Written By Jeff Onesto, Director of Business Development, ASi (Originally released on MSDynamicsWorld.com)
According to a recent report released by AMR Research entitled “The Enterprise Resource Planning” as much as 85% of an organization’s users do not have access to the corporate ERP system. Microsoft’s Office Business Applications (OBAs) is working hard to change this paradigm. The Microsoft Line-Of-Business-Interoperability (LOBi) strategy positions Microsoft Office as the front-end for accessing back-end ERP functionality.
For those not aware, Microsoft has already begun delivering some very interesting solutions around the Microsoft Dynamics AX solution via an OBA offering called Microsoft Dynamics Snap. These new snap-in programs are packaged as part of the Microsoft Dynamics Client for Office. Microsoft Dynamics Client for Office is available in either standard version using Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) or the premium version using Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS). The premium version adds a license of Office SharePoint Server 2007 which provides an integrated suite of server capabilities with comprehensive content management, search, business process management and information sharing.
The Microsoft Dynamics Client for Office allows AX data to be viewed by the extended enterprise (non AX users) via rich client Office Business Applications such as Microsoft Outlook, Excel and Word. Theses snap-in programs are distributed on the Codeplex website (www.codeplex.com) under the Microsoft Public License Agreement. This license agreement is the least restrictive Microsoft source code license that allows partners and/or customers to view, modify and redistribute source code for either commercial or non-commercial purposes. The following AX snap-in programs are currently available for download:
• Business Data Search-Delivers powerful search capabilities that allow an information worker to search for information across Microsoft business systems including Microsoft Dynamics AX and SharePoint Server portals from within Microsoft Office Outlook as simple as searching email.
• Business Data Lookup - Allows business workers to use the Microsoft Dynamics AX task pane to search and browse Microsoft Dynamics AX data using Microsoft Office Word, Microsoft Office Excel or Outlook, and to copy selected data into Office 2007 documents or attach the Office documents to Microsoft Dynamics AX records.
• Timesheet Management - Allows users to use Microsoft Outlook to view or submit time entries for tasks that are performed on a periodic basis. This solution links Microsoft Dynamics AX time entries with Outlook appointments and meetings, automatically filling in the data and helping track changes the user makes to linked appointments or meetings.
• Vacation Management - Allows users to submit vacation requests using Microsoft Outlook. This triggers an e-mail to the approver, who can view details of the request along with the requestor’s vacation history, and approve or reject the request. The vacation time entry is then automatically updated into the Microsoft Dynamics AX time and attendance module.
• Expense Management-Allows an information worker to easily create, submit and approve or reject expense reports in SharePoint, without having to log into Microsoft Dynamics AX directly.
• Customer Journal -Enables a salesperson to take an offline InfoPath record of all pertinent customer information to a sales meeting, access that information from their desktop, revise that information as needed then synchronize their changes in the Microsoft Dynamics AX system once they are back online.
Lastly and in keeping with many companies ‘green’ directives, the latest AX snap-in program in development aims to help companies measure their carbon footprint as defined by the Global Reporting Institute (GRI). For those not familiar with GRI, this not-for profit governing body, made up of both corporate and individual members, is responsible for creating the Sustainability Reporting Framework (G3 Guidelines). These guidelines which includes, industry indicators, reporting guidance and required country-level disclosures have become the de-factor standards for environmental sustainability reporting. The new Microsoft Dynamics Environmental Sustainability Snap program will provide organizations visibility via dashboard to Core Environmental Performance Indicators (CEPI) such as Direct and Indirect Energy Consumption, and Direct, Indirect and Other Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
Microsoft is doing some great things around connecting information workers to Microsoft Dynamics AX (Axapta). For more information regarding Microsoft Dynamics Snap solutions or other Microsoft Dynamics AX solutions, I always recommend starting with your partner. For more information about ASi, please see our website at www.advancedsystemsintegration.com.
