Infosys-Oracle Blog

Guest post by
Abhishek Sabharwal, Head- Infosys Oracle Innovation Center

Finally, we are here again on the helm of one of the biggest IT events of our times, Oracle OpenWorld (OOW) 2011. As the feeling of nostalgia triggers in with everyone beating each other about the number of years they had been participating in the OOW, the registration lines grew bigger and bigger. The weather, the excitement, iphone tunes and bustling traffic remained the same at SFO but the event seems to gets bigger and better, with representations from 120 countries and close to 45000 registrants.  OOW started on a Green note of using minimum paper throughout the event, so no more bulky schedule. All replaced by mobile phone apps, and real time online updates...welcome Social Media and Mobility to the OOW...

Continue reading " Day 1 at OOW 2011 : The 'Green' and the 'Machines' " »

Posted by Guest Blogger at 12:47 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

What is perhaps the number one complaint about introduction of JD Edwards ERP or a new functionality in JD Edwards, in an Enterprise?
No one knows how to use it!!

According to one study, effective User Adoption seems to be the absolute best predictor of enterprise software success. More often than not, Enterprises have a lack of focus on faster User Adoption that helps to sustain Oracle -JD Edwards implementations and upgrades throughout its life-cycle. Let's talk about ways of achieving a faster user adoption based upon efficient usage of Oracle's User Productivity Kit (UPK) in an Enterprise.

Continue reading " JD Edwards (ERP) User Adoption made easy with Oracle User Productivity Kit " »

Posted by Shriranjan Gharpure at 7:17 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

There are many ways to achieve Leaner ERP implementation, and I have discussed some of the strategic levers for it in my previous blogs Go Lean (Part 2) and Go Lean (Part 1) like senior management and executive sponsorship, robust decision making framework, effective change management approach, upfront planning for middleware and reporting platforms, solution design workshops, selection of appropriate edge products and leveraging localizations. However, there are many tactical and operational levers also available for enterprises to adopt, which are primarily part of implementation execution cycle. I am discussing here some of these levers and best practices to minimize customizations:

• Boot Camp Trainings - Before initiating the solution design phase, organizations must seriously consider to conduct the boot camp trainings on chosen ERP to their key super users, business analysts and implementation core team, facilitated by System Integrator (SI). The intent for boot camps must be training to the team for vanilla features and functionalities of ERP relevant to their industry processes. This will enable them to bridge many gaps and requirements through seeded ERP functionality, and increase the overall fitment of the package application, leading towards reduced customizations.

Continue reading " Go Lean: Minimize customizations and reduce overall TCO in Oracle ERP implementation (Part 3) " »

Posted by Nikhil Kumar at 7:01 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

One question that continues to baffle the program management community around Training delivery in large ERP implementation programs is when to deliver end user Training? The answer is probably not as straight as you may expect. Let's first discuss the constraints around this decision:

• Go Live Date: If there is a huge gap between Go Live Date and User Training, the user tends to forget what they learnt as during this period they have to continue using the legacy system and will not be able to unlearn some of the old practices and habits post go-live. On the other hand, if the training continues till the last date, you will not be able to make an apt decision towards user readiness and its implications on implementation Go No Go Decision.
  

Continue reading " When is the right time to conduct End User Training in Oracle implementation? " »

Posted by Nikhil Kumar at 5:55 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

Typical implementations would tread the wrong path by training their end users on all the modules/ functionalities being implemented using the traditional system based classroom session training approach, assuming that this will make them ready for the implementation. Some of these organizations, who are more mature, may leverage similar approach, however by grouping their user community by departments and having some amount of hands on training. But the fact is, the both ways lack the vision and approach towards a successful Training Program. Even before any training activity is initiated, it's important to understand the target end user population, their current skill sets, the impact of the system changes on their day to day tasks and job responsibilities, and then only a strategy must be developed around Training.

Continue reading " Training Need Analysis, the first steps towards a successful End User Training for large implementation programs " »

Posted by Abhishek Sabharwal at 9:46 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

In my last blog Still waters run deep - Poor User Adoption may cost you your ERP Implementation.. I discussed at length about the importance of ERP training and the need for organizations to focus more on user adoption.  As ERP Implementations mature and grow, the focus on user training also intensifies. While many organizations have started realizing the benefits of user adoption, they often struggle to determine the right budget and the right approach to achieve it.

Continue reading " Road towards Package Adoption and Learning - Comprehensive Training Strategy is your Precursor to implementation success " »

Posted by Nikhil Kumar at 5:02 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

Continue reading " Still waters run deep - Poor User Adoption may cost you your ERP Implementation.. " »

Posted by Nikhil Kumar at 5:29 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 2 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

Peoplesoft like any other ERP implementation involves huge and concerted effort and intricate planning from Project initiation to Go Live. Implementation in Less time translates to Less Cost for the customer. This assumes more significance in these times of recession where customers are seeking for more value for money and quick returns on investment.

Continue reading " How Quick can Oracle’s PeopleSoft be Implemented " »

Posted by Madhusudan Panpalia at 11:55 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )