The Future of Oracle E-Business Suite - EBS Roadmap and Support

Companies have invested substantial time and money in implementing Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS). How long will Oracle support the current versions of EBS? has become a hot topic with the release of the Oracle Cloud. This article provides an in-depth understanding of Oracle's current version, outlining its support, issues, and other relevant details.

Announcement: In March 2023, Oracle announced a , committing to continuous innovation and long-term premier support until 2034.

Continuous Innovation

Customers can expect the following from Oracle E-Business Suite 12.2's Continuous Innovation:

Ongoing Application Updates: Oracle E-Business Suite 12.2 applications code will undergo continuous updates, combining bug fixes and new features into a consolidated patch set, which can be easily applied using Online Patching. Ongoing Technology Stack Updates: Oracle Fusion Middleware platform technologies are being refreshed, enabling customers to access new versions of the technology stack without requiring an upgrade to Oracle E-Business Suite applications code. Major Challenges

Gartner's highlights the need for specific expertise, strategy, and management in cloud migration. Existing enterprises with on-premises integration are skeptical about Oracle's support, leading to uncertainty about the company's commitment to on-premises suites. On the other hand, Oracle ERP Cloud is the latest from Oracle. It is still evolving, and its success entirely depends on project completion.

Many CIOs ignore full-scale fusion cloud implementation as the cloud applications have differing levels of maturity. They wait until these apps gain an excellent rate of adoption, especially Oracle SCM Cloud, which is less mature than Oracle Financials/HCM Cloud. The choice between cloud and on-premises is still unclear, and premier support for E-Business Suite may continue even after 2030. Oracle is continuously investing in E-Business Suite in the following aspects:

User Interface Features: With the use of HTML User Interfaces, Oracle is developing solutions that are user-friendly and mobile-friendly. Analyzer Scripts: Oracle introduced product-based Analyzer Scripts, such as Inbound Transactions Analyzer, which provide recommendations, solutions, and early warnings for review and correction of issues.Modernizing Legacy Systems

The need to modernize legacy systems made many enterprises move to cloud initially. But that is not the case now. A survey reveals that 60% of IT decision makers believe critical data and system apps should remain on-premises for security reasons, while 42% cannot migrate due to mission-critical policies. However, companies are likely to upgrade some modules/apps.

Oracle's co-existence strategy encourages customers to gradually transition to cloud apps over time, as cloud apps integrate with legacy ones. However, IT decision-makers argue that customers may hesitate to upgrade unless they need the latest functionalities, as current systems can perform the same tasks.

ERP Cloud's limited customization opportunities may hinder innovation. Therefore, it becomes important for companies to change their work methods to fully realize the value of Cloud solutions. Furthermore, standardizing ERP benefits industries but not businesses because each business and its operations are unique. Companies using the E-Business Suite have tailored it specifically for their needs and gained a competitive edge. Standardizing business processes to meet Cloud ERP requirements can lead to a loss of competitive edge.

The process of migrating from Oracle EBS to Fusion Cloud is a complex and intricate task. Oracle launched Oracle Soar on June 5, 2018, to reduce the expenses associated with migrating EBS users to the cloud. Given the customizations EBS customers have done for their ERP, market feedback indicates that the transition will be difficult. Discover how the launch of will reduce the costs associated with EBS users' migration to the cloud.

Conclusion

"Future of Oracle E-Business Suite holds good."

Taking all this into consideration, the future of Oracle E-Business Suite holds good. Oracle is enhancing E-Business Suite with new features, aiming for premier EBS support until 2030, with long-term R12 support deadlines ensuring continued support beyond 2030. Businesses can adjust technology needs by aligning with Oracle EBS roadmaps and support.