Dermalogica, a leader in professional-grade skincare, was already running its operations on JD Edwards, but recently made a strategic move to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). With over 100,000 therapists across 100 countries customizing Dermalogica products for their clients, the company needs its internal systems to perform with speed and precision. A few years ago, Dermalogica’s technology leaders grew concerned about outdated processes and disorganized data, and they decided it was time for a change. This decision marked the beginning of their journey to OCI.

To explore new possibilities for their business operations, Dermalogica turned to the expertise of Redfaire, who guided them in choosing the best pathway for transitioning JD Edwards to OCI.

How OCI Transformed JD Edwards for Dermalogica

At the Quest BLUEPRINT 4D Conference in May 2023, Redfaire’s CTO, Christian Fronteras, drew an interesting parallel between maintaining healthy skin and keeping JD Edwards running smoothly. Just like skin requires regular care and protection, JD Edwards also needs continuous attention to stay efficient. According to Fronteras, both skin and JD Edwards face four common challenges:

The Four Challenges of Healthy Skin and Efficient Business Operations

1. Exposure: Excessive sun exposure can damage skin, just as an overwhelming number of users can strain JD Edwards.
2. Repetition: Just as repeated facial expressions can cause fine lines, repetitive and inefficient business processes can lead to operational slowdowns.
3. Age: Skin loses elasticity as it ages, and similarly, older versions of JD Edwards can become cumbersome and complex.
4. Gravity: Gravity causes skin to sag, while the weight of accumulated data can slow down JD Edwards.

Before Dermalogica began its transformation, its JD Edwards system was showing signs of aging:

• JD Edwards EnterpriseOne 9.1
• Unsupported middleware
• SQL Server dependencies
• Numerous customizations
• Legacy data accumulation
• Aging infrastructure
• Limited support resources

Dermalogica had been relying on custom SQL procedures outside of JD Edwards to handle critical functions. These procedures were undocumented, and the original creators were no longer with the company, creating significant risk. The team realized they needed to modernize their technology environment to regain control and efficiency.

Exploring OCI Options

Dermalogica considered three options for moving JD Edwards to OCI:

1. Technical (Lift & Shift): Replicate the existing setup on OCI.
   • Pros: Quick deployment with minimal disruption.
   • Cons**: Does not address underlying infrastructure or support issues.
2. Hybrid (Move & Improve): Re-platform the infrastructure and replace unsupported systems and middleware.
   • Pros: Provides a more stable, scalable solution.
   • Cons: Requires significant testing of all technology components.
3. Upgrade (Latest & Greatest): Consolidate technology, upgrade to the newest tools, and deploy on OCI.
   • Pros: Acts as a catalyst for business change.
   • Cons: Expands project scope to include an upgrade, necessitating greater involvement from business sponsors.

Ultimately, Dermalogica chose to pursue the “Upgrade (Latest & Greatest)” approach, opting for a full modernization of its JD Edwards system.

A New, Agile Tech Stack

Thanks to their strategic decision, Dermalogica now enjoys a refreshed technology stack that is more agile and responsive:

• Upgraded to JD Edwards EnterpriseOne 9.2
• Upgraded all middleware to Oracle-certified versions
• Aligned technology with business needs
• Removed customizations
• Archived legacy data
• Adopted an agile cloud architecture

Key Takeaways from Dermalogica’s Transformation

Dermalogica’s journey to OCI was more than just a technical upgrade; it represented a strategic overhaul of their approach to business operations. By simplifying complex configurations, archiving outdated data, and eliminating bad practices, Dermalogica has renewed confidence in its team and infrastructure. The result? Faster response times, higher performance, and a system that looks and feels younger than ever.

To dive deeper into Dermalogica’s successful upgrade, watch the full presentation from the BLUEPRINT 4D Conference.

If you’re a JD Edwards user considering a move to the cloud, join our “Move to Cloud” community group to connect with others on a similar journey.