Microsoft Dynamics AX is an ERP solution developed by Microsoft to meet business needs and streamline workflows. It helps you optimize, automate, and organize your processes to make things more efficient and structured. Microsoft Dynamics AX moniker has officially retired from the game and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations has officially taken its place. Dynamics AX is a computer-based application that contains a few tablets or mobile phone components, while Dynamics 365 F&O is a cloud-based application and can be accessed on any device.
Microsoft Dynamics AX rose to popularity due to its cost-effective and versatile features. As the market changes daily, it is good to invest in a flexible and scalable ERP and CRM solution. With Dynamics AX you are entitled to several other applications making your work easier and adding value to the choice of your ERP solution. Although Dynamics AX has its advantages, today, Dynamics 365 is a better alternative. It offers futuristic features and solutions that Dynamics AX does not have.
However, the latest stable version of Dynamics AX is still used by many organizations, and it is necessary to check if the system is healthy or if it requires an upgrade to another more feasible ERP solution. Dynamics AX has a health check monitoring system in-built making this task a lot more efficient.
Considering a health check for your Dynamics AX system
As mentioned above, the in-built feature to determine the health of your Dynamics AX system helps you understand if your ERP solution is giving you, its value. The feature allows you to see if Dynamics AX is the right choice for your ERP and CRM management needs. Moreover, it also indicates if you require an upgrade to Dynamics 365 F&O to improve your current processes.
A health check on your Dynamics AX system provides you with valuable insights regarding all the technologies you use to power it including your client machines and data servers. Furthermore, you will also gain information regarding probable downtimes and potential risks that could result in minimizing the efficiency of your system.
The main advantage of the Dynamics AX health check feature is the identification of the cost of the software. It helps you understand what you are paying for and thereby gives you a chance to optimize costs by eliminating those that are not required.
Optimal usage of all resources including the ERP software is vital for cost reductions and maximizing productivity. Here are some of the most common issues that health checks pose:
1. Deployment and management of code
Standardizing code and managing it to understand how customizing will be deployed is important to most companies. When standard processes are not established, managing work processes and streamlining them becomes a tedious task. If management and deployment processes are not established, changes in codes in different environments can lead to implementation issues. This is one of the major issues that people pose while using Dynamics AX.
2. SQL configurations
The SQL server is the brain or the center of your organization. It manages the model store and the Dynamics AX data. Thus, the SQL configuration and set impact your ERP solution largely as it forms the direct link to the overall performance. The parallelism set up on Dynamics AX impacts the overall speed and efficiency of the system. Even slight deviations can affect your system.
3. Availability and disaster recovery
Availability and disaster recovery are imperative to any organization. With Dynamics AX, disaster recovery is an expensive feature to add to. As this is an on-site managed ERP system, having a secondary back far away from the premises is an expensive alternative. No one plans on a fire or a flood, however, while setting up an ERP system, it is important to have all your data protected.
4. Role-based security feature
Dynamics AX does not possess role-based features. It means that anyone with access is entitled to view all the data and modify it. It does not possess a privacy or restriction feature which is mandatory for any organization as it could result in malpractice or data theft. Leaking sensitive company data is something that you cannot take lightly.
5. Client crashes
The latest stable version of Dynamics AX has seen more client crashes than any version released prior to it. It causes business continuity and might not allow you to provide adequate services to your customer. It results in the frustration of end users and reduced performance. It is one of the major reasons that most organizations upgraded to Dynamics 365 F&O.
6. Performance
You can receive an early indication of all the probable risks and problems that might arise in your Dynamics Ax system if they are not addressed properly. The most common issue is the inadequacy in disk performance as it tends to sway away from its optimal state. Such issues might delay your queries by large amounts of time minimizing your overall efficiency.
Why should you consider investing in an upgrade to Dynamics 365?
Familiarity is something that is not easy to let go of. Dynamics AX has value as it is familiar to your employees and is easy to use. However, it is not an easy task to implement Dynamics AX into a cloud making it harder for it to keep up with the demands coming today. Thus, the idea of scalability, security, and access privilege is lost with Dynamics AX as it is an on-site managed system. Even remote access is a task.
When you invest in an upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics F&O, you open yourself up to a whole new world of possibilities that looked impossible with Dynamics AX. Business continuity is almost never lost due to its remote accessibility feature. It is more secure, and the cloud-based solution streamlines your processes and workflows. Furthermore, you will be entitled to constant upgrades that provide you with new features to keep up with the latest demands and trends. Your data is also stored virtually and is managed to ensure all your security and privacy. All these features will help you boost efficiency and productivity, making it worth the consideration for an upgrade.
What will you receive when you upgrade to Dynamics 365 F&O?
Here are three major benefits that you will receive when you upgrade to Dynamics 365 F&O:
1. Cost saving solution
Dynamics 365 F&O helps you automate routine tasks thus minimizing the need for manual labor. Hence, it helps you save both time and money. Furthermore, it is a scalable solution, thereby making it affordable, allowing you to pay for only those services that you require.
2. Business continuity and intelligence
As it is a cloud-based solution, it can be accessed through different devices even remotely. Thus, it ensures business continuity. Furthermore, it also has in-built analytics features that help you gain insights and thus make informed moves and decisions regarding the future.
3. Integration ability
Dynamics 365 F&O can integrate with not only other Dynamics modules but third-party applications as well. This makes it easier for you to collaborate and complete all your work processes in one space. Thus, it improves efficiency and boosts productivity.
Final Word
In conclusion, considering a health check on your conventional Dynamics AX system allows you to understand your needs and your usage better. It provides you with the right insights to decide if you require an upgrade or not. Despite the benefits of Dynamics AX, considering upgrading to Dynamics 365 is worth it.