Dynamics AX 7 Platform Moves to Azure

The latest Dynamics AX release (code-named Rainier and AX 7) has appeared as an Azure-hosted service. Customers are able to leverage Azure’s services, quick deployment, and scalability with potentially lower cost than an on-premises deployment, and a managed deployment service and industry-specific templates could help customers reach go-live sooner. However, the release introduces dependencies on Office 365 and Power BI and retires key reporting and analysis features that may require changes to custom applications and integrations. The hosted release has a fast-paced update policy that may limit its adoption, and licensing changes may impact existing customers.

Dynamics AX Overview

Dynamics AX is Microsoft’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) product aimed at multinational midmarket companies and enterprises. Dynamics AX is sold worldwide and is among the fastest growing of Microsoft’s ERP products.

Dynamics AX is the only ERP product that Microsoft is developing specifically for large organizations, and it is the only ERP product that has significantly expanded the range of industries and business processes that it targets: it includes industry-specific capabilities for manufacturing, distribution, retail, professional services (such as consulting), and the public sector.