Axapta: what is this program and what is it for?

Often on thematic resources you can find a question about a product called Axapta: "What is this program and what is it for?" To date, this application is called Microsoft Dynamics AX and is one of the software products for resource planning. This software belongs to Microsoft Corporation and belongs to the Microsoft Dynamics application group.

History of development and output

Microsoft Dynamics AX was developed as a result of cooperation between IBM and Daamgaard Data. The original name is IBM Axapta.

The application was originally released in March 1998 in the markets of Denmark and the USA. IBM granted all rights to the Daamgaard Data product shortly after the release of version 1.5. Then Daamgaard Data was merged with Navision Software A / S (in 2000), forming the company "Navision Daamgaard", later named Navision A / S. Microsoft acquired a joint company in July 2002.

In September 2011, Microsoft released the version of AX 2012. The updated version of Axapta (the program, reviews about which from the very beginning were positive) is available now and is supported in more than 30 countries and in 25 languages. The newest distribution of this application is dated February 2016.

Development and Support Centers

MDCC (Microsoft Development Center in Copenhagen) was originally the main development center for Dynamics AX. In addition to MDCC, Microsoft is developing AX in the US (Bellevue, Washington State and Fargo, North Dakota), Russia (Moscow), China (Shanghai) and Pakistan.

Axapta - what is this program from a technical point of view?

The development of AX to order and its modification is done using a specially designed for this program interface - MorphX, which is available in the same client application. This leads to the fact that every ordinary user has daily access to updates, which allows you to install innovations and download new versions on any client device.

As for the version of Dynamics AX 2012, its development can also be performed in Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 using the VisualStudio plug-in.

Axapta (program): how does the product look from the expert's point of view?

MorphX is an integrated development environment in Microsoft Dynamics AX, which specialists use for graphic design of data types, basic enumerations, tables, queries, forms, menus and reports. In addition to using objects of future versions of AX, it provides access to the application code by running the X ++ code editor.

MorphX uses object references, so changes in field name data automatically updates each metric that uses these names (for example, forms or reports). In addition, changes made with MorphX are displayed in the application immediately after compilation. It is for this reason that exporting from Axapta (the program) and unloading into Excel data from it does not lead to loss of information.

Microsoft Dynamics AX also offers support for version control systems (VCS) integrated with the IDE, which facilitates development cooperation. Another available tool converts the structures of tables and classes of Visio diagram structures.

The actual implementation is such that it limits the practical use of both these functions. X ++ itself is a programming language in MorphX. It is an object-oriented, class-based, unified sending language. X ++ is derived from C ++ (both do not have a final keyword) with the addition of data collection and the language of integrated SQL queries.

Code samples

In order to answer the question: "Axapta (program) - what is this?", It is necessary to understand the language in which it was created. X ++ integrates SQL queries into standard Java code. On its official website, Microsoft publishes a "Statement of Direction" for Dynamics AX, which describes future development plans. It says that future versions of AX will include increasing vertical functionality in the market, cloud computing and HTML 5.

Information on the Internet

One of the most well-known sources of information about Axapta (before Microsoft's purchase) was technet.navision.com, a proprietary web newsgroup that had a huge number of subscribers and posts before Microsoft bought it in 2002.

After Microsoft included Axapta in the SolutionSuite group, they transferred the contents of the newsgroup to Microsoft Business. The very first mention of Axapta (what kind of program and how to use it, what its capabilities and basic functionality), which can be found today in the network, is dated August 2000. In the era of Axapta 3.0 development, teleconferences were held repeatedly with representatives of official Microsoft websites (Partner Source for Microsoft partners and Customer Source for licensed Axapta clients), they also constituted the majority of the official sources of Axapta documentation. Currently, free access to such information is difficult.

After the release of the version of Dynamics AX 4.0, already under the leadership of Microsoft, the demand for news about the service such as the Axapta program (manual, tips, etc.) has grown significantly in the World Wide Web, in particular due to the increased interest on the part of professional Blogs.

Who uses this application?

The main consumers of AX are composed mainly of companies that use software for their work on a regular basis.

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 is an ERP system for medium and large enterprises. This is the most reliable, large-scale and functionally rich enterprise resource planning system in the Microsoft Dynamics product family. It has special advantages in production and distribution. Moreover, it is a functionally wide system capable of serving customers in most industries. Multilingual and multicurrency capabilities make the program a popular option for companies that seek to centralize operations in several locations around the world.

In addition to the basic reporting, Microsoft Dynamics AX provides full functionality for inventory management, warehouse management, transportation, demand and supply chain planning, material demand forecasting, production management, quality control, product lifecycle management, assets and business intelligence. Currently, the application is completely based on Microsoft .Net technologies. It is more often installed directly, but can be placed remotely (this is convenient in cases where the client prefers a system that is uninterruptedly accessible via the Internet).

Where is it most useful?

Microsoft Dynamics AX can work on a wide range of markets, but it has special opportunities in production and distribution. The industry functionality of this application meets the needs of individual manufacturers in the fields of high technology, electronics, metals, industrial equipment, aerospace, consumer products, medical devices and other large industries. The program supports repetitive situations, as well as forecasting on a variety of issues. It is for this reason that it is widely used to regulate production processes that require the automation of batches, formulas and recipes. As a result, the application is very often found in companies engaged in the production of pharmaceutical, chemical and food products.

In other words, the answer to the question: "Axapta - what is this program?" Is its definition as a customizable and flexible system that can meet the needs of virtually any type of production. In addition to production and distribution, Dynamics AX is also a popular choice in the retail industry. Microsoft has developed a version of AX for medium-sized vendors - Dynamics AX 2012 for retail, which, along with Microsoft RMS and Microsoft POS, is evaluating retail software solutions.

However, Microsoft Dynamics AX is suitable for companies whose sizes and functional requirements can justify its cost. Typically, you can see that the application is used by organizations that have at least $ 50 million in annual revenue (although sometimes slightly less when it comes to non-standard scenarios).

Practical benefits

As you can see from the above, Microsoft Dynamics AX is an application that allows you to make decisions based on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and redesign business processes.

What is the practical experience of the Axapta program, what is it for businessmen? First of all, it can help in the following:

1. Increase the speed of doing business: with automated task solution and intelligent user interface, you will be able to make more informed decisions with access to analysis in real time, on almost any device and anywhere.

2. Increasing business efficiency: you will be offered a holistic view of your business and access to the right data to make informed strategic decisions.

3. Exclusive customer experience: you will be able to better manage the changing needs of modern customers and offer personalized service in a wide range.

4. Acceleration and improvement: you will have the opportunity to accelerate the introduction of new products and to create more profitable manufacture and supply of products.