In mining and exploration we typically have the needs in so-called process manufacturing and project accounting. What is mining in the term of finished goods? You have to process the extracted material but the outcome of the final product might be predicted but not guaranteed. Minerals or Oil exploration project have to be accounted in phased approach where you are willing to provide budget for the initial phase and then decide if there is the opportunity or maybe risks are too high and the best is to pull out the plug. There are also expansion specifics. Mining company has to cross the national borders to go to new territories, such as Russian Siberia, Kazakhstan, North of Canada, Greenland, Brazil or Alaska. Corporate ERP implementation in international business environment is very challenging. Let’s take a look where former Axapta is standing:
1. Process Manufacturing. This is probably the only offer at this time from Microsoft Dynamics where the borders of discrete manufacturing are crossed in the native modules. Plus this is again probably the best fit if you are expanding internationally as AX is localized in the terms of Corporate ERP for the major world regions. Let’s allow here some excurse to manufacturing theory. Discrete production is where you have precisely known input and output. Classical example is automobile industry. However when you are mining precise metals such as gold, silver or platinum you may know the row materials but the final product quantification is not known but statistically predicted or otherwise the mining company goes out of business
2. Exploration Project. Here you are dealing with initial geological surveillance and the budget on potential probing drilling or excavation. Typical complications are coming from the fact that all these activities might be located in the foreign countries where legislation is tending to balance to get maximum from the foreign investments and at the same time keep the country rating positive to attract new international capital. What AX could offer you here is its international availability and project functionality. There are other Microsoft Dynamics ERP family members where Project Accounting modules are also available such as former Great Plains and Solomon. However these ERP applications are marketed and available in the limited number of countries
3. Alaska and Canada. Here we do not have the high risk of international business legislation. Mining, Oil and Gas businesses are prospering in these regions with great future possibilities in Alaska. Dynamics AX is competing here with Oracle Financials, SAP ERP platforms to automate natural resources processing companies
4. Arctic. This region is a mystery at this time except probably some opportunities in Greenland. The fossil oil and natural gas are definitely present under the Northern ocean bottom but the feasibility and ability to pipe it out and log into the tanker or pipeline is questionable
5. Russian Federation, Siberia, Far East and Yakutia also referred as Sakha Republic. It is definitely a safer option to limit your presence in Siberia to Altai, Tuva and Irkutsk. We however do believe that north eastern Siberia being in more extreme climate belt opens a way more opportunities. Dynamics AX is localized in Russian Federation and we recommend you to call Microsoft Business Solutions office in Moscow for additional details
6. Kazakhstan. Here we see unique opportunity where the sovereign country has vast territories but the population is reasonably moderate or even small. The population is in stable condition and personal average profit is a way higher comparing to neighboring countries Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan or Kirgizia
7. Uzbekistan. Here we would like to mention uranium mines north west from Bukhara in the city of Uch Kuduk (in English translation this means three wells)
