As Fusion Applications is now been available for some months the requirements to install Oracle proposes to Fusion Applications are becoming more clear. They are much heavier than the hardware requirements for PeopleSoft or E-Business Suite. Also, the knowledge of other modules such as Identity Management and Enterprise Manager is required. Actually, for a proper installation of Fusion Applications a multidisciplinary team is needed. This is fundamentally different from PeopleSoft, where a senior system administrator was able to install a PeopleSoft environment on his own. We have experienced this our self and our experiences correspond with fellow systems integrators.

Recently the Oracle Applications team of Logica discussed the near future of Oracle Fusion Applications. In various breakout sessions, the team got a better understanding of Oracle Fusion.

During a joint session we had a discussion on a number of statements. A brief recap: 

• About the question that it still would take did some years there were diverging views. The majority agreed that widespread implementation and upgrades will not be seen in the immediate future. Oracle has a tradition that it will take a while before a full product suite is not only available, but also stable and ease to implement and maintain. 
• There is certainly a market for Fusion Applications. Both in HCM and Financials and accross all Industry Sectors. Keywords are: mobile applications, less need for customization and user friendly.
• Fusion Applications will be a re-implementation of the current applications like PeopleSoft. To our opinion both functionally and technically the difference with the current applications are so major that upgrading is not likely. Change management will be important. Financial Applications seem already familiar with process-oriented approach. HCM is more module / function-oriented. Fusion is certainly process driven and compares better with Oracle eBusiness Suite.
• On the question of what training would be needed, there was a dichotomy between the technical and functional consultants. The latter expected more training on new features such as integrated BI and the process approach. For the technical consultants the focus will be on Java / OAF / JDEV. A shift from customizations to configuration and integration. Impact seems bigger on technical side.

The next steps. Make it available in a sandbox environment.

Shortly after our meeting Fusion Applications became available for partners and one of our consultants is trying to implement Fusion Applications in our sandbox environment. Follow his progress http://twitter.com/#!/Hakanbiroglu

Regularly I write about the developments in the field of Oracle Applications. One of the changes that I foresee in the coming years is that the traditional activities of a functional or technical consultant will change dramatically.

Oracle Fusion Middleware is now a accepted product and is increasingly being used by our customers. It forms the technical basis for the next generation application: Fusion Applications. In my view this means a whole new playing field for the traditional ERP consultant. Fusion Applications consists of processes (with BPM and BPA Suite), services developed with Java and integrated with Fusion Middleware, service bus and BPEL. To keep it simple I leave IDM/SSO, BI, MDM out of the equation. Striking is that on the playing field for instance PeopleTools or Siebel tools are not mentioned. The focus is no longer on the ERP application but more on processes and services. Integration is the key word.

In a number of my blogs I raised the question where to focus on with our competence development. How to react to the (niche) acquisitions by Oracle, the coming or if you would like the delayed Fusion Apps etc.

With my team I decided to focus for the Dutch market on Siebel CRM, PeopleSoft HR / Financials and eBusiness Suite Financials / HR.

On Tuesday March 31, 2009 the annual Oracle Benelux User Group will be held in Antwerp. Logica will be present as one of the gold sponsor. Our key presentation is focused on Flexible employee Benefits in Oracle.

Employee benefits are of increasing importance in today’s labor market. The relationship between employer and employees is more mature than ever, and employees are keen on making individual benefit choices. Facilitating those individual choices is becoming increasingly challenging, and costly, for HR departments. Giving employees freedom of choice by means of self service and showing, in real time, the financial implications of individual choices is both highly motivating for employees and highly efficient for the HR department. Logica will explain her vision on this development and will, based on the Tasper Benefit Shop explain how this can be supported in an Oracle / PeopleSoft environment.

In our stand we will present a running demo of the Tasper / PeopleSoft solution. We are also providing information on Famous, our conversion and migration factory and Oracle Application Integration Architecture (AIA).

The last event, held in Utrecht in 2007, attracted around 800 visitors. I’m wondering how the economic situation will affect the number of attendees and the topics presented. Focus should be on cost saving solutions. Also I’m looking forward to the presentation by José Lazares on AIA. Maybe not directly a cost saving solution, but certainly the way forward in embracing the future Oracle applications.