For organizations relying on Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS), planning for the future is a critical aspect of maintaining operational efficiency and aligning with business goals. The announcement by Cliff Godwin, Oracle’s Senior Vice President of Applications Development, about the 10-year rolling Oracle EBS support program provides much-needed clarity and confidence for businesses making strategic decisions about their EBS instances.
What Is the 10-Year Rolling Support Program?
Oracle has consistently updated its Premier Support policy for Oracle EBS to ensure a decade-long runway for customers. As of 2024, support for EBS 12.2 and the suite as a whole is guaranteed through at least 2035. However, this date is not static. Each year, Oracle extends the Premier Support window, ensuring it always covers the next 10 years.
This approach allows Oracle to provide a sense of long-term stability for customers while avoiding abrupt changes to support timelines. Importantly, this doesn’t imply that support will end in 2035. Instead, it means Oracle is committed to giving a minimum of 10 years’ notice if and when the end of Premier Support is ever planned.
Why 10 Years?
As Godwin noted, a 10-year horizon extends well beyond most companies’ planning timelines. By offering this extended notice period, Oracle ensures that organizations can confidently plan their EBS strategies without the added stress of potential disruptions due to Oracle EBS support ending abruptly.
For many enterprises, this means the ability to focus on evaluating their EBS environment based on operational needs and business outcomes—not based on fear of looming deadlines.
Addressing Common Concerns
Organizations often face critical decisions regarding their Oracle EBS instances. These might include:
- Upgrading to the latest version: EBS 12.2, with its online patching and enhanced features, is Oracle’s most advanced and robust iteration. Businesses upgrading from earlier versions may wonder if the investment is worthwhile.
- Continuing on an existing version: Some companies may opt to maintain their current EBS implementation if it effectively meets their needs.
- Exploring other options: Businesses considering whether to adopt Oracle’s cloud solutions or move to alternative platforms may weigh the risks of staying with EBS.
The rolling 10-year Oracle EBS support policy alleviates these concerns by eliminating uncertainty about support availability. Organizations can confidently assess their options based on what’s best for their operations, knowing they won’t face sudden disruptions.
Strategic Implications of Oracle EBS Support
The flexibility provided by this support model has profound implications for businesses:
- Long-Term Planning: Businesses can confidently build multi-year strategies for their IT environments, knowing they have guaranteed support for at least the next decade.
- Cost Management: With no immediate risk of losing Premier Support, organizations can allocate resources more effectively, focusing on operational improvements rather than reactive upgrades.
- Alignment with Business Goals: The decision to upgrade or maintain an EBS environment can now be made based on business priorities and not driven by fear of support deadlines.
The Takeaway: Focus on the Merits, Not the Fear
Godwin’s advice is clear: companies should evaluate their Oracle EBS environment based on its merits and its ability to meet organizational needs, rather than on concerns about the end of Premier Oracle EBS Support. Whether you are leveraging EBS for financials, supply chain management, human resources, or other critical functions, Oracle’s commitment to rolling support means your investment is secure for the foreseeable future.
What Should Companies Do Next?
With Oracle’s rolling 10-year support program, companies have the luxury of making thoughtful, strategic decisions about their EBS environments. Here are some recommended steps:
- Assess Your Current Environment: Determine if your current version of EBS meets your operational needs or if an upgrade to EBS 12.2 would provide additional value. For more information, read our article on what to expect in Oracle EBS 12.2.14.
- Evaluate Long-Term Goals: Align your EBS strategy with your broader IT and business goals, leveraging the security of long-term support to plan for the future.
- Engage with Oracle Experts: Whether considering an upgrade or maintaining your current setup, working with an Oracle EBS consulting firm can help you make informed decisions.
Planning with Confidence
Oracle’s rolling 10-year Premier Support policy represents a thoughtful and customer-centric approach to enterprise software support. For businesses leveraging Oracle EBS, it eliminates uncertainty and enables confident planning for the future. Rather than worrying about the end of support, organizations can focus on optimizing their EBS environments to meet their evolving needs.
In the end, Oracle EBS support isn’t just about software—it’s about providing stability, trust, and peace of mind for the businesses that rely on it.
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