Exploding the Myth Around Oracle Cloud EPM Integration

Malcolm Brock

Managing Director

We are all familiar with a whole host of conspiracy theories that have circulated around the internet and in some cases have been amplified by a number of mainstream news outlets.  They can seem very credible until investigated further. Mind you there are some which just don’t hold water from the outset, at least to those who think rationally and question them!

It is rare that I come across such theories in our line of business. Financial software is not a mainstream subject likely to raise the attention of typical conspiracy theorists. But, over the past few weeks, I have heard from a number of sources a so called ‘fact’ which I can only describe as tantamount to a conspiracy theory.

So, what is it that has prompted me to sit down and bash this blog out on my keyboard?  Oracle Cloud EPM Integration. Right, not anywhere near a mainstream news subject. The story being spread is that it only integrates with Oracle Cloud ERP and Oracle on-premises ERP!  I did a double take the first time I heard this. By the third time I knew I had to put pen to paper. Well, fingers to keyboard!

Let us look at this logically first. Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) in its many forms from multiple vendors has been around for years. In fact, nearly as long as me! Originally many of the EPM vendors were independent of the ERP vendors and therefore they had no chance of success unless they could integrate with multiple ERP solutions. To state the obvious EPM processes rely on data sourced from ERP.

They did succeed, and in many cases prospered to the extent that they became the targets of much larger ERP vendors for acquisition. The list is extensive so I will not expound on it here other than to say just about all of the original EPM companies were acquired during the early 2000s.

I guess this is where the theory stems from. So now ERP vendor A has acquired EPM vendor B why would it want the acquired product to integrate with ERP vendor C’s product. I would suggest:

1. To retain existing customers for the EPM product acquired and perhaps the chance eventually to replace the competitor’s ERP solution.
2. When you are selling EPM it does not make any sense to limit what ERP product you integrate with as you limit market potential and sales.

OK, that is the theory.  Let’s look at practice based on work with Brovanture’s clients implementing and supporting both Oracle Cloud and on-premises EPM solutions. About 50% of our customers have an Oracle ERP but some of them have multiple ERPs and some of these are not Oracle. The rest have non-Oracle ERP solutions. Do these clients have integrations? Of course they do, and often multiple integrations from multiple ERP solutions, with automation, getting data and often metadata from the Cloud, on-premises, finance, HR, sales and even external sources.

So, if you hear this story do not be fooled it is really ‘fake news’. If you need some more proof then take a look at two client case studies who have non-Oracle ERP solutions and Oracle Cloud EPM.

EthosEnergy and Brovanture Work Together to Deliver a New Cloud Financial Consolidation System

Edrington UK Enhances Customer Partnerships and Improves Profitability Working with Brovanture

Our considerable experience of integration makes us one of the few really expert organisations in this field. If you need advice or help please make contact with me via linkedIn, call +44 (0)1483 685450, or use our contact page on our website HERE.  We are always happy to talk and help as much as we can whether you have a contract with us or not.

Until next time.

Malcolm