Update on the Connector for Microsoft Dynamics AX and CRM

This week, Microsoft released a new "out-of-the-box" connector for Microsoft Dynamics AX and Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

I covered this release, in the following blog post.: Out-of-the-box Connector for Dynamics AX and CRM

I had an open question to Microsoft, specifically around how the connrector would, or could be used for developing deeper or vertical specific integrations, or workflows. If the connector would be the base, or if a total custom integration would still have to exists.

I got feedback from Elizabeth Alexander, senior product manager, Microsoft Dynamics ERP, who is involved deeply with the Connector itself. This is the feedback she gave me.:

"Assuming what you’re asking is basically ‘can the connector be extended to cover customizations’, that the short answer is yes. The extent of work required depends on whether it's a case of adding fields to existing maps, creating entirely new maps, or new services need to be enabled in Microsoft Dynamics AX. The connector is a constant, it's the maps and integration components that get extended or created to support additional integration scenarios."

So we have our answer here to this, in that you extend this connector through it's integration components and field maps. This is what I was hoping would be the case, and so this new connector should be considered the base in which more complex workflows and integrations are designed between AX and CRM.

That's all for now, a big thanks to Angie L. for helping me get this answer. She is always so very helpful!

Till next time!

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

Out-of-the-box Connector for Dynamics AX and CRM

Today, Microsoft has a new press release focusing on some new tools that allow customers to possibly save time and money. The full press release can be found here.: New Microsoft Dynamics ERP Resources Save Customers Time and Money

"Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq “MSFT”) today announced new resources to help improve productivity and save Microsoft Dynamics enterprise resource planning (ERP) customers time and money through new interoperable Microsoft technologies. The new resources include an out-of-the-box connector between Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Microsoft Dynamics AX and a Data Migration Assistant for Microsoft Dynamics AX customers moving from an Oracle database to Microsoft SQL Server.

“These offerings help enable Microsoft Dynamics ERP customers to take full advantage of the benefits of Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Microsoft SQL Server in an easy and cost- effective way,” said Guy Weismantel, director, Microsoft Dynamics ERP Product Marketing. “By offering out-of-the-box interoperability with these Microsoft technologies, as well as Microsoft Office 2010, Microsoft SharePoint 2010 and Microsoft Visual Studio 2010, we’re further supporting our customers’ path to becoming dynamic businesses.”"

Both are great moves by Microsoft, but for this post I want to focus on the out-of-the-box Connector between Microsoft Dynamics AX and CRM.

Before this official release, connectors between these two products where developed either by VAR, custom for a given customer, or where developed by third party ISV's that focused in a specific vertical expertise.

Now with this new out-of-the-box connector, we have a base level of integration between Microsoft Dynamics AX and Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Lets look at this closely though, and think about the nature of both CRM and AX.

Both are very flexible, and both can look way different from one customer to the next. What is being attempted is to offer a way for more standard integration to be achieved between these two products and their data.

This is great, and for a lot of customers this will most likely fit the bill for enabling the integration between the two products. There will still however be a need for custom integrations, workflows, and vertical / industry specific integrations that go deeper than what can be achieved with this new 'out-of-the-box' offering.

I bold this point, so that we can understand what this offers, and still want will exists within the Dynamics Ecosystem, in the form of need of services, and software that enable deeper integration for these two products and their respective datasets.

I have not yet had a chance to dig deep technically into this new offering, and I have a pending question out to Microsoft if this is an open integration in which such deeper, vertical specific needs can be built on top or, or used to connfigure from. Once I have that answer I will let you know.

Needless to say this is a very right move, and will help enable the adoption of Microsoft Dynamics CRM for existing Microsoft Dynamics AX customers that might not already use CRM but want to move from the 'Sales & Marketing Module' within AX to a more robust CRM solution.

That's all for now, but check back soon as more to come!

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"