Current AX Users: Why Dynamics 365 Will Be Your Last Upgrade

September 21, 2023 Greg Williams

Support for Dynamics AX 2012 R3 ends October 2021, and that means now is the time to start researching and deciding on a new ERP solution. We know this can be a tough decision; if you need help, we’re here to listen, provide information, and help ensure this process goes smoothly for your organization. 

We also have good news – upgrading from Dynamics AX to Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management will be your last upgrade. In this article, we explain what that means. 

PLUS: Dynamics AX end-users who have a current Microsoft Dynamics annual enhancement plan are eligible for a 40% discount on the Dynamics 365 cloud subscription.  Contact us today to learn more.
 

Advantages of the Microsoft Cloud

Stop upgrading and start UPDATING!

With on-premises solutions like Dynamics AX, upgrades were a regular source of added expenses and anxiety, especially if you had customizations and integrations. With Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management on the Microsoft Cloud, you don’t upgrade – you UPDATE.

Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management includes regular automatic updates in the background that ensure maintenance and new functionality are immediately available to your users with little effort from your IT team. And because of the architecture of the Microsoft cloud, these automatic updates won’t break your existing customizations, integrations, and apps.

When updates are applied, they filter through to the rest of your applications. Now you’ll have a solution that truly lasts, because maintenance and updates will continuously be happening on the back end. That means switching from Dynamics AX to Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management will be your last upgrade. Microsoft will continuously keep your software updated behind the scenes.

We can’t emphasize enough how awesome this is for organizations that want to stay ahead of the curve – you’ll be able to keep your ERP costs lower, while always enjoying the latest innovations Microsoft has to offer.

This incredible benefit of the cloud goes hand-in-hand with some other advantages as well, such as:

Seamless remote connectivity

Cloud-based technologies like Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management offer out-of-the-box mobile access and apps, with 24x7x365 remote connectivity. You can empower your employees to do their jobs from anywhere, anytime. In today’s times of an increasing remote workforce, this is a huge benefit. Access to key information from home offices, in the field, and on the road, is becoming mandatory to continue seamless operations no matter how, where or when your employees need to serve customers.

"With Dynamics 365 [Finance & Supply Chain Management] being cloud-based, we were instantly able to work remotely, protect our employees, and service our customers. We did not have to deal with VPN, remote desktop, and the time entailed in setting up those technologies.”

Steve Hey, VP of IT, Hyland's Standard Homeopathic


Built-in disaster recovery

One thing the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us is that disasters can affect any organization, anywhere, without warning. Not only does Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management mean high-performance remote access to your ERP, storing all your data in the Microsoft Cloud also means built-in disaster recovery for your business.

When a disaster hits, you’ll still have secure access to all of your data, and you’ll be able to get up and running immediately with no need to get into the office. And, with cloud data centers keeping data secure both physically and from cyberattacks, you won’t have to worry about keeping your own hardware safe and operational.

Easier integrations

Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management is built on a Common Data Service, which connects, ERP, Power Platform (including Power BI) and all the other Microsoft business productivity tools like Microsoft 365, enabling all of these programs to work together seamlessly. It’s easy to send and receive data, build workflows, automate processes, and create custom functionality. You’ll be able to connect and unify your organization like never before, all from within familiar Microsoft interfaces. Integrations with other applications and services are also easier, thanks to the architecture of Dynamics 365 and tools like Power Automate

Reduced IT investment

With a cloud-based solution, you’ll no longer need to spend money buying and maintaining hardware. Not only does that translate to reduced costs of hardware itself, it means you won’t need to worry about other expenses that hardware requires, like needing extra space for your servers, paying for electricity, and keeping extra employees around to troubleshoot hardware problems.

Improved performance

The Microsoft cloud also guarantees high performance and continuous improvements. You no longer need to deal with the time and expense of upgrading servers and storage or paying for external hosting. Microsoft includes all of that as part of your subscription to Dynamics 365.

Stronger Security

Microsoft’s cloud platform has state-of-the-art security to ensure that your data remains safe, and Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management itself has built-in, role-based security features like easy Segregation of Duties (SODs). As a result, you can count on Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management to be highly secure, reliable and able to support your compliance efforts.  

Innovations like AI, virtual agents, connected field service, and more

Advanced tools like machine learning, artificial intelligence, virtual agents, and connected field service may have seemed out of reach for many small to medium companies. With Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management, you can leverage the latest technology advancements to unlock new opportunities and gain a competitive edge.  
 

Want to learn more about Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management?

We understand that upgrading from Dynamics AX will be a big decision and process. With over 50 successful cloud implementations, Western Computer is committed to helping our customers choose and implement the right solutions. If you’d like to talk to an expert about your options, or schedule a demo to see Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management in action, contact us today.

About the Author

Greg Williams

As Western Computer's VP of Strategy, Greg Williams is responsible for aligning the company's product and service offerings with customers.

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