New Workflow Types with Feature Pack Release for AX 2012

Well I hope everyone has had a great weekend, your fully rested and ready to have a productive Dynamics week! Recently I wrote about how the feature pack for AX 2012 should be adopted now for all projects. In that post, I highlighted some of the reasons this is critical, including being a stepping stone to AX 2012 R2 set to be released in H1 2013. With that being stated, I wanted to dig deeper into some valid reasons, from a business impact and value add of such a move - beyond what has already been pointed out.



To this end, I wanted to point to the new workflow types that have been added as part of this feature pack release for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. There are five new workflow types that are part of this feature pack release, that cover three area's: Advanced Ledger Entry, Project III & Public Sector.

The following is a list of those new workflow types.:

• AdvancedLedgerEntryTemplate - "Use this type to create approval workflows for advance ledger entries" [Configuration Key: AdvancedLedgerEntry ]
• PSAProjInvoiceProposal - "Workflow for handling invoice proposals" [Configuration Key: Project3 ]
• PSAProjQuotationTemplate - "Project quotation workflow template" [Configuration Key: Project3 ]
• PurchAgreementType - "Use this type to create approval workflows for purchase agreements" [Configuration Key: PublicSector ]
• PurchCommitmentTemplate_PSN - "Use this template to create approval workflows for commitment documents" [Configuration Key: PublicSector ]

As you can see Microsoft is for sure committed to the idea that Workflows should be used to modeling business processes. Further you can see past coverage of this topic, that I wrote about, in the past for creating custom workflows here.: Modeling Business Processes with AX 2012 and Workflow - Part III - Enabling Custom Workflows



It is critical that when thinking in terms of implementing AX 2012, and designing the customers usage - to get the most derived value from such an investments, workflow usage and design has to be a top priority. This great feature of AX 2012 will only continue to evolve and truly enable domain specific modeling & language for companies and the verticals they live and work in.

Well that's all for now, check back soon however as there is a lot more coming, including my postmortem on my AXUG BI webinar I'm putting on next Friday. Beyond that, there is a lot of great coverage in general from the entire Ecosystem, which is wonderful to see. Till Next Time!
Follow Me @:
    

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

AX 2012 - Public Sector Demo Image Refresh Released

Well I hope everyone is off to a fun, productive and Dynamic week so far! Honestly I'm still trying to recover & catch up from the Best Convergence Ever!



With that being the first topic, I want to remind everyone of all the great content that you have access to, and will for one year, via the virtual convergence resource site.: Virutal Conv12 Resource Page. Make sure to check out all the great sessions that are listed, because if your like me there was no way you could attend all the one's you wanted to view.

Now moving right along, the last thing I posted about last week for Microsoft Dynamics AX was the push for Adopting the Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack for all AX2012 projects that are going on, or that are starting. This is a critical path for enabling a smoother transition to R2, set to be released H1 of 2013 based on current Microsoft published dates.

Further, to help show case some of the great new features, for specific industries, Microsoft has released a refresh of the Microsoft Dynamics AX Demo Virtual Machine Package for Public Sector. This is technically titled Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack for Public Sector Release 1.0.

There are a few good updates, including having the public sector demo data refreshed for the feature pack, and several of the public sector demo scripts updated that take advantage of improved employee hierarchies as well as New Hire to Retire demo scenario. You can access this refresh, via PartnerSource from the following location: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Demo Tools and Materials - March Refresh.

If your actively involved with Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 - Public Sector Industries, from either the customer, partner or Microsoft level then I recommend joining the LinkedIn Group I formed last year for this industry: Public Sector for Dynamics AX. The group is growing, and with more & more feature set releases, and a focus from Microsoft on the Public Sector with this refresh and all that is coming with R2, well I expect this LinkedIn group to become a very useful resource for people.

Some of the recent updates, just to highlight how Microsoft is really building up great resources around their industry solutions, check out this resource on TechNet for Create or modify a grant [AX 2012].

From the post:
"A grant is a gift of money for a specific purpose or project. Usually, there are restrictions on how a grant can be spent. In Project management and accounting, you can enter and track grants and define their relationships to projects and project contracts."

This resource page walks a user through the process from creating grants, all the way through the entire out-of-the-box abilities for grant management, and workflow. If you notice at the top of the resource page, specifically states: Applies To: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012.


To help bring things in full circle, make sure to check out my interview from last year, with Charlie Johnson, Global Industry Product Director – ERP - Public Sector. The interview: Microsoft Highlights New ERP Public Sector Capabilities for AX 2012

Final thing I will point out is that DynamicsWorld.co.uk is running it's annual DynamicsWorld Top 100 and the voting has begun. If you so feel inclined to check it out, and cast your vote, you may do so by going to the following link. DynamicsWorld Top 100 Voting.

Well that's all for this post, I hope everyone has a great Dynamics Week. Look back soon as I cover a deep review of Dr. Scott Hamilton's latest book, as well as many more great post about Microsoft Dynamics AX. Till Next Time!

Follow Me @:
    

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

(Recap of) Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 - Public Sector

I wanted to do a quick post this morning, just in case you missed all of the news last week on Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 for the Public Sector.

First, I did an interview with Charlie Johnson, Global Industry Product Director – ERP - Public Sector, Microsoft. That interview can be found here.: Microsoft Highlights New ERP Public Sector Capabilities for AX 2012

Also, I created a new LinkedIn group, just for the Public Sector and Microsoft Dynamics AX, which can be found here.: Public Sector for Dynamics AX

I think it's very important to note this move by Microsoft, and this focus. This brings a whole new targeted market segment, that up until Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, could be done, but not as well, and not as much out-of-the-box support.

You will continue to see this move by Microsoft, to focus on verticals, which they will have 5 major verticals in which, all ISV, VAR's, and others work within, and a lot of times, within Micro-verticals, that exists in these industries.

That's actually the term that Microsoft calls it's five, the 5 industries, in which all Verticals live within, or cross between.

What's also powerful about Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, with this kind of focus, is the ability to mix and match different entities that might use one vertical or another, being able to achieve this, within a single instance of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. This is powerful, and the real reason I'm making sure the value of last weeks focus on the public sector means. It helps show the power that Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 will bring.

That's all for now, but check back soon, and as I stated yesterday, watch for the new blog design!

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

Public Sector for Dynamics AX - LinkedIn group Created

Since we are talking about Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 and the Public Sector news today, I thought it was fitting to create a group on LinkedIn, specifically for this focus. So here you are.: Public Sector for Dynamics AX

The idea, is to give a place for Microsoft, Customers & Partners to connect, share, dicuss and foster growth for information, and knowledge around the Public Sector for Microsoft Dynamics AX.

The primary focus will be around Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 for a while, but hopefully this can grow as the AX product, and the public sector offerings do.

Feel free to join, and check back soon as more to come!

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

Microsoft Highlights New ERP Public Sector Capabilities for AX 2012

Well, hope everyone is doing great on this fine Monday! I know I am, and thankful for it. I wanted to kick off this Monday, and hope to get back to my normal writings, interviews and updates for you all. Thanks for the continued prayers and support for those hurt and lost during the storm outbreak at the end of last month. You have no idea how much it helps.

Now to kick things off, Microsoft is talking Public Sector, and talking loudly about it for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 release.

The following is a direct link, released today about this.: Microsoft Highlights New ERP Public Sector Capabilities

I sat down, virtually, with Charlie Johnson, Global Industry Product Director – ERP - Public Sector, for Microsoft to talk about today's PR and to give us a little more depth to this news.



Brandon:
Charlie, while at the Government Finance Officers Association Annual Conference today (May 23rd), the new Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Public Sector capabilities were highlighted. Can you dive a little deeper into some of the highlights that were touched on while there?

Charlie:
"Microsoft Dynamics AX provides differentiating functionality specifically designed for Public Sector organizations. Key features include:

• Office interoperability & Tailored Role Centers with performance Dashboards


• Enforces legal appropriation compliance and simultaneously allows lower level departmental budgets with multiple, variable, and hierarchical level budgetary controls.


• Make organization’s commitment transparent using encumbrance and pre-encumbrance accounting with integrated workflow.


• Easy and instant insight into your business with fund-based account classification structure. Unlimited financial dimensions and expanded reporting capabilities that accommodate funds, programs, functions, organizations, and grants support government-specific accounting practices.


• Capabilities for tracking multiple funding sources and automatically distributing funds according to program guidelines facilitate multi-year budgeting, accounting, and project and grant reporting.


• A flexible departmental billing engine addressing the unique needs of an organization’s departments Travel Expense Management – Pre authorization, Cash advances, expense reporting, credit card reconciliation, and work flow approvals
  
• Specialized Year End Closing Features including Purchase Order Rollover and Budget Carry-forward Options to expedite the Year-End Closing process


• Inter-fund and Treasury Management


• Environmental Sustainability Dashboard

Key benefits can be achieved including improved departmental user productivity and user acceptance with the familiar Microsoft look and feel experience. With Excel add-in, Microsoft Dynamics can fuel business productivity and enable confident decision-making.

The system provides the flexibility for change. It manages complex budgets and improves the tracking and reporting to meet regulatory requirements. The built for government functionality substantially reduces the need for additional ISV solutions and customization during the implementation process. Overall, Microsoft Dynamics provides financial, budgetary and resource management features to more efficiently operate the unique business needs of the Public Sector organizations."

Brandon:
For the development process, can you speak a little to what all resources where used to help complete the full list of functionality that is going to be included with the release of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012?

Charlie:
"We have built Microsoft Dynamics AX interoperability with other key Microsoft technologies including:

• Microsoft Office


• Microsoft SharePoint


• Microsoft SQL Server


• Microsoft BizTalk Server


• Microsoft Lync


• Microsoft Windows and Windows Server


• Microsoft .Net


• Microsoft Visual Studio

Many vendors makes claim they integrate with Microsoft. But don’t forget, we ARE Microsoft. The difference is we don’t just integrate, our products are our foundation and interoperability is far superior than just integration.

The Public Sector customers that participated in our Technology Adoption Program (TAP) included the City of Redmond Washington and Compass Point Business Services Ltd, the new joint shared services organization wholly owned by South Holland District Council and East Lindsey District Council in Lincolnshire, UK.

In July, the City of Redmond will go live with Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, replacing the its old JD Edwards ERP system, which was unable to provide all the public-service capabilities and flexibility that the city needed. As part of an early adoption program, the city closely collaborated with Microsoft product teams and developers to make Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 a powerful solution for the public sector. As a result, many ideas and requests from public servants at the City of Redmond have become part of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012."

Brandon:
Charlie, for companies looking at AX for the very first time, because of this offering, how does it compare and compete with other ERP vendors within the public sector?

Charlie:
"Microsoft Dynamics AX2012 will be highly competitive against the established vendors. When developing MS Dynamics AX2012, we focused on the customer pain points that our competitors struggle to provide within their solutions. Public Sector organizations have specialized unique business requirements such as:

• Budgetary Control


• Commitment Accounting


• Grants Management.


• Project Accounting


• Travel Expense Management

With AX 2012, we’ve set out to build a comprehensive out of the box solution for Public Sector. When you look under the hood of the features we built, it becomes obvious that we’ve gone way beyond just the me too features. Let me give you an one example:

Many Traditional Public Sector solutions provide budget to actual comparisons but force users to account and budget at the same account structure level. Not a limitation with our design, In fact, AX actually address four variations of budgetary control complexity, while most vendors struggle just to handle only one condition:

• Hierarchical – Maintenance Materials – Sand, Gravel, Asphalt


• Variable – Control at Dept except for Travel Expense Line Item


• Multiple – Any combination of elements of classification structure or dimensions for budgetary control


• Simultaneous – Annual Appropriation, and at the same time mange lower level departmental budgets, Separate Grant or Project Budget

"

Brandon:
From an estimate, do you feel that Public Sector companies will want to use the Microsoft Dynamics Cloud ERP offering, through the partner hosting model with AX 2012, or is the current read still more on-premise for this release?

Charlie:
"On-premise will be the primary deployment. Cloud adoption for Public Sector core business solutions is slowly catching on.

As is true of our solutions today, partners will be able to offer Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 as an on-premise or hosted solution. Having these options lets customers choose how they consume software based on their needs, and can shorten sales cycles and reduce the partner’s cost of a sale."

Charlie also has the following closing statement.:
"With the MS story around technology, simplicity and Lower TCO; we will meet the Public Sector’s demands for a Tier One functionally rich solution with a competitive Mid Market price tag. And that’s EXACTLY what we intend to do!

I’ve worked in the Public Sector industry for 37 years, MS Dynamics AX 2012 is revolutionary, We have a Passion for Success and We’re excited about our new offering!"

Well I would like to thank Charlie and Microsoft for taking the time to dive into this very exciting news, and push into the Public Sector with Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012.

For sure this is going to make up a big marketing push by Microsoft, and rightfully so as this is possibly a huge market segment that will bring more and more users count base into the Microsoft Dynamics Ecosystem.

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

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"