Often on thematic resources you can find a question about a product called Axapta: "What kind of program is it and what is it for?" Today this application is called Microsoft Dynamics AX and is one of the software products for resource planning. This software belongs to Microsoft Corporation and belongs to the Microsoft Dynamics application group.
Development and Release History
Microsoft Dynamics AX was developed as a result of a collaboration between IBM and Daamgaard Data. The original name is IBM Axapta.
The application was originally released in March 1998 in the markets of Denmark and the United States. IBM granted all rights to the Daamgaard Data product shortly after version 1.5. Daamgaard Data was then merged with Navision Software A / S (in 2000) to form Navision Daamgaard, later called Navision A / S. Microsoft acquired the combined company in July 2002.
In September 2011, Microsoft released AX 2012. An enhanced version of Axapta (a program that was positively reviewed from the start) is currently available and is supported in more than 30 countries and 25 languages. The latest distribution of this app dates back to February 2016.
Development and Support Centers
MDCC (Microsoft Development Center in Copenhagen) was originally the primary development center for Dynamics AX. In addition to MDCC, Microsoft is developing AX in the USA (Bellevue, Washington State and Fargo in North Dakota), Russia (Moscow), China (Shanghai), and Pakistan.
Axapta - what kind of program is it from a technical point of view?
Custom development of AX and its modification are carried out using a specially created interface for this program - MorphX, which is available in the same client application. This leads to the fact that every ordinary user has daily access to updates, which allows you to install innovations and download new versions on any client device.
As for the Dynamics AX 2012 version, its development can also be performed in Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 using the VisualStudio plugin.
Axapta (program): what does the product look like from a specialist’s point of view?
MorphX is an integrated development environment in Microsoft Dynamics AX that specialists use for graphic design of data types, basic enumerations, tables, queries, forms, menus and reports. In addition to using objects from future versions of AX, it provides access to application code by launching the X ++ code editor.
MorphX uses object references, so changes to the field name data automatically updates each metric that uses these names (such as forms or reports). In addition, changes made using MorphX are displayed in the application immediately after compilation. For this reason, exporting from Axapta (program) and uploading data from Excel to it does not lead to loss of information.
Microsoft Dynamics AX also offers support for version control systems (VCS), integrated with the IDE, which facilitates development collaboration. Another available tool converts table structures and Visio chart structure classes.
The actual implementation is such that it limits the practical use of both of these functions. X ++ itself is a programming language in MorphX. It is an object-oriented, class-based, single submission language. X ++ is derived from C ++ (both do not have a final keyword) with the addition of data collection and the language of integrated SQL queries.
Code Samples
In order to answer the question: “Axapta (program) - what is it?”, You need to understand the language in which it is created. X ++ integrates SQL queries into standard Java-style code. Microsoft publishes a “Referral Statement” for Dynamics AX on its official website, which describes future development plans. It says future versions of AX will include increased vertical market functionality, cloud computing, and HTML 5.
Online Information
One of the most well-known sources of information about Axapta (before the purchase of Microsoft) was technet.navision.com, a proprietary web-based newsgroup that had a huge number of subscribers and posts before it was purchased by Microsoft in 2002.
After Microsoft included Axapta in the SolutionSuite group, they transferred the contents of the newsgroup to Microsoft Business. The very first mention of Axapta (what kind of program it is and how to use it, what its capabilities and main functionality are), which can be found today on the network, dates from August 2000. In the era of Axapta 3.0 development, teleconferences have been held repeatedly with the participation of representatives of the official Microsoft websites (Partner Source for Microsoft partners and Customer Source for licensed Axapta customers), and they made up the majority of official Axapta documentation sources. Free access to such information is currently difficult.
After the release of Dynamics AX 4.0, already under the leadership of Microsoft, the demand for news about a service such as the Axapta program (instructions, tips, etc.) on the World Wide Web has grown significantly, in particular due to increased interest from professional blogs.
Who is using this application?
The main consumers of AX consist mainly of companies that use software on a regular basis for their work.
Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 is an ERP system for medium and large enterprises. This is the most reliable, large-scale and functionally rich enterprise resource planning system in the Microsoft Dynamics product family. It has particular advantages in production and distribution. Moreover, it is a functionally wide system that can serve customers in most industries. Multilingual and multicurrency options make the program a popular option for companies that seek to centralize operations in several locations around the world.
In addition to basic reporting, Microsoft Dynamics AX provides full functionality for inventory management, warehouse management, transportation, supply chain planning, material requirements forecasting, production management, quality control, product life cycle management, asset management and business intelligence. Currently, the application relies entirely on .Net technology from Microsoft. It is often installed directly, but can also be hosted remotely (this is convenient in cases where the client prefers a system that is uninterruptedly accessible via the Internet).
Where is it most useful?
Microsoft Dynamics AX can work in a wide range of markets, but it has special capabilities in production and distribution. The industry-wide functionality of this application meets the needs of individual manufacturers in the fields of high technology, electronics, metals, industrial equipment, aerospace production, consumer goods, medical devices and other large industries. The program supports repetitive situations, as well as forecasting on a variety of issues. For this reason, it is widely used to regulate production processes that require automation of batches, formulas and recipes. As a result, the application can often be found in companies engaged in the production of pharmaceutical, chemical and food products.
In other words, the answer to the question: “Axapta - what kind of program is this?” its definition is as a customizable and flexible system that can satisfy the needs of almost any type of production. In addition to manufacturing and distribution, Dynamics AX is also a popular choice in the retail industry. Microsoft has developed an AX version for mid-size retailers, Dynamics AX 2012 for retailers, which, along with Microsoft RMS and Microsoft POS, is evaluating retail software solutions.
However, Microsoft Dynamics AX is suitable for companies whose size and functional requirements can justify its cost. As a rule, you can see that the application is used by organizations with at least $ 50 million in annual revenue (although sometimes a little less when it comes to non-standard scenarios).
Practical benefit
As can be understood from the above, Microsoft Dynamics AX is an application that allows you to make decisions based on enterprise resource planning (ERP) and redesign business processes.
What practical experience does the Axapta program give? Why do businessmen need it? First of all, it can help in the following:
1. Increasing the speed of doing business: with automated task solving and an intelligent user interface, you will be able to make more informed decisions with access to analysis in real time, on almost any device and anywhere.
2. Improving business efficiency: you will be offered a holistic view of your business and access to the necessary data to make informed strategic decisions.
3. Exceptional customer experience: you will be able to better manage the changing needs of modern customers and offer personalized service over a wide range.
4. Acceleration and improvement: you will have the opportunity to accelerate the introduction of new products and form a more profitable manufacture and delivery of products.