Transforming PeopleSoft into a SaaS-Like Experience: Feature #8

We are approaching the conclusion of my series on transforming PeopleSoft into a SaaS-like solution using PeopleTools and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). Thus far, we have covered various topics, including:

• Automated Lifecycle Management: Utilizing PeopleSoft Cloud Manager for seamless upgrades.
• Elastic Scalability: Leveraging OCI for agile workload management.
• Continuous Updates: Implementing PeopleSoft Update Manager for the latest features.
• Modern User Experience: Adopting Fluid UI for an intuitive design.
• Integration and Extensibility: Connecting with OCI Services for enhanced connectivity.
• Cost Efficiency: Embracing subscription-like economics for budget-friendly solutions.
• Enhanced Security and Compliance: Ensuring robust protection against threats.

Now, let’s explore how PeopleSoft enables smarter decision-making by providing SaaS-style analytics.

Feature #8: Analytics and Insights with OCI Integration

Thinking Smarter Like SaaS

SaaS platforms often come with analytics baked-in—dashboards and insights that help users make sense of data without jumping through hoops. PeopleSoft pulls off this trick with PeopleSoft Insights, powered by Kibana and Elasticsearch, and Real-Time Indexing (RTI) on OCI, turning raw data into actionable intelligence with a SaaS-like flair.

PeopleSoft Insights leverages Elasticsearch’s search and analytics engine, hosted on OCI, to crunch massive datasets—think payroll trends, supply chain bottlenecks, or student enrollment patterns. Kibana’s slick interface lets users build custom dashboards with no PhD required. Want to track overtime costs across departments? Drag and drop a chart, and it’s live. RTI supercharges this by indexing PeopleSoft data in near real-time, so your dashboards reflect the latest transactions—like a new hire’s record or a vendor payment—without delays. It’s the kind of embedded analytics SaaS users expect right inside PeopleSoft.

Setting it up is straightforward: deploy Elasticsearch on OCI alongside your PeopleSoft instance, configure RTI to pipe data seamlessly, and train teams to craft dashboards via Kibana. OCI’s scalable compute ensures even huge datasets process fast, so insights don’t lag. A retail chain, for example, could use Insights to monitor inventory turnover, spot slow-moving stock via RTI’s fresh data, and visualize it on a Fluid UI dashboard—all without third-party tools. A university could track student retention metrics and tweak outreach based on real-time trends.

This isn’t just reporting; it’s empowerment. By embedding analytics, PeopleSoft cuts reliance on external BI systems, saving costs and complexity. Users get SaaS-like clarity—customizable, real-time, and accessible—while IT keeps control. It’s PeopleSoft, but smarter, delivering insights that drive decisions like a true cloud-native platform.

Stay tuned for our series wrap-up, tying it all together for a SaaS-like PeopleSoft vision.