ODTUG Kscope24, held in Nashville, TN, July 14–18, was a vibrant gathering of more than 500 attendees from various industries, including healthcare, aerospace, manufacturing, financial services, higher education, and government. The conference showcased the diverse applicability of Oracle APEX, with around 150 participants drawn specifically to the APEX and database track. Among other speakers, the event featured 14 Oracle team members who presented 12 APEX-dedicated sessions, highlighting the platform’s latest innovations and practical applications.
The conference attracted a significant number of newcomers and developers transitioning from other Oracle technologies, such as Oracle Forms and Oracle ADF. An APEX boot camp drew 60 developers, 85% of whom were new to APEX. This further demonstrates Oracle and ODTUG’s commitment to expanding the developer community. This diverse representation underscored the growing interest in APEX as a versatile, rapid development platform capable of meeting various business needs across multiple sectors.
Traust was proud to be a sponsor of Kscope24, and a several members of our Oracle APEX development services team attended the conference. We enjoyed great presentations on hot topics such as:
- Enhancing accounts payable with APEX, EBS/Fusion integration
- Creating Analytics applications with APEX
- Intelligent applications with APEX leveraging workflow, AI for process automation
- Single sign-on with different environments
- Revolutionizing recruitment integrating OCR and AI to process resumes with APEX
- Enriching data and applications with semantics
Here are our 5 key takeaways from this week filled with educational sessions, workshops, and networking.
1) Oracle APEX 24.1 Innovations
The release of Oracle APEX 24.1 was a major highlight of the conference, showcasing a suite of new features designed to enhance application development and reduce costs. Among these features were AI-assisted app development, faster template components, support for hierarchical REST source data, workflow and approval improvements, and enhanced document processing capabilities. These innovations are tailored to meet the needs of enterprise clients, providing practical solutions that streamline operations and drive digital transformation.
Christian Laroque, Traust’s business development director, emphasized the impact of these advancements, stating, “The Oracle APEX development team continues to focus on introducing high-value tools for enterprise customers, taking into consideration the feedback from the APEX developer community.” The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities, in particular, stands out, enabling applications to automate complex tasks such as invoice and document processing. These enhancements not only improve efficiency but also open new possibilities for developers to create intelligent, user-friendly applications.
2) Diverse Attendee Representation
Kscope24 attracted a wide range of attendees from various industries, including healthcare, aerospace, manufacturing, financial services, higher education, and government. This diversity underscored the broad appeal and applicability of Oracle APEX across different sectors. It highlighted APEX’s versatility as a rapid development platform that can address unique business needs and drive innovation across multiple fields. The presence of several Fortune 500 companies further emphasized the platform’s relevance and effectiveness.
David Lopez Abugattas, Traust’s Oracle APEX Practice Director, noted, “More customers using Oracle applications such as EBS, EPM, HCM, and OTM are looking to extend and enhance capabilities using APEX to fill application gaps for their specific business requirements.” This growing interest from major enterprises indicates a strong trend towards adopting APEX for its ability to provide robust, cost-effective solutions. The APEX presentations were focused on EBS/Fusion integrations, OCR (Optical Character Recognition), DevOps with APEX, development task management, and lots of insider knowledge for APEX developers.
3) Focus on AI and Componentized Development
As noted above, AI was a prominent theme throughout Kscope24, reflecting its increasing integration into Oracle technologies, including APEX. The introduction of AI-assisted features aims to simplify and accelerate development processes, allowing developers to focus on more strategic tasks. An example shared by Stephen Piper, Oracle APEX Developer, illustrated this perfectly: “An accidental mistake during a live demo showed off one of the perfect use cases. A faulty query had brought the show to a literal stop. Instead of the presenter having to diagnose his code in front of hundreds of developers, the APEX AI assistant pointed it out and offered a remedy. Taking that and multiplying it across a year’s workload is going to be a real time-saver.”
Alongside AI, the conference also highlighted the importance of component-based development, which focuses on creating reusable templates and plugins. This approach minimizes redundant work and maximizes efficiency by enabling developers to leverage pre-built components across multiple applications. The move towards component-based development aligns with the broader industry trend of modular software design, ensuring that applications are not only efficient but also scalable and easier to maintain.
4) Opportunities for Newcomers
APEX has become a very mature development platform over the years that is consistently drawing new developers. Kscope24 was notable for the significant content designed to help get them up-to-speed within the community, including developers transitioning from other Oracle technologies such as Oracle Forms and ADF. The conference provided a supportive environment for these new learners through initiatives like the APEX boot camp, which drew a large number of participants, most of whom were new to the platform. This focus on education and skill-building is crucial for expanding the APEX community and ensuring its long-term growth.
Oracle APEX Developer Luke Rhode shared his excitement about the supportive atmosphere, saying, “Getting to ask questions on these topics during presentations was a fun privilege. As remote developers, we are seldom afforded that opportunity.” The variety of sessions and workshops, coupled with the accessibility of experienced speakers, provided newcomers with invaluable insights and practical knowledge. This inclusive approach not only benefits individual developers but also strengthens the APEX community as a whole, fostering a culture of continuous learning and collaboration.
5) Active Participation and Future Involvement
Kscope24 emphasized the importance of active participation and provided ample opportunities for attendees to get involved in future events. One of the key aspects the Traust team noted was the accessibility and openness of the Kscope organizing committee. Attendees were encouraged to engage with committee members and participate in sessions focused on public speaking and submitting abstracts. This initiative was designed to demystify the process of getting involved and to encourage new contributors to step forward.
Andrew Schultz, Sr. Oracle Developer & APEX Specialist, shared his experience, stating, “One thing that cannot be stressed enough is the level of willingness and ease it is to talk to those that organize KSCOPE. There is no mystery or secret handshake required to speak to them.” Schultz’s interactions with committee members and participation in abstract-focused sessions provided him with valuable insights into programs like the Mashable program, the ACE program, and the abstract review process. These opportunities not only equipped him with practical knowledge but also inspired him to aim for a more active role in the next Kscope conference.
By breaking down barriers and encouraging active participation, Kscope24 not only enriched the experience of current attendees but also laid the groundwork for a more engaged and vibrant community in future events. Schultz summed up his experience by noting, “When I returned from KSCOPE this year, there was another layer of anticipation for the next because I hope to return to KSCOPE25 as a speaker for the first time.”
Unlock the Full Potential of Oracle APEX
Ready to dive deeper into Oracle APEX? Check out Traust’s library of APEX tutorials to sharpen your skills and stay ahead of the curve. From deep technical dives to implementation strategies, we’ve got you covered.
Want to learn more about the new Oracle APEX 24.1 features and functionality revealed at Kscope24? Request your free executive review with our team today!
The post Innovation, Engagement, and Growth in the Oracle APEX Community: Key Takeaways from Kscope24 appeared first on Traust.