Microsoft Dynamics AX Archiving & Decommissioning
Secure your data, retain your reports and stay compliant — with AvenDATA.
From classic AX versions such as AX 2009 and AX 2012 to complex, heavily customised AX installations, we archive Dynamics AX data from legacy systems of every generation, including industry-specific solutions, covering everything from order processing to financial accounting.
The Challenge
Historical data in Microsoft Dynamics AX is important, but access to it is becoming increasingly difficult.
Companies regularly face a critical challenge during ERP migrations, cloud transitions (a move to Dynamics 365, for instance), data centre consolidations and the decommissioning of outdated infrastructure.
Legacy systems based on Microsoft Dynamics AX — often ERP structures that have grown over many years, with complex data relationships — still hold information that is relevant for tax, legal and business purposes.
Operating those systems, however, is expensive: the environments are outdated, licences expire and in-house expertise is disappearing.
Essential data becomes harder to reach, or unreachable altogether, at precisely the point when it must remain available, analysable and legally compliant.
This is exactly where AvenDATA comes in with its archiving solution for AX legacy systems.
Proven Archiving Solution
with More Than 20 Years of Project Experience
The archiving of ERP systems such as Microsoft Dynamics AX has been continuously researched, enhanced and refined in practice by AvenDATA across more than 1,100 completed system-decommissioning projects.
Based on our proven methodology, we have been able to reliably and transparently answer every business, audit and legal enquiry over the years.
The software used for this purpose, ViewBox, has established itself as a dependable research system, working seamlessly both in day-to-day audit practice and in company-wide access.
Today it is used by more than half of the companies in Germany’s DAX index, alongside FTSE-listed groups and international corporates — clear evidence of its stability, flexibility and practical value.
ViewBox is in daily use across Europe, Asia and North America.
Your Dynamics AX Reports Live On
in ViewBox
We don’t simply transfer your data out of the Dynamics AX system; we also make sure you can continue to access and use it in our ViewBox software.
This includes:
- Rebuilding your key reports and business analyses
- Recreating customer-specific objects, lists and custom developments
- Archiving all relevant records, such as invoices, orders and accounting documents
- Carrying out any further steps agreed during scoping
Even before the project begins, we coordinate with you which reports and analyses will be needed in the future, whether for tax purposes, business analysis or legal requirements.
In ViewBox, you can search, filter and analyse these reports years after the AX system has been decommissioned, completely independently of the original system.
Whether for audits, internal enquiries or legal matters, you always have clearly structured, filterable reports at hand — with no AX licences required and no need to touch the original system.
Fast Project Execution and Significant Economic Benefits (Measurable ROI)
Even on Complex AX Systems
Decommissioning a Dynamics AX system usually takes between one and six months, depending on complexity, data volume and the extensions in use.
With our clearly structured and standardised approach, we are able to efficiently and securely archive even large, heavily customised ERP systems.
We have already migrated systems with several terabytes of data into our archiving solution, including reports, custom developments and complete documentation.
Because the process is standardised end to end, our clients benefit from significant savings within a short period of time, especially in licensing, maintenance, infrastructure and internal administration.
In the vast majority of our projects, the payback period is less than one year, driven by measurable savings in licences, infrastructure and internal resources.
Dynamics AX
System Analysis
The first step in every Dynamics AX decommissioning project is a detailed analysis of your existing ERP system. This analysis provides the foundation for a sound assessment of project duration and costs when archiving your Dynamics AX legacy system.
We review both technical and business aspects, including:
- Access routes into the system — for example, SQL Server, the Application Integration Framework (AIF) or data exports
- Type, structure and size of the database
- Scope and relevance of existing reports, forms and modules
- Specific characteristics such as custom developments, workflows or third-party interfaces
The results are summarised in a binding fixed-price quotation, giving you full certainty for planning and decision-making.
Dynamics AX
Project Archiving
Once the analysis is complete, the project itself begins: structured, efficient and with clearly defined milestones.
At a kick-off meeting, we work through all organisational and technical requirements with your team.
From this point on, we take on the bulk of the work for you, including:
- Setting up access to the system — for example, via SQL Server, AIF, export functions or APIs
- Exporting and transferring the relevant data from Dynamics AX
- Rebuilding your key reports, posting journals and custom analyses
- Documenting every step to ensure audit compliance
Our experienced project managers guide you through the whole process, keeping the process smooth and minimising the demand on your own resources.
At the end of the project, we conduct structured testing and acceptance phases together with you to ensure that all data has been archived completely, accurately and transparently.
Dynamics AX
Archiving Results
Once the project is complete, all relevant tables, documents and reports from your Dynamics AX system are transferred into our proprietary software solution, ViewBox.
ViewBox is a web-based research system that provides you and authorised parties with fast, secure and transparent access to archived information, even years after the system has been decommissioned.
One key advantage: we rebuild all of your important standard and custom reports, so business, tax and legal analysis remains possible without ever touching the original AX system.
After successful implementation and acceptance of ViewBox, the old Dynamics AX system can be fully decommissioned.
At the end of the project, you receive comprehensive project documentation and process documentation that transparently outlines every step, with particular focus on:
- The method of data transfer
- The structure of the archived content
- The testing and acceptance phases carried out
In addition, we record every step of the archiving process in an audit-ready manner in our Jira ticket system — from data export to final acceptance and, if required, the later deletion of the source system.
This ensures that third parties or auditors can always clearly verify how the archiving was carried out.
Software and Research System ViewBox
Making Archived AX Data Intelligently Usable
With ViewBox, AvenDATA offers a powerful reading and research system developed specifically for accessing data from decommissioned ERP systems such as Microsoft Dynamics AX.
Through an intuitive web interface, ViewBox enables fast searching, structured analysis and targeted delivery of archived information, all without needing access to the original AX system.
ViewBox ensures that your AX data:
- Remains understandable and usable years after decommissioning
- Stays available in an auditable form at all times
- Is structured and ready for internal and external audits
One notable feature is automated data deletion. Based on defined retention periods, legacy data can be removed in a rule-based, transparent way once legal or internal company requirements have expired.
The application is built on a certified cloud infrastructure and undergoes regular security and functionality tests, but it can also be operated in an on-premises environment depending on your specific requirements.
Ready for the
Next Step?
In a one-hour expert session, we look at your Dynamics AX system with you — whether that is AX 2009, AX 2012 or a heavily customised environment.
We show you live how to decommission your system efficiently while keeping the data analysable in the long term, including:
- Agreement on data structure, data transfer and reporting
- Live demonstration of ViewBox
- Explanation of how we rebuild your reports and custom analyses
- Reliable assessment of scope, duration and price
Transparency from the outset.
Our project proposals are based on clearly defined fixed prices with no renegotiations. Quality, reliability and fair value for money are our priorities.
Schedule your free, no-obligation expert consultation today.
Quick Answers to Your Questions
Personal, no-obligation advice on Dynamics AX archiving
Personal, no-obligation advice on Dynamics AX archiving
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