It never stops, does it?

The acquisitions by PeopleSoft and Oracle have left users confronting a dizzying array of technological options. Worse, the chaotic, rumor-filled environment is a difficult one in which to make decisions about how to improve business systems.

Fortunately, there is a way to bring this back to earth: computers and software are management tools, and you invest in them with an expectation of ROI. The new technologies being offered are seductive, but come with significant effort and expense. As is often the case, some hard-nosed business thinking may be your best friend.

Let's start with some good news: Oracle says they plan to maintain all currently supported hardware, platforms, databases and operating systems, including IBM DB2 and Microsoft SQL Server Databases, as well as the IBM WebSphere Application Server and the IBM iSeries platform.

Oracle has recently put information on their web site that answers many questions about their support plans for JDE software. For more information, please see:
http://www.oracle.com/peoplesoft/psft_jde_commitment.html
http://www.oracle.com/peoplesoft/psft_support.html

Even with Oracle's commitment to the JDE community in place, users need a plan for their systems that addresses continuous improvement, risk reduction, and expense control.

To not have a plan is to risk leaving your systems unable to adapt to new business conditions and processes, and to leave your company unable to respond to challenges and opportunities.

With that in mind, we have prepared version specific advice and observations about your options. Please click here if you're a World user, and here if you're a One World user.