A site is a grouping of business resources, such as warehouses and production facilities, which share interrelated transactions and are located at a particular geographic location. The site entity, which is implemented in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 as an inventory storage dimension, plus the enhancements to the existing dimensions framework provide the structural foundation for the multisite functionality.

A company may establish logistic operations at multiple sites for a variety of reasons. These might include setting up distribution centers that serve different geographic markets, or setting up production facilities at a particular location because of lower overhead costs, proximity to raw materials, or convenient transportation.

Using the Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 multisite functionality, a customer can configure multiple sites to reflect its unique business model and support its operations and process flows. Here are some examples of business environments where customers could set up multiple sites:

• A single production site with multiple warehouses

• Multiple production sites with a shared distribution center

• Multiple local production sites with a shared production site

A customer must analyze its business requirements and determine how to use the multisite functionality. Examples of various activation scenarios are listed below:

• Install Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009

  A new customer will use the multisite functionality from the beginning. The customer performs a default installation of Microsoft Dynamics AX, and the multisite functionality is activated during installation.

• Upgrade from earlier versions of Microsoft Dynamics AX – multisite functionality is inactive

  A customer determines that it does not yet need to use multisite functionality. After upgrading to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009, the customer leaves the multisite functionality inactive. The customer may choose to set up a site structure, but it is not necessary.

• Upgrade from earlier versions of Microsoft Dynamics AX – activate multisite functionality

  A customer decides to take full advantage of the multisite functionality. After upgrading to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009, the multisite functionality is inactive. The customer must perform a series of tasks to activate multisite functionality.

  For more information, see Preparing to activate multisite functionality.

• Phased activation of multisite functionality

  A customer decides to gradually activate multisite functionality. After upgrading to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009, this company can phase in the master data setup and configuration and then activate multisite functionality afterward.

• Deactivate multisite functionality

  A customer who has used the multisite functionality for a period of time decides that they no longer want to use this feature. This company must reinstall Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 and migrate all of their data. It is not possible to deactivate multisite functionality when there are inventory transactions with site references.

• Acquire the Logistics license

  A customer acquires the Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 Logistics module. This company must activate multisite functionality as if it were upgrading from an earlier version of Microsoft Dynamics AX.