Many organizations have been using Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) for over a decade without
encountering significant issues. This has led some of them to question the necessity of upgrading to
Oracle Fusion Cloud when there doesn’t appear to be any pressing problems. This uncertainty is
prevalent among Oracle EBS users. However, there are compelling reasons why an upgrade to Oracle
Fusion Cloud might be advantageous.
Reason 1: Your current EBS version R12.1 is out of support.
If you are currently using version 12.1 or an earlier one of Oracle, it means you are no longer receiving
any updates or fixes for this version, as Oracle has discontinued its support. The last release for this
version was in May 2009, and support ended by December 2021.
Moreover, organizations may encounter various compatibility issues with other outdated applications.
For instance, Java forms, a crucial component for this version, only works on Internet Explorer, which is
no longer available on Microsoft Windows. As a result, customers using version R12.1 are facing
numerous problems.
In this scenario, there are limited options available, and organizations are left with no choice but to
upgrade to either version 12.2 (which has support until 2034) or make the transition to Oracle Fusion
Cloud.
Many clients have opted to move to Fusion Cloud instead of upgrading their EBS version, and the reason
behind this decision is straightforward. If they are going to invest effort and incur costs in upgrading
their EBS, it makes more sense to direct this effort towards upgrading to the latest ERP product.
This way, they will avoid the need for another upgrade when they are once again close to being out of
support.
Reason 2: You need to save cost.
By transitioning to Oracle Fusion Cloud, you can achieve substantial cost savings concerning your
database and application servers. Moreover, the responsibilities of a DBA and system admin related to
Oracle hardware become obsolete since Oracle manages the Fusion Cloud database and services on
your behalf.
If you currently have a maintenance contract with a third-party vendor to support your Oracle servers,
moving to Oracle Fusion Cloud allows you to eliminate this expense.
Additionally, with Fusion Cloud, your licensing model is based on the actual usage of the applications.
means if you have a license for a production environment but find that it is no longer necessary,
you have the flexibility to reduce it during your next renewal, optimizing costs accordingly.
Reason 3: Access your applications anytime anywhere.
In EBS, when users require access to your system while working remotely, you must grant them VPN
access to fulfill their tasks while they are away from the office.
This need became more prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic when many employees were asked
to work from home.
On the other hand, organizations using Oracle Fusion Cloud experienced seamless operations as their
employees simply accessed the Oracle Fusion URL and started working without encountering any
complications.
Reason 4: Easy to update without downtime.
In EBS, updating patches necessitates the involvement of your database administrator.
They must download the patches, conduct testing on test servers, and then request scheduled
downtime to apply the updates to the production environment.
Conversely, Oracle Fusion Cloud offers a much smoother and easier patching process.
Here, all updates and patches are managed by Oracle itself, with quarterly updates applied to your
instance.
These updates include additional features and fixes without requiring any active engagement from your
team and with zero downtime.
Reason 5: You need to integrate easier with third party applications.
Integrating with third-party applications in Oracle E-Business Suite often demands extensive
customization and development efforts. However, when transitioning to Oracle Fusion Cloud, this
process becomes significantly more flexible and streamlined. The reason lies in the provision of
Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that come with a rich set of RESTful APIs. Moreover,
Oracle Fusion Cloud offers the Oracle Integration Cloud (OIC) that enables you to integrate other
applications seamlessly through a user-friendly visual drag and drop interface.
This combination of APIs and OIC simplifies and expedites the integration process, reducing the need
for extensive customizations and development.
Reason 6: You need more reporting flexibility.
In Oracle EBS, generating new reports often necessitates extensive customization and configuration
efforts. However, Oracle Fusion Cloud offers a more user-friendly approach through its Reporting and
Analytics tools. These tools empower end-users to create their own reports using simple drag and drop
features, facilitating the process significantly. Additionally, Oracle Fusion Cloud provides useful
dashboards and data visualization options, enriching the reporting experience. Moreover, for users who
prefer traditional methods, the option to build customized reports in the familiar way is still available.
Reason 7: Get advantage of remote support.
Oracle Fusion Cloud offers immense flexibility when it comes to implementing new configurations and
resolving issues. One significant advantage is that consultants located in different parts of the world,
such as India, can fully engage in projects based in the United States.
This global accessibility has provided organizations and implementors with greater flexibility and cost
savings when managing Oracle Fusion projects. Additionally, this flexibility extends to post go-live
support, enabling efficient and effective support for Oracle Fusion applications across various locations and time zones.
Conclusion:
If your current Oracle version is R12.1, then you have limited choices, and it’s time to consider upgrading
either to the next version, R12.2, or making the leap to Oracle Fusion Cloud.
If you wish to avoid going through another upgrade process from R12.2 to Fusion Cloud in the future
and save both effort and time, your best and more future-proof option would be to opt for Oracle Fusion
Cloud now. This way, you can ensure a smooth transition to the latest technology and take advantage of
the benefits it offers without the need for another upgrade down the line.
