Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) has been the most popular software across thousands of organizations worldwide. Even today, these organizations still rely on Oracle E-Business suite for carrying out their business operations. Obviously, the pertinent question that arises in everyone’s minds are will Oracle continue to support the current version of the Oracle E-Business Suite in future and if so, how long will this support continue? This anxiety stems from the fact that most of the companies have invested substantial time and money in implementing the Oracle EBS, so they are more curious to know it’s future state of affairs.

However, the good news is that Oracle has assured that it is committed to support Oracle E-Business Suite at least till 2034. This way Oracle has committed to help those organizations in future as well, so they continue to succeed in the marketplace. This blog 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 roadmap for E-Business Suite 12.2, committing to continuous innovation and long-term premier support until 2034.

Overview:

What is Oracle EBS?

Oracle EBS allows enterprises to manage their operations using a single data center with a unified database. This setup helps streamline processes, improve data consistency, and reduce the complexity of managing multiple systems. EBS encompasses the following modules:

SCM – Supply Chain Management
CRM – Customer Relationship Management
Human Resource Management
Logistics
Transportation management
Warehouse management

In 2007, Oracle launched the first version of EBS and since then the product has been evolving, based on the current technological and market demands. Currently, the latest version of EBS is at 12.2.

Which Applications aligns with Oracle EBS?

Oracle’s commitment to continuous innovation and premier support for Oracle EBS 12.2 until 2034 aligns it with other applications like Hyperion, JD Edwards EnterpriseOne, PeopleSoft, and Siebel CRM, which also offer continuous innovation and premier support until 2034.

Oracle’s Investment Strategy for EBS Suite – Road Ahead

Oracle proposes to invest in EBS Suite in three primary categories such as:
- Functional Advance
- Mobility and UI modernization
- Operational efficiency
Oracle is also focusing on helping EBS customers leverage its SaaS investments by integrating EBS with complementary SaaS applications. This integration allows EBS customers to view SaaS products like Accounting Hub Reporting Cloud Service, Revenue Management Cloud Service, and In-Memory Cost Management Cloud Service as seamlessly integrated functionalities. These can be added to an EBS system just as easily as adding a new module within EBS.
Finally, Oracle is dedicated to making significant investments in automation to help customers transition some or all of their EBS environments to Oracle’s Cloud Infrastructure. This approach allows customers to enjoy the numerous benefits of cloud operations while continuing to run EBS.

Continuous Innovation on Oracle E-Business Suite 12.2

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.

Also Read: The Shift from Oracle Telnet to Modern Mobile Applications

Major Challenges

Gartner’s Market Guide for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Professional and Managed Services 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 Oracle 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. Market feedback indicates that the transition will be challenging due to the customizations EBS customers have made to their ERP systems. Towards this end, discover how the launch of Oracle Soar will reduce the costs associated with EBS users’ migration to the cloud.

Final Words

“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.

At Propel Apps, we pay attention to your company objectives and work with you to achieve them. Know how you can rely on Oracle SCM cloud to powerlift your business operations. Let our experts help you with all the questions related to our cutting-edge mobile supply chain solutions. Contact us today to help you take the right decision and make your business grow all the way.