1. Axapta and the rise (1998-2002).
In the early 1990s, Erik Damgaard developed ERP software such as XAL, Concorde and C5. In 1998, he launched Axapta, later developed by Microsoft into Dynamics AX. This system was versatile, but as it grew, it also led to increasing complexity.
2. Increasing frustration (from 2002).
After the acquisition by Microsoft (2002), the name changed: from NavisionDamgaard Axapta to Microsoft Business Solutions Axapta, then Microsoft Dynamics AX (officially from version 4.0 in 2006). Next came Dynamics 365 for Operations (2016) and then Finance and Operations (2017), before splitting in 2019.
Users and consultants experienced the systems as complex. Tasks like adding a field or setting up a demo required heavy work - compiling, deployment, testing - a huge drag on innovation and fun.
3. Damgaard's DNA: adaptability and simplicity
Damgaard's vision has always been that ERP is not one-size-fits-all. Every organization works differently - so software has to be customizable. With legacies like XAL in 1991, he had already built in early SDK capabilities so that end users and resellers alike could customize quickly and locally.
4. The comeback: Uniconta (2016-)
In 2016, Damgaard launched Uniconta - a modern, cloud-native ERP based on the same customizable foundation. In contrast to the old systems, much of what used to make devs do is now accessible to consultants or users without technical knowledge.
Damgaard emphasizes that businesses are not created equal and therefore a cloud ERP must be customizable at the screen level, fields, tabs, labels, menus as well as workflows to suit both industry and unique process.
5. Proven success
Uniconta didn't just compete - it won. In 2021, it received the Best International ERP System Award in Germany. In 2022, sales grew by 28%, leading to a record result, followed in 2023 by the Danish Gazelle Award for the fastest growing organization in the capital. This shows that Uniconta is not only visionary, but also has commercial as well as operational clout.
6. Why ERP with Uniconta is fun again
| Feature | Challenge in Dynamics AX | Uniconta |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptability | AX required customization in X++ (Microsoft's proprietary language on .NET). This meant: enable developer, compile, deploy and test - time-consuming and error-prone. | In Uniconta , consultants and users add fields, tables, labels or menus themselves with no-code and low-code tools. Customizations are immediately available, with no compile or deployment process. |
| Upgrade & management | Upgrades not only cost money, but especially a lot of user time. Test scripts never covered everything and had to be rewritten and maintained after each release. | Upgrades are simple: logging out and in is enough. No deploys, no manual test scripts that need constant updating. |
| User Experience | Interfaces became increasingly complex. Lots of functionality, but often overwhelming and difficult to fathom. | Uniconta offers a modern, uncluttered interface. Functionality is extensive but not overwhelming, making adoption much faster. |
| Consultant roles | Consultants and developers lost job satisfaction in repetitive work (reports, simple adjustments, bug fixes in customizations). | Consultants can focus on process design and users on autonomy. Developers spend their time on integrations, AI and real innovations. |
| Technological stack | AX relied on heavy customization, local instances and a slow release cycle. | Uniconta runs on a modern stack: oData, .NET APIs, no/low-code tools, reporting tool and OpenAI integration. All for faster development, easier linking and smarter automation. |
| Innovation | AI and modern integrations were hardly available or very complex to implement. | AI agents are available in Uniconta and support processes such as automatic coding, lookup functions and contextual decision making. |
7. Conclusion
The journey from Axapta to Uniconta is one from complexity to simplicity, from module exhaustion to innovation, from burden to pleasure. Damgaard returns to its essence: flexible, people-centric ERP solutions. Uniconta proves that that vision works today - both technologically and business-wise.
So ERP can be fun again - for users and consultants alike.