John Matelski - July 2007
Oracle's dual commitment to Oracle Applications Unlimited and Oracle Fusion has always given fodder to the grassy-knoll folks. They point to the existence of both as proof of a lack of commitment to either, theorizing that trying to fund both initiatives will inevitably lead to a dilution of resources and, ultimately, a delay of Oracle Fusion or nominal support of Applications Unlimited.
But it is clear to me as a user of one of Oracle's "legacy" applications that each subsequent announcement from Oracle cuts another divot away from the skeptics' turf.
First came the announcement and delivery of Applications Unlimited, a major piece of good news to Oracle's JD Edwards, Oracle's PeopleSoft, Oracle's Siebel, and Oracle E-Business Suite users unsure of the long-term support of their software.
Now we have the Oracle Application Integration Architecture announcement—making it clear that Applications Unlimited cannot be dismissed as a token effort designed to string along an anxious user base. Applications Unlimited provides a platform that allows for incremental applications to be integrated into our current solutions. By giving us prebuilt integration packs, Oracle Application Integration Architecture helps save both time and money, as IT staffs will spend less time custom-integrating each system that needs to communicate. Moreover, the prebuilt integration pieces will handle upgrades with less reprogramming of customized code than other solutions. If everything comes to fruition, Oracle Application Integration Architecture will give us the ability to quickly integrate some of our current applications, minimize the time we need to build applications, and speed implementation of some of the upgrades we might do.
The Oracle Application Integration Architecture announcement provides the final element of what I consider to be Oracle's three-pronged, long-term strategy: Oracle Application Integration Architecture, Applications Unlimited, and Oracle Fusion. Oracle Application Integration Architecture provides a stepping stone that lets CIOs evolve either to the next releases of their current applications or to Oracle Fusion. As a result, it protects CIOs' existing investments while allowing them additional time to use their current systems and make decisions around the timing of moving to Oracle Fusion. The prebuilt integration packs also enhance the value of Oracle Fusion Middleware, making it even easier to talk to different Oracle applications. Oracle Application Integration Architecture extends the value of the recently released Applications Unlimited applications, as Oracle has built some elements of Oracle Fusion into those releases.
Oracle also plans to build these integration packs to meet industry-specific needs, and the company has gone out of its way to get customer input—already hosting sessions with customers across the globe and working with its user group community to get the word out, by leveraging the value of the International Oracle User Council (IOUC) and the groups of which it is composed. User group leaders and participants have had the opportunity, through Webcasts and phone calls, to learn about Oracle Application Integration Architecture and provide feedback. By involving customers across a range of different industries, Oracle can get an accurate picture of what type of integration packs will be of most value to each industry and tailor those packs accordingly.
Of course, this serves Oracle's purpose as well. Building additional integration points, and doing what it takes to get applications to communicate seamlessly with each other, makes it more palatable for customers to stick with their current solutions. It also buys time for customers to plan their long-term strategies—and makes it less likely they will switch to a different vendor as they wait for Oracle Fusion.
This is about customer satisfaction and corporate success. In the competitive enterprise resource planning marketplace, you need a value proposition that sets you apart from the competition. I think that Oracle's willingness to make a significant investment in supporting and enhancing customers' current investments will build customer satisfaction and comfort over the long haul. And when Oracle Fusion hits the market, the customer base will still be largely intact.
In addition to his current roles as chairman of the International Oracle User Council (IOUC) and president of Quest International Users Group,
John Matelski has been chief security officer and deputy CIO for the City of Orlando, Florida, for the past 10 years.
