Item Model Group vs Item Group

When setting up a new item or released product in AX, you are presented with a lot of different options. Two of the options are Item model group and Item group.

Item model group and Item group on the Released product form.

Upon first glance, one might be inclined to think that these are probably pretty similar, but they would be mistaken. It's OK, I did it too! I am going to break down these two reference groups that are on all items in AX so you can understand what makes them so different and what purpose they serve on the item.

Using Dimensions Display to Gain Insight into Inventory

AX is extremely robust in its ability to allow for single user configuration and personalization, and one of my favorite tools for this is Dimensions display.

Dimensions Display is found in many different places in AX related to inventory. Based on how you set up your products, there are many ways to use Dimensions Display to really drill down into your inventory. Dimensions Display can be found by looking for the words Dimensions Display along with an icon for a "flux capacitor" in AX. If you don't know what a flux capacitor is, you are really missing out. But for the sake of this blog post, I am going to show you what it looks like:

See Doc, it really DOES look like the flux capacitor! Now, if only we had a DeLorean...

Task Recorder to Document Processes

One of the best tools that is available to all users right now in AX is called Task recorder. If you haven't heard of this, you are in for a real treat.

Task recorder is a tool that AX users can use to document a step-by-step process in AX with screenshots and navigation steps. It's not a perfect tool and what it generates may need some cleanup afterwards, but it saves a lot of time when documenting processes and procedures.

I have used Task recorder in AX during my company's implementation (what a life saver!), to create training documents, and to send developers a step-by-step document explaining how end users are executing their jobs. There are a wide array of uses for this kind of technology, but those three are the main uses I have heard of Task recorder being used from other users.

Using Task Recorder

Using Sales Agreements in AX in an Unorthodox Manner (Hint - To Track Employee Sales)

While preparing for an installment of the AX for Dummies series regarding Sales and Purchasing Agreements in AX, I came up with what I thought was a pretty good idea that may seem a bit unorthodox but can solve a simple company problem! Stop me if you've heard this before.

Typically when you think of sales agreements, you think of a contract set up between a customer and a supplier. You are offering a good or service at a certain price if they commit to buy a certain quantity or dollar amount before the agreement expires. These are easily set up in AX and can provide great value in tracking the status of a contract with a customer/vendor.

Now, consider the issue of tracking employee sales within your company. This is something that can get out of hand if not managed properly. What if we could use Sales agreements in AX to track and manage these?

For example, company X allows their employees to buy their product at cost. But company X only wants to sell 500 pieces of this product as employee sales per year. Set up a sales agreement! Every time an employee purchases this product at cost, create a release order against the sales agreement and see the total on the agreement decrement until it reaches zero and the agreement has been fulfilled. With a little bit of knowledge, you can easily make this idea a reality in your company.

Creating a Sales agreement in AX