In the SSL/CW list, Oracle E-Business Suite is number 4
What is it?
Oracle Applications, now called the Oracle E-Business Suite,
competes with SAP and PeopleSoft in the enterprise resource
planning market.
According to Oracle, it has nearly doubled the number of its
applications developers in the past four years. The company is now
engaged in a hostile bid for PeopleSoft and is awaiting the outcome
of regulatory decisions about the deal.
Alan Pelz-Sharpe, an analyst with Ovum, said, "If the takeover of
PeopleSoft is blocked, Oracle will continue its upward climb with
less emphasis on business applications and more on core
infrastructure."
In 2000, Oracle stumbled with the release of its 11i suite, about
which AMR Research commented that it had been "rushed to market
much later than promised, with many gaps and bugs in the code".
AMR added, "Newer applications - namely the service control point
and customer relationship management modules - also exhibited poor
quality. The company cannot continue to use its installed base as a
step in its release testing process."
The bad publicity and user distrust was a setback for Oracle, but
now the company has bounced back and announced that applications
revenue has increased 27% since last year, "a period in which the
company's major applications competitors saw nearly flat or
negative revenue growth", Oracle said.
Where did it originate?
Oracle was founded in 1977 and the applications division was set up
10 years later. Oracle Financials appeared in 1990.
What is it for?
The Oracle E-Business Suite is a set of modules including
financials, manufacturing, human resources, order processing,
internet procurement and project management, with associated
business intelligence tools.
What makes it special?
Oracle's approach to data management is to centralise databases, in
contrast with IBM and Microsoft, which distribute or "federate" the
databases.
Similarly, the E-Business Suite uses a single data model and
collects all enterprise data in the same location. Oracle also led
the field in adding XML web services to its applications.
How difficult is it to master?
Gaining any enterprise application skill involves weeks of
expensive training. Recruitment consultants will advise you not to
do this at your own expense, as you will need one to two years'
experience before your skills are marketable. Most people
concentrate on one application. Oracle database administrators may
be able to gain applications experience.
Where is it used?
In almost every kind of business, and also central and local
government. Like other enterprise application software suppliers
(the enterprise market is saturated), Oracle is targeting small and
medium-sized businesses with a special edition of its E-Business
Suite.
What systems does it run on?
Windows, Unix and Linux.
What is coming up?
The Customer Data Hub, an integration solution for companies
without the full Oracle E-Business Suite, or those with the
temerity to be using another supplier's applications alongside
Oracle's.
Oracle described it as "an information infrastructure that sits
below an enterprise's applications and creates a single definition
for critical data to be shared in a heterogeneous IT
environment".
Training
For online seminars and certification information, see the Oracle
website.
www.oracle.comRates of pay
Oracle Financials is most in demand with employers, and there is a
steady requirement for Oracle HR. With practical industry
experience you could look for £35,000 to £55,000.
Senior consultants can get £75,000 and upwards, or £700 or more a
day on contracts.