AX For Retail - More news!

Well as I mentioned in the previous post today,:
LS Retail’s Industry Solution for Microsoft Dynamics AX Acquired by Microsoft

"This 'AX For Retail' module is a step in the right direction, and from what I understand there might be more news in the area soon from a Microsoft point of view."

The news came a lot sooner than I thought it would. That is To-Increase just did a PR release, talking about how Microsoft has acquired their 'Retail Chain Manager solution'.

From the PR.:
"“Microsoft is investing in building industry functionality into its ERP product Dynamics AX and retail is a major focus for us,” says Crispin Read, general manager, Microsoft Dynamics ERP. "To-Increase is a proven ISV who will continue to deliver solutions that enhance the Microsoft Dynamics ERP platform and deliver value to customers.”

The agreement signed between Microsoft and To-Increase formalizes a strategic relationship between the Microsoft Dynamics Team and To-Increase. To-Increase will assist Microsoft in the migration of Retail Chain Manager to the next release of the Microsoft Dynamics AX retail solution. That end-to-end retail solution will include a Microsoft-based POS offering.

The agreement consists of a joint commitment from To-Increase and Microsoft to strengthen their solutions offerings to retail customers. Working under the Microsoft Certified for Dynamics program, To-Increase will focus on developing functionality specific to sub-verticals for the Microsoft Dynamics Retail solution."

The full Press Release can be found here.: TI: Microsoft acquires the To-Increase Retail Chain Manager solution

So then even more so completes this vision and drive for the 'AX For Retail' picture that is now really filling in for Dynamics AX 2011 and beyond.

Microsoft is getting really serious about it's retail offerings for current Dynamics AX Customer and future ones.

More soon on this, as to the details, what this means, how the technologies will be combined, etc. Exciting news! Check back soon!




"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

e-Con 4.0 Error - MSXML 4.0

Alright, if your setting up e-Con 4.0 and get the following error:


"Retrieveing the COM Class factory for component with CLSID {88D969C1-F192-11D4-A65F-0040963251E5} failed due to the following error: 80040154"

This error, when seen from going into the e-Con Studio, means that the MS-XML Parser 4.0 or greater is not installed on the e-Con Server machine or client.

I ran into this again today, and wanted to make sure this was posted out here on the web. Check back soon!




"Visit the Dynamics AX Community Page today!"

Need CAD with your ERP?

One of the topics of interest for a lot of companies is Product Lifecycle Management or PLM. In this topic of interest exist a hard topic, of what use to be a hard topic. That topic is CAD, and specifically CAD integration into ERP. Well the ERP platform of focus, and number one in my eyes, is Dynamics AX.

So when talking about CAD integration, and Dynamics AX, one needs to ask where best this would go? Well you would need a connection to Dynamics AX for BOM and BOM version management. Also a module for tracking changes to your products. For that matter a version system for products that bridges the gap between product and item basis. So where would you look for this? Sunrise Technologies, Inc. [Sunrise Website] implementing Dynamics AX and To-Increase's IEM vertical add on solution! Go to Sunrise and lookup the information for the IEM vertical offerings. [IEM offerings link from Sunrise website]

With this Sunrise can make CAD integration a part of your business workflows, along with having the needed modules for Engineering Change Management, Product Catalogs, and Product Verstions. Sub-products and variants that span multiple possible Item Master Items and BOMs. BOM configurations based on CAD drawings, and designed from within the CAD application itself. Integration with top CAD software packages, including AutoCAD.

This is one of the things that a lot of Project Based Manufacturing clients need. It's something that Sunrise Technoliges, can offer to you through Dynamics AX, IEM and SOA designed web services. Take a look, and make sure to fill out the contact us forms for more information!

Check back soon!


Find a job at: www.DynamicsAXJobs.com

Hidden ARP Jewel for Dynamics AX?

I came across a press release with To-Increase and SoftEnigma, Inc. [Softenigma's Homepage] parterning to where To-Increase will offer SoftEnigma's ARP module through their IEM offerings. At first I wonder what this means, and so I dug a little deeper, and this ARP module from SoftEnigma really takes the project management moduel to a higher level, one where a lot of people expect, similar to what Microsoft Project offers.

For project based manufacturing clients that make use of the IEM solution from To-Increase this is really a great new offering. Here is a link to the top ten reason's for using SoftEnigma's ARP module: 10 Reasons link

And here is the link to the Press release from To-Increase:
Press release from To-Increase

Sunirse Technologies, [Sunrise Website] is a Gold level partner with both Microsoft and To-Increase. I would love to see how this new ARP module can help our current IEM customers, and future one's, and hope to work with it very soon!

SoftEnigma was founded by Daniel Bevort, a former Damgaurd employee and also fellow assoicate of mine through Sunrise.

Well Check back soon!

Find a job at: www.DynamicsAXJobs.com

To-Increase Project Center

Alright one of the neat things I personally like from a functional stand point about To-Increases IEM solution for Dynamics AX is the Project work they have done. This does mostly go with the Technical Quotes peice, but I wanted to more talk a little bit about Project Center. See this is Much more than what is offered through the standard project module in Dynamics AX. The Project Center is truly tailored towards Project Based Manufacturing for offering Bid like structuring for management of projects for a given IEM slated vertical customer.

With Project Center, you also get a tightly integrated view into the Technical Quotes for copying over that structure directly into a new technical quote with hardly any work. I also like the ability for the project structure in tracking out each of the levels and sub levels of a given project, throughout the life span of a project for a customer.

Here is some information that is more To Increase's web site [To Increase web site link]:

"Project Center
Supports project content management and documentation
Project Center is designed as a stand-alone application to support the latest project management and product development methodologies, including the Rational Unified Process and ISO 9001ccertified processes."

And here is the IEM Solution roadmap:



You can see that at each section, or functional area the Project Center would come into play. Mostly though in the Quote Bid and Source Engineering area's.

From this you can also see there is actually a lot offered through the IEM solution that is targeted towards project based manufacturing clients. Well check back soon as I continue to explore the Dynamics world around us!

Find a job at: www.DynamicsAXJobs.com

e-Con and you!

Well,

I am about done with my e-Con training this week. The instructor has been Marijn van Poelje from To-Increase. He is a great guy, has a vast knowledge on the e-Con product and is great to work with. His jokes are some times lacking depth [LOL! Just poking at you Marijn] But really all in all it has been a great class.

For the level that I am looking at I did find the lessons to easy in contrast to how powerful e-Con engine is. It is truly a Business Rules Engine, and it's studio and connectiviness to Dynamics AX (and NAV) is outstanding. I have recommended e-Con before, but I have become an even bigger believer in the product's abilities now. (I am working on something special in regard to e-Con, I will post details later on, if it comes through. Be helpful for Every e-Con user, consultants, customer, and soon to be of each.)

I don't want to spend much time, but I did want to commit on e-Con and Dynamics AX this week. I can see a lot of usage for this for our current customer base, and our future customers. It is for sure a Whole lot more than just a Product Configurator, as any type of Process Workflow can be achieved with this business rules engine. It has the ability to work with most any datasource, work with .Net assemblies, web services, and it has a very easy scripting language to pick up. (If you can manage Excel formula's then your doing good to learn e-Con!)

Well check back soon as I will have much more post about e-Con and e-Con with Dynamics AX!

Find a job at: www.DynamicsAXJobs.com

e-Con Training this week

This week I will be in To Increase / Dynamics AX eCon training. Therefore I will not have much time to write at all.

I will review the training and the new e-Con 4.0 when I am done next week!

Check back soon!

Find a job at: www.DynamicsAXJobs.com