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MS Dynamics AX was once a popular ERP system chosen by many organizations. However, after Microsoft announced the end of support and technology shifted to cloud-only solutions, many Thai government agencies began looking for alternatives. This article provides an in-depth look at the real-world experience of 2 government agencies that successfully migrated from MS Dynamics AX to Saeree ERP: BEDO (Biodiversity-Based Economy Development Office) and the Thai Media Fund (TMF).
Key Takeaway
Two Thai government agencies — BEDO (Go-live October 1, 2023) and Thai Media Fund (Go-live October 1, 2025) — successfully replaced MS Dynamics AX with Saeree ERP. Both used the cut-off method, going live on October 1 (the start of Thailand's fiscal year). Both consolidated multiple disconnected systems into a single platform, fully compliant with Thai government regulations, and successfully closed their financial statements in the very first month after go-live.
What Is MS Dynamics AX? Why Did Government Agencies Choose It?
Microsoft Dynamics AX (now rebranded as Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations) is an enterprise-class ERP system developed by Microsoft. Originally known as Axapta, it was acquired by Microsoft in 2002 and rebranded as Dynamics AX.
Thai government agencies chose Dynamics AX because it was a trusted global brand with strong financial, accounting, procurement, and inventory modules. However, over time the system revealed critical weaknesses in the context of Thai government operations.
Timeline: From Dynamics AX to Saeree ERP
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Microsoft releases Dynamics AX 2012 R3 — the last on-premise version |
| 2016 | Microsoft shifts to Dynamics 365 (cloud-only), discontinuing AX on-premise development |
| 2021 | Mainstream Support for AX 2012 R3 ends |
| 2023 | BEDO goes live with Saeree ERP (October 1, 2023) — first agency to successfully migrate, closed financial statements in month one |
| 2025 | Thai Media Fund goes live with Saeree ERP (October 1, 2025) — closed financial statements in month one |
| 2028 | Extended Support for AX 2012 R3 ends (January 2028) — no more security updates |
5 Real Problems with MS Dynamics AX in Thai Government Agencies
Based on the experience of both BEDO and the Thai Media Fund, the problems they encountered with MS Dynamics AX were remarkably similar:
Problems Found with MS Dynamics AX in Government Context
- 1. No support for Thai government regulations — Dynamics AX was designed for the private sector. It lacks budget management modules compliant with Thai government regulations, public procurement workflows, and government-standard chart of accounts.
- 2. Outdated operating system — Legacy Dynamics AX versions run on Windows Server editions that are no longer supported, creating significant cybersecurity risks.
- 3. Multiple disconnected systems — Both BEDO and TMF had to use Dynamics AX alongside other separate systems. Data didn't flow automatically, requiring duplicate manual entry.
- 4. High maintenance costs — Requires licensed Microsoft Partners, expensive annual licenses, and costly customization to adapt for government regulations.
- 5. Not ready for digital government — No support for Digital Signature, e-Tax Invoice, and new Thai government digital standards.
Case Study 1: BEDO — First Agency to Successfully Migrate
About BEDO
The Biodiversity-Based Economy Development Office (BEDO) is a public organization under Thailand's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Its primary mission is to promote and support biodiversity-based economic development across the country.
BEDO chose to migrate from MS Dynamics AX to Saeree ERP to address the limitations of the legacy system that couldn't support public organization operations. BEDO successfully went live on October 1, 2023, coinciding with the start of the new fiscal year.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Agency | Biodiversity-Based Economy Development Office (BEDO) |
| Type | Public Organization under Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment |
| Legacy System | MS Dynamics AX |
| New System | Saeree ERP |
| Go-live | October 1, 2023 (Cut-off at fiscal year start) |
| Core Modules | Accounting, Procurement, Inventory, Budget Management |
| Result | Successfully closed financial statements in the first month after go-live |
Modules Deployed at BEDO
- Accounting — Journal entries, period closing, and financial reporting compliant with government accounting standards
- Procurement — Public procurement workflows compliant with public organization regulations
- Inventory — Asset management and consumable supplies tracking
- Budget Management — Budget tracking and comparative reporting
Results: BEDO After Migrating to Saeree ERP
- Closed financial statements in month one — Successfully closed monthly financial statements immediately after go-live
- Consolidated into a single platform — From multiple disconnected systems to one Saeree ERP covering all modules
- Full government regulation compliance — Chart of accounts, budget, and procurement aligned with public organization regulations
- Smooth cut-off at fiscal year start — Cut-off method on October 1, seamless transition without impacting previous fiscal year data
BEDO's success proved that Saeree ERP could effectively replace MS Dynamics AX in government agencies, and became a key reference that gave the Thai Media Fund confidence in their own decision to migrate.
Case Study 2: Thai Media Fund (TMF) — Next-Level with API Integration
About the Thai Media Fund
The Thai Media Fund (TMF) is a government agency established under the Safe and Creative Media Development Fund Act of 2015. Its mission is to promote safe and creative media development, and to encourage media literacy among Thai citizens, especially children and youth.
TMF had been using MS Dynamics AX since its founding in 2015 — nearly 10 years — along with a custom-built e-Budget system for budget management. As the organization's mission expanded, the legacy systems became obstacles rather than tools. TMF signed the contract in December 2024 and fast-tracked implementation to go live on October 1, 2025 — the start of the fiscal year — finishing one month ahead of the contract deadline.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Agency | Thai Media Fund (TMF) |
| Type | Government Fund |
| Legacy Systems | MS Dynamics AX + custom e-Budget + Grant Management (PM) — 3 separate systems |
| New System | Saeree ERP (single platform) + API integration with Grant Management |
| Contract Signed | December 2024 |
| Go-live | October 1, 2025 (Cut-off at fiscal year start) — 1 month ahead of contract deadline |
| Implementation Period | ~10 months (Dec 2024 – Oct 2025), fast-tracked for fiscal year go-live |
| Core Modules | Procurement, Sales, Inventory, AP/AR, Finance, Accounting, Fixed Assets, Budget |
Custom Features Developed for TMF
What makes TMF's case different from BEDO is the complexity of their legacy environment — three separate systems — and their need for specialized features:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Grant Management API | Grant contract data and disbursement requests flow into ERP automatically — no duplicate entry |
| Hierarchical Approval Workflow | Multi-level approval routing + acting authority designation — approvals never stall |
| Advance Loan / Remittance | Cash advance and remittance workflows compliant with government financial regulations |
| KTB Corporate Integration | Electronic disbursement through Krungthai Bank's corporate banking system |
| Automatic Accounting | Auto journal entries from all transactions, financial statements per government standards |
| Auto Payable from Grant System | Approved disbursements from PM system automatically create payables in ERP |
Measurable Results: Thai Media Fund
- Closed financial statements in month one (October 2025) — Proving that implementation and master data migration were completed correctly
- Consolidated from 3 systems to 1 platform — From Dynamics AX + e-Budget + Grant Management to Saeree ERP + API integration
- Automatic payable creation from grant system — Eliminated manual data entry errors
- Security upgraded — From outdated OS to Cloud Server + SSL Grade A+ + 2FA
Read the full story at Success Story: Thai Media Fund with Saeree ERP
Comparison: MS Dynamics AX vs Saeree ERP for Government
Based on the experience of both agencies, here are the key differences:
| Aspect | MS Dynamics AX | Saeree ERP |
|---|---|---|
| Government Budget | No module — requires separate system | Built-in module, compliant with Thai regulations |
| Procurement / Assets | Private sector model only | Thai Public Procurement Act compliant + auto depreciation |
| Chart of Accounts | Private sector standard | Government accounting standards |
| Approval Workflow | Limited, no acting authority | Multi-level routing + acting authority designation |
| API Integration | Expensive customization via licensed Partners | Flexible custom API development |
| Security | Outdated OS, no updates | Cloud + SSL A+ + 2FA + Thai gov security standard |
| Licensing | High annual license + Partner fees | Perpetual license, no annual fees |
| Thai Language Support | Through local Partners | Thai development team, direct communication |
Why Saeree ERP Is Better Suited for Thai Government
From the experience of migrating 2 government agencies from Dynamics AX, here's what makes Saeree ERP stand out:
- Built for Thai government from the ground up — Not a modified private-sector ERP, but purpose-built budget, procurement, and government accounting modules from over 14 years of experience serving government agencies
- Thai development team — Direct communication with no middleman Partners. Custom features like TMF's grant management API demonstrate this flexibility
- Proven migration experience — Not theoretical — successfully completed twice. Both BEDO (2023) and TMF (2025) used the cut-off method on fiscal year start (October 1) and both closed financial statements in month one
- Enterprise-grade security — Cloud Server + SSL Grade A+ + 2FA + Role-Based Access Control + Thai government security standard compliance
Lessons for Agencies Considering Migration
Key takeaways from BEDO and TMF's experience:
| # | Lesson | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choose government-purpose ERP | Don't customize private-sector ERP — it's expensive, slow, and misses the mark |
| 2 | Go-live at fiscal year start | October 1 is the best cut-off date — no impact on previous year data |
| 3 | Don't wait until AX end-of-support | Extended Support ends January 2028 — the longer you wait, the higher the risk |
| 4 | Plan data migration early | Master data migration is critical — do it right and you can close financial statements in month one |
| 5 | Invest in hands-on training | Both BEDO and TMF ran hands-on workshops, not just lectures |
Summary: Who Should Consider Replacing Dynamics AX
| Good Fit | May Not Be Necessary |
|---|---|
| Government agencies running Dynamics AX on-premise | Private companies already migrated to Dynamics 365 Cloud |
| Agencies needing government regulation compliance | Organizations without specific government regulations |
| Agencies using multiple disconnected systems | Organizations where Dynamics AX covers everything needed |
| Agencies with outdated OS + security concerns | Organizations that have already upgraded infrastructure |
"Replacing an ERP system isn't just changing software — it's transforming how an entire organization operates. BEDO and the Thai Media Fund have proven it can be done successfully."
— Saeree ERP Team, Grand Linux Solution Co., Ltd.
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