Know thy Dynamics HashTags!

Understanding how to navigate the social landscape is a vital skill that help one stay on top of the latest news for Microsoft Dynamics, and further be a contributor to the community at large. Events like the upcoming Convergence 2013, being held in New Orleans can seem overwhelming, in trying to digest all the great news & happenings while there. Further, for those not able to attend, but wanting to learn as much as possible - navigating the social landscape is a must!



To help weed through the information, and further avoid things like "social saturation" understanding HashTag's that are used within the Microsoft Dynamics Community is a must! Enter Jon Rivers latest post on this topic.: 2013 #HASHTAG PREDICTIONS FOR MICROSOFT DYNAMICS ARE HERE!



You may recall Jon & Mark Polino's efforts in helping customers and partners entering into the social fray, with their joint authored book.: Social Media for Microsoft Dynamics Partners.



Jon continues his mastery of the social arts, with giving us a heads up for this years HashTag index. It's ever so important to understand the value of such HashTag's as #Conv13, #AXUGSummit and many more. Doing so, as I mentioned above, will give one the ability to stay on top of the information most important to you. Further, if your going to contribute to the ever growing community at large, then having the right HashTag's used associated with your efforts if vital.

I will say, sometimes there is a battle for HashTag dominance. Where competing events, or community actually land on using the same tag. I bring to mind the great battle when Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 was launched, and the same time the Anime Expo 2012 conference was being targeted. I believe the Dynamics Community won out right the use of #AX2012. However, this battle is far from over as we approach the year 2015. I predict, once again the Dynamics Community will face off against the Anime Expo crowd, when #AX2015 is the focus for the year 2015 and the release of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2015.

Going back more to the serious side of this social skill set, Jon's efforts within the community are always helpful. With his post, we all have a quick reference to the HashTag's that should be targeted and used. Further, Jon will avoid *ME* direct messaging him, asking "Jon, what is the HashTag for [Insert event here]."

Many thanks Jon for all the efforts you do for the Dynamics Community at large. There should be an MVP Award from Microsoft that allows Jon to be awarded for his efforts across all the Dynamics Products, including his focus on mastering the social landscape.

That's all for this post, I hope that each and everyone of you have a great weekend, and find yourself being productive in our Dynamics World. Check back soon as more Dynamics & BI coverage to come. Further, as we approach Microsoft Dynamics Convergence 2013, keep an eye here for total coverage, interviews and more! Till Next Time!
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Microsoft Opens the Door on Socl - Why I'm using it!

From time to time, I like to post and write about things that aren't specifically related to processes, and post that give you how-to's. Still these topics do have direct & indirect impact on the Dynamics Ecosystem at large. With this in mind, and understanding, I wanted to write about Microsoft Socl.



It's Microsoft's new social platform, that really engages and blends well with the other platforms out there. It's easy to create post, follow specific interest, and blend your other outlets. Obvious, there can be plenty of time looking at picture's, but my focus is more purely on the aspect of gaining valuable knowledge.

I see this as a social learning platform, and one where things can be easily pinned, and revisited later. If you like me, you read a lot! At times there are plenty of things that you would like to read, but don't have time for. With Socl, I'm finding it the best way to tag, and collect content that is important to me.

It is a place where I can pin & place the interest I have, and come back to an uncluttered view of the topics I care about. It's specific, and content focused with out a lot of noise that exists now within certain popular social platforms.



Creating a new post is easy, as you can see from the above image and my first post. Of course, I'm talking about what's hot on my mind for Dynamics, that being BI and more specifically Personal BI with OData Feeds from AX 2012 consumed in PowerPivot!

Sharing is easy as well, being able to tweet or post back to facebook. Further, linking your profiles across multiple platforms is easy as well with the settings for Socl.



I do think that Socl has a spot within the Social landscape, specifically for me around the use of learning, and managing my sources of information into a clean and easy to understand and useful space. The nature of how things are stored, tagged and collected seems like I'm creating little learning portals about specific topics. Further through tags and interest I'm able to find others who are posting and sharing about specific topics.

Some come along and make sure to join me on Socl, and start creating your learning portal's and post, or topics of interest that you care most about!



That's all for this post! I'm interesting to see how this can be used further when thinking in terms of engagement. That is a theme I focus on a lot, System's of Engagement - where user's become fans! I can see a lot of potential with Socl in this aspect. Maybe even being used in Gamification platforms? Till Next Time!
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My Big Fat Dynamics Book Review Post

Well here we are, June 1st everybody! Longer days, and more Sun - which is the best thing for me about summer time. All the extra time the Sun is out, gives me a chance that I can actually see it, and enjoy it. That is, when I can break away from focusing on client projects, or coming up with topics to write about for this blog. With that in mind, I wanted to kick off June with My Big Fat Dynamics Book Review Post!



I mean, this time of year - at least for me, increases my study and focus. There is a break in the summer, sure - but before and after it's when I do a lot of reading. So with that, lets get to our first book up for review. The book I'm referring to is: "Food Products Manufacturing Using Microsoft Dynamics AX" - By Dr. Scott Hamilton.



Dr. Hamilton's books have been reviewed, highlighted and posted about in the past on this blog. Further Scott himself has given a few quotes, as well as interviewed for us in the past. See.: Managing Process Manufacturing using Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 by Dr. Scott Hamilton as well as Managing Your Supply Chain Using Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 - Book Review.

Let me start my review of Dr. Hamilton's latest book with a comment on the title. That is, Don't let it limit your expectations of what you can get from this book. Though the case studies used throughout the book are focused around FPM scenario's like Beer Manufacturing, or Orange Juice - the knowledge and content inside for processes, and conceptual thought for design scales beyond such focuses.

Easily throughout the book, topics that are covered for Sales Order Processing, Purchase Order Processing, or even parts if Item Definition, could apply across multiple verticals that an AX customer might exist in. That for me speaks not only to the power and flexibility of the product Microsoft Dynamics AX, but as well as the value of this book.



Dr. Hamilton, has given some insight through a series of articles he has written at MSDynamicsWorld.com, which you can locate here.: MSDW: The AX Solution Architect

Further, it should be mentioned that this book has no screen shots. Dr. Hamilton clearly states what level this book is meant for, as well as on page 6 of his book, where he refers to another book that is focused more on screen shot approach for AX product knowledge.

Finally, Dr. Hamilton clearly states the target reader for this book, and I agree with him. Both Consultant & Customer alike, or prospect to become a customer - all would benefit from the knowledge in this book. Specifically, for those customer's using the Process Industries Functional Model for AX 2012. I recommend this book, and that's why it's apart of today's Big Fat Dynamics Book Review Post!




Moving right along here, our next stop for this post is a walk on the Social Side, with fellow Dynamics Community contributor, Jon Rivers Microsoft Partner Channel Manager for Data Masons. His latest eBook, "Solving the Social Media Puzzle for Microsoft Dynamics End Users" is actually a counter part eBook to an earlier release focus on Social Media for Partners: Social Media for Microsoft Dynamics Partners.



With his latest entry into the social fray, Jon takes the time and talks to the value of social media, how it's being used within the Microsoft Dynamics Community, and helps answering questions like: “How can I leverage LinkedIn to connect to others within my vertical also using Microsoft Dynamics?”

Jon goes through, and creates an as-is chronicle of the current Dynamics Ecosystem landscape, for the majority of high value social tools that exist today. Further, Jon takes the time and touches on other tools on the rise, as well as an important point I try to do, in that "Personally, I like to keep my personal social media activity separate from business" - page 27.

Granted some might argue with the point of Facebook being low on the value metric, as there can be driven community marketing through it's network. Looking however how fast Facebook's stock has been dropping, Jon might be on-to-something. I will also acknowledge Jon including this blog, as well as some of my other social contribution's - and of course thank Jon for doing so - however the bigger point is back to the chronicle nature of the content around blogs. There are so many out there, just within the AX space along now, honestly I did not realize how many people where contributing to the body of knowledge for Microsoft Dynamics.

So, I recommend this book for those end users, new Customers, prospects and the alike who want an understanding of the social landscape that is the Dynamics Community - as well as how you can join in the conversation! Finally, Jon has been gracious enough to give this blog, and it's readers, a special coupon that will give you 100% Discount if used before June 30th. The discount code, for Smashwords is.: HJ87A

Make sure to visit the following link, so you can place your order with the 100% discount code today: Solving the Social Media Puzzle for Microsoft Dynamics End Users


Now we have two book reviews down for My Big Fat Dynamics Book Review Post, and you say could there be more? Yes there is! The body of knowledge that represents Microsoft Dynamics continues to grow, and we are seeing that more and more everyday. Now we have a new type of book even to review. That's right, the first ever iBook for the iPad focus on Microsoft Dynamics AX has been released.



This first milestone for the Dynamics Community, and yes I think it is one, was authored by Joel Leichty. You can find Joel, on the twitter-sphere located: @AXManuals.

Let me say, this book is a great introduction to "Trade" for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. It covers topics like Products, Items, Sales Order as well as Purchase Orders - from an introductory point-of-view. Joel does a great job of using some of the awesome features that makes iBooks on the iPad stand out. In a typical text book style, Joel takes us on a progression that will have any novice, feeling pretty confident when they see and use some of the common forms that make up basic trade & logistics for AX 2012. Further, what makes iBooks awesome, is the ability to have rich media content as part of the iBook itself. In this, Joel takes and walks through clearly voiced how-to's for the topic and area of focus he is covering.



All-in-all, Joel breaking Dynamics into the iBook world, is well worth anyone who has an iPad and is needing introduction level functional use and knowledge for "Trade" with AX 2012. You can purchase Joel's iBook, from iTunes as the following location.: Dynamics AX 2012 Trade

Well, I was not kidding that was one Fat Dynamics Book Review Post. I would like to thank each of the above authors, and everyone else, who continues to help grow the Dynamics Community as a whole. What's also amazing to me, and for sure a sign of the times, is I started this post with a traditional paperback book, and then moved into the generational shifts of sharing knowledge from eBook on to iBook. All three are great ways to share knowledge, and for you to gain it!

Well that's all I have in store for this Big Fat Dynamics Book Review Post. This should help fill up your reading list, and give you or your customers some value-added books, in all three of the current popular flavors! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend - and check back soon as next week we continue to dive into the Dynamics World we all live in. Till Next Time!
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AXUG - From A Nice-Have To Must-Have: Social Media For Microsoft Dynamics Community Members

I wanted to take the time and highlight a specific AXUG Webinar event taking place next week. AXUG From A Nice-Have To Must-Have: Social Media For Microsoft Dynamics Community Members.

This event is being headlined by none other than Dynamics Social Media King, Jon Rivers! You can connect with Jon Rivers, via the following ways:
LinkedIn: Jon Rivers Profile
Twitter: @Jon_Rivers
Blog: Datamson's blog

From the event details:
"Don’t miss out and join this session to learn from a known expert in the Dynamics social space. Jon Rivers of Data Masons Software will share his insight into social media trends and explain why his company made the decision to integrate social media as a major part of their business strategy. Jon will discuss how Dynamics community members can leverage social media to network 24/7/365, gain knowledge from other professionals and stay in-the-know on Microsoft's latest announcements and initiatives."

I recommend anyone wanting to leverage Jon's social media expertise sign up for the event. It's perfect timing as well, just before Convergence 2012!

That' all for now, Till Next Time!

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AX 2012 - Upgrade Questions Answered

Recently, I took part in a community effort, in order to drive awareness, as well as social connections for the Dynamics Community. This experiment, was focused around the Microsoft Community Site, hosted a set of questions around AX 2012 Upgrades.

Several people took part in this, for submitting questions, and giving answers. The following link, will guide you to this first iteration of such an effort: Microsoft Dynamics Community: Dynamics AX 2012 Upgrade Questions……Answered!

An Example, from this post, can be seen here:
"Community Question #1

First of all I want to say I love the initiative! Great to see that Microsoft is working pro-active! My question is related to the licenses. There will be different type of roles which will play a part in the license value for a given customer. Image I have a lot of project manager which will be functional roles. Are there any limitations regarding availability of different legal entities? With other words, can a functional user use/see all the legal entities deployed in an AX2012 application?

What about custom security roles made by the partners? How will they fit into the license layout..."

And the answer I provided:
"First, lets address the fact that AX 2012 License model has changed a lot actually. It's for sure a much simpler approach, and closer to how Microsoft license it's other products for use. The best source, to help understand the new license model, in full can be found from the following PDF, white paper guide: Download Whitepaper

With this in mind, it's very clear that the mappings of named user types, to menu functions, and therefore roles will have to be updated. For example, currently, if you basically touch anything with a journal, for updating say, then your user will be marked as an Enterprise Named User License. This is not the vision Microsoft had for this, so there is a planned revisit to get the menu functions, and therefore ultimate mapping of users to Named User Types updated.

With that knowledge in hand, lets move to the more direct question, is the ability to cross legal entities for performing work. This is clearly stated as a goal, if a user is meant to cross legal entities they will be considered an Enterprise Named User. That make sense, in that, if your crossing legal entities, you are no longer a Functional or Task user, because you are truly doing functions at the enterprise level.

Finally, lets address your question around custom roles and security. In terms of reference to the Named User types, when custom menu functions, and business logic is created, either via an ISV, or the customer itself, the Microsoft Named User license count is not affected. If you look, for example, and create a custom menu item, which is how the Named User counts are tallied and linked, you will notice that None is set, instead of Functional, Task, Enterprise, etc. To the license point for ISV there is a different license model that ISV's can use, that for a customer will have to maintain that either through their VAR, or through a direct relationship with the ISV who is providing you service.

One note, I will make about this, is around AX in the cloud. When this is the approach, and the Partner Hosted model is in place, you pay by month, per user. The named user license still can come into play, however you only upcharge, if you will, when you add another user. So for example, if your implementing AX, via the cloud, and only need 5 users at first to get the implementation going, that's all you will be billed for, in the months those five users access your instance. When the next month rolls around, and say you add a cost accountant, for working in your AX implementation. Then this will add a sixth user license count and from that month forward is when you will pay the difference added to your bill for that use."

I would like to thank Andy, and the team at Microsoft for allowing me to take part in this effort. I look forward to such future engagements, as I believe this really helps connect the community. Using the power of social media, to get real world questions, answers and the sharing of knowledge.

If you have a burning question, feel free to leave me a comment on my blog, email me, and of course let Andy at the Microsoft Community Know. It could help shape the next topic, for when we do such an effort in the future.

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

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Understanding the Value of Social Media for the Dynamics Ecosystem

I wanted to take the time today, and talk to you about the Value of Social Media for the Dynamics Ecosystem. This by far, is such a powerful force, in helping shape information, in enabling others to learn, and that truly makes the Ecosystem itself very Dynamic.

Social Media, by nature is about organic growth. The idea, is you share information, through blogs, tweets, and the like, to and ever changing, hopefully growing base of users.

When first starting out, it's typically a produce, with many consumers, and little actual interaction. However, as you grow in your social media aspects, that turns more and more into an interactive, collective experience.

To illustrate this point, take for example a topic in which Microsoft itself is talking about. They launch a blog entry, and then the Ecosystem can pick it up and run with it. I may take and create a few blog posts that dig deeper, or ask questions, with my own answers. In turn, other fellow bloggers, could link into my post, and the Microsoft one, and have their own knowledge added to the mix.

These are all shared, and continue to grow, as well as interaction with the reader base, as they leave comments, re-tweet, etc. It's very much then a Dynamic process that continues on, and on.

To this end, Microsoft Partners, Independent Consultants as well as Customers themselves, need to understand the power of social media. In understanding it, it can then become a powerful tool, to help brand yourself, or mined from a customers point of view to gain knowledge that applies to them.

At this point, I would like to share a recent eBook that two of my peers created. Mark Polino and Jon Rivers created an eBook together, that focuses on Social Media for Microsoft Dynamics Partners.



This is a very great book for any partner, or someone working for a partner, that wants to increase their understanding of how best to use social media tools for branding.

It's a nice little read, and has some real good resources, and real life information, from some lessons learned through these two Dynamics Social Media Pro's. I recommend checking it out for yourself, and seeing how it can help launch you, into a larger, ever Dynamic, ever growing Social Media landscape that exists within the Dynamics Ecosystem.

Many thanks to Mark and Jon! That's all for this post, however check back soon as a whole lot more to come.

Till next time!

"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"