AX 2012 R2 & The Power of Personal BI

I hope everyone finds themselves doing well this fine summer Friday. Always something about Friday's, and specifically those where the sun stays out and beckons us back to our childhood days. With that, I wanted to post today and bring to your reading attention an upcoming virtual event. It's free and you can attend right from your desk. This event is being hosted by MSDynamicsWorld.com a long time sponsor of this blog.



The event is next Friday, June 14th starting at 11:00 AM EST. The following is a description from the event.: (register here)
"The real value of business intelligence (BI) comes from crafting a story based on an organization's data. For the manager, analyst, or individual contributor, BI typically begins with desktop tools like Microsoft Excel. With the right skills and know-how, personal BI can become the gateway to a robust BI initiative at any organization.




Visit Hillstar Business Intelligence (www.HillstarBI.com) in order to truly unlock your data trapped in your Microsoft Dynamics investment. With our value driven business intelligence strategy Hillstar help you transform into a data informed company.

Join Microsoft Dynamics AX MVP and BI expert Brandon George of Sunrise Technologies for an examination of Microsoft PowerPivot & Power View with Dynamics AX 2012 R2. The webcast will look at how these tools can empower both functional and technical resources at the individual level to discover new insights and improve operational outcomes. Learn how to put data to work and further build towards organizational BI needs from personal BI artifacts."

The event represented above, is specifically around Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2 & Personal BI. I've wrote a lot about this topic in the past, and so I think its very important to reference such resources in regard to this upcoming event. The following is such a list, that I think would be helpful to anyone who is wanting to attend, or already signed up to do so.

• Understanding the natural flow of the BI Semantic Model
• Why all the fuss around BI? - Data Ownership
• AX-OData Queries Home on CodePlex
• AX 2012 Personal BI - By Example - Customer Aging III
• From Power View to Cube and back again

With the above resources your well on the way to understanding what will be talked to and covered in this upcoming event. I would highly encourage you to attend it, as I'm planning for it to be engaging! Speaking of engaging, that is the whole goal we after. All of this, every bit of it builds to the point of creating a System of Engagement. Where we can truly help turn users, into fans!

Well that it's for now, I will be back to posting next week with some really interesting stuff. Anyone want to go on the wild ride of predictive analytic's? It's like stepping into a quantum time machine! Well it's really more about understanding & owning your companies data assets. That's whats coming soon, so check back next week and make sure to attend next Friday's virtual event!

Finally, if you would like to know more about putting your companies data to work for you. Then make sure to reach out, and contact Sunrise Technologies so we can help craft a BI & reporting story for you! Til Next Time!


Visit Hillstar Business Intelligence (www.HillstarBI.com) in order to truly unlock your data trapped in your Microsoft Dynamics investment. With our value driven business intelligence strategy Hillstar help you transform into a data informed company.


Follow Me @:
       

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

Roll on Role Centers & the AX 2012 R2 Content Wagon Arrives

Today I wanted to bring focus to a few topics that need some spotlight. First off, is the Roll on Role Centers focus, for the title of this post. Specifically, MSDynamicsWorld.com recently posted a piece specifically on how to make Role Centers work for your business.: 5 Ways to Make Microsoft Dynamics AX Role Centers Work for Your Business



From the post.:
"'The improvements in AX 2012 should help partners [guide more customers to use role centers], but there is a mindset [with some partners] that BI is still not the focus, that AX implementations are still all about the transactional aspects of the solution,' according to Brandon George, a Microsoft MVP

'Too many implementations never bring Role Centers into full focus," says George. "Understanding the goal, and purpose - creating a System of Engagement, is a new generational shift for ERP and SCM software. That is the ultimate goal and point of Role Centers. Like all such shifts, it takes thinking about this from the start, proper gap analysis, design, development, and finally execution.'"

Jason and the team at MSDynamicsWorld.com quoted me well, and without a doubt I do believe thoroughly in this focus of creating Systems of Engagement for Microsoft Dynamics AX clients. Further I do believe that even those clients that are fresh on an AX 2009 implementation, has so much to gain from Role Centers, and this focus around engagement of their user base, by role.

I admit I'm thrilled to see more people take up the banner, for the term System of Engagement, and further explaining what that really means. How this should be the focus for what we do within the ecosystem. The ultimate end result actually, that continues to add value. The idea, is we can help enable customers to turn their data into a value stream for them. Creating learning loops with lead & lag data elements, that helps take information, and drive strategic planning for a company. Helping them meet, and exceed their goals!

The next spot light, and something that I'm really glad to see, is Microsoft continuing stepping up the documentation and information effort around Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2. A great summary post by Becky, from the support team highlights some great sources on TechNet & MSDN.: Preliminary Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2 content now on TechNet and MSDN!

Further adding to this, is the release of the recent tech conference on AX 2012 R2 video and other content to InformationSource.

Again, it's refreshing to see Microsoft have content at the forefront of the planning. This only helps further build the body of knowledge around Microsoft Dynamics AX, that the ecosystem so desires. Having valid, good content from Microsoft, makes it possible for the pundits of the Dynamics Product line to have cornerstone points and themes in which to work from - spreading in our own voice the value we perceive in each topic we dare tackle.

That's all for this update, check back soon as I have some really interesting topics to talk on. Windows Surface RT use case with Dynamics AX, BigData, BI and more! Till Next Time!
Follow Me @:
    

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

Highlight of MSDW Spring Decisions 2012

I hope everyone has had a great week so far! I wanted to close the week out with a look towards MSDW Spring Decisions 2012 kicking off next week. As you can see from the dates above, it all kicks off with AX Day June 18th – next Monday.



This conference is great because of all the wonderful speakers, content, networking – and it’s virtual! You can drop in for specific sessions, hang out in the different lounges during your lunch, and get informed about topics that matter to you – and your Microsoft Dynamics Investment.

Being that I’m mostly focused around Microsoft Dynamics AX, my highlight is more concerned about the sessions and information related to AX 2012. Robert Boone, a peer of mine, is putting on a session that covers a topic I spend a lot of time on myself. His session, “Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, SQL Server 2012, ad how BI fits into your ERP implementation” ties directly to what I’ve been writing about, as well as recently talked at from a higher level in Creating a System of Engagement with Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012.



Some highlights from Robert’s session.:
SQL Server 2012 has major new features for BI and Microsoft is heavily promoting the idea of self-service BI. There have been announcements of AX BI enhancements coming in R2 of AX 2012. In this session we'll explore some of the things that teams implementing AX need to consider now, including:

• A brief overview of new SQL 2012 BI features
• BI options and how these relate to an ERP project
• Who wants self-service BI?
• Individual, Team, and Corporate BI
• Unique AX features that shouldn't be overlooked when considering BI solutions


I recommend this session, for anyone that agrees with me, Business Intelligence is a high value add for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. Further, thinking in terms of the BI Semantic Model for Microsoft, and how to apply that today, and with the upcoming release of AX 2012 R2 is critical for deriving the most value for a customer, and truly creating a System of Engagement with AX 2012.

You can join the conversation about MSDW Spring Decisions 2012, now with following and using the twitter hash tag: #MSDWDecisions

Well that’s all for this post, and this week! Check back soon, as I have a whole host of post coming out including product highlights, continued dive into EP, as well as taking forward the conversation around Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 as a System of Engagement vs. just a System of Record. Till Next Time!
Follow Me @:
    

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

MSDW: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2 Boasts Closer Ties to SQL Server Release

I wanted to circle back around on an article MSDynamicsWorld.com posted. That is: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2 Boasts Closer Ties to SQL Server Release, GM Says.

From the article:
"If you are curious how Microsoft Dynamics AX is improving integration to Microsoft SQL Server 2012, the AX team wants you to know that the AX is a prime customer of SQL Server internally at Microsoft, and many of the key improvements that Dynamics AX aims to deliver in the upcoming 2012 R2 release, from support of data warehousing initiatives to master data management to the building reports and KPIs in the AX 2012 interface to load testing of SQL Azure are all dependent on the AX and SQL Server teams work together."

This is a topic I have been personally covering and will continue to expand on, from the following.:

• SQL Server 2012 - SSAS Tabular Modeling
• SQL Server 2012 & the Future of BI with Dynamics AX
• Understanding Business Intelligence Semantic Model (BISM) & Future with AX 2012

The area of BI for AX 2012 is one that as I've point out in the past can bring great value to new & existing Microsoft Dynamics AX customers. What's critical is understanding the right tools for the job and how those are correctly implemented and used with AX.

Going back to the article from MSDW, something that I have not covered much yet, but directly will impact and help further expand the capability of AX in creating a BI story for companies is around analytical MDM.

From the article:
"According to Pedersen, AX 2012 R2 will expand analytical MDM capabiltiies, but operational MDM will not be a focus area. R2 will mostly see improvements again as it relates to the improvements in SQL Server 2012. "The most effective analytics are the ones that consider all the elements, not just those constrained to the AX data," says Pedersen. He expects customers to look for ways to roll together data from other systems through SQL Server Reporting Service, including, potentially from big data sources served through the Azure data market to conduct deeper analytics."

These are all great moves, and should excite any AX customer no matter what version your on. You can see that Microsoft is providing the right framework, to enable a true BI Story for AX Customers.

Well that's all I have time for right now, but check back soon as we have a lot more to cover and talk about. Till Next Time!

Follow Me @:
    

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

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!"

MSDW Decisions Fall 2011 Next week!

Well hello Friday! I hope everyone has had a great and productive week so far. I love Friday's, it the whole weekend feeling really. Getting time to focus with family. Though I admit, I do work most weekends, but that is the nature of this business we are in sometimes.

On this Friday, I wanted to remind everyone of the MSDW Decisions Fall 2011 is Next week! AX Day in next Monday. If you have not signed up, pleas do so now: Sign up now! It's a free event, that you can attend right from your computer. Go visit the booths, ask questions, connect in the lounge and of course come hear my session on AX in the Cloud: Today and Tomorrow



I will be live, online during this session, and ready to have a live chat Q&A right after. So please bring your thinking caps, and ask those burning questions you might have. There were be some many great session to attend, and so much knowledge to gain.

I look forward to virtually bumping into you then! Till next time!

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

Microsoft Dynamics AX In the Cloud: Today & Tomorrow

Well I hope everyone is enjoying the switch into the Holiday season. I know I'm excited to get some family time, and hope each of you will get that same time with your loved ones as well.



Today, I wanted to focus on Microsoft Dynamics AX in the Cloud: Today & Tomorrow.. This has been a topic I have focused a lot of time and effort on in the past few years, and something that really has come to a point of reality for Microsoft Dynamics AX. This is no longer just theory and what will be. This is something real, today, and something that you need to be thinking about.

With that, MSDynamicsWorld.com is hosting it's bi-annual virtual conferences, Decisions Fall 2011 in which I'm honored they have ask I speak at. For my part, and to the title of this post, I have recorded a session on Microsoft Dynamics AX in the Cloud: Today & Tomorrow. If you have not registed for this great, free! virtual conference, please visit the following site now, and make sure to attend the AX Day on Dec 5th.



You can connect with my session details at the following: MSDW: Microsoft Dynamics AX in the Cloud: Today & Tomorrow - By J. Brandon George. From the highlights:
"[Brandon George] will lead a session covering the concepts, technology, architecture and benefits of the partner-hosted Microsoft Dynamics AX cloud offering. He will also dive a little bit into the future with what AX v7.0, and what the cloud options will look like for future releases."

If you look at all the sessions for AX day, for this great event, the Cloud is a hot topic. There are two other sessions along with mine, that will focus on AX in the Cloud, as well as Microsoft Dynamics ERP and the cloud. I will recommend, that you attend as many sessions as possible. Also, I will be online during the session, and be apart of the live Chat Q&A. So please, join us, and bring your thinking caps, and ask those hard questions! Any and all are welcomed!

Alright, well that's it for right now. Check back soon, as I dive into the performance improvements for AX 2012, talk turkey around my continued focus on workflows and thier use for empowering business process modeling, and many other great topics.

Till next time!

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

AX 2012 - Security Model Design Considerations

While at AXUG Summit last week, it was clear that there are some misunderstanding surrounding the AX 2012 Security model, and it's impact on design, as well as what level of design the great new model impacts. In an article, posted by MSDW: Developers: Prepare for More Security Work When Upgrading to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 It is being portrayed, as if Developers and Technical Consultants will have some huge workload related to security and upgrades.

Before I continue, with at least how I think this should be understood and viewed, MSDynamicsWorld.com is a great resource, and does a great job at helping cover the Dynamics Ecosystem. Like all things however, healthy information, correction and debate is always needed.

With that said, I think the partner quoted, and the people leading the session on security that drove to this article being published do not fully understand the security model in AX 2012 and the vision for the design aspects, and what it brings. It's true there is a new security model, however it's a great step forward, and not some new burden, with no value gained.

I touched on some of this in a previous article, on the impact on design the new security model for AX 2012 will have. I tried to point out, that this is very much a Functional Design Consideration, and not some heavy extra burden on technical resources. What takes place now, is instead of security being an after thought, or something pushed to a later point in a project, it now has correct considerations through the functional design process.



The above is taking from the newly released Sure Step 2012, within the Design phase, part of the Design Activity Flow, 2.5.1 - "Create Gap Design in Functional Design Document". The owner of this process? The Application Consultant.

Now the Application Developer role, has their part to play in this, however, the design, implementation, and customer administration of security is a functional business process, not a technical one. There is technical needs to create new privileges, that tie into Security Entry points. Beyond that however, the Duties, Process Cycles, Roles, as well as assignment of Users to Roles is a business function.

The vision with the new security model, beyond the implementation or upgrade process, is meant even to be spread out among the business units, where those owners of the specific parts of the business actually control assignment of security for their respective area's.



Further more, to the upgrade, there is a new tool to help suggest upgrading groups from AX 2009, to AX 2012, which you can find on Microsoft's new InformationSource. This tool however, makes suggestions, and should not be the Application Developer Roles responsibility. This must reside on the shoulders of the Application Consultant, with the Developers help, and of course very much on the business unit owners for the customer. If correct design is not spent during the upgrade process, or implementation around this area, a great set of new functionality around security, and a better use and understanding of security for AX will be missed.

I will finish with this, we have a great new security model in AX 2012, that raises the bar, and the design concepts to the business level. This is the vision from Microsoft, to abstract out and raise out of the technical depths, so that businesses can be Dynamic and react fast based on demands. This is seen throughout design concepts from services, business workflow modeling, and more.

Hopefully with this understanding, and with the new Sure Step 2012 released, we can all be armed with the correct vision, approach, and design considerations to look at the new Security model in AX 2012 for what it is: Not a burden, but finally a correct level of consideration and design during upgrades or implementations.

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

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

MSDW: Getting Ready for Development with Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 - Part Three: Approach

With the release of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, a lot of focus in around the new ways things can be achieved. Specifically around development. A lot of great technologies, and new ways to achieve solutions to business issues do exists.

Because of this, I started on MSDynamicsWorld.com, a series of articles called: Getting Ready for Development with Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012.

In this series, I started with the Vision, and from there went into the Training, and now I have the latest entry in this series over at MSDW: Getting Ready for Development with Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 - Part Three: Approach

In this latest article, I try to make a very clear point: Use Common sense, and let business requirements, along with best value, drive design and development task.

As I point out in the article, there is no way in a single post, or series even, that I could cover the different aspects and points of approach for Development in AX 2012. This deserves an entire book, or multiple books.

I hope you agree with my statements, and think about the business value for the technical task that are being suggested, and the approach / path that is desired.

That's all for now, till next time!



"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

MSDW Spring Decisions Virtual Conference in full Swing - AX Day

Today, MSDW Spring 2011, Decisions Virtual Conference is underway. This is the virtual conference event, along with it's fall cousin, that everyone should attend.

It's Free, and you can get plenty of great information from it. There are some great speakers, as well as sponsors of the events from ISV's, VAR's, etc.

Microsoft's Kees Hertogh, which was part of yesterdays interview, Interview with Microsoft's Doug Kennedy & Kees Hertogh, will be accepting questions, open range style, starting at 10 AM ET today. So if you have some burning questions, maybe from the interviews I have done, or maybe of your own that I did not ask, now is the time to shoot them his way.

Also, make sure to check out the lounge, and all the great people that make this event, one of the key events every year.



"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"