There are a couple of key considerations for determining the right timing for deciding when to upgrade from AX 2012 to Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations.
Team Planning
Planning when to upgrade from AX 2012 to Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management starts with assembling an upgrade team comprised of business process owners, subject matter experts, project managers, IT resources, and executive sponsorship. Once a team is assembled, gauge everyone’s availability, time and schedule conflicts, and level of commitment to the project. A detailed upgrade assessment should be performed to better understand work effort estimates. Based on those factors, you’ll have a better understanding of what will be required of your team. Ensuring you have the appropriate resources in place for the project is key to a successful upgrade.
Support Lifecycle
Depending on the version of AX you currently have, you may or may not still have support from Microsoft. If you’re scheduled for support to expire, you’ll want to look at upgrading sooner rather than later. Keep in mind there may be transition pricing discounts available through for AX clients who are current on their annual enhancement and are on a version that is still supported. Reach out to Stoneridge Software to learn more.
The graphic below outlines the Lifecycle policy for each major version.
- Mainstream Support – Microsoft is still releasing new features and fixing bugs, and you can still contact Microsoft support.
- Extended Support – Microsoft is no longer developing new features, and only security bugs are being fixed. Access to support requires an annual fee plus a per incident charge
- No support – Any fixes or enhancements are yours to own or through your Partner
With this information, you can continue making a decision on when the best time for you to upgrade is. If your support has expired, and upgrading to Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management isn’t in the near future, reach out to us for information on at Stoneridge Software. Our experienced resources can support your current system, as well as help you prepare for the next level, whenever it’s the right time for you.
