Oracle EBS in ’24: Features, Pros & cons

Although Oracle Fusion Applications (Oracle Cloud ERP) was released in 2011, many businesses still rely on Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS), as shown by the Google Trends graph, which highlights the ongoing popularity of Oracle EBS compared to Oracle Cloud ERP (see Figure 1).

However, Oracle EBS has its downsides such as performance issues and limitations with reporting and dashboard. Explore Oracle EBS systems along with its features, pros and cons based on user reviews:

What is Oracle EBS?

Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) is a comprehensive suite of business applications that was released by Oracle Corporation in 2001 to manage and automate various business processes. Oracle has released Oracle Fusion Applications in 2011, which merge various functions and features from Oracle EBS, JD Edwards, PeopleSoft and Siebel products. Yet, Oracle EBS remains widely used and Oracle continues to provide updates and support. 

Key aspects of Oracle EBS:

• Integrated system: The applications work seamlessly together, allowing data sharing across different modules, improving efficiency.
• Customizable: It can be tailored to meet the specific needs of businesses, from customizing workflows to reports.
• Scalable: Suitable for businesses of any size, from small enterprises to large corporations.

Evaluation of Oracle EBS based on user reviews

The pros and cons are the most repeated comments on the top B2B user review platforms which are TrustRadius, G2, and PeerSpot

Most repeated pros

1. Integration: Oracle EBS users praise Oracle solutions for their strong integration capabilities across different software applications and systems (e.g.WMS and Inventory Management Systems), Oracle tools, and modules, enabling easy data flow between processes, like order management, financial billing, and real-time updates.
   • Another most mentioned integration comment is about the presence of robust integration APIs which allows for efficient data management and process automation. 
2. User-friendly interface: Many users appreciate Oracle’s interface for being intuitive and helpful, especially after initial training. The ability to customize layouts and reduce errors while processing orders and invoices makes the software easier to work with. 
3. Flexibility and customization: Most user comments focus on flexibility in capturing data, rearranging fields, and custom reports. Oracle allows users to tailor aspects of the system, such as screen layouts and reporting, providing greater control to the user. 

Most repeated cons 

1. Performance issues: Users frequently report performance problems, including slow processing and crashes during network disruptions, which affect productivity. Latency and the need to reopen pages due to network issues can significantly slow down business operations.
2. Error messages and troubleshooting: Oracle’s error messages are often unclear and vague, making it challenging for users to troubleshoot problems effectively. This can lead to delays in resolving issues and may require more time or support intervention, impacting business efficiency.
3. Outdated requirements: The reliance on outdated software components, like older versions of Java, and the need for frequent upgrades or patches to fix bugs are viewed negatively. These factors add complexity and may cause disruptions, particularly when new bugs arise after patches.
4. Learning curve: The learning curve can be steep, making it difficult for new users to navigate and implement the system effectively. This complexity can lead to frustration and slower adoption among team members.
5. Implementation time: The lengthy implementation period (often taking six months to a year) is a common complaint. Oracle EBS users express frustration with the time and resources required to get the system up and running, which can delay the realization of the system’s benefits.
6. Limited reporting and dashboard features: Oracle e business suite users indicated that the reporting features are not as intuitive as expected, often requiring multiple clicks to access necessary reports. Besides, the lack of standard dashboards can limit the ability to visualize data effectively, which is a crucial aspect of modern ERP systems.

Future of Oracle EBS

EBS installations are expected to transition to an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) model over the next years. The main EBS application will still be managed by its users, but the cloud service provider will handle the servers, storage, and networking.

This change lets enterprises keep control over the application while letting the cloud provider (e.g. Oracle cloud managed service – OCMS) manage the infrastructure. It offers the benefits of cloud scalability and flexibility without completely switching to a Software as a Service (SaaS) model.

Oracle EBS functionalities

Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) offers a wide range of applications designed to streamline various business functions, such as:

• Enterprise resource planning (ERP): Manages and integrates core business processes, including finance, procurement, human resources, and supply chain. It streamlines operations, improves data accuracy, and supports efficient decision-making across departments.
• Customer relationship management (CRM): Supports sales, marketing, service, and customer engagement processes. This module improves customer relationship management and helps streamline sales and marketing workflows.
• Oracle supply chain management: Offers tools for inventory management, order processing, and logistics, covering the entire supply chain.
• Financial management: Handles core financial processes such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, and cash management, ensuring comprehensive financial oversight.
• Human capital management (HCM): Oversees the entire employee lifecycle, from recruitment to retirement. Oracle human capital management modules include Payroll, Benefits, Human Resources, and Time and Labor. 
• Asset lifecycle management: Manages the entire lifecycle of assets, from acquisition to disposal, optimizing asset utilization and performance.
• Order management: Facilitates order processing, ensuring timely and accurate order fulfillment. This improves the efficiency of sales and customer service operations.
• Procurement: Manages the procurement process from purchasing to invoicing and payments, optimizing the purchasing lifecycle. Advanced procurement 
• Project portfolio management: Includes tools for planning, budgeting, and managing resources across various projects.
• Business intelligence and analytics: Provides tools for analyzing data, generating reports, and offering insights. Enables organizations to track performance, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions to improve business outcomes.
• Service management: Manages after-sales service activities, such as service requests, warranties, and repairs. This module improves the delivery of post-sale customer services.
• Enterprise management: Provides tools for managing risk, compliance, and governance. This ensures that organizations can meet regulatory requirements while mitigating operational risks.
• Advanced procurement (depends on the version): Enhances procurement functions with additional modules like Sourcing, Supplier Lifecycle Management, and Contract Management. It strengthens procurement strategies and supplier management.
• Value chain planning (depends on the version): Focuses on optimizing planning processes across the value chain, such as demand and supply chain planning, and sales and operations planning.
• Value chain execution (depends on the version): Manages logistics and order fulfillment, including transportation and warehouse management.

Oracle EBS sub-modules

E-Business Suite R12

Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) R12 was released by 2012 and has introduced significant improvements and new features to improve functionality. These updates included advanced social collaboration tools, enhanced mobile accessibility, and smoother integration with Oracle’s cloud-based applications.

While newer versions of Oracle EBS have been released since then, R12 remains widely used due to its reliability and the extensive range of features it offers.

E-Business Suite Financials

Oracle E-Business Suite Financials is a comprehensive submodule designed to manage all aspects of financial operations within an organization. It includes a variety of tools focused on financial management, such as General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and Cash Management.

The suite can help enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and compliance of financial reporting. Also, it provides improved visibility into financial performance, enabling better decision-making and streamlined operations.

What is Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure?

Running EBS on Oracle Cloud means hosting both the EBS applications and their associated databases on Oracle’s Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). Users have two primary options:

• They can either run EBS and its database directly on OCI
• Run EBS on OCI while utilizing an associated database service.

Also, businesses can opt to run EBS in their own data centers while hosting the EBS database on Oracle Exadata Cloud.

Explore more on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and OCI scheduler.

Key Benefits of Running Oracle E-Business Suite on Oracle Cloud

1. Increased business agility: Cloud deployment allows organizations to quickly adapt to changing business needs, such as mergers, acquisitions, or shifts in regulatory requirements. This agility enables faster responses to market demands.
2. Better management of growth: Oracle Cloud provides scalable resources that can grow with your business. This capability allows companies to easily manage increased workloads and expansion.
3. Reduced time: With the ability to quickly provision new instances of EBS, businesses can initiate projects faster and at a lower cost compared to traditional on-premises setups. This efficiency minimizes project delays and associated costs.
4. Maximized productivity of IT staff: By leveraging Oracle Cloud’s automation tools, IT teams can focus on strategic initiatives rather than routine maintenance tasks. This productivity boost enhances overall efficiency.
5. Elastic infrastructure: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure is designed to be elastic, allowing organizations to scale their resources up or down as needed. This flexibility helps businesses adapt to changing demands without significant capital expenditure.
6. Lower risks: Shorter wait times for resources lessen project risks, leading to smoother implementation and operation.

Oracle ERP Cloud vs. Oracle EBS 

Oracle Cloud ERP, known as Oracle Fusion Cloud, is a comprehensive ERP solution delivered in a SaaS model from the cloud. Oracle Fusion modules consist of CRM, Supply Chain, Project Portfolio Management, Procurement, HCM, Financials, Governance, Risk, and Compliance.

The main differences between Oracle EBS and Oracle ERP Cloud include: 

5 steps to implement Oracle EBS systems 

• Planning and analysis: The first step is to thoroughly assess your business requirements and identify which processes Oracle EBS will manage. This helps determine which specific modules (e.g., finance, supply chain, human resources) will be implemented. The goal is to create a detailed roadmap that aligns with your business objectives.
• Configuration and customization: After installation, Oracle EBS must be configured to suit your unique business processes. This involves setting up parameters, defining workflows, and customizing the interface, reports, and forms as needed. During this phase, it’s essential to migrate data from legacy systems (e.g., employee records, financial data) while ensuring data integrity.
• Testing and deployment: Before full deployment, testing Oracle EBS in a simulated environment is crucial to identify and resolve any issues. Once successful, the system is deployed in the production environment with minimal disruption to business operations.
• Integration: Oracle EBS can be integrated with other business systems, such as CRM tools or third-party applications, to ensure seamless operations across different platforms.
• User access and training: Finally, user access is set up with appropriate roles and permissions based on job responsibilities. Since the interface can be complex, training is vital to ensure users can efficiently navigate and perform their tasks within the system.

Further reading

Explore workload automation and job scheduler tools to learn how to automate and orchestrate Oracle applications on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure:

External resources