Happy Thanksgiving!

I wanted to wish everyone a safe, and wonderful, Happy Thanksgiving! No matter if you participate in this holiday or not, I hope you are blessed and get some time with your family, friends and loved ones.

I know I'm thankful for having a Loving Creator, My Wife & Kids, My extended Family, Ability to Provide for my family, a wonderful work family, as well as each of you. Thank you for being readers of my blog. I hope that you always find it to be useful, and that you continue to write and challenge me on topics.

Thanks!

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

Thank You!

It's been over a week now since the horrible storms of last week, reck havoc across the south, and focused heavily on Alabama.

It's been reported as the worst in over 90 years, and the death toll still keeps rising.

Out of the ashes, and through this event, however, I have personally seen and also heard wonderful stories of people giving. Communities coming together to help their fellow man, total strangers giving time, food, money, and most importantly thoughts and prayers.

So for those that can't say this, for those that are affected, and to those that gave in any form or fashion and are still doing so.: Thank You!

Thanks to those first responders that did everything they could to save people, that dung people out from under the rumble and destruction. Thanks, to those that cared, cried, hugged and prayed with us all. Thank you, for those that donated time, money, clothes, food and advice for those that have lost everything. Thank you to the State Troopers, Medics, Doctors, National Guard, Red Cross, and all those trained to help in such situation for being there, and getting setup fast and ready to serve. Thank you to my clients who reached out, as well as the company I work for Sunrise Technologies. All of you, everyone of you that gave and cared, you are the heroes in this story.

In such events, it brings out the best and also the worst in some people. However, from what I have seen first hand, the good far out ways the bad.

So one last time: Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

-Brandon George

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

Recovering from the Storms

I wanted to take the time and update everyone, and my readers on recent events that have affected my family and those people of my community. By now you have heard about the tornado's and storms that passed through last Wed evening.

This left in the wake of it, a path of destruction that has not been seen in over 90+ years in the state of Alabama.

The death toll rises every passing day it seems, and having first hand trying to help those that have lost everything recover what they can, I can state it's like a war zone.

At least, it's how I would picture a war zone, of just totally having people's homes and businesses wiped out.

My parent were directly hit, and have lost everything, with their house, their store, etc. We worked non-stop for several days in trying to recover what we could. End up, we got a lot more than we thought we could ever find.

The positive note, they are ok, and of course I welcome everyone, if you have or have not already, stop and pray for those affected. You don't know how much it means when you do such an act.

I would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support during this time. I will try to get back to a normal routine of posted soon, but don't expect anything this week.

If you want to help, donate to the red cross.: Red Cross for Alabama, Tonado's 2011 relief effort.



They were on the ground right away and have been a huge help, non-stop caring and giving.

In times like this, you get caught up in all that is going on, lost, and just overwhelmed with taking everything in and trying to digest it all. What's important is that this could have been a lot worse, and we could have lost a lot more people. It's sad for those that have lost, but it's important that we rebuild that which was destoryed, in honor of those that we did loose.

That's all for now...

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

2011 is here, and the Clouds are still forming!

Last year, I wrote this article, to kick off 2010.: The Year of the Cloud: How Coming Microsoft Products Will Make Dynamics AX the Basis of New Solutions


In this article from the start of last year, I declared 2010 to be the year of the cloud. After years of talking and Microsoft as well as Google having 2009 filled with beta's and some releases, 2010 can for sure be marked, at least for Microsoft, the Year of the Cloud.

This can also be said, for other companies as well, as for the Microsoft 'All In' marketing tag line, I can bet more partners and customers of Microsoft learned about 'The Cloud' than in any other previous year.

Ending the year, Microsoft taclked the consumer end of the cloud, with commericals showing off Windows Live services and Windows 7 working together.

Also at the end of the year, there was this article wrote, that questions Microsoft's 'All in - bu Dynamics'. The arctile can be found here.:
Microsoft is “All In” for the Cloud, but What About Dynamics?

Also at the end of the year, there was an article by Richard Hunter, who writes at the following location.: A Buyer's Guide to Accounting Software - Online Accounting Software. The article questions Microsoft's 'All in - but Dynamics'. It can be found here.:
Microsoft is “All In” for the Cloud, but What About Dynamics?

In his article, Richard actually does a good job at taking and laying out why Dynamics ERP is not a true cloud solution yet. Such solutions, when looking at ERP, are smaller ones. Lower end ERP solutions, that don't have the deep product level that products like Dynamics AX has.

Also, for example, cloud based solutions like NetSuite, and others, are very scary solutions. What happens if NetSuite, and their *cough* single point of failure goes belly up? They don't pay their bills? Where do you think that customer data will be?

Getting taking out of the leased Datacenter space, and sold! Scary if you ask me for sure!

Beyond that however, and going back to the fact, that those who are demanding cloud based only ERP solutions are smaller shops. So when hunter points to this fact.:

""Most Importantly, if Microsoft did commit to moving Dynamics to the cloud, would the market be ready?""

He goes on, and I agree, to answer with a sure No! And this is the truth. Sure some companies are, but the fact still remains that trust is an issue with the cloud.

Taking to the point of Hunters post, he asked what is our take? Being involved deeply with the Dynamics Community, and have been writing about cloud computing for nearly 5 years now as it relates to AX, I have the following thoughts.:

Microsoft Dynamics ERP will be 100% cloud only, or on premise - and a hybrid mix of those offerings by choice of module.

Attending Convergence 2010 last April, Hal Howard, and Mike E., both stated in the Future on ERP, that Microsoft Dynamics ERP will be developed actually for the Cloud First. Just as Dynamics CRM is now.

What will run on Azure, and therefore take on the benefits of scale, will also run on-premise, or in a hybrid mode.

And that last peice, the hybrid clouds, where some things are on-premise while others are in the cloud, will be the normal selection for most companies that use the cloud and ERP, for the next 2-3 major release cycles of Dynamics.

Within the next 2-3 major releases, I am predicting that you will see a formal plan for Dynamics ERP.

That is a single source code, development, workflow, that takes and offers - depending on size and needs, the best of breed from all the current Dynamics offerings.

I believe deep now as well, that Dynamics AX, being the flagship of the Dynamics ERP brands, will be what Dynamics ERP mostly looks like, when that 2019-2021 release of Dynamics ERP takes place.

So yes, I am putting a year out there.: 2019-2021 Is when I believe that Dynamics ERP will exist.

By this time, what we know of cloud computing will be changed in a dramatic way. What we view the cloud today, is like viewing the internet now, compared to the dial-up days of the 90's.

In this area and realm, we will see were is truely does not matter to the end customer if it's on-premise or not.

Now take a step back and look towards Dynamics AX '6.0' and what we have been publicly told on this blog and other resources by Microsoft Dynamics Team. SOA within Dynamics AX. That means the ability to split out modules, which is a step to take and this module and that module on-premise or not.

The move for the kernel in AX '6.0' to be wrote in IL, or MSIL, which is to say .Net based kernel. This means, running on Azure, or services possibly running on Azure.

Now I am not saying AX 6, is the cloud version of Dynamics AX. That's never been said by anyone I have interview at Microsoft, and I doubt very seriously that will be the case.

Instead, we are seeing a move, along with the some rate of customer or Market readiness, that allows the creation of services in the cloud, that can be used with a Dynamics AX investment. As these Hybrid clouds build out, and the years go on, more and more can live in the cloud, vs. on-premise...

Still, and most important to understand, a choice will exists. Because even when Cloud Computing of the future, in that 2019-2021 time frame arrives, still then there will be plenty of companies that will not use the cloud as much as others.

Even with it's ability to scale, the cloud, like all ways of creating, consuming and serving software and services - has it's pros and cons.

We also must look at a product like Dynamics AX, which sits on the top of the Microsoft stack, and see that it must lag behind Microsoft's move into the cloud. Technologies must be developed, frameworks must exists and be tested, so that when released, a business system, or system of record like Dynamics AX, is released and it works!

When it comes to the CEO, the Product Manager, the Buyer, the CFO. Technology is great, but it better work. If it does not work, or is not trusted... it can be the best, but it will only be the best peice of crap that company will never use.

To finalize, Richard has a timely post, and one that I hope makes everyone question and think. However I do believe we know how this is playing out for Dynamics, and that Microsoft is doing this correctly. Building this out, as the rate the market is ready for it.

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

Merry (late) Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Well I am sure that most of you took some vacation, as did I last week. I realized I did not post a Merry Christmas entry, so here is a Late Merry Christmas! :-) Better late than never right?

Also I hope that it was a blessed Christmas for each of you, and that 2011 is the best year yet!

I have a good bit in store and a lot to do coming up. With a year end closing post, reflecting on a recent blog post on Dynamics and the cloud. Will hope close the year on a topic that we started it, 2010 being called the Year of the Cloud!

I also have some guest blog post coming soon, as well as coverage of the Microsoft Dynamics AX 2011 - Technical Conference. This is being hosted at the campus in Redmond. A LOT of great tracks!

So here to closing out 2010 with a bang, and welcoming the new year of 2011!

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

A lot of Dynamics Mojo going on

The past few weeks, information about Dynamics License, about Dynamics vs. other ERP platforms, and exciting new developments on vertical offerings, ISV's, and cloud based focuses has been taking place.

Mix this with the upcoming AXUG Summit in Orlando, and also the MSDynamicsWorld.com, Decisions Fall 2010, Virtaul Conference, as well with the offical Microsoft Dynamics AX 2011 Technical conference coming in Jan., what do you get?

A lot of Dynamics Mojo going on!

Interest level in Dynamics AX has never been higher, with searches continued to increase around not just core Dynamics AX information, but also vertical solutions like PDM / PLM, Cloud, and more.

So to help centralize and bring the mojo together in one place, the following is a list of good information that I think everyone needs to review.:

• Microsoft Executive Suggests an Alternative to Oracle's Fusion Applications


• Microsoft seeks to unify its coming Microsoft 'Union' Services, ERP and CRM wares


• Microsoft Dynamics ERP Licensing Guidelines - Customer Edition Aug 2010 (PartnerSource or CustomerSource access required)


• Microsoft Dynamics AX Technical Conference 2011


• Dynamics AX Day at Decisions Fall 2010 is November 1


• AXUG Summit 2010 - home page

So, as I said, I am calling this the Dynamics Mojo, and for good reason. With all the interest, information, portals, groups, conferences, and more. There is plenty of places and ways for a company to help decide if Dynamics ERP is the right choice for them. There is also plenty for customers who have already made that right choice, to have access too, to help extend their Dynamics investment.

It's a very exciting time that we are in, and the excitment will only continue as we close out 2010 with a bang, and kick off 2011 with even more Dynamics Mojo!

I have a special treat starting soon, that will be a series of post with Microsoft's own Lachlan Cash, focused around Dynamics AX '6' and the Dynamics AX Technical Conference 2011. Also expect coverage of the AXUG Summit and Decisions Fall VC on this blog, plus much much more!

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"