Remote technical support and user training is likely to become the vehicle for the future Corporate ERP consulting industry. It is always good idea for multinational corporation to have one consulting firm, which is deeply familiar with its ERP implementation, customization, reporting, integration and settings. There is no longer need to travel to your international manufacturing facility. The majority of work could be done via remote support. Lets take a look at modern Web Session, VOIP and phone conferencing software tools. Before you dive into details, we have to admit that this paper is not intended for experienced programmer, who would like to find mystery answer on weird technical question. It is rather designed for manager to get next homework done with Corporate ERP implementation and support:

1.Excurse into the history. Remote Desktop sharing technology is not something new. We remember such popular tools as PCAnywhere and revolutionary Microsoft Net Meeting in mid and late 1990th. Those methods were tried in professional support, however there were numerous issues with Internet connection bandwidth, computer processer and RAM limitation. At this time, as we are writing these sentences in June 2011, internet connection technologies are matured (including 4G Cellular option, T1, Cable Internet, etc.). Modern Windows, Mac or Linux computer could have four or even eight GB of RAM memory, AMD or Intel processor with four or more cores. So, computer hardware and media are catching up and with WindowsXP with latest services pack or Windows7 we expect that professional computer user is now abstracted from the problems of the past

2.Citrix and its Gotomeeting. This technology is often preferred, especially considering Citrix long time investment into its so-called Thin client. This web session and phone conference technology allows to share your computer desktop with the option to share keyboard and mouse control with remote consultant. Gotomeeting provides conference call phone number, or alternatively you can just use your computer audio facilities. There are competitors, such as GotomyPC, WebEx

3.VPN connection with Windows Remote Desktop via Microsoft Terminal Server. This technology is optimal, where you have test server with copies of the companies and your MorphX X++ remote developer is doing programming, beta testing and quality assurance. In this scenario programmer doesnt need to call you and ask you to issue web session and share your desktop (as it would be in Gotomeeting case). VPN/Remote Desktop technology is also preferred when you want FRx, Microsoft Management Reporter, or generic data repair support to be done behind the scenes or without your user handling the support call

4.Some words to international subsidiary support. Initial Axapta implementation typically requires local touch, as there are add-ons or original ERP localization modules from Microsoft Business Solutions in various countries. The key points to keep in mind are the following. Try to host all AX international companies on the same MS SQL Server, physically located in your ERP Headquarters in USA, Canada (or where you are running your business from). If you are able to retain IT maintenance and control directly in the Headquarters you are opening the door to Axapta remote support for your international branches. Dynamics AX is localized worldwide and supports Unicode (two byte character encoding standard, typically required when your local country alphabet is using hieroglyphs: Chinese, Japanese, Korean). There might be the situations, where your international branch is reasonably small and AX implementation might be not proportional. Typically we like to recommend such worldwide localized small business packages as SAP Business One. For Brazil we recommend to take a look at Microsiga. For Russian Federation small business ERP is 1S Bukhgalteria (1S Accounting in Russian Translation)

5.Axapta Customization and Modification Projects. Since the release of version 2009 there were several books published with the objective to popularize AX technology, including MorphX, X++ IntelliMorph, Metadata exposure to MS Visual Studio C# or VB.Net projects, Web Services for custom queries, tables and forms. The idea is definitely great and you, being C++ programmer may decide to step into Axapta software development world. However AX custom programming requires long term dedication and it is unlikely to comply to this requirements if you are not working for professional Dynamics AX implementation and coding firm. Plus there is entry level to become MBS AX reseller with access to development enabling keys

6.Competition Review. In our opinion from the upper side its competitor is Oracle EBusiness Suite/Financials/Applications, SAP (MySAP). From the smaller businesses the competition is coming from another Microsoft Dynamics ERP systems, such as GP (former Great Plains), NAV (former Navision, especially in Europe, Brazil, Russia), SL (former Solomon it is popular in Project Accounting implementation scenarios)

7.AX in Kazakhstan. We are writing these lines in June of 2011. Alma-Ata and Astana are pretty conservative. By all means we are ready to travel to Karaganda, Semipalatinsk, Tselinograd, Barnaul

8.Please call us 1-866-304-3265, 1-269-605-4904 (for international customers, where our representative pick up the phone in St. Joseph, MI call center). [email protected] We have local presence in Chicagoland, Southern California, South West Michigan, Houston and Dallas areas of Texas. We serve customers USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil nationwide and internationally via web sessions and phone conferences (Skype is welcomed). Our consultants speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese. Our core expertise is in International Business