Free ebook: Introducing Windows Server 2012

I hope everyone is doing well today! I wanted to highlight a recently released, free eBook from Microsoft Press. A Direct link to download the eBook can be found here.: Microsoft Press- Free ebook: Introducing Windows Server 2012.

Like I stated in my big fat book review post, this time of year brings a lot of reading and studying. If I'm honest, you never really stop reading or studying, but we are in a release cycle of technology for Microsoft that is causing such a statement to really be true. With that in mind, I've started reading the above mentioned free eBook that gives a great introduction for Windows Server 2012. From the blog.:

"Chapter 1 The business need for Windows Server 2012
The rationale behind cloud computing Making the transition
Technical requirements for successful cloud computing
Four ways Windows Server 2012 delivers value for cloud computing Foundation for building your private cloud

Chapter 2 Foundation for building your private cloud
A complete virtualization platform
Increase scalability and performance Business continuity for virtualized workloads


Chapter 3 Highly available, easy-to-manage multi-server platform
Continuous availability
Cost efficiency
Management efficiency

Chapter 4 Deploy web applications on premises and in the cloud
Scalable and elastic web platform
Support for open standards

Chapter 5 Enabling the modern workstyle
Access virtually anywhere, from any device
Full Windows experience
Enhanced security and compliance"

This is a very important topic to understand, for a lot of different reason's that are highlighted in the above chapter notes. Windows Server 2012 will be a foundation piece or layer, that true Hybrid Clouds will be enabled via. Further, Microsoft is focused on HTML5 and hence the nod to "Support for open stanards" (See page's 185 & 199)



What is the impact of this for Microsoft Dynamics AX? As we continue to push forward into a true Hybrid world, and details around 'AX 7' come into light, we will see the technology in Windows Server 2012, leveraged that will truly allow for elastic scalablity, and in my "crystal ball" - workload specific scaling for Microsoft Dynamics AX Processes. I've not focused much on the cloud, as of late - however with technologies like Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, SQL Server 2012 and now Windows Server 2012 - the cloud will continue to be ever present in the minds of Architects & developers for AX, and will be expected as an "Always On" utility.

That's all for this highlight, I do think it's very relevant for the Microsoft Dynamics Community at large. Further, check back tomorrow as I continue my series of post on Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP Design & Development. Till Next Time!
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MSDW Decisions Fall 2011 - AX Day Live!

Well welcome to Monday everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend, have some coffee, and are ready to tackle a new week. If your not aware of this already, there is a great virtual event taking place, live, right now, focused on Microsoft Dynamics AX. I'm speaking of course, about the MSDW Decisions Fall 2011 Event.



If you have not already signed up, please go do so now. It's free, and a great way to connect, and get that expo like feeling, with some great information, as well as sessions. Don't forget to attend my session today: Microsoft Dynamics AX in the Cloud: Today & Tomorrow. It's at 11:30 AM - 12:00. I will be on there live, as well as ready for any questions you might have afterwards.

There are a lot of other great sessions today, and plenty of people to meet with, with a nice list of ISV's, and other Microsoft partners that you can connect with while in the expo hall.

Final note, the official hashtag for this event is #MSDWDecisions so make sure and use that hashtag when tweet's are flying out in the wild!

That's all for now, check back soon as a whole lot more to come. So much to cover, and so little time. What an exciting time to be involved in the Dynamics Ecosystem.

Till next time!

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

Microsoft Dynamics AX in the cloud - Today and Tomorrow

With the release of Microsofts Dynamics AX 2012, one of the more interesting topics that is whirling around, centers on AX in the cloud. One of my most earliest blog post, about this topic comes to us way back in 2007 with, ERP Live? "Software plus Services"?

It's always interesting to revisit past writings, that opine about the future. That take a stab at what might be, and compare to what is. This same interest drives me to talk about what my thoughts were then for AX 6.0 / 7.0, and what we might see with ERP, or AX in the Cloud.


With all of this said, I've posted a really decent guide, back in April of this year, that really still holds true today. It covers the basics of what is AX in the cloud, and what are some of the things we know will be AX in the cloud for tomorrow. You can read that post here.: A Guide to Microsft Dynamics Cloud ERP - Dynamics AX.

From my 2007 post, ERP Live? "Software plus Services"?
"As most everyone should have seen at Convergence this year [2007], a big part of Microsoft's furutre plan is CRM and ERP Live."

Well this was a dead on prediction. CRM Online is a huge focus for Microsoft, and Dynamics ERP Online is just getting started.

From the post:
"Well if we look at the future, as laid out by the Microsoft Crystal Ball [aka: Road Maps] we will see how all of these convergence of technologies, etc. are being shaped towards the future of the information worker. Let's start with the future front end, for a given information worker. In the not to distant future, most information workers will complete their job on a SharePoint Portal Mashup page, made up of web parts and weblets. These web parts will draw from Dynamics AX, CRM, and other places, and make use of Word Documents, an Excel spreadsheets as web parts."

Here again, we see this as the truth. Microsoft, with AX 2012, is Blurring the lines between Office, AX and SharePoint. The vision that Microsoft laid out, in which I talked to in AX 2012, has become a reality, here with AX 2012.

From the post:
"his means the same underlying technologies, that will provide role based user interfaces, will exists for role based, or better process based work flows of data and executed business logic. See with the S+S mashup, the entire cloud is not one single giant service, but rather services interconnecting multiple softwares, to offer up a single sign on, and single user interface"

Single user interface has not happened yet, but I fully expected that in AX 7.0. However, if you take what I said then, with the role based focus, better process work flows, and a hybrid cloud experience, then here again we see the vision that Microsoft was putting together then, is coming true.

From the post:
"There will be for some time, and even after the Live versions, customers / companies that host their own clouds that make up their solution, and that they control."

This is also very true. There will be companies, that when even AX 8 comes to exists, will not have much of their solution living in the cloud, than what is required. This is from the sheer fact of reality, and how some companies work. Scale it the gain, and showing that scale to larger corporations can sometimes be lost in the technical how to, and how come. Bottom line, Choice is key, when it comes to AX in the cloud, and that will remain for many, many years to come.

From the post:
"[Most I see will be a hybrid of half / half.] That means that after Dynamics AX 6.0 or 7.0 [Same version for CRM] that will we start to really see the different flavors of Dynamics, ie: AX, GP, SL, etc., come together in this ERP / CRM Live vision and become one product, with different levels of implementation for operation, functionality, and size."

I still hold to this belief. That beyond AX 7.0, is where we see the lines merge between AX, GP, NAV & SL. I'm not saying that the other products that are not AX, don't exists in so form. What I believe will happen is Microsoft with Dynamics ERP, and depending on the size, and desired flavor, what is delivered in the Dynamics ERP offering, will be a blended beast of breed from the family of Dynamics ERP offerings that exist today. If I'm right or wrong, time will tell.

From the post:
"To Not go on to much about this, what I would like to wrap up here with is that ERP and CRM Live are the future of the products we Dynamics AX and CRM professionals support and focus on. This means that we must start to shape our current skill sets to the following:

- SharePoint
- AJAX, RIA, SiverLight [And still Flash]
- Office and it's full compliment of products
- Web services
- .Net 3.0, 4.0 and beyond"

Now I was dead on about these technologies, and what we as Dynamics Professionals need to understand now. What I did not mention, and can replace some of the SilverLight and Flash, is HTML5 UI. However beyond that point, all of the technologies that I talked about four and a half years ago, are exactly the skills needed to be successful with an AX 2012 (v 6.0) implementation today.

Obvious there are a lot other skills that will make one a success, but for sure the above listed technical disciplines are needed.

The bottom line for this entry post, is that the paradigm that is cloud computing is here, and here to stay. It will forever change how we look at computing resources, and how we solve business domain issues. You can either embrace this fact, or shun from it, and become something of a relic.

On-Prim will continue to play a vital role in the successful implementation of the total solution that makes up an AX project. However, the doors are open, and within a few short years, in some form or fashion, every single AX project will have some form of cloud computing involved with it's implementation. Dont believe me, look to RapidStart Services. If your implementing AX within the next 4 years, You will use this service, or you will not be implementing AX. This service alone, makes every AX project, impacted by the technology that represents cloud computing. To that end, every AX project from AX 2012, going forward, will have some facet of it, relating, depending, extending, and adding value through what we call cloud computing, as of today.

That's all for now, but check back soon, as a whole lot more to come. Till next time!



"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

MPN - Build your path to industry creditability and awareness

The Microsoft Partner Program got a major overhaul last year, and we covered some of those topic's in an interview this year with Microsoft's own Doug Kennedy, Interview with Microsoft's Doug Kennedy & Kees Hertogh

With this, and for the past several years really, all the top brass in the Microsoft Dynamics org has talked about the need for partners to be vertically focused. There has been massive efforts within the Microsoft Dynamics Partner Org to help align the Dynamics Partner Ecosystem, with the new MPN.

There are a lot of great resources on PartnerSource, and to help highlight this I wanted to point to a new Partner Learning Course Build your path to industry creditability and awareness!

This is very focused on the Partner, and so does not directly apply to a custom context, however this blog is meant to cover all things Dynamics, and that include the Partner Ecosystem at large.

Here's a snippet from the course details.:
"Our research indicates that our most successful and profitable partners are ISVs and VARs that have a deep understanding of the vertical requirements, business processes, and business challenges of their prospects. Similar to years past, Microsoft will continue to identify, brand and promote partners who are investing in vertical expertise, and delivering a vertical value proposition to win deals.

Join us to learn more about how to—Build your path to industry creditability and awareness!"

This is suppose to help a Partner focus on

• The Value and Process to Software Test and Certify Your Solutions that work well with Microsoft Dynamics
• The Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace
• Options to Promote Your Solution and/or Selling Expertise to Microsoft Field Sellers

There is some great content in here, and as we look to the future of Microsoft Dynamics ERP including that of the cloud, and beyond, the use of ERP App Stores (ie: MPN PinPoint), as well as vertically focused Partners, is going to be key for the continued success of the Dynamics Ecosystem.

So I highly recommend, taking an hour out, and joining Tera Long, no matter whatever or role you play within a Microsoft Partner. It will be well worth the time, and well worth the knowledge gained, so you can help do your part in the continue drive and growth of the Dynamics Ecosystem at large.

That's all for now, but check back soon as a whole lot more to come! Till Next time!



"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

Interview with Microsoft's Lachlan Cash on his new role, AX 2012 and more

While at Conv11 I had the chance to sit down with Microsoft's Lachlan Cash. You may recall Lachlan, as he is very active while at Convergence, helping with the keynotes, doing demo's, and also has been on my blog a few times before. (Interview with Microsoft's Lachlan Cash about Dynamics AX Technical Conference)

This time, I sat down with Lachlan to review a lot of different things, including is move from the Microsoft Dynamics AX Product Team, to becoming a AX Solution Architect working with Sri and Hal Howards R&D teams.

The following is the result of that interview.:



Q1: Lachlan, you recently moved from the AX Product team, to Hal Howards Dynamics Research group. Can you tell us a little bit about this new position, and your influence over AX in this new role?

Lachlan: "Making the move from the Product team, to Hal Howards group, and specifically Sri’s Solutions Architect team, put my focus more on the sales process, as well with implementations for Microsoft Dynamics AX.

In this new role, I will focus on helping fill a need that has been identified with helping with sales support questions from a total Solutions Architecture point of view. This includes working with larger implementations of AX, and driving value helping the total solution for a customer scale.

One of the business values, from this new role, and how that influences AX in general will be around creating lessons learned, which in turn help with the partner channel around readiness efforts.

In my new role then, I focus on more of the execution side for helping deliver Microsoft Dynamics AX implementations, through our Partner Channel, and how the functional depth and use of AX fits into the overall total solution package for a given customer.

As part of this, the R&D team can also take what we learn through helping with customers scale and complete their total solution, and if you will – drive backwards through the R&D, and therefore product development to help shape a better and better ERP platform that is Microsoft Dynamics AX."

Q2: Now that Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 is in public beta, can you talk to the power of things, like the workflow engine & designer, and it’s impact on such ERP project task, like business process modeling?

Lachlan: "The goal with such items, as the workflow engine is to address the need to bridge the gap between development vs. business process modeling. To take and drive true BP workflows, down to the end user level.

With this in mind, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 is really the first true step in this direction. We started the foundation for this concept in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009, but really built upon on it AX 2012. Now that we host the Microsoft .Net Workflow engine, and Visual Studio Workflow designer, the gap between the developer world and business process modeling world has gotten a lot smaller.

Take for example, now with workflow in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, you can nest workflows, and have workflow logic that calls upon other workflows. This is truly an empowering step towards a business process modeling world, that leads to a more dynamic and agile ERP platform.

Looking at this from a long term view, the idea would be eventually to drive system configuration away from so much code and parameters, and to more domain specific design, and even language to complete the configuration of a Dynamics AX instance.

The underlying design theme, then is taking and setting up AX, so that this move to decouple modules and sequential code, into more business model concepts then enables in the future the ability to have this ‘lego block’ approach to deploying and even customizing Microsoft Dynamics AX.

Lets look at a real world example, of this decoupling that has already taking a positive affect in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. If you look at the new structure and design for the infinite financial dimensions, we have a great story here. In Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 and before, some code and parameters had to be adjust in order to add a new financial dimension. Now in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, no code or parameters are needed. You model your financial dimensions as needed, and the work load is a business user, vs a technical need.

Another great example of this same decoupling, or abstraction that we are doing is the separation of the Inventory dimensions. Before Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, we had a very tightly created design around inventory dimensions that mixed item attributes along with storage and tracking information. Now we have split these, decoupled them, in a fashion to where the Item Attributes, live abstract from the tracking dimensions, which also both live in an abstract manor, separate from storage dimension.

As we move forward with the development of Microsoft Dynamics AX, more and more of this decoupling will take place, which will help empower and enable customers that choose it as their ERP platform."

Q3: Lachlan, with this new vision, for performing business process modeling via the workflow designer, how much ISV development and also AX 2012 out-of-the-box will be setup using this new approach?

Lachlan: "Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 represents the first step in this direction. With that, we are still not completely at the point in which true business modeling is mostly done with the workflow designer, and with domain specific components.

For ISV’s, there exists however a new place in which they can deliver their vertical specific expertise through the creation of workflows, and business modeling elements in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. In doing so, they would be setting themselves for future releases of Microsoft Dynamics that will use this approach.

For Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, out-of-the-box business process modeling workflows still reside mostly around the procurement, and procurement templates. However, these are great examples, and a lot more depth than what came out of the box in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009. From these templates, a customer, or ISV can use, to help them create their own templates that govern other processes.

With regard to the out-of-the-box nature, for business process workflow templates, Microsoft’s focus is and will be around the horizontal needs, which include the five focused industry sectors that will be apart of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 and beyond. This means, as I stated earlier, that there is a lot of room for ISV’s to bring their vertical expertise to the table with what now exists in the workflow elements."

Q4: Lachlan, as part of the Microsoft Convergence 2011 keynote, Kiril made the official announcement for Microsoft Dynamics ERP Online. As part of that announcement, it was officially released that Microsoft Dynamics AX version 7 will be built for the cloud first. For the Azure PaaS offering. Care to give a little insight on this?

Lachlan: "When looking at the cloud offering, what Microsoft Dynamics AX version 7, or vNext, will offer is around scale as well as flexibility. The idea that is driven us, is around that enabling flexibility and choice to our customers.

Some customers will want to be 100% cloud based, however what we are seeing mostly is customers that will want to live in a hybrid cloud mode. Where parts of their solution will exists in the cloud, while other parts will still exists on-premise.

The architectural changes you now see in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, with the decoupling, unified natural models, abstraction, the move to more .Net all help line up Microsoft Dynamics AX to help offer this eventual true choice for customers.

It is true, that Microsoft Dynamics AX version 7 is being built for the cloud first, however the same code base and offering can still run 100% on-premise, or in a hybrid mode, as well as the partner hosted model that we see geared up now for the Microsoft Dynamics AX cloud story.

The choice is what separates Microsoft Dynamics from the rest of the pack in this regard."

Well I would like to take the time and thank Lachlan for sitting down with me. It's always a pleasure!

As you can see, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 represent true generational shift in the ERP landscape. This includes Microsoft Dynamics Cloud ERP offering, and driving to Microsoft Dynamics AX 7, which will be built for the cloud first.

I agree with Lachlan, that, Microsoft Dynamics flexbility and being designed so the customer has a choice in how and what is running in the cloud and not, helps separate it from the rest of the pack! You can read more on my take for Microsoft Dynamics Cloud Vision here: A Guide to Microsft Dynamics Cloud ERP - Dynamics AX

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

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

A Guide to Microsft Dynamics Cloud ERP - Dynamics AX

As I mentioned in my post yesterday, Microsoft Convergence 2011 - The Aftermath, Microsoft Dynamics Cloud ERP was a main topic and highlight as part of the overall Convergence 2011 event. (Conv11).

With the announcement of Microsoft Dynamics ERP Online, and with Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 now in public beta, more specific information can be shared and talked about, in regard to Microsoft Dynamics Cloud ERP vision for Microsoft Dynamics AX.

The Vision: Today
Today we have Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009, a very stable world class ERP platform, deployed throughout the world. With it, was introduced a lot of great functional depth, as well as technical enhacnements, that drive bottom line business value.

It, along with the soon-to-be released Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, targeted August, you have a Cloud Story that starts to unfold. What is this cloud story?

Now, and building up to Microsoft Dynamics AX 7.0, the model for running Microsoft Dynamics AX in the cloud, is through Partner Hosting model. This offers different flavors, of cloud offerings, depending on the hosting partner. Your Microsoft VAR of record is still your Dynamics AX expert and trusted guide / advisory, as well as implementor for your AX investment.

What this partner hosting model involves, is a set of certified and trusted hosting partners, that work with your VAR, to deliver a subscription based, license model, running on a hybrid cloud approach, depending on need that have IaaS-ish, and SaaS-ish aspects to it.

Let's be clear here: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 & 2012 are not designed to be multi-tenant, 100% SaaS offerings. When you look at the benefit of a SaaS offering, being multi-tenant, who does that benefit? The Provider! It does not benefit you the customer. What benefits you the customer, is the SPLA license, to where you can by month, per user.

That, is where the Cloud Story for Microsoft Dynamics unfolds into the true benefit for customers. You can take and offload the infrastrcute needs to a hosting partner, that can have some mix bag of IaaS / SaaS aspects to it, to lower your TCO from a management point of view, but also now have SPLA's that allow you to take and "rent" the software, including ISV solutions, including having your own customization needs, through a by month, per user fee.

This means that you can have an, isloated-tenant model, with getting all the benefits for license, and service, of a multi-tenant subscription offers. This, for some companies, concerned around shared environments, gives you the best of both worlds. And leads you to the subscription based model, lowered TCO, and better scale, than you could get from a total on-premise implementation.

Now this is not for everyone, as on-premise is very much a part of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 and Microsoft Dyanmics AX 2012. It will remain, most likely, in some geo-locations, and vertical splits of company and size, the main focus for the next 5-10 years and beyond.

The Vision: Tomorrow
Moving forward, and looking ahead to Microsoft Dynamics AX 7.0, it is being developed to run 100% on Microsoft Azure, PaaS offering. It's being developed first, for the cloud, but still the same applies that it can 100% run on-premise.

With this, you will have a true set of possible ways to run your Microsoft Dynamics AX 7.0 instance, with either running as PaaS offering on Azure, with the Partner Hosting Model and it's IaaS-ish offerings, or 100% on-premise.

This flexibility is what sets Microsoft apart, because it realizes that not everyone wants to run 100% of their total business solution on the cloud, and companies want options. For some it's all-in, everything, while others, it will be a hyrbid, best of breed for their case mix of SaaS, IaaS & PaaS cloud offerings that makes up their total overall solution.

To help close this post out, I hosted a session as part of AXUG DayOne while at Convergence 2011, specifically on Cloud Computing for the Microsoft Dynamics AX Company.

Take a look at slide deck, mixed with this post, to help get a better idea of what the Microsoft Dynamics Cloud ERP story is, and how it's unfolding. The idea is to offer choice, flexbility, and scale that drive business value for your company and needs.

After reviewing the post, if you have any questions on this, still need answers, have concerns, looking for a partner that undertands the vision for today and tomorrow, email me through my profile or leave me a comment and I will get back with you.

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

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

Microsoft Convergence 2011 - The Aftermath

Well, we came, we saw and we conquered - Microsoft Convergence 2011. (Conv11)

The we of course, is partners, customers and of course Microsoft. This year's event was the second larget ever Convergence, with over 9,300+ attending. The GWCC in Atlanta is a Huge place. Walking from building A, B & C means you got in a 5k everyday!

Maybe the 5k statement is a little bit of a stretch to the reality, however your feet sure felt like it! I would say, the real complaint I would have with this years session, was the horrible keynote speech seats. Anyone at the event planning team from Microsoft hearing this? I'm not the only one who thought so... go read the tweets!

Beyond that physical, and very personal, lasting affect, the overall conference was a huge hit. So much information, so many points of interest, and so much news to cover. The biggest focus of news, was around what we all expected to the build up of this event, that is:

• Microsoft Dynamics ERP Cloud


• Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012


• Microsoft's BI Story

With each of these topics, so many articles, post and details will be coming, and Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 went into public beta.

With that, you have so much content to review already, that was generated as part of the Microsoft Dynamics AX Technical Conference earlier this year.

To start, make sure and read the Technical Whats New, located here.: What's New for Developers in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

With so much to cover, look here as now that we have reached public beta with AX 2012, I can now dive into the product with you as we prepare for the larget launch of any Dynamics product in the Microsoft family this year.

That's all for now, I also have some great interviews with Kees H. and Lachlan C. from Microsoft, some partner reviews, interviews with Doug K. and Hal H. coming up, as well as continued focus on all things Dynamics. So check back often! Till next time!

P.S. Conv12 = Houston, TX!

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

Microsoft Dynamics ERP Online - and other conv11 news

Well we are into full swing with day two at conv11the key note had some great details in it, and as expected, Dynamics Cloud ERP, as well as AX 2012 where the majority of the focus. Along with BI, specifically showing off Microsoft Project Crescent, which is the next version, or next generation of report builder.

As part of the keynote, and as the title suggests, Microsoft today announced Microsoft Dynamics ERP Online.. This has been a building up for years, and if you have been reading my blog for any extended amount of time, you will have seen I have been talking about the cloud and it's impact on Dynamics, specifically Dynamics AX for a while. Over four years now!

Well with conv11 Microsoft now has an official stance on cloud computing, for Dynamics ERP. In looking at this, and as I covered in my session on cloud computing for AX, as part of AXUG dayone session, IaaS clouding offering, with AX installed on it is what the cloud story for Dynamics AX is today.

This is done either via Partner Hosting, and a new type of license that is based on per user, per month, or through a typical purchase of an AX license, with the customer making the choice to deploy AX to an IaaS cloud offering from the likes of an Amazon or even with Microsoft Azure VM role.

This cloud story continues to unfold however, as it was stated today, the next release of AX, version 7, will be developed to run on Azure First!

From early readings of the tea leaves, it would seem as though this would be around the 2014 calendar year time frame. That would fit into the product lifecycle we have seen so far with the AX product line.

There are so many great sessions now that the day into full swing, and I will be taking time put sit down today and talk with Kees H. and Lachlan C., both from Microsoft, and both I have interviewed on this blog before. So look for those interviews coming soon, as well as a slew of AX 2012, detailed articles and post, as today is Puboic Beta of AX 2012!



"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

Making the most of Microsoft Dynamics Convergence 2011

I wanted to take the time, and tell you about my latest community article. Since CONV11 will be starting in just a few days, I thought it was good to point out some of the highlights to look for, and other topics, and general Convergence advice.

A direct link to the article can be found here.: Making the most of Microsoft Dynamics Convergence 2011

I hope you enjoy, and look forward to seeing people there. Keep in mind, you can follow me on Twitter as I do live coverage while at Convergence, here.: www.twitter.com/DynamicsERP

I will have a slew of post, interviews, and post convergence topics I will be writing about, so make sure to keep an eye here after CONV11 closes up next week.

Till next time!

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

Sunrise Over Convergence 2011

Well we are officially less than one week away from Convergence 2011 (CONV11). I have heard it's a totally sold out event, and this year is going to be packed with all kinds of information.

To kick off the pre-convergence events, I like to pick the brain of Sunrise President and Owner, John Pence. (He happens to be my boss as well!)

Below is the result of me, virtually, sitting down with John to talk about Convergence 2011.:



Q1: What topics do you think will be most covered at this years Convergence in Atlanta?

"I think the hot topics at this year’s Convergence will be the evolution of the Cloud into ERP and CRM, Dynamics AX2012, and Microsoft’s approach to mobile computing. I think SAAS will get the most attention this year by far. It is the dominant platform in CRM, and the ERP businesses will be seeing much more of an impact than in the past. AX2012 is a major new product that deserves to get a lot of attention this year, and mobility continues to be a huge topic."

Q2: What will Sunrise being talking about at it's booth this year?


"First, we are making a significant investment in making sure all of our applications are upgraded and ready on the day AX2012 is launched. We want to make sure our customers know that we will be ready with products that support Microsoft’s investment in this great new product, and that our applications will be tuned to take full advantage of the new features. Second, we have added new capabilities around BI to our offerings for Dynamics AX that will be showing at Convergence."

Q3: What topics do you think are worth noting, that might not get headline coverage while at Convergence this year?


"I think that Microsoft’s BI for Everyone strategy is being lost in the attention of Cloud Computing. This is a fantastic value, with rich functionality, and it is being drowned out in the discussions around Cloud and mobility computing."

Q4: What are you most excited, or eager to hear about while at Convergence?


"Like every year, the chance to network with our Dynamics ecosystem of customers and partners is the number one draw of Convergence. I always learn a great deal from all the interaction and it is of tremendous benefit to myself and Sunrise. In addition, I am looking forward to learning more about Microsoft’s specific product direction, and the hosting strategy for ERP in the Cloud."

I would like to thank John for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions about Convergence 2011. For sure this is going to be a year with information overload about AX 2012, the Cloud, Device or Mobile Computing, and much more.

Make sure to stop by the Sunrise Booth 406! I will be working the booth at different times Sunday-Tues myself.

Also, I will be covering the event, through my twitter account.: www.twitter.com/DynamicsERP So make sure to follow me, and look for others covering #CONV11.

For reference, here is John's Bio:
John has spent the last 29 years tackling large scale IT and supply chain projects for a wide range of corporations. John spent the first 15 years of his career working his way up from programmer trainee to CIO at Sara Lee Corporation. Along the way he held numerous IT and non-IT jobs, including Director of Planning and Distribution for Sara Lee’s 400+ retail stores, serving as the logistics partner to Wal-Mart, and CIO of Champion Products. In 1994 John left Sara Lee to found Sunrise Technologies, a company focused on bringing advanced supply chain solutions to the apparel and textile industries. Sunrise Technologies has grown into a Gold Certified Microsoft partner specializing in the Dynamics AX ERP solution. Sunrise is headquartered in Winston-Salem, NC, with offices in Dallas, TX, Los Angeles, CA, and Xi’an China.

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"