Webinar on March 8th with dox42 and Solutions Factory
Microsoft Dynamics AX is a high-performance, comprehensive and modern ERP system which is easy to use and flexible in terms of its deployment. According to Forrester Research, Microsoft Dynamics AX is also the most inexpensive ERP solution offered by Tier 1 providers.
In the course of day-to-day business, users generate numerous different reports using Microsoft Dynamics AX – so-called forms (such as invoices, for example), labels and above all various overviews, lists and analyses.
Microsoft Dynamics AX primarily relies for this on Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services. Depending on the report in question, it is often not easy for users to prepare them – in addition to an understanding of Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services, users also sometimes need an understanding of programming in Microsoft Dynamics AX.
dox42 enables users to individually and intuitively design new or redesign existing reports in Microsoft Office, making full use of data, the security features and the business logic of Microsoft Dynamics AX. These dox42-based reports can be accessed in the usual manner without changing processes in Microsoft Dynamics AX. dox42 therefore supplements the standard reporting tools of Microsoft Dynamics AX, adding a time-saving and cost-cutting way of designing reports.
Simon Klingler (Solutions Factory Consulting GmbH) and Christian Bauer (dox42 GmbH) will demonstrate how intuitive template design is possible with the aid of dox42 and its integration into Microsoft Dynamics AX. A live demonstration will give you an insight into the advantages of automated documentation using dox42 integrated into Microsoft Dynamics AX.
More information: www.dox42.com
4. Introduction dox42, Solutions Factory
Microsoft Dynamics AX and documents
Document automation with dox42
Overview and live DEMO dox42 AX
Requirements
? + !
5. Innovative software product for
document automation and data integration
Flexible, powerful and intuitive
Generation of high quality documents including
dynamic charts and tables, images, bar-codes, text modules,
conditions and calculations from all data sources
6. Solutions Factory is Microsoft Dynamics AX Partner
15+ years of experience with Microsoft Dynamics AX
Add-ons
Security & License Cockpit
Product Budgeting
dox42 AX
7. Introduction dox42, Solutions Factory
Microsoft Dynamics AX and documents
Document automation with dox42
Overview and live DEMO dox42 AX
Requirements
? + !
8. SSRS is not the best tool for document creation (e.g. invoices, labels)
Report modification in SSRS is difficult for users (requires expert knowledge)
Dynamics Add-Ins have limited functionality for document automation
Cooperation across business/IT departments is time-consuming
Required layouts and functional needs are often hard to fulfil
High costs for report design
SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) as primary tool for reports & documents
Dynamics Add-Ins for Word and Excel in defined areas
Management Reporter for financial reporting
ZPL based label printing
9.
10.
11. Are all needed features supported in SSRS?
Different page setup on various pages?
Additional data sources, e.g. for promotions?
Barcodes and QR Codes?
Background Images?
Is the desired layout feasible?
Can we use the template from the design department?
„What You See Is What You Get” experience?
Are any modifications in AX needed?
Will the document be easy to maintain?
Effort estimation?
12. Introduction dox42, Solutions Factory
Microsoft Dynamics AX and documents
Document automation with dox42
Overview and live DEMO dox42 AX
Requirements
? + !
23. Introduction dox42, Solutions Factory
Microsoft Dynamics AX and documents
Document automation with dox42
Overview and live DEMO dox42 AX
Requirements
? + !
24. Report call
Data
preparation
Report
preparation
Report
publishing
• Via the menue a report in AX
will be opened
• Filter for data selection
• The final print destination
triggers the output channel
(Screen, printer, file)
• Execution of business logic
for the calculation of the
necessary report data
• Collection of the AX data through
the report server
(SSRS / Microsoft SQL Server
Reporting Services)
• Rendering of the layout based on
the provided data
• Publication of the report on
the defined channel:
– Screen
– Printer
– File
• Collection of data through dox42
Server
• Integration of additional data
sources (texts,
documents, pictures, …)
• Creation of the layouts
Report call
Data
preparation
Report
preparation
Report
publishing
• Publication via dox42 Server
– File
– Printer
• Publication in AX
– Screen (PDF)
25. dox42 AX: Seamless integration of dox42 into AX 2012
Selected reports can be designed and printed with dox42
Existing reports can still be used
Access of dox42 reports for users is the same as for standard reports
Minimal loading times
Company, language and customer/vendor specific
dox42 is flexible and offers various areas of application
Documents (e.g. invoice, quotation, delivery note, certifications …)
Labels (e.g. pallet-labels,…)
Reports (e.g. production overview, costing sheets…)
Barcodes, QR codes, pictures, diagrams, charts, data from different data sources,
different printing directions, different page setup on various pages
26. Sales invoice
Create a sales invoice based on a Microsoft Word template
without AX code update from scratch
License plate label
Print a license plate label where fields are populated
with data from AX data methods
Production overview
Show production costing information including a
Microsoft Office Excel Chart
31. Are all needed features supported in SSRS?
Different page setup on various pages?
Additional data sources, e.g. for promotions?
Barcodes and QR Codes?
Background Images?
Is the desired layout feasible?
Can we use the template from the design department?
„What You See Is What You Get” experience?
Are any modifications in AX needed?
Will the document be easy to maintain?
Effort estimation?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
< 30 minutes (in demo)
Yes
Yes
32. The first cost estimates for modifying the forms in AX made it
clear to me that we needed to look for alternatives.
dox42 for AX allowed me to design the documents based
entirely on my own ideas and concepts, in Microsoft Word,
completely intuitively and with minimal time and cost inputs.
It was also important for me that there is no difference for users to the usual report processes in AX. This is
ensured – with the additional benefit being that the dox42 reports, in contrast to AX standard reports, are
also be displayed fast, which increases efficiency levels in our work.
I have now been using dox42 AX for the past three months and am amazed by the options that this tool
offers me. I am therefore delighted to act as a reference customer for this tool.
Gerald Krall
Financial Controller
ERP Project Manager
CCL Label GmbH
Völkermarkt
www.ccllabel.at
8 customer specific documents in 3-4 working days
after 1,5 days of training
http://www.solutionsfactory.at/en/testimonials/ccldox42ax/
33.
34.
35. Introduction dox42, Solutions Factory
Microsoft Dynamics AX and documents
Document automation with dox42
Overview and live DEMO dox42 AX
Requirements
? + !
36. dox42 Server
dox42 Word Add-in (optional: Excel/PowerPoint)
dox42 AX Data Source
Access to AX-meta data via web-services
Access to AX-data via SQL
dox42 AX extension (XPO, Model)
AX 2012 R2 CU8+, R3 CU8+
Further AX 2012 versions upon request
The New Microsoft Dynamics AX (AX7)
version under development
37. Introduction dox42, Solutions Factory
Microsoft Dynamics AX and documents
Document automation with dox42
Overview and live DEMO dox42 AX
Requirements
? + !
38. Appealing documents
Design in Microsoft Office
Integration of multiple data sources
Easy to deploy
Fast printing
Time and cost savings
We tried several approaches to resolve these challenges, nothing worked smoothly, nothing enabled the customers to do their reports themselves with reasonable effort.
Which field shows which data?
What you see is what you get?
Nice design
QR code
Picture - promotion
Different page setup for terms & conditions
schrift
symbol
symbol
Nice design
QR code
Picture - promotion
Different page setup for terms & conditions
Fragen / Zu bedenken:
Use of background image!
Labels with pictures, barcodes, QR codes, different printing directions, conditional printing of report elements
Reports with charts, diagrams, calculations
Seamless integration – no changes for the user and the usual reporting procedure in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012.
Numerous potential uses – forms, labels, reports, …
Intuitive report design – in Microsoft Office instead of in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012.
Time- and cost-savings – instead of extensive report modifications.