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As an Oracle EBS user, you must be aware that premier support is no longer available. It means that you’re no longer receiving following things:
- Application fixes
- Security updates
- Data fixes
- Critical Patch Updates (CPU)
- Regulatory updates
- Certification with third party applications
Saying otherwise, end of premier support for Oracle EBS 12.1 means that your business is no longer compliant. If there’s a change in tax regime or some new regulatory requirements are introduced, EBS 12.1 users will not get them.
If you’re wondering what to do next, Oracle has provided you with some options. Let’s check them one by one.
Moving to extended support: This is a three year program post expiration of premier support in which customers need to pay a fee to experience ‘premier-like’ support. The main disadvantage with this is that it doesn’t cover certifications with third party products and versions. This isn’t considered as a viable option as once this support is over, you again have to look for other options like moving to sustaining support, upgrading to EBS 12.2 or Oracle Cloud migration.
Sustaining Support: It is the last level of support which is offered post premier and extended is no longer available. It is a limited support that helps in maintaining and sustaining a platform. The main disadvantage with this is that it doesn’t cover CPU, support for new tax regime and regulatory requirements.
Upgrade to Oracle EBS 12.2: One of the available sustainable options is to upgrade to Oracle 12.2. Oracle has committed to offer premier support to Oracle EBS 12.2 till 2031. It means if you upgrade to EBS 12.2, you’ll get CPU, updates, and other features for the next 10 years. However, EBS 12.1 to EBS 12.2 upgrade isn’t a flip of a switch. You need to follow standard EBS 12.2 upgrade practices with focus on testing. The necessary steps during upgrade include functional evaluation, CEMLI evaluation, testing, and CEMLI retrofitment.
It is recommended that you should bring in test automation to support your upgrade initiative. It will keep your upgrade within timelines and budgets.
Migration to Oracle Cloud: Another viable option is to migrate to Oracle Cloud. EBS customers can either opt for Software-as-a-service (SaaS), Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), or Hybrid mode.
- Also known as replatforming, migration to OCI is the least expensive and disruptive way, in which you can continue using the same EBS applications in the cloud. You can carry your existing customizations without any difficulty.
- In SaaS, Oracle enterprise apps are available as SaaS offerings. Here, older customizations will get replaced with the stand features. You get the opportunity to remove bottlenecks in the existing processes.
- Hybrid is another approach in which some of your apps will be running in the cloud while some on on-premise.
Conclusion
Upgrading to EBS 12.2 and migration to Oracle cloud are the most viable solutions. However, in both cases, you need to focus on testing. EBS 12.1 to EBS 12.2 upgrade requires at least two rounds of testing while EBS to Oracle Cloud migration requires at least three rounds of regression testing. Manual testing isn’t a viable solution. It is recommended that you should bring in test automation as it reduces costs, minimizes risks, and speed up upgrade/ migration.
