Hosted by Chandra Wobschall and Paul Houtkooper

Hey JDE Connection listeners – Chandra and Paul here!

We can hardly believe it, but here we are wrapping up 2025 and closing the year with Episode 90. That’s a lot of conversations, a lot of learning, and more than a few laughs along the way.

This episode was our chance to pause, look back, and reflect on what we covered this year: the themes that kept coming up, the lessons that stuck with us, and the moments that reminded us why we started this podcast in the first place

A Year Full of Conversations

Somehow, we managed to release more than 40 episodes in 2025 alone. When we stepped back and looked at the list, even we had to ask ourselves how we found that much to talk about.

But as we reflected, it made sense. This year took us everywhere from functional deep dives and technical tools to leadership lessons and personal growth. We revisited the basics, explored what’s under the covers, and tried to make the complex feel a little more approachable.

A Theme That Kept Showing Up

If there was one idea that kept resurfacing all year, it was this:
Just because you can customize, doesn’t always mean you should.

We talked about this in the context of UDOs, extensibility, CNC practices, security, and modernization. Flexibility is one of JD Edwards’ greatest strengths but without discipline, standards, and a plan, that flexibility can turn into long-term pain.

Naming conventions, governance, and intentional design may not be glamorous topics, but they came up again and again for a reason. They’re foundational if you want to future-proof your system.

From Feature Talk to Deeper Understanding

Early in the year, we spent time on functional areas like logistics, grounding ourselves in how the system supports real business processes. As the year went on, we gradually peeled back the curtain, talking about CNC, zero downtime, security ownership, and how the pieces fit together behind the scenes.

Some of our most popular episodes came from bringing in experts, the folks who initially weren’t sure anyone wanted to hear from them, but quickly proved just how valuable their perspectives were. Those conversations helped demystify areas that often feel intimidating and showed that understanding the system isn’t reserved for a select few.

Leadership, Change, and Endurance

2025 wasn’t just about software.

We spent meaningful time talking about leadership, change management, and what it really takes to sustain momentum – especially when organizations (and people) start feeling fatigued. Drawing parallels between marathon training and long-running ERP initiatives turned out to be more relatable than we expected.

Both require patience, consistency, and knowing when to refuel, physically or mentally. And both are a lot easier when you’re not doing them alone

Adoption Over Awareness

Another theme we kept circling back to was adoption.

There’s no shortage of new capabilities – UX One, Orchestrator, Process Modeler, automation tools, but awareness doesn’t automatically translate into usage. We talked a lot about why that gap exists: limited time, limited learning opportunities, and the challenge of seeing how something “cool” applies to your day-to-day reality.

One of our favorite questions this year summed it up perfectly:
Are you running JD Edwards like it’s 2005… or like it’s 2025?

Upgrading is one thing. Re-evaluating how you work is another.

Conferences, Community, and Connection

This year also took us on the road to BLUEPRINT, INFOCUS, and even a European tour. Across all of those events, the conversations were remarkably consistent. People want practical guidance, real examples, and reassurance that they’re not the only ones wrestling with these challenges.

Those interactions reinforced why connection matters, not just between systems, but between people. And they reminded us that even when we don’t know who’s listening, the conversations resonate more than we realize.

Ending the Year on a Familiar Note

As we wrapped up the episode, we leaned into a familiar seasonal tradition, one that involves cereal, chocolate, peanut butter, and a generous coating of powdered sugar. The kind of snack that shows up every year, disappears quickly, and somehow sparks debate despite being universally loved.

It felt like the perfect way to close out 2025: a little messy, a little sweet, and best enjoyed together.

We’ll be taking a short break over the holidays and will be back in early January. Until then, thank you for listening, for engaging, and for being part of this community.

Until next time, let’s keep learning, sharing, and laughing together

Toodles!

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