Keith Dunkinson - Implementing Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 with Sure Step 2012

Keith Dunkinson has over 20 years experience implementing ERP systems for a number of companies, taking part in over 100 successful ERP implementations. He owned and ran The Computing Practice, an ERP Solution Centre, where he worked in a variety of roles for over 16 years, selling and implementing Dynamics NAV, SAP, Oracle, and Sage software. Keith now works as the Business Development Director at AxPact Limitedthe world's largest global supplier of Microsoft Dynamics AX, where he is involved in bringing together and managing over 30 independent Dynamics AX Solution Centers and leads the AxPact Project Governance Initiative. Keith still works hands on in the sale and governance of AX delivery projects through his own company ERP Advisers Ltd, including being the lead project manager/project governor on a number of complex AX implementations.

I would like to thank everyone who has supported me in this endeavor, including my family and especially my lovely wife Ann, Chandru Shankar, my brother Andrew Dunkinson, Stephen Holden at Fulcrum, Clare Morrissey, and everyone who has helped me along the way in the last couple of decades, not forgetting my professional lifetime mentor Alan Hindley.

Andrew Birch has over fifteen years experience in the technology industry, starting his career as a network infrastructure engineer before moving to an operations management position in a software development company. Andrew began working with AX (Axapta) in 2003, and has since become one of the foremost proponents of Dynamics AX in Europe, speaking at several Microsoft events, and his projects have won a top industry award. He has been heavily involved in the creation and implementation of Microsoft Dynamics AX add-ons, particularly for the feed industry, that focus on real-time integrations between AX and production control systems. Andrew is now the lead consultant at Binary Consultants, a company he owns and runs with some of the most experienced and creative Dynamics AX and Microsoft .NET professionals in the UK.

I would like to thank all the team at Binary Consultants, especially Simon Buxton and Josh Townson for their technical insight, engaging debate, and furious desire to be proved right, which is what drives Binary forward, and has given me the knowledge (along with the things I was right about) to write this book. I'd also like to thank Clare Morrissey for her dedicated proof reading and relentless reminders about deadlines, without which this book would be neither comprehendible nor finished!

Simon Buxton started his IT career as database developer, writing bespoke database systems for printing, and later for financial accounting customers. Working for small companies required him to become capable in all aspects of solution design, build and delivery; which was a good grounding for when he became Technical Director (and sole 'technical' employee) of a new Dynamics AX reseller 'Sense Enterprise Solutions'.

He joined Sense Enterprise Solutions (SES) after a year working for Columbus IT Partner as one of their team leaders, where one of the first UK installations of AX (Axapta 1.5) was completed for a local distributor.

The projects won by SES were typically more technically challenging than usual. This experience found him consultancy projects from Bahrain to the USA.

The solutions often included much wider use of technology than normally encountered and involved developing solutions for third party logistics, multichannel retail, and eventually developing an Animal Feed vertical, integrating Dynamics AX into production control systems, government gateways, ecommerce solutions, and myriad others.

Currently working as a Technical Solution Architect at Binary Consultants, he is passionate about solution design and conforming to the best practices of solution design and delivery. He also believes strongly that this comes from the way the delivery partner is run, its ethos and internal efficiency.

Marco A. Carvalho is from the United States. He has been working with Dynamics AX since 2003, when it was originally called Axapta and has never looked back since. For many years, Marco has worked to start up VARs in Dynamics AX, primarily focusing on its technological capabilities and helping educate businesses about the product. He is currently a Manager of Consulting Services at Junction Solutions, a leading Gold Certified Microsoft Partner. He is also a published author himself, having written the very successful Dynamics AX 2009 Administration book.

I would like to thank my family and friends who have always been supportive and have shown true unconditional love and patience through my entire career. I would also like to provide a shout out to the Junction Book Club!

Angela McClelland is a Software Developer and Technical Consultant for Dynamics AX (AX), currently working as a freelance consultant in the United Kingdom.

Angela began working with AX in 2001, while completing a Computer Science degree at The University of Waikato in New Zealand. After a successful implementation of version 2.5, and later upgrade to 3, the spouse and bags were packed up and moved over to England to seek out bigger project challenges, and for a taste of world travel.

Since this move, Angela has worked on many AX implementations, specializing in business solutions design, X++ programming, Reporting and Business Intelligence. She is a Microsoft Certified Professional for AX: Development, Installation and Configuration, as well as key modules: Finance, Projects, Production, Trade & Logistics, and is also a Microsoft Certified Trainer for AX.