EFaru Dynamics AX Custom Projects Recovery Notes

June 1, 2011 - PRLog -- Unfortunately Corporate ERP implementation and customization projects have ten or more percent failure rate.  The good news is the fact that you as the customer could manage the risk and reduce it substantially.  We would like to share with you our experience in managing these risks.  This publication is intended for company owner or IT director, it is not heavily technical to satisfy programmer interest.  Let’s review the typical failure causes and how to avoid them:

1.   Project Management Tool.  First of all we have to mention, that Axapta is dedicated to upper mid-market niche.  Microsoft Business Solutions has special project management tool – Sure Step.  Each Dynamics AX reseller should be certified in Sure Step project management and implementation.  If you work with your partner in Sure Step and something happens, it is simply to switch to another VAR, as all the documentation is in Sure Step

2.   Unreasonable Data Conversion Magnitude.  This is normal to expect that you will bring over into your new Corporate ERP such master records, as Chart of GL Accounts, Customers and Vendor with addresses.  However we do not recommend you to pursue the scenario, where you want ‘everything’ to be converted from your old accounting system.  Each accounting application is unique and its database is vulnerable to direct data feeding, where you could compromise business logic.  It is better idea to keep your old accounting for data inquiry only, closed for new transactions entry

3.   Enormous Customization Scale.  When you do your homework in selecting your new Corporate ERP platform, one of the objectives is to pick the one which requires no or minimum modifications to cover required business processes.  Custom Software Development is OK, but it should have reasonable scope.  We also do recommend you to map custom processes in the initial implementation, but postpone coding to the phase two, when you are sure that existing available settings do not do the job

4.   Turn-Key Solution issues.  When somebody promises you something like turn-key delivery, you should apply conservative judging.  Corporate ERP implementation, customization and reporting require client management team dedication or at least deep involvement.  The term ‘turn-key’ is a bit misleading as it suggest you to wait in the corner while the project is done and then you are supposedly ready to use the system

5.   Well, these advises are probably good, but what I need to do to get my investment in software licenses and consulting hours recovered?  We do recommend seek for the second opinion.  There are numerous reseller and consultants on the AX implementation market.  The majority of them are trying to concentrate on initial software sale and implementation, leaving custom software development projects to the ISV partners, who are concentrating on existing customers pool market.  Chances are high that you will not be able to find AX Software Development Factory around the corner.  This is OK to outsource custom programming to nationwide partner, as such technologies as web sessions, Skype and phone conferences should help you with cost and quality balance

6.   Dynamics AX customization reference.  Typically you do it in MorphX X++ IDE and programming language.  It is also recommended to do the work on the table, query or class level (application server based modification).  It is possible to do it on the Windows client application side, but we would like your developers to consider Application server approach first.  Do we need X++ professional programmer or we could deploy somebody from our IT department.  The answer depends.  X++ is relative to such coding languages as C++, C#, Java, old C.  However it is also reflecting three tiers Corporate ERP platform (where you need instruments to direct programming logic to be executed on the Application Server, for example)

7.   Current Versions.  The majority of Axapta customers are on version 2009.  However we are expecting upgrade campaign to version 2012 (should be released in the second half of the year 2011).  If you are on version 4.0, we do recommend you consider upgrade to 2009 or 2012

8.   Please call us 1-866-304-3265, 1-269-605-4904 (for international customers, where our representative pick up the phone in St. Joseph, MI call center).  help@efaru.com  We have local presence in Chicagoland, Southern California, South West Michigan, Houston and Dallas areas of Texas. We serve customers USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil nationwide and internationally via web sessions and phone conferences (Skype is welcomed). Our consultants speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese.  Our core expertise is in International Business

Andrew Karasev is Great Plains Certified Master, MVP, help@efaru.com 1-866-304-3265, 1-269-605-4904. He is also the initiator of eFaru project http://www.efaru.com and founder of Alba Spectrum information space