What is Microsoft Dynamics AX?

​Microsoft Dynamics AX is a legacy enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution designed to unify business systems so that data is stored, compiled, and accessed through a single system. For many years, Dynamics AX was Microsoft’s flagship ERP solution and served as the foundation for what would eventually become Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations.

Dynamics AX is no longer sold to new customers, and mainstream support for all versions—including AX 2009 and AX 2012—has ended. While some companies still run AX today, it’s considered a legacy system, and companies using it should plan their migration to a modern ERP.

Dynamics AX was a powerful enterprise resource planning (ERP) system built to support the complex operational needs of medium to large enterprises. It was designed to streamline critical business functions and became widely adopted across industries for its broad functionality, scalability, and integration capabilities.

This legacy ERP enabled companies to centralize their operations and data in one system to standardize processes, increase visibility, and simplify compliance. Dynamics AX had robust features across key business areas:

• Financial management
• Supply chain management
• Manufacturing and production
• Human resources and payroll
• Sales, marketing, and customer service
• Procurement and sourcing
• Business intelligence and analytics
• Project management and accounting

In addition to its deep functionality, Dynamics AX supported complex integrations, multi-country deployments, and enterprise-grade security and development needs. Although it is no longer sold or supported by Microsoft, AX is still the backbone of many companies that are still using its reliable ERP capabilities.

Microsoft has retired Dynamics AX and moved its ERP offerings to the cloud-based Dynamics 365 suite.

In 2016, Dynamics AX was rebranded as Dynamics 365 for Operations and, shortly after, renamed Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations. Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations consists of two applications:

• Dynamics 365 Finance
• Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management

These modern applications are built on the AX codebase and offer more flexibility, scalability, and cloud capabilities. They are designed for mid-sized to large enterprise companies and are updated regularly with new features, performance improvements, and AI-driven insights.

Companies still running AX are encouraged to migrate to Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations to get an actively supported, cloud-based ERP platform that integrates with the broader Microsoft ecosystem.

For more information about Dynamics AX vs. Dynamics 365 F&O, read our blog titled What is the difference between Dynamics 365 and AX?

Companies still running Dynamics AX are facing growing risks of staying on an unsupported platform. Microsoft has ended mainstream support for all versions of AX, which means there are no more updates, regulatory patches, security fixes, or new features. This exposes you to security vulnerabilities, compliance challenges, and technical limitations that can disrupt your business over time.

Staying on AX puts you at a strategic disadvantage. Competitors are adopting modern, cloud-based ERP systems that use artificial intelligence, automation, and real-time analytics. These tools drive efficiency, enable innovation, and improve business agility, leaving legacy AX systems outdated and unable to keep up.

We recommend migrating to a modern ERP platform, such as Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations. Built on the AX codebase, this cloud-native solution gets continuous updates, better security, seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, and advanced tools to help your business compete in today’s digital world.

Rand Group is your partner for the transition away from Dynamics AX. With over 20 years of ERP experience, we help businesses assess their current AX environment, determine the right path forward, and execute a seamless migration to a modern solution that aligns with their goals.

Whether you need guidance on choosing the right platform or hands-on support for a complex multi-entity migration, Rand Group has the technical expertise and business acumen to ensure long-term success. We understand both the technical underpinnings of Dynamics AX and the broader strategic implications of ERP modernization.

Contact us to learn how Rand Group can support your transition from Dynamics AX and future-proof your business.