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At Long Last, Microsoft Unveils Its Verticals Strategy for Dynamics AX

For several years, Microsoft has been promising Dynamics users and partners vertical solutions--special functionality geared toward particular industries.

Now, it is delivering on the promise, beginning with Dynamics AX customers.

Microsoft announced today four acquisitions of intellectual property designed to provide industry solutions across the verticals of pharmaceuticals, food, retail, manufacturing, and professional services:

• A process manufacturing solution acquired from Fullscope Inc., which provides tight integration of business processes across discrete manufacturing and process manufacturing
• A professional service solution acquired from Computer Generated Solutions Inc., which delivers a single system to manage projects and resources, execute financial transactions and customer billing, and match resources with client assignments
• Retail solutions from LS Retail EHF and To-Increase Denmark A/S, a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbus IT Partner A/S, that enable Microsoft to provide an end-to-end retail solution including store management with point-of-sale, merchandising and ERP capabilities

In an interview, Crispin Read, Microsoft’s general manager for ERP, said “about 70% of our customers are in these five industries.” He noted that not included in the verticals being addressed now are financial services and health care. “We feel we have a better chance with focus than by being all over the waterfront.”

Process manufacturing and professional services solutions for Microsoft Dynamics AX are available immediately on the Microsoft Dynamics price list, and the retail solution will be available at a later date. The next industry vertical likely to be addressed will be the public sector, according to Read, though he declined to provide a timetable.

He noted that customers will benefit financially from the acquisitions. “This will lower the costs for customers by reducing the amount of customization they need to do.”

Crispin said that Microsoft’s market research showed that companies in the upper mid market, which mostly include those with operations in multiple countries, “all want vertical solutions.”

According to Crispin, Microsoft will focus in its vertical approach on “common functional requirements [that] exist across industries and can be packaged.” Partners will be able to focus on other more specialized functionality to serve companies that need additional customization, and will reduce their time to market and lower their investments.

Kees Hertogh, director of product management for Dynamics AX, identified customer benefits as including a “predictable roadmap” and “more rapid innovation.”

“We speed up our packaged best practices. Customers can really focus on competitive differentiators to compete more effectively.”

The vertical capabilities being acquired are from Fullscope Inc, To-Increase Computer Generate Solutions Inc, and LS Retail EHF

Microsoft Dynamics AX Posting Profile Inventory Transactions in Modules (Sub Ledgers)

Sales order

The ledger accounts listed on the Sales order tab pertain only to the item group selected on the Overview tab. Use Packing slip accounts used only if Microsoft Dynamics AX is set to post to the ledger when goods are delivered to a customer. Once the invoice is generated, Microsoft Dynamics AX reverses the Packing slip postings.. You use Commission accounts used only if commissions are set up.

Path: Inventory > Setup > Item groups
Column/Field	Description	Examples/Hints
Sales Order tab
Packing slip	If you select Post physical inventory in the Inventory model group and Post packing slip in ledger in the AR parameter, then the cost of inventory is debited to general ledger when goods are delivered.	Ledger transaction when a SO packing slip is updated: Debit: Packing slip Credit: Packing slip offset
Packing slip offset	If you select Post physical inventory in the Inventory model group and Post packing slip in ledger in the AR parameter, then the cost of inventory is credited to general ledger when goods are delivered.	Ledger transaction when a SO packing slip is updated: Debit: Packing slip Credit: Packing slip offset
Issue	Cost of inventory is credited to general ledger when goods are invoiced. The packing slip postings are reversed.	Ledger transaction when a SO invoice is updated: Debit: Packing slip offset Credit: Packing slip Debit: Cost of Goods Sold Credit: Inventory
Consumption	Cost of inventory is debited to general ledger when goods are invoiced. The packing slip postings are reversed.	Ledger transaction when a SO invoice is updated: Debit: Packing slip offset Credit: Packing slip Debit: Cost of Goods Sold Credit: Inventory
Revenue	Sales amount is credited to general ledger when goods are invoiced. The packing slip postings are reversed.	Ledger transaction when a SO invoice is updated: Debit: Packing slip revenue Credit: Packing slip rev offset Debit: A/R Summary Credit: Revenue
Discount	If a discount ledger account is specified, the discount amount is debited and the A/R summary account is debited with (Sales – Discount). If an account is not specified then both the revenue and A/R summary account post as (Sales – discount). Posting occurs when goods are invoiced. Note: This does not include cash discounts. Cash discounts are not recognized until the payment is processed.	Debit: AR Summary (Sales-Disc) Debit: Discount Credit: Revenue
Commission	Commission amount is debited to general ledger when goods are invoiced.	Ledger transaction when a SO invoice is updated: Debit: Commission expense Credit: Commission liability
Commission offset	Commission amount is credited to general ledger when goods are invoiced.	Ledger transaction when a SO invoice is updated: Debit: Commission expense Credit: Commission accrual

Purchase order

The accounts listed on the Purchase order tab pertain only to the item group selected on the Overview tab. Use Packing slip accounts only if Microsoft Dynamics AX is set to post to the ledger when goods are delivered. Microsoft Dynamics AX reverses the Packing slip postings when the invoice is received. Use Standard cost accounts only if inventory is valued at standard cost.

Path: Inventory > Setup > Item groups
Column/Field	Description	Examples/Hints
Purchase order tab
Packing slip	If you select Post physical inventory in the Inventory model group and Post packing slip in ledger in the AP parameter, then the cost of inventory is debited to general ledger when goods are received.	Ledger transaction when a PO packing slip is updated: Debit: Goods received Credit: Purchases clearing
Packing slip offset	If you select Post physical inventory in the Inventory model group and Post packing slip ledger in the AP parameter, then the cost of inventory is credited to general ledger when goods are received.	Ledger transaction when a PO packing slip is updated: Debit: Goods received Credit: Purchases clearing
Receipt	If you select Post financial inventory in the Inventory model group, then the cost of inventory is debited to general ledger when goods are invoiced. The packing slip postings are reversed.	Ledger transaction when a PO for an inventory item is invoiced: Debit: Packing slip offset Credit: Packing slip Debit: Receipt (Inventory) Credit: A/P Summary
Discount	If you specify a discount ledger account , the discount amount is credited and the A/P Summary account is credited with (Purchase amount – Discount). If an account is not specified, both the Debit and Credit accounts post as Purchase amount – discount. Posting occurs when the invoice is updated. Note: This does not include cash discounts. Cash discounts are not recognized until the payment is processed.	Debit: Receipt or consumption Credit: A/P Summary Credit: Discount
Consumption	If you select Post financial inventory in the Inventory model group, then the Variance on item returns is posted to general ledger when the return price varies from the inventory cost price If you do not select Post financial inventory in the Inventory model group, then the purchase price is debited to general ledger when goods are invoiced.	Ledger transaction when a PO invoice is updated for a non-stock or service item: Debit: Purchase expense Credit: A/P Summary
Fixed receipt price profit	Credit cost variance when actual cost is lower than standard cost. Used if model group is set up to use standard cost.	Debit: Inventory – Actual Cost Debit:Std cost price offset-var. Credit: A/P Summary – Actual Credit: Std cost profit -variance
Fixed receipt price loss	Debit Cost variance when actual cost is higher than standard cost. Used if model group is set up to use standard cost.	Debit: Inventory – Actual Cost Debit: Std loss –variance Credit: A/P Summary – Actual Credit: Std cost profit offset-var
Fixed receipt price offset	Use this account to offset the standard cost profit or loss.	Often this account is the same as the inventory account.

Inventory

The accounts listed on the Inventory tab pertain only to the Item group selected on the Overview tab. The Standard cost accounts are used only if inventory is valued at standard cost

Path: Inventory > Setup > Item groups
Column/Field	Description	Examples/Hints
Inventory tab
Receipt	Debit increases to the inventory account.	Inventory journal transaction to record the receipt or increase in inventory: Debit: Receipt (Inventory) Credit: Profit
Issue	Credit decreases to the inventory account.	Inventory journal transaction to record the issue or decrease in inventory: Debit: Loss Credit: Issue (Inventory)
Profit	Credit increases to the inventory account.	Inventory journal transaction to record the receipt or increase in inventory: Debit: Receipt (Inventory) Credit: Profit
Loss	Debit decreases to the inventory account.	Inventory journal transaction to record the issue or decrease in inventory: Debit: Loss Credit: Issue (Inventory)
Fixed receipt price profit	Credit the gained difference in relation to Standard cost. Offset to Inventory Profit or loss. Used if model group is set up to use standard cost.	Inventory journal transaction to record the receipt or increase in inventory: Debit:Receipt (Inventory@Std cost) Credit: Std cost profit (Variance) Credit: Profit (Actual cost)
Fixed receipt price loss	Debit the loss difference in relation to Standard cost. Offset to Inventory Profit or loss. Used if model group is set up to use standard cost.	Inventory journal transaction to record the receipt or increase in inventory: Debit:Receipt (Inventory@Std cost) Debit: Std loss (Variance) Credit: Profit (Actual cost)
Fixed asset issue	Account to be debited if item is issued to a fixed asset.
Rounding variance	Account to be debited/credited due to rounding issues.

Production

The accounts listed on the Production tab pertain only to the Item group selected on the Overview tab. The Picking list and Report as finished accounts are used only if Microsoft Dynamics AX is set to post "work in process" to the ledger. The Picking list accounts are used to record the estimated costs of raw materials during the production process. The Report as finished accounts are used to record the estimated cost of the finished good. Both Picking list and Report as finished account postings are reversed when the final item calculation is performed. The Issue accounts record the actual cost of raw materials used in production. The Receipt accounts record the actual cost of the finished good that is being received into inventory

Path: Inventory > Setup > Item groups
Column/Field	Description	Examples/Hints
Production tab
Picking list	If Post physical inventory in the Inventory model group and Post picking list in ledger in the Production parameters are selected, then the estimated cost of raw material inventory is credited to general ledger during the Picking list update.	The picking list journal is used to record the estimated materials needed for a production order. It can be created manually or automatically by back-flushing. Debit: Picking list offset Credit: Picking list (Inventory)
Report as finished	If the Post report as finished in ledger in the Production parameters is selected, the estimated value of the finished good is debited to general ledger during the Report-as-finished update.	The Report-as-finished journal is used to record quantities completed Debit: Report as finished (Inv) Credit: Report as finished Offset
Picking list offset account	If Post physical inventory in the Inventory model group and Post picking list in ledger in the Production parameters are selected, then the estimated cost of raw material inventory is debited to general ledger during the Picking list update.	The picking list journal in the Production module can be created manually or automatically. See Production setup section for more information. Debit: Picking list offset (WIP) Credit: Picking list
Reported as finished offset account	If the Post report as finished in ledger in the Production parameters is selected, then the estimated value of the finished good is credited to general ledger during the Report-as-finished update.	The Report-as-finished journal is used to record quantities completed. Debit: Report as finished (Inv) Credit: Report as finished Offset
Issue	When a production order is costed, the estimated material costs previously posted are reversed. The actual cost of raw materials is credited in the general ledger.	Debit: Issue offset (WIP) Credit: Issue (Inventory-raw material)
Issue offset account	When a production order is costed, the estimated material costs previously posted are reversed. The actual cost of raw materials is debited in the general ledger.	Debit: Issue offset (WIP) Credit: Issue (Inventory-raw material)
Receipt	When a production order is costed, the report-as-finished estimated finished good costs are reversed. The actual cost of the finished good is debited in the general ledger.	Debit: Receipt (Inventory - FG) Credit: Receipt offset account (WIP)
Receipt offset account	When a production order is costed, the report-as-finished estimated finished good costs are reversed. The actual cost of the finished good is credited in the general ledger.	Debit: Receipt (Inventory - FG) Credit: Receipt offset account (WIP)