Although customizing existing IT systems to meet current requirements is a common practice these days, adjusting these systems according to the latest ERP trends gets more and more difficult. Further, organizations using obsolete customized solutions will eventually find themselves unable to keep up with rapidly shifting markets characterizing most sectors of the economy. This can literally kill a business.
A New Approach to ERP Redefines Organizations
Indicating a new direction in ERP, the upcoming Dynamics AX 2012 R3 proposes advanced task- and service-oriented architecture combined with a distributed computing environment, which will make possible a higher level of interoperability between apps, systems, and platforms. What’s really great about this system is that it facilitates combinations and re-combinations of various software elements without requiring a substantial amount of money or time. This is possible because AX 2012 follows the concept of reusability, which allows developers to use identical or similar data models across the entire AX platform.
Additionally, task- and service-oriented architecture gives organizations the ability to streamline various business processes, promoting agile process management. Agility is very important since it helps organizations adjust to different environments and respond quickly to market changes – two critical elements in achieving competitive advantage.
Dynamics AX 2012 R3 also supports the latest ERP trends by promoting ERP usability on mobile devices. Since the way people perform their tasks isn’t important anymore, Microsoft has developed numerous ERP mobile applications employees can use to:
- capture and reconcile expenses while on the go
- record the time they work on projects at different subsidiaries
- create on-the-go e-procurement solicitation notices, expense reports, timesheets, budget requests, and so on
- approve requests or projects according to role-tailored access while traveling
- connect their devices with on-site ERP systems to send data to the office
Further, Microsoft makes available a series of apps that anyone involved in your projects can use, including employees who aren’t registered as ERP users. This is one of the few elements that demonstrate how task-oriented Dynamics AX has become.
Although new enterprise resource planning trends focus on mobility, on-site Dynamics AX remains critically important because it delivers a competent development platform most organizations need to build their future on. Without this platform, Dynamics AX apps would be nothing else than a useless suite of custom-configured add-ons.
Dynamics AX R3 can also help you increase the distance between you and your competitors more than before. Streamlined production and delivery processes, better decision making, reduced risks, and improved bottom line are just a few things R3 promise to all organizations, including those who already use AX 2012, regardless of the industries in which they operate.
Unlike other ERP products, which offer different systems for manufacturing, accounting, retail, supply chain, human resource, and customer management, the upcoming AX R3 upgrade offers one integrated customizable solution that focuses not only on what’s best for your organization, but also on what’s best for your customers. Delivering excellent service to customers will help you crash your competition.
Dynamics AX R3 will most probably become the representative of next-generation ERP systems. If you take a closer look at the latest ERP trends, you can easily understand that bringing together your current ERP solution with external cloud services and personal cloud will soon be essential to business success. Since Microsoft has also decided to support the general cloud-oriented approach, you should opt for R3, which has been developed with a ‘hybrid’ future in mind to make possible forthcoming ERP functionality. Looking at predictions, it’s advisable to think strategically not only about your organization, but also about the future state of technology, which will undoubtedly shape our future.
