Margaret Harrist, director of content strategy and implementation at Oracle, gave a deep dive look at Oracle’s move to Cloud.

The Driver Behind Oracle’s Move to Cloud

Like many other companies, Oracle realized years ago that their systems and processes weren’t designed for the modern, digitally intensive, customer-centric business environment. That’s when Oracle began the process of moving its finance, HR, supply chain, and other on-premises systems to Oracle Cloud applications while simultaneously shifting its business model to subscription-based services.

Doug Kehring, Oracle Executive Vice President of Corporate Operations and Corporate Development, explained that Oracle has learned a lot during the internal journey to the Cloud. By using their own Cloud applications and the modern processes that they enable, Oracle was able to create a different business model. Oracle wants to use this internal, first-hand experience to help customers think about their own unique situations, map their path to Cloud, and make that move as smooth and beneficial as possible.

“We’re now one of the largest customers of Oracle Cloud applications, and I have to say, we’re one tough customer.”

—Doug Kehring, Oracle Executive Vice President of Corporate Operations and Corporate Development

A Deep Dive Look During Oracle OpenWorld

Oracle@Oracle Experience During Oracle OpenWorld

The Oracle team will be going in-depth about the internal move to Cloud at Oracle OpenWorld, which takes place September 16-19, 2019 in San Francisco. For a look at all of the sessions from the Oracle senior executives who led the internal, multinational transformation and upgrade to Oracle ERP, EPM, SCM, HCM, and CX Cloud, check out the Oracle@Oracle Experience program guide.

The Oracle team will share lessons learned along the way. Attendees will get the chance to talk with:

• Oracle IT employees who managed the implementations and continue to manage the quarterly updates
• Employees on Oracle’s finance, HR, supply chain, marketing, and sales team who use the Cloud applications every day
• Oracle executives who are leading the charge

The main emphasis of the Oracle@Oracle Experience at Oracle OpenWorld will not be on-stage presentations. Instead, employees from Oracle’s IT department and front- and back-office operations will be available to talk with attendees, answer questions, and provide demonstrations during informal, hands-on presentation times. Information sessions are planned for each functional area throughout the first three days of the event, and each session will build in plenty of time for questions.

Lessons Learned During Oracle’s Move to Cloud

Oracle has tapped features into its Cloud applications to streamline several processes. Each of these process-reinvention initiatives is led by a cross-functional steering committee and keeps the focus on the end user.

“Because Cloud applications continue to iterate and add new capabilities that leverage machine learning, chatbots, voice commands, and other technologies, you can easily enhance and further automate your systems with each quarterly update. Your target outcome is your North Star, so you won’t get mired in functional improvements that don’t align with your true goal.”

—Doug Kehring, Oracle Executive Vice President of Corporate Operations and Corporate Development

Among the other big lessons that Oracle learned during its internal Cloud journey, a few highlights include:

• Figure out how to use the new features in each release of a Cloud application rather than adding custom capabilities. Customizations bring headaches.
• Look beyond the initial implementation of the Cloud service. Plan how you are going to manage the quarterly updates, how you will train employees on new capabilities, and how you will schedule updates and decide which new functionalities to use.
• Emphasize cultural change. You have to change the culture in order to make Cloud technology truly effective.