History of X++
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Dynamics AX has a lot in common with new kid on the block Dynamics 365, but are they really the same?
If you’ve arrived at this page, you’re probably either a current Dynamics AX user considering a switch to Dynamics 365, and wondering if it’s really worth the effort.
Making changes to your business software, even if it’s just a case of upgrading to a new version, can be a challenge.
We’re going to take a look at how Dynamics 365 compares to its predecessor, Dynamics AX 2012, so you can decide whether or not it’s time to make a move.
Dynamics AX vs Dynamics 365: what’s the difference?
First released in 2002, Dynamics AX is one of several ERP solutions in the Microsoft Dynamics family. Primarily used by midsize-to-large enterprise businesses, Dynamics AX is a feature-rich resource planning solution used to manage operations such as finances, manufacturing, distribution, and HR.
The most recent version of Dynamics AX, codenamed Dynamics AX7 pre-release, was launched in late 2016 as Dynamics 365 for Operations, and became the primary ERP arm of the brand new Dynamics 365 suite of apps. It later underwent another name change, becoming Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations in July 2017.
The original Dynamics AX name has now been officially retired, and Dynamics AX is no longer available to new customers. Existing AX customers are still able to purchase additional licenses, but these are subject to the new Dynamics 365 licensing model.
So, is Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations just Dynamics AX with a new paint job? According to Adam Sandman, Director of software testing and management firm Inflectra, there’s a little more to it than that.
“The main differentiator is that Dynamics 365 is a completely web- and cloud-based solution, whereas AX is primarily a desktop-based application, with some web and mobile add-on components.
The new version provides a cloud-based ERP solution that can be used everywhere without the large infrastructure footprint of AX; on-premise or hosted by partners. It also has tight integration with other parts of the Dynamics 365 family, such as CRM, so you get an end-to-end business solution containing ERP and CRM. With AX you had to use Dynamics CRM separately, which was not really integrated.