways. Integrations between non-Microsoft products and devices will be such that there should be no difference in a user’s experience based on the mobile device they use, be it an iPhone, iPad, Android, or other type of device.

“Our ambition to build the intelligent cloud comes to life with apps optimized for modern business, like Dynamics AX,” said Scott Guthrie, executive vice president, Microsoft Cloud and Enterprise. “When you combine the hyperscale, enterprise-grade and hybrid-cloud capabilities of Microsoft Azure with the real-time insights and intuitive user experience of Dynamics AX, organizations and individuals are empowered to transform their business operations.”

New Features We Know So Far

Key areas of improvement of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2015 include:

• New Generation User Experience: Will be an attractive context-sensitive Windows 8 experience based on HTML5 technology. This represents a movement away from boring and bland ERP system interfaces towards a modern user experience that is light, web-oriented, and intuitive.
• Cloud Delivered: With a focus on ‘what you need, when you need it’ through Windows Azure and Windows Server. Azure deployment is impressive, with a full cloud environment installation taking only 60-90 minutes. For disaster recovery and development testing alone this is a major feature, let alone the simplification of production environments and reduction of backup servers.
• Visual Studio and .NET Framework: The development environment will move to Visual Studio under the .NET framework, which will increase the consistency, experience, and availability of development tools.
• Best in Class Life-cycle Management: Irrespective of the deployment choice: cloud, on-premise, or hybrid.

New user experience & accelerated decision-making

Dynamics AX offers a redesigned, touch-enabled user experience that looks and works like Microsoft Office, delivering deep integration that seamlessly shares information between Dynamics AX, Dynamics CRM and Office 365. Real-time analytics powered by Azure Machine Learning Services offer the ability to visualize Power BI data directly from AX. Based on extensive usability analysis, the redesigned Dynamics AX is highly visual and more in line with what users expect from consumer applications.

Quicker implementation and easier management

ERP systems have traditionally been known for their rigidity, complexity, and slow deployments and implementations, but the days of big budget high stress implementations are over, even for massive enterprise products like Microsoft Dynamics AX.  The new release introduces enhancements to Microsoft Dynamics Lifecycle Services, an Azure-based service that enables turnkey implementation.

Because of the improved portability of the system and improved cloud functionality and architecture, Dynamics AX7, or Microsoft Dynamics AX no version, will be designed for a simple upgrade process that runs as seamlessly as possible.

More Intelligence

Microsoft is making Dynamics AX more intelligent with intuitive workspaces that allow never before seen visibility across an organization while performing tasks such as billing or AP processing.  Other metrics will be readily available in a sidebar for quick reference while performing critical tasks. Check out Routeget Technologies’ post to learn more about AX7 workspaces and how they improve Power BI.

In addition to better integration with Power BI, the new Dynamics AX release will seamlessly integrate with CRM 2016 and Offide365.  It will also draw insights from social and other data sources using the power of Azure Machine Learning services and Cortana.  Cortana integration helps users gain quick access to actionable human insights from big data generated by Microsoft Dynamics AX and other LOB apps.

Anytime Anywhere Enterprise

The new HTML5-based browser interface is so flexible you will be able to access AX from virtually any device, including an Xbox if you wanted to.

“The browser based user-interface… being able to use that on any device, you’re not limited to a Windows PC sitting in your office,” Amarnath Gupta, Business Solution manager with Routeget Technologies, said before the recent name change.  “You can be at home and get data out when you need it.  AX7 in one word is empowering.”

Other architectural enhancements that began in AX 2012 R3 will continue after the new Dynamics AX release date to help developers, VARs and ISVs customize AX or extend its industry functionality in the cloud.

While Dynamics AX is flexible to meet the needs of most industries, the new Microsoft Dynamics AX release is designed with five core industries in mind:

1. Retail
2. Manufacturing
3. Distribution
4. Professional Services
5. Public Sector

Stay Ahead with Dynamics AX 2015

The continued improvements to Microsoft Dynamics AX, with 2012 R3 being released just this past April, are appearing rapidly still. Microsoft Dynamics AX 2015 by all indications so far seems to represent another quality release by Microsoft that contains quite a few new and compelling features.

If you’re planning a new Microsoft Dynamics AX implementation or are seeking out upgrade options, then 2015 may the perfect version for you. Look for more information from Routeget Technologies about Dynamics AX 2015 in the first half of 2016.