Axapta is a highly respected accounting system and ERP solution which was originally brought to the United States from Europe in IBM in 1996. Axapta was first created in 1983 by brothers Erik and Preben Damgaard in Copenhagen, Denmark. The company claims that from the start, Axapta wanted to create an international product that was integrated, scalable and flexible so that they would be able to build one CD for all markets and platforms. It was Erik Damgaard's vision to build a platform that could evolve with technology and market demands.

Written completely in Java, Axapta is designed to be a complete ERP solution which includes advanced distribution, process and discrete manufacturing, built-in CRM capabilities, and outstanding customization. The product grew steadily throughout Europe and in 1996, IBM brought Axapta to the United States market. It is important to note that IBM”s motivation behind teaming up with a successful software application is primarily for marketing leverage. Most people won’t attend a seminar on hardware, databases, or infra-structure and IBM has a long standing history of using various software applications to attract prospects. For example, IBM teamed up with Business Management Series in 1988, Platinum Software in 1990, Lotus Notes in 1994, Axapta in 1996, and ACCPAC in 1999. This is a marketing strategy that works well for IBM, but the point is that IBM’s primary focus was never on Axapta. After the IBM/Axapta relationship played out in 2000, Axapta (Damgaard Software) merged with their long-time Danish rival Navision Software. (Both products were developed in Denmark and both products maintained US operations in Atlanta, Georgia. As a result, the management of both companies frequently sat next to one another in First Class when traveling between Denmark and Atlanta. This merger literally emerged on Delta airplanes). In 2001 the company made many enhancements including:

1.    Re-branded “Navision Financials” as “Navision Attain” and “Damgaard Axapta” as “Navision Axapta”;

2.    Integrated the e-commerce applications, Commerce Gateway, Commerce Portal into both products;

3.    Introduced User Portal, browser-based access to both products;

4.    Introduced supply chain collaboration functionality, manufacturing and distribution capabilities, and new financial management
  functionality;

5.    Received the Design for Microsoft XP logo.

In 2002 Microsoft acquired Navision Axapta and Navision Attain for $1.4 billion – the largest acquisition ever made by Microsoft. (This was a very high acquisition price considering that ACCPAC International was acquired the following year by Best Software for just $120 million; even though ACCPAC had more products and far more customers (41,000 to 1.2 million) than did Navision.) Now under Microsoft’s control, the Axapta product’s strength and future outlook has never looked stronger.

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