Microsoft has announced that Microsoft Dynamics AX is positioned as a Leader in the Magic Quadrant for ERP for Product-Centric Midmarket Companies* 2010, a research report published by Gartner Inc. The report evaluated global enterprise resource planning (ERP) products specifically tailored for companies with 100 to 999 employees, and with annual revenue between $50 million and $1 billion.

“We believe being recognized as a Leader demonstrates our commitment to enabling dynamic businesses,” said Crispin Read, general manager of Microsoft Dynamics ERP, Product Management Group, at Microsoft. “Our focus on simplicity, value and agility is key to maintaining our position as a leader in the ERP industry.”

Magic Quadrant for ERP for Product-Centric Midmarket Companies

Microsoft Dynamics AX is positioned as one of two solutions in the Leaders quadrant of this Magic Quadrant. Its ability to execute is proven by a long track record and above-average growth rates in the midmarket, its intuitive and easy-to-learn and use Microsoft Office-like UI, and by its functionality, which is a healthy mix of strong out-of-the-box functionality for the selected industries, combined with industry- and customer-specific functionality built by or together with partners. Its architecture is well-designed to support this joint innovation model, and Microsoft is currently reworking AX’s architecture to support this even better. The partner channel is international and continues to show fast growth, and Microsoft has started a multi-year program called Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) to ensure and improve the channel’s quality, widening partners’ expertise beyond pure technical capabilities. Microsoft’s infrastructure is widely used in the midmarket and allows for a low TCO with easily available resources, such as administrators and developers. This adds up to a strong performer in the market today.Microsoft’s completeness of vision is equally high. The company is working closely with the channel to concertedly build a layer of industry-specific functionality for the six core industries listed above, acquiring proven product IP for industries like process manufacturing and retail. This initiative is exclusive for Microsoft Dynamics AX. These solutions are built into the core solution, which will enable partners to use this extended product as a broader base on which to build. Microsoft is continually building out the integration of AX with other components of its technology stack; examples include the use of SharePoint Server and embedded BI based on the SQL Server Reporting Services. The role-tailored UI improved the usability of the solution further. 

About “Leaders” 

Leaders demonstrate a clear vision and the ability to execute against this vision. Midmarket ERP leaders have deep and robust functionality that address a range of core user requirements. Not necessarily the largest vendors in terms of revenue, these vendors do have proven products, as well as track records of customer success and demonstrated momentum in growing their market presence. Leading vendors have offerings that appeal to the specific process needs of midmarket customers, are straightforward and simple to use, and are designed or streamlined for low TCO, while being available and well-supported in multiple regions. 

Leaders are well-prepared to evolve their products to model-driven applications to allow for high flexibility, with tools for embedded analytics and UIs that allow for easy adoption by different types of users. Leaders have compelling strategies for addressing the ongoing market changes related to emerging technologies, such as SOA and BPPs. They also have built structures to extend their systems with industry-specific solutions, often in cooperation with their partner ecosystem, which delivers the best support for the specific processes in vertical markets, while offering good-enough support for the less-differentiating processes. Finally, leaders cultivate a broad and generally overwhelming level of customer satisfaction in a number of geographies and industries. 

Learn more about Microsoft Dynamics AX or continue reading about the Gartner Magic Quadrant for ERP.