So today the new and disruptive Dynamics 365 was launched at the AXUG Summit 2016. It brings together the Dynamics programs like never before and the CRM and AX story will now take a new path together… and NAV as well.
Dynamics AX is now rebranded as “Dynamics 365 Operations” (I’ll hang on to the AX name a while longer), NAV is now “Dynamics 365 Finance” and will continue its journey together with the Dynamics CRM that has already been split into its different parts with their respective new names as well. Customer Service, Project Service Automation, Marketing + Adobe, Sales and Field services.
We will shortly see similar thing happen to the AX (Operations) application, where each part/module of the solution should be able to work on its own merit and be coupled together with the rest of the Dynamics 365 or other external applications through the Common Data Model.
“Common data model is at the heart of Dynamics 365” – Keynote quote
The CDM is mainly the grown up version of the entity store, a story that actually started in the DIEF (Data Import Export Framework) in AX 2012 R2. There are currently about 1800 entities in Dynamics AX that mainly involve parameters, main tables and master data.
CRM will also have its own entities that are common with AX where it is covering a similar data type. The AX part of Dynamics 365 is just further ahead since it is the AX team that is also creating the CDM.
What this means for customers?
There has been a big interest the Dynamics CRM application by AX customers before, but it has exponentially increased as both platforms has progressively started to become market leaders within their respective fields. CRM and AX was tried coupled together through a data connector with varying results. However this new approach is much more in tune with each application and being a part of a single larger ERP solution we will see a lot more synergy between the individual components as a whole.
Resulting in a solution where customers will have a more or less seamless experience between all the individual Dynamics 365 applications.
Also the customer will be much more empowered to create great business line applications on their own. Scott Guthrie said: “If you know PowerPoint and Excel, you can create a business line application that would work on almost any platform”.
AppSource
This is essentially a merging between the VAR and the ISV. Most VAR partners will strive to create their applications as Apps for AppSource and we will during 2017 see an explosion in business verticals that will be able to be purchased by anyone.
This opens up for a more customer governes approach to the application ownership. The customer can now pick and choose from any of the available solutions world wide to cover their business needs. They will also be able to do trials and pick the best solution for their processes, regardless of the competency or agenda of their partner.
This is the future!
If you have time, please go and listen to Ray Wang talk about Digital Disruption! Blew me away!
dyntips.com by Fredrik Sætre 
When you mention that Dynamics AX is now rebranded as “Dynamics 365 Operations” does it mean that all the APIs provided by AX will be able to address Dynamics 365 operations module?
It is still AX7 in all its shape and form.
Dynamics 365 is nothing else then a rename of the products and new licensing. Dynamics 365 Operations is a stand alone product. Dynamics 365 Sales for instance is CRM, but it does run together with the other CRM based applications as it is the same platform.
These two platforms (AX and CRM) are separate and only share a common navigation element that allows you to switch between then more easily.
That is how it is implemented for now.
Also other applications like PowerApps can be distributed through the same common navigation.
https://home.dynamics.com