Frugal Finance Award

According to a study by Nucleus Research, cloud applications now deliver a whopping 3.2 times the ROI of on-premises deployments. Whether you’ve improved budgeting, made processes more efficient, or automated tasks that previously consumed hundreds of man hours, we want to hear from customers using Oracle ERP or EPM Cloud to deliver cost savings.

For this award, we’re not just looking for the largest amount of money saved; we want to see high savings relative to the size of your business and how you measured those savings.

Award Criteria

The Frugal Finance Award will honor an organization that has achieved dramatic cost savings using Oracle ERP or EPM Cloud based on the following criteria:

• Implementation cost savings, such as savings due to lower initial and ongoing costs to implement, including the ability to deliver greater value over time without the cost and disruption associated with upgrading, expanding, or changing business applications
• Process-driven cost savings, due to automation of key back-office processes or rollout of new cost-reduction strategies such as zero-based budgeting
• Use of emerging technologies —such as machine learning, blockchain or the Internet of Things — to automate rote or manual tasks and save costs on manual labor

If you think your savings fit the bill, we want to know! Visit our nomination page today, and your heroic efforts could be officially recognized at the Oracle Change Agents of Finance Awards.

Modern Close Award

Closing isn’t the flashiest or the most glamorous finance process, but it is one of the most critical to your operations. Do it wrong, and you’ll be neck-deep in paperwork up until the last minute. But do it right, and you can give your top finance talent the time and freedom to make a real difference to the rest of your business.

With this award, we’re looking for some truly exceptional close processes, typically those taking five days or less. But, the award is also open to those who have reduced their close times by a large percentage.

Award Criteria

The Modern Close Award recognizes outstanding achievement by a controller or finance executive using Oracle EPM or ERP Cloud, based on the following criteria:

• Reduction in number of days to close the books
• Reduction in the number of chart of accounts to reduce or eliminate account reconciliations
• "Ruthless standardization" to ensure that the close process is repeatable, predictable, and scalable
• Use of emerging technologies, such as intelligent process automation or machine learning, to automate close processes
• Strong governance and data management processes in place to ensure data quality
• Recognizing the value of closing the books as quickly as possible, so that you can provide the right people with the right insights, at the earliest possible opportunity

If it sounds like you fit the bill, we want to know! Visit our nomination page today, and your heroic efforts could be officially recognized at the Oracle Change Agents of Finance Awards.

Roll with It Award

If you rely on weather forecasts created months in advance, pretty soon you’ll end up waist-deep in snow, wearing your best Bermuda shorts and Hawaiian shirt. Much like those fashion choices, acting on outdated forecasts isn’t a great look on anyone.

If you’re constantly re-forecasting to get ahead of change and using best-practice methodologies like driver-based rolling forecasts to plan at the speed of business, we want you!

Award Criteria

The Roll with It Award honors an organization that has significantly increased its agility using the continuous planning functionality in Oracle EPM Cloud to adopt a rolling forecast model. Special consideration will be given to organizations that use Oracle EPM Cloud to:

• Update forecasts frequently using the most recent and relevant data available
• Significantly reduce the use of manual spreadsheets in the planning process
• Automate manual forecasting tasks with emerging technologies, such as predictive analytics or intelligent process automation
• Speed response time-to-market challenges or opportunities using driver-based rolling forecasts
• Exploit the “wisdom of crowds” to drive planning across the extended enterprise

If the clouds are parting and a beam of light is shining down on you, we want to know! Visit our nomination page today, and your heroic efforts could be officially recognized at the Oracle Change Agents of Finance Awards.

Shared Services Superstar Award

If there’s a genius in your shared services organization, it’s time to give them a well-deserved high five. We’re talking intelligent process automation, adding emerging technologies and machine learning into next-generation shared services.

As a shared services trailblazer, you know that automating routine tasks is the key to freeing your people up to focus on the things that really matter—like innovation, service improvement, and other value-adding activities. From greater economies of scale to higher levels of service delivery, this award is as much about the results as it is about the technology.

Award Criteria

The Shared Services Superstar Award recognizes a shared services organization using Oracle ERP or EPM Cloud to achieve best-in-class service delivery using digital capabilities. Special consideration will be given to organizations that can demonstrate:

• Development of centers of expertise to support strategic processes
• Development of analytics-based capabilities that support improved decision-making
• Incorporation of next-generation technologies and methodologies—such as intelligent process automation, machine learning, or agile methodologies—to drive large-scale automation, free up capacity, and increase flexibility

If you think your efforts measure up, we want you to share your success! Visit our nomination page today, and your heroic efforts could be officially recognized at the Oracle Change Agents of Finance Awards.

Oracle Billion-Dollar Story Honorary Award

In 1999, Oracle Founder Larry Ellison made a famously bold claim to financial analysts. He said that by using its own business applications, Oracle could save US$1 billion annually. It seemed steep—almost impossible at the time—but one year later, Ellison made good on his word.

Oracle didn’t just save more than a billion dollars. It also improved its operating margins by 11.7 points the next year—thus beginning the legend of the Oracle Billion Dollar Story.

Today, we’re looking for exceptional organizations that are following in our footsteps—using Oracle ERP or EPM Cloud to deliver savings similar in scale to those famously achieved by Oracle.

Award Criteria

If you’re using Oracle ERP or EPM Cloud to create your own Billion Dollar story, we want to hear from you! You don’t have to save a billion to win, but nominations must meet the following criteria:

• You have migrated your on-premises ERP applications to Oracle ERP Cloud
• You’ve simplified your environment by standardizing—or moving to standardize—on a single instance of Oracle ERP or EPM Cloud
• You’ve centralized processes when it makes sense, to strengthen control and eliminate duplication
• You’ve streamlined and automated as many processes as possible, embracing touchless transactions
• You can demonstrate significant savings through your IT transformation

If you’re on your way to saving a billion, we want to know! Visit our nomination page today, and your heroic efforts could be officially recognized at the Oracle Change Agents of Finance Awards.