Introduction
Microsoft supports upgrades from Dynamics AX 2012 R2 and R3 to finance and operations apps. All tools to upgrade are generally available. A Microsoft Dynamics Lifecycle Services upgrade methodology is available to help you through the process.
The upgrade procedure is divided into three phases:
- Analyze – Estimate and analyze upgrade tasks, perform a fit-gap analysis, and create a project plan.
- Execute – Dynamics AX 2012 database preparation, code upgrade, and data upgrade.
- Validate – Upgrade validation, functional test pass, and cutover testing. The following diagram shows the overall upgrade process.
Selecting your upgrade methodology will be one of the first steps that you take when setting up your Lifecycle Services project. In your new Lifecycle Services project, set the project methodology to Upgrade AX 2012 to Dynamics 365 for finance and operations apps, which is specifically designed for Dynamics AX 2012 customers who are upgrading. The methodology describes the three phases in detail and provides links to the supporting documentation about the process. You can set up your Lifecycle Services project before you purchase Dynamics 365.
Follow these steps to create a new Lifecycle Services project for upgrade:
- Open a browser and go to https://lcs.dynamics.com.
- Select Sign in and sign in with your organizational account.
- After you have signed in, select the plus (+) icon in the Projects section to create a new project.
- Enter the Name for your project and a Description.
- Select finance and operations for the product name and Product version.
- Specify your industry in the Industry field.
- Select Upgrade AX 2012 to Dynamics 365 for finance and operations in the Methodology field.
- Select Create. Each phase for the upgrade methodology will be shown on the screen, similar to how they’re shown in the subsequent screenshot.
- You can select each of the phases and see the tasks that must be completed in each of the phases, along with a description.
