Upgrade to Dynamics 365

The Smarter Way to Move to the Cloud

We have a tendency to resist change. Some view it as an unnecessary inconvenience — but what about a change that can make life more convenient? If chosen thoughtfully and implemented correctly, change can enrich your business and encourage financial growth. Embracing the upgrade to Dynamics 365 will do just that.

You may be wondering “why would I need to upgrade to the cloud if Dynamics AX is working perfectly fine for me?” There is some level of reservation when it comes to software updates, but upgrading your ERP and CRM system to the cloud can have invaluable benefits. Watch the video to learn the advantages our client Copper State Bolt and Nut realized when they made the switch. Read the full customer story.

Copper State Bolt & Nut Co. has been very privileged to have Arbela as our D365 migration and implementation project partner. The Arbela team’s project management and consulting skillsets have demonstrated superior levels of broad MS/AX to subject matter expertise, open-mindedness, willingness, eagerness, availability, commitment, and understanding.

-- Fred Robinson, Project Manager, Copper State Bolt & Nut Co.

How to Prepare for a Dynamics 365 Upgrade Project

Top Reasons to Upgrade to Dynamics 365

In today’s world, hacking poses an ever-present risk to companies both financially and against their hard-earned reputation. Contrary to prior business thought, cloud-based applications now provide a more secure experience because credentials and active threats are monitored and counter-attacked 24/7 by Microsoft.

There is no cost to update your ERP and CRM system, and there is no need to re-train your staff — except on all the new features! Automatic upgrades also help to decrease the total cost of ownership. Dynamics 365 provides a flat price for this upgrade depending on your individual needs.

A huge benefit of upgrading to the cloud is that your platform is accessible on any device, and compatible with any browser. Because your business applications are standardized by Microsoft, they work seamlessly with a single sign-on and are integrated out of the box.

After you make the leap to the cloud, any subsequent platform updates will be performed automatically every three months. The applications will update every six months. Dynamics 365 provides update reminders from 90, 30, 15, and 7 days before the upgrade will happen.

Because most functionality remains the same, you can save time learning the software and increase overall efficiency. All of the core business logic you are used to in Dynamics AX has been transferred to Dynamics 365 — only the interface has been updated.

You can mix and match apps to personalize your experience and maximize profitability, and the best part is that user experience of these apps are all equally intuitive. Leveraging sales field service alongside your Dynamics 365 provides you the ultimate growth platform.

The depth of analytics that you depend on are not forgotten in this upgrade — these data rich dashboards are easily connected to one another so nothing slips through the cracks.

E-Book: Upgrading CRM & ERP to the Cloud

Dynamics AX 2009 & 2012 Mainstream Support Ending Soon

Mainstream support for Dynamics AX 2009 and AX 2012 will end soon. All Microsoft products have a lifecycle that begins when the product is released and ends -- at this time, support is no longer supported. Dynamics AX products are normally supported for 10 years from the release date. If you are currently on Dynamics AX 2009, Dynamics AX 2012, and Dynamics AX 2012 R2, mainstream support period expired in 2018.

One of the main advantages of going to Dynamics 365 is no more implementations -- they're expensive, they're time consuming. This is the last time we ever have to touch an ERP system. We're customers for life.

-- Carl Spackman, VP of Finance, Copper State Bolt & Nut Co.

How Can Arbela Help With Your Upgrade?

Many organizations admit that they had barely begun, let alone considered digital transformation, but there is so much potential for a company if they invest in digital transformation. One of the major hurdles cited for lack of upgrade is the difficulty of implementation, but Dynamics 365 gives you the ability to quickly see results with a minimal learning curve. Companies like Uber, Airbnb, and Netflix have all embraced digital transformation, and their business to consumer reputations have increased.

Arbela has extensive experience upgrading to the cloud from on-premise. We will help you through every step of the process, and determine which steps you will need to take in order to achieve the smoothest transition. Contact us to hear about our detailed approach to upgrades, along with a roadmap that explains each phase of the upgrade process.

Take the leap!