Webinar: Microsoft
Dynamics AX 2012
R3
December 10, 2013
CLIENT LOGO
In This Presentation
Introductions
& Ideaca
Overview
Upgrading to
AX 2012 R3
Return on
Investment
Proactive
Application
Support
Importance
of Being
Proactive
Next Steps
Typical
Support
Model
Introductions
& Ideaca
Overview
Introductions
Today’s Presenters
•
Heather Fitz-Gerald
–
–
–
–
Senior PM (certified PMP)
15+ years experience with Microsoft ERP solutions
Projects in both Canada and the US
Industries: Distribution, Manufacturing, Professional Services, Hospitality
and Not-For-Profit
– Functional specialties: Finance, eCommerce and Systems Integration
•
Sonja Hamilton
– Director of Customer Sustainment
– Aligns operational strategies with business objectives to ensure a valuedriven approach to long-term support
– 15+ years experience implementing IT solutions
– Area of expertise is Microsoft products
– Broad range of functional experience in a variety of industries
– Certified in ITIL V3; Foundation level
Ideaca Overview
Ideaca’s 300+ employees help customers from strategy to
solution through a portfolio of management consulting,
implementation and support services.
Upgrading
Dynamics AX 2009
to Dynamics AX
2012 R3
Upgrading to Dynamics AX 2012 R3
Business Features and Benefits
Workflow
• Configure and enforce business processes dynamically in the system using a
graphical interface
• Ability to direct documents through multi-level approvals
Enhanced Organizational Modeling
• Ability to change organizational structure and evaluate the effect on financial
reporting
• Effective dated organizational changes
Segregation of Duties
• Security Model - Segregation of Duty functionality including compliance report
Data Import/Export Framework
• User configurable tool, does not require IT involvement to import and export
data
Upgrading to Dynamics AX 2012 R3
Business Features and Benefits
Increased Collaboration Capability
• Integration with Microsoft SharePoint for workspace creation,
document collaboration, etc.
Enhanced Reporting Capability
• Additional OOB reports, analysis cubes
• Convergence of Management Reporter for financial reporting
Customizable Help System
• Add content specific to your business processes and roles
Virtual Companies
• Create configuration and master data that can be shared across
all companies to reduce error
Upgrading to Dynamics AX 2012 R3
Business Features and Benefits
Unlimited Financial Dimensions
• Create unlimited financial dimensions across legal entities for detailed
analysis
Budgetary controls
• Enforce spend against budgets
Enhanced Human Resources functionality
• Employee self-service – expense processing/workflow and time entry
integrated with accounting function
• Role-tailored homepage including alerts, tasks, reports, and data for
specific job functions
Enhanced CRM Functionality
• New Service Module to support case management processes
Upgrading to Dynamics AX 2012 R3
Improvements in R3
Manufacturing Improvements
 Run process and discrete manufacturing models in a single solution
Warehouse Management
 Enhanced inventory control re: visibility, counting and replenishment
 Embedded radio frequency for real-time process through mobile
devices
 Improved warehouse operations including EDI support, advanced
put-way and flexible picking strategies (e.g. wave picking)
 Rate, route and load planning including order consolidation,
constraint based calculations and multi-mode planning
 Freight reconciliation
Upgrading to Dynamics AX 2012 R3
Improvements in R3
Demand Planning
 Use of the time series algorithms in SQL to provide predictive SKU-level
forecasting based on historical data. Forecast data is then viewed
through Excel where it can be visualized and edited.
Retail
 Mobility – tablet and mobile based POS and assisted sales
 eCommerce and Social – multi-language and multi-store front support,
campaigns integrated to Facebook and Twitter
 Industry Excellence – enhanced pricing and promotion features
eProcurement




Improved management of RFIs, RFQs and RFPs
Support for multiple bid types (open, closed, reverse auction)
Inclusion of evaluation and scoring criteria
Improved vendor portal experience
Upgrading to Dynamics AX 2012 R3
Improvements in R3
Budget Planning
 Enhanced capability to budget based on the allocation rules and
totals
 Position cost using effective dates for benefit realization
 What-if analysis
 Incorporation of HR position budgeting
Companion Apps (Mobile)
 Capturing and reconciling expenses
 Time entry
 Approvals
Enterprise Manageability – use of Microsoft System Center
Configuration and Operation Manager tools
Upgrading to Dynamics AX 2012 R3
Upgrade Dependencies and Considerations
 New license model
 Security re-configuration
 Account structure/dimension sets/allocation rules
 Data integrity considerations – cleanup required
 Migration environments – source and destination (require
infrastructure to support migration
 Limited business outage
Upgrading to Dynamics AX 2012 R3
Upgrade Dependencies and Considerations
 Evaluation of modified functionality to determine whether enhancements
in new version can accommodate or modifications are still required
 Any modifications to the source environment will require development
effort to merge
 Any third party ISV’s must be engaged to confirm compatibility with AX
2012 and upgrade path/steps and support
 User training of User Interface upgrades, process adjustments, etc.
 Leveraging net new/enhanced functionality as part of decision
process/business case.
 Software version dependencies
 Ex. SQL Server version must be 2012 SP1
Upgrading to Dynamics AX 2012 R3
Upgrade Planning and Approach
Code & Data
Upgrade
Build Plan & Scope
•
•
•
•
•
•
Produce Project Plan
Include multiple Iterations
Include multiple test cycles
Include documentation
updates
Review customizations in
light of new features/
functionality in new version
Upgrade vs. re-implement
decision
•
•
•
•
•
Resolve errors
Merge/ consolidate code
Modify data upgrade
scripts to include
customized components
Upgrade VARs and ISVs
Resolve errors from
previous Execution
Execute
•
•
•
•
Run upgrade
Capture timing
Capture errors
Create/update go-live
checklist including
timing
Test
•
•
•
Define key business
processes
Create/execute test
scripts including data
validation
Capture results
Upgrading to Dynamics AX 2012 R3
Execution approach
Production
Production
Active on
on AX
AX
AX2009/
3/AX 4Ax4
Pre
Processing
Delta
preprocessing
Single User
Processing
Data Copy
Post
Processing
Production
Production
Active
Active
onon
AX
2009
AX
2012
Return On
Investment
Return On Investment
Improve Top Line –
Probably not
Improve Bottom Line
– Reduce long term IT
costs
Improve Efficiencies –
Increase staff
productivity (do same
with less)
Provide for Future
Growth – Optimize
capital spend (do
more with same)
Return On Investment
Improve top
line
Workflow
Improve
bottom line
√
Improve
efficiencies
√
Provide for
future growth
√
Organizational Modeling
√
Segregation of Duties
√
√
√
√
Data Import/Export Framework
√
Increased collaboration capability
Enhanced reporting capability
√
√
Customizable Help System
√
Virtual companies
√
Unlimited financial dimensions
√
Budgetary controls and planning
Manufacturing improvements
√
√
√
√
√
Return On Investment
Improve top
line
Improve
bottom line
Improve
efficiencies
Provide for
future growth
Employee Self-Service
√
Role Centre
√
Enhanced HCM
√
√
√
√
Enhanced CRM functionality
√
√
Warehouse Management
√
√
√
Demand Planning
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
Retail
eProcurement
Companion apps
√
√
√
Support Model
& Importance
of Proactive
Support
Typical Support Model
Proactive Services
Application Support
•
•
•
Acting in advance of a future situation - taking
control and making things happen rather than
adjusting to a situation or waiting for something to
happen
Monitoring and maintaining applications for longterm health and sustainability
Proactive Services are typically initiated by the IT
organization
Reactive Services
Proactive
Services
Reactive
Services
Enhancements
•
•
•
Responding to an event or request
Addressing break/fix incidents within defined
Customer Service Levels
Reactive Services are typically initiated by the user
community or the IT organization
Enhancements
•
•
•
Enhancements are features and functionality that
further extend the application from its current state.
Over time and after use, areas for improvement
within an application are identified.
Enhancements are typically initiated by the user
community
Proactive Application Support
Example of Proactive Support Activities
 Maintaining currency on major software versions
 Regularly applying software patches as they are released
 Identifying trends in reactive support activities to eliminate
the root cause
 Monitor and review system logs on a regular and recurring
basis to investigate and resolve minor errors
 Periodic review of hardware and software configuration to
ensure adequate sizing for growth projections
Proactive Application Support
Example of Proactive Support Activities
 Ensure data is properly backed up and recovery
procedures are in place and tested
 Regularly reviewing security policies and their
enforcement in the system
 Periodic review of reporting strategy to ensure business
requirements are met and prevent divergence and
redundancy of reporting solutions
 Proactive planning for changes, upgrades, etc.
 Upgrading Microsoft Dynamics AX is a proactive initiative
Proactive Application Support
The Importance of Being Proactive
 Keep long-term support costs down
 Minimize risk of major outages to the business
 Eliminate inefficiencies
 Prevent problems before they occur
 Remain current and supported across vendors
 Maintain pace with technical skill sets in the market
 Identify and convert opportunities for business improvement
Microsoft Version Lifecycle
Expiry Dates on Microsoft Support / Licensing
• AX 4.0 – mainstream support expired. Extended support
until Oct 11, 2016
• AX 2009 – mainstream support extended until Apr 14, 2015
• AX 2012 R1 and R2 – mainstream support until Oct 11,
2016
Simple
Powerful
Agile
Pervasive interoperability
Official Dynamics AX 2012 Courses
• Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Trade and Logistics
• Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Financials
• Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Development Introduction
• Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Installation and Configuration
• Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Process Manufacturing Production and Logistics
• Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Lean Manufacturing
• Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Public Sector
• Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Service Management
*Free Second Shot Exam expires May 31st, 2014
www.NetComLearning.com
Upcoming Course Schedules
Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 - Development (I, II, III & IV)
•
•
7 days, 70 hours
January 13th 2014 | Las Vegas & Live Online
Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 - Financials and Trade and Logistics
•
•
7 days, 70 hours
January 20th 2014 | Las Vegas & Live Online
Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012: Installation and Configuration
•
•
3 days, 24 hours
February 24th2014 | Las Vegas & Live Online
*Recurring Schedules
*Free Second Shot Exam expires May 31st, 2014
www.NetComLearning.com
Q&A
1-888-5-NETCOM (563-8266)
info@netcomlearning.com
www.NetComLearning.com