In a comprehensive session during the 2024 Oracle Fusion Cloud Days, Guy Waterman, Vice President of HCM Cloud at Oracle, showcased the innovative capabilities of Oracle’s Human Capital Management (HCM) Cloud. Tailored for a diverse audience—including existing HCM Cloud users and those utilizing JD Edwards and PeopleSoft—Waterman provided a detailed comparison and highlighted Oracle’s strides in AI and cross-functional integration.

Adapting to Change with Agility and AI

Oracle’s HCM Cloud solutions are designed to help businesses navigate change seamlessly. Waterman emphasized the user-centric design of these solutions, which include AI-driven activity centers and personalized dashboards. These features streamline data access and empower employees and organizations to operate efficiently.

A Unified Ecosystem for Seamless Integration

Oracle’s HCM Cloud is part of a broader connected ecosystem that integrates HCM, ERP, supply chain, and CX functions. This integration leverages a single data model, enabling users to interact across different business areas with one sign-in. Tools like Oracle Journey simplify non-technical process automation, while agent-based generative AI enhances functionalities such as benefits enrollment.

Innovations Driving HCM Excellence

Additional features of Oracle’s HCM Cloud are:

• Fusion Data Intelligence (FDI): This advanced analytics tool offers real-time and ad hoc reporting without extra costs, helping organizations make data-driven decisions with ease.
• Position Budgeting and Payroll Integration: Enhanced features support flexible integration with payroll systems and upcoming grants integration tailored for public sector clients.
• Oracle Grow: Using AI to suggest career development opportunities, this tool fosters skills enhancement and personalized employee training.
• Opportunity Marketplace: Focused on matching talent with opportunities, including temporary or gig roles, this feature is especially beneficial for industries like healthcare.
• Activity Centers: Role-specific dashboards for employees, managers, and payroll teams streamline tasks like scheduling, recruitment, and compensation management.

AI-Powered Innovations and Ethical Integration

AI capabilities extend across Oracle applications, with over 100 features available to users through regular software updates. The Talent Review Assistant, for instance, helps organizations track employee growth and ensure compliance with pay equity laws in the EU and UK. Waterman stressed the importance of controlled AI adoption, allowing users to review and modify AI-generated recommendations.

Key Oracle Customers Leading the Charge

Several leading organizations are already reaping the benefits of the AI options. Waterman highlighted customers like Choctaw Nation and Cherokee Nation, who have joined Oracle’s Innovators Program, accessing advanced resources that are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in Oracle Cloud applications. Notably, Cherokee Nation was the first to go live with generative AI across all Oracle applications, implementing complex solutions like job matching and resume ingestion to streamline recruitment.

Other organizations such as Northwell, Equity Residential, Sinclair Broadcasting, and Hearst have also seen success in integrating Oracle’s cutting-edge capabilities, demonstrating the widespread applicability and impact of Oracle’s cloud solutions.

Real-Time Demonstrations of Oracle’s Capabilities

Waterman provided a live demonstration of Oracle’s advanced tools, showcasing how organizations can configure activity centers to track KPIs, manage goals, and engage employees more effectively. The Activity Center, a central hub for managing tasks and monitoring performance, can be personalized to display the most relevant data and offers dynamic links to essential functions like public profiles, goal tracking, and company announcements.

AI-Powered Performance Reviews

Employees can easily manage personal information, goals, and performance reviews through Oracle’s intuitive user interface. Oracle’s AI tools are particularly transformative for managers tasked with performance evaluations. Waterman demonstrated how AI can automate much of the performance review process by pre-populating fields with relevant data, making the process faster and more efficient. The AI assistant even pulls context from employee skills and goals, ensuring consistency and accuracy without requiring managers to manually input all information. This AI-driven approach minimizes administrative workload, giving managers more time to focus on meaningful feedback and development.

Leveraging AI for Smarter Decision Making

Beyond goal setting and performance reviews, Oracle’s AI tools extend into other areas like benefits enrollment, where the system provides real-time answers based on the employee’s specific plan details. This includes answering questions like “What is the cost of my medical plan?” or “What is new in this year’s open enrollment?” By pulling from accurate source documents, Oracle ensures employees receive the most relevant and up-to-date information, empowering them to make smarter decisions.

One of the most exciting features Waterman shared was the Oracle AI-driven “guided journey” for open enrollment. This tool provides a personalized experience for employees, guiding them through each step of the process. The system even answers common questions in real time, helping employees navigate their benefits options without needing external assistance. With features like speech-enabled queries and contextual information pulled from uploaded documents, this tool represents a significant leap forward in enhancing the employee experience.

Driving the Future of HCM

Oracle is working to enhance organizational agility, simplify complex processes, and empower users with these new features. By integrating advanced AI tools and maintaining a focus on usability, Oracle positions itself as a trusted partner for businesses looking to thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape.

To hear the full presentation from Guy Waterman, watch the Oracle Fusion Cloud Days session, Oracle Cloud HCM Innovations Update.