Journey from Oracle EBS to Cloud

This Article is for an Organization which is Using Oracle EBS R12.X On Premise or Implementing Oracle EBS R12.X On Premise or thinking of Upgrading to Oracle EBS R12.X, and thinking of moving to Oracle Cloud in near future.

Assumption:

1. You are not going for EBS on Cloud option.
2. JCS stands for Java Cloud Service.
3. DBCS stands for Database Cloud Service.

What is Oracle EBS?

Oracle E-Business Suite is one of the most comprehensive suites of integrated, global business applications that enable organizations to make better decisions, reduce costs, and increase performance.

Oracle EBS has multiple modules across Financials, HRMS, Procurement, Inventory etc. The best thing about EBS is that it allows lots of customizations in any layer. So any business process can be achieved via customization.

The biggest challenge for Organisations moving on Cloud is that the Oracle Cloud ERP does not offer much option on customizations as compared to Oracle EBS. So if you are in an EBS implementation and are planning for heavy customizations and have future plans for moving to Oracle Cloud please take care of the below mentioned:

##UI Based Customizations (OAF)

Oracle Applications Framework customizations are good to look and friendly for business but will be a nightmare to move to Cloud (Assuming you are not planning to Implement EBS of IAAS cloud). Strictly speaking OAF Customization is very closely coupled with EBS environment and will not work in the absence of EBS enviornment. So if there is a current business need to do a UI Customization below are the alternatives:

Do it on ADF (Application Development Framework): R12.2 works on Weblogic server and ADF will run on the same as well. Running ADF customization on EBS is a little tricky if you want to implement EBS specific requirements like Multi Org, Profiles and Responsibilities. But not too much for a skilled developer. I have done it in past so believe me it’s possible. 

Advantages of Using ADF:

1. When eventually you move to Cloud these ADF customizations can very easily be installed/migrated to the Cloud Web logic server (Java Cloud Service on PAAS). There will be some changes required to run the ADF UI independently but believe me it will be a much smaller effort then rebuilding an application built in OAF.
2. ADF is designed to run an application independently on a weblogic server so it is not closely coupled with EBS so in a PAAS model it will be at home.
3. Authentication on the ADF customization would require some brain storming. Oracle IDM is recommended if entire ecosystem is Oracle based.
4. Some effort well be needed to Consume web services from oracle Cloud. But will not be a big effort for a skilled ADF developer.

Do it on APEX (Application Express): APEX is a rapid application building tool, which can develop enterprise grade application in matter of Days. Anyone who has used OAF, ADF and APEX will definitely recommend APEX if the UI Structure is not extremely complicated. APEX can run with or without a Weblogic server, and the best part is that APEX is free and just needs an Oracle database licences. On cloud it can easily run on Oracle Database Cloud Service.

1. Building UI Customization on APEX will only take a fration of a time when compared with OAF or even ADF in that case.
2. When eventually you move to Cloud these APEX customizations can very easily be installed/migrated to the Cloud DB (Oracle Database Cloud Service on PAAS). There will be some changes required but the UI run independently but believe me it will be a much smaller effort then rebuilding and application built in OAF.
3. APEX is designed to run an application independently it is not closely coupled with EBS so in a PAAS model it will be at home.
4. Authentication on the APEX customization would require some brain storming. Oracle IDM recommended if entire ecosystem is Oracle based.
5. Some effort well be needed to Consume web services from oracle Cloud. But will not be a big effort for a skilled APEX developer. 

##UI Based Customizations (Oracle forms 10g)

Oracle EBS stills has a lot of UI that run on D2K forms. But if you are planning to do a new customization on Oracle form, it will be a strict NO. Sole reason is there is no way you can move the oracle form based customization to Cloud. My preference will be to do it in ADF or APEX. 

##Custom Reports BI Publisher

Oracle EBS allows the user to create custom BI publisher documents or reports. Oracle Cloud too has a dedicated BI Publisher server. Any custom rtf template can be moved as it is. The data model might have some changes in Cloud so the data query will need some work for the report to work correctly. 

##Custom Reports (Oracle Reports 10g)

Oracle EBS allows the user to create custom RDF reports but I would recommend if there is a need to build a custom report it is done in BI Publisher. 

##Oracle EBS Integration with Other Systems

There are multiple ways to doing integration of EBS with other systems. But if you are thinking of moving to cloud in near future. Use Oracle SOA Suite for integration of EBS with any other system.

Advantages of Using Oracle SOA Suite:

1. Has multiple ways of integration, Database adapter, file based adapter, web services etc.
2. Has adapter for both Oracle EBS and Oracle Cloud. So in future if you plan to change the destination of integration from Oracle EBS to Oracle Cloud. The change needs will only be at Destination side and the Source can function as it is without and changes.
3. Oracle SOA suite runs on Weblogic server do if required the integrations can also be moved to Java Cloud Services