Switcher

Microsoft is gaining market share with the Dynamics suite, but only marginally.  Today it still is not a real threat to number one, SAP.  In fact, they are profiling Dynamics Ax as an addendum to SAP, king of the Tier 1 throne.  With Dynamics Ax for subsidaries, branch offices.

 

But with the introduction of Dynamics Ax, they really do target a competitor.  And that competitor is Lawson, with is S3 and M3 software.  Please remember, Lawson is now part of Infor.  Infor has the same ambitious plan as Microsoft had almost 10 years ago: Create one single ERP suite, with one code base.
But as you know, any take-over comes with some uncertainties for both customers and partners.  And Microsoft hopes to benefit from that uncertainty.

Two initiatives under one name are launched: the Switcher campaign.

• Microsoft is giving up to 50% discounts on the standard list price of Ax 2012, for customers switching from current Lawson ERP software to Dynamics Ax 2012
• Secondly there is a reimbursement for partners investing in training and certifying their Lawson consultants in Ax 2012

The name of the campaign sounds like a new television series, airing Friday evening.  But it's not, it's real and tempting for people involved with Lawson software today.
And while it will not create a landslide, it will certainly add some percentage points of growth to Microsoft's customerbase and it's partner ecosystem.