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.

Many say that the ICT landscape are on the eve of yet another major revolution. Yes, another. The Internet hype is just behind us and the financial implications have been cleaned up. The SOA (service oriented architecture) hype hasn’t even had its peak. And now is the latest developments passing us from the right. The developments in the ICT industry are faster than cars are leaving the first Ford  factory.

L’ERP est mort, vive L’AIA!?
The scholars have not yet agreed whether all dinosaurs died via a big bang or that this is done gradually. Thus, the trend watchers cannot even agree where ERP will extinct. It’s clear that these systems have had their longest time. As the newest ICT generation now looks pity at the Mainframe cowboys, over 20 years we will look with great surprise to the ERP people.

About a year ago I raised the question how to prepare for Oracle Fusion Applications. Within Logica we had chosen to focus on creating awareness for the changes Fusion Apps would bring. In this so called Tour de Fusion programme we focused on several topics like SOA, BPEL and BPM. Topics which not only existed in theory, but already were supported with tools by Oracle. For instance the Oracle SOA suite or Oracle BPA suite. This allowed our consultants to work (‘to stand with their feet in the mud’) with these products in our skill centre environment. Examples are interfaces between PeopleSoft and eBusiness Suite based on BPEL. A rudimentary way of application integration.

At Openworld 2008 Oracle delayed the launch of Fusion Apps until end 2009 / beginning 2010. What is the impact on our competence development in general and the Tour de Fusion programme in particular?

For quite a time Oracle is focusing on Application Integration in combination with Web 2.0 concepts. With the release of the Webcenter Suite, Oracle tries to increase the productivity of employees within a company. Not only by combining functionality from different applications but also by offering some basic Web 2.0 essentials like wiki’s, blogs, social communities and instant messaging. Oracle’s Webcenter will therefore places itself to be an important part of the Fusion Middleware productline.

Recently I had a discussion with some participants of the OBUG on how to prepare for Fusion Applications. Their views were that it is still more technology driven and from an Applications perspective they should not be involved at the moment.

It’s true that momentarily the focus from Oracle is on the SOA suite and other more technical components. Still it’s my opinion that as a customer or a system integrator you already should start preparing for Fusion Applications.