Leading Oracle Cloud ERP Transformations…so what is different for program managers?

If you are a PM currently leading an Oracle ERP cloud transformation or have done it in the past, you may be able to resonate well with the below blog. The blog does not question the importance of program management, that’s a given; however, it highlights subtle aspects of program management which have changed with cloud-based deployments. 

• Funding approvals are shorter - A paradigm shift from on-prem ERPs to cloud ERP has changed the business finance & funding models. Monthly software subscription cost (Op-Ex) has empowered organizations to kick start their cloud journey faster, with no upfront cost (Capex) 

• Deployment Timeframes have been reduced & further reducing – A typical Cloud ERP or SCM deployment now ranges from 4 to 6 months. These hybrid agile cycles are smaller, however demand multiple fast-paced functional prototypes to complete an end state, mandating daily tracking. An all-inclusive SaaS model has cut procurement activities for database selection, sizing, hardware, security, disaster / recovery and enabled a consistent, repeatable implementation methodology using Oracle unified method (OUM). PMs also need to be cognizant about regular patching of DEV, TEST and PROD instances and how it effects the plan 

Further, consulting companies are now offering industry focused fixed scope offering, which has further optimized the deployment timeframes with pre bundles configurations and process flows. 

• Minimal and Specific IT Resources are needed – You will no longer require a large army of IT professionals to execute the project, since the scope of implementing a packaged Cloud ERP is usually limited to out of box functionality. A PM, a functional/industry expert, and a business analyst, to record the product gaps, in enough to kick start your single track like SCM. Your team of IT professionals now consists of integration architects, data and reporting analysts and PaaS developers (if necessary) 

Ready-made integration connectors, data migration & archiving toolkits, prebuilt (top 25) reports, KPI dashboards, and PaaS solutions for white spaces (gaps) have further reduced the need for niche skills & custom development. A go to place for all PMs for this would be oracle cloud marketplace 

• Adoption, Adoption, and more Adoption – If there is one thing where the demand has drastically increased, it’s the need for accelerating cloud adoption and enterprise change management. Organizations coming out of tier1/tier2 on-prem ERPs find it extremely difficult to adapt to the new next gen systems, mainly due to changes in business processes, organizational structures, and modern UI. PMs needs to emphasis on effective change management from DAY0, while the project can kick off from DAY1. Ideally, it’s a good idea to have a dedicated change manager for the project, who can work in tandem with the PM 

Digital adoption tools like Oracle Guided learning with multilingual capabilities help increase adoption and scale organization’s training needs. Remember that the UI of these cloud-based ERPs keeps getting modernized, quarter over quarter   

• Value realization Never Stops – As a PM, you can no longer disconnect from the install post go live, nor you can choose to reengage when it’s time for the next big upgrade. Cloud ERP is regularly being enhanced and oracle releases patches regularly, which includes new features, improvements, and modern UI. Every quarter, the PM needs to continuously plan for the quarterly releases, its testing and certification while embracing new features (if any) and delivering adequate training. The quarterly patching also becomes imperative when it comes to aligning your TEST, DEV, and PROD instances to the cohorts. Also note the Oracle’s integration cloud services (OIC) has its own set of patching frequency depending on your release, which needs to be carefully considered 

Test automation tools are now a necessity since there is a limited window to test. Automated end to end testing & patch certification tools, which can guarantee execution in stipulated 2 weeks is a must have for any customer embarking the cloud journey 

And finally, not to forget, AI continues to revolutionize the field of program management. Automating creation of tasks, sub tasks, actions items and their tracking, predicting project risks and perfecting resource allocations to name a few. A PM can always use these AI capabilities to effectively manage the project. 

In summary, SaaS has distinctively changed the deployment framework, bringing in more agility, optimization, and change adoption needs. PMs can keep the above considerations in mind, while leading the transformations to drive successful outcomes.