Oracle vs. SAP in 5 key points!

As an ORACLE EBS consultant, we should aware of its counterpart –SAP and a few range of prospects that differentiate these two giants in today’s ERP market. Both SAP and Oracle eBusiness Suite (EBS) have strengths, weaknesses, and tradeoffs. Different clients have different needs, ranging from functional requirements, technical maturity, tolerance for risk, budget, and a host of other factors. 

So what are the differences between these two solutions? Although there are numerous variances in the detailed workflows and functionality of the solutions, there are five key high-level variables that we should aware of.

1. Best of breed functionality vs. more tightly integrated modules. The software strategy of the two vendors could not be much different. While SAP has built a solution primarily from the ground up, Oracle has grown primarily through acquisition of best-of-breed point solutions. For example, Oracle has acquired Demantra for advanced sales and operations planning, Hyperion for financial reporting, and Siebel for CRM, while SAP has built much of this functionality into its core ECC and All in One ERP solutions.
2. Product roadmap. SAP continues to build upon and enhance its core product offering, while Oracle is moving toward Fusion. While some may suggest that Oracle is more innovative or visionary in its technology direction, it also means that there may be more uncertainty with Oracle’s product lines. This is especially true for clients considering Oracle’s JD Edwards and Peoplesoft solutions.
3. Flexibility. Although very powerful, SAP can be more difficult to change as a business evolves. This is both a strength and a weakness: it is tightly integrated and helps enforce standardized business processes across an enterprise, but it can be more difficult to modify the software to adjust to evolutions to core processes and requirements. Oracle’s best of breed approach, on the other hand, can allow for more flexibility to accommodate changing business needs, but this strength can become a weakness when it becomes harder to enforce standardized processes across a larger organization.
4. Implementation cost, duration, and risk. Although both solutions typically cost more and take longer to implement than most Tier II ERP software, there are distinct differences between the two. Oracle has a slight advantage in average implementation duration and an even larger advantage in average implementation cost, at 20% less than SAP. SAP, on the other hand, has the lowest business risk of the two, measured via the probability of a material operational disruption at the time of go-live.
5. Business benefits and satisfaction. This is perhaps SAP’s greatest strength. Although Oracle has the highest executive satisfaction level of all ERP vendors across the globe, SAP leads the pack in actual business benefits realized. Assuming the #1 reason most companies implement ERP software is to achieve tangible business benefits, this can be enough to justify SAP as a solid solution for many companies.

The key takeaway here is that, as with any ERP solution, SAP and Oracle both have their strengths and weaknesses. One solution may be the best fit for one organization, while not a good fit for others, even within the same industry. The only way to make sense of the pros and cons in a way that is meaningful to your organization is to engage in a robust ERP software selection process that considers your requirements, priorities, and competitive advantages to find the right fit.

Solve your SUDOKU by SQL!

Oracle Database 11g Release 2 introduces a new feature called Recursive Subquery Factoring with the help of which you can solve your Sudoku.

Say you have a Sudoku like:

To solve this Sudoku you first have to transform this to a single string by appending all rows together:(give exact amount of spaces)

“53  7    6  195    98    6 8   6   34  8 3  17   2   6 6    28    419  5    8  79”

Past this string into a Recursive Subquery, run it and you get a new string with your solved Sudoku:

with x( s, ind ) as
( select sud, instr( sud, ' ' )
  from ( select '53 7 6 195 98 6 8 6 34 8 3 17 2 6 6 28 419 5 8 79' sud from dual )
  union all
  select substr( s, 1, ind - 1 ) || z || substr( s, ind + 1 )
  , instr( s, ' ', ind + 1 )
  from x
  , ( select to_char( rownum ) z
  from dual
  connect by rownum <= 9
       ) z
  where ind > 0
  and not exists ( select null
  from ( select rownum lp
                          from dual
  connect by rownum <= 9
                        )
  where z = substr( s, trunc( ( ind - 1 ) / 9 ) * 9 + lp, 1 )
  or z = substr( s, mod( ind - 1, 9 ) - 8 + lp * 9, 1 )
  or z = substr( s, mod( trunc( ( ind - 1 ) / 3 ), 3 ) * 3
  + trunc( ( ind - 1 ) / 27 ) * 27 + lp
  + trunc( ( lp - 1 ) / 3 ) * 6
                                   , 1 )
                 )
)
select s
from x
where ind = 0
/

The output:

534678912672195348198342567859761423426853791713924856961537284287419635345286179

This string can be transformed back to a nice display of the solution.

Solved in 1 Sec!….

My personal note: Sudoku is meant for human minds and not to be solved by a program. Hence you should enjoy solving them with your own minds. However you can use this if you are frozen at some point , unable to proceed further and frustration is about to begin…:)

Have a nice day!

World Wide Oracle User Groups

World Wide Oracle User Groups

International Oracle Users Group Community

The IOUC is a community of leaders representing Oracle users groups worldwide. It is a forum for them to share best practices for leading and managing their users groups. Worldwide, there are over 450 independent users groups focused on Oracle products and technology. The IOUC is a place for the leaders to meet, share ideas and help determine the future of the Oracle users group communities.

Oracle Applications Users Group (OAUG)

The mission of the Oracle Applications Users Group is to represent the interests of the family of Oracle Applications users worldwide in securing the optimum use and ongoing development of the Oracle Applications products.

Oracle Development Tools Users Group (ODTUG)

ODTUG is an independent, not-for-profit global organization providing education, support, advocacy, and networking opportunities for all developers, using a variety of technologies, who work on Oracle Databases.

 

Independent Oracle Users Group (IOUG)

The Independent Oracle Users Group (IOUG) represents the voice of Oracle technology and database professionals and empowers them to be more productive in their business and careers.

All India Oracle Users Group (AIOUG)

AIOUG is a non profit organization started by like minded users who think such a community is required in India where the amount of Oracle user base is humongous. The idea of this group is to share what the Oracle users have learned from using Oracle technology over the years with fellow users who have similar interest.

Other Groups:

Higher Education User Group (HEUG) – www.heug.org
Oracle HCM Users Group (OHUG) – www.ohug.org
Oracle Life Sciences Users Group (OLSUG) – www.olsug.org

AOUG (Austria) – AOUG: Austrian Oracle Users Group
http://www.aoug.at/

BROUG – Baton Rouge Oracle Users Group
http://www.broug.org/

CFOUG – Central Florida Oracle Users Group
http://www.cfoug.org/

CLTOUG – Charlotte Oracle Users Group
http://www.cltoug.org/

COUG – Chicago Oracle Users Group
http://Chicago.Oracle.IOUG.org

COUG (Calgary) – COUG: Calgary Oracle Users Group
http://www.coug.ab.ca/

CUORE (Spain) – CUORE: Spain Oracle User Group
http://www.cuore.es/

CyOUG (Cyprus) – CyOUG: Cyprus Oracle User Group
http://www.cyoug.org.cy/

DOAG (Germany) – DOAG: German Oracle Users Group
http://www.doag.org/

DOUG – Dallas Oracle User’s Group
http://www.doug.org/

GCOUG – Greater Cincinnati Oracle User’s Group
http://www.gcoug.org/

GOUsers – Georgia Oracle Users
http://www.gouser.org/

HIOUG – Hawaii Oracle User Group
http://www.redwingnet.com/hioug

HOUG – Houston Oracle Users Group
http://www.houg.org/

INOUG – Indiana Oracle Users Group
http://www.inoug.org/

KCOUG – Kansas City Oracle User Group
http://www.kcoug.org

LAOUG – Los Angeles Oracle Users Group
http://www.laoug.org/

MAOP – Mid-Atlantic Association of Oracle Professionals
http://www.maop.org/

MOUG – Midwest Oracle Users Group
http://www.moug.org/

NATCAP-OUG – National Capital Oracle User Group
http://www.NATCAPOUG.org

NEOOUG – Northeast Ohio Oracle Users Group
http://www.neooug.org/

NFOUG – North Florida Oracle User Group
http://www1.fccj.org/jtrifile/NFOUG/NFOUG_JEFF2/index.html

NJOUG – New Jersey Oracle Users Group
http://www.njoug.org/

NMOUG – New Mexico Oracle Users Group
http://www.nmoug.org/

NOCOUG – Northern California Oracle Users Group
http://www.nocoug.org/

NOUG – Northeast Oracle User Group, Inc
http://www.noug.com/

NWOUG – Northwest Oracle Users Group
http://www.nwoug.com/

NYOUG – New York Oracle Users Group, Inc
http://www.nyoug.org

NZOUG (New Zealand) – New Zealand Oracle Users Group
http://www.nzoug.org/

OOUG – Ohio Oracle Users Group
http://www.ooug.org/

OOUG (Ottawa) – OOUG: Ottawa Oracle Users Group
http://www.oug-ottawa.org/

OUGF (Finland) – OUGF: Oracle User Group Finland
http://www.ougf.fi/

OUGN (Norway) – OUGN: Oracle Users Group Norway
http://www.ougn.no/

PLOUG (Poland) – PLOUG: Poland Oracle User Group
http://www.ploug.org.pl/

PSOUG – Puget Sound Oracle Users Group
http://www.psoug.org/

SAOUG (South Africa) – SAOUG: South African Oracle Users Group
http://www.saoug.co.za/

SCOUG – South Central Oracle User Group
http://www.scoug.org/

SDOUG – San Diego Oracle Users Group
http://www.sdoug.org/

SIOUG (Slovania) – Slovania Oracle User Group
http://www.sioug.si/

SOUG (Switzerland) – Swiss Oracle Users Group
http://www.soug.ch/

UKOUG (United Kingdom) – United Kingdom Oracle User Group
http://www.ukoug.org/

UNYOUG – Upstate New York Oracle Users Group
http://www.unyoug.org/

UTOUG – Utah Oracle Users Group
http://www.utoug.org/

VICOUG (Victoria) – Victoria Oracle Users Group
http://www.vicoug.org/

VOUG – Virginia Oracle User’s Group
http://www.voug.org/

WMOUG – Western Michigan Oracle Users Group
http://www.wmoug.org/

ERP Overview

What is ERP?

Enterprise Resource Planning or ERP is an industry term for integrated, multi-module application software packages that are designed to serve and support multiple business functions.
ERP provides the backbone for an enterprise-wide information system.
Evolving out of the manufacturing industry, ERP implies the use of packaged software rather than proprietary software written by or for one customer.
At the core of this enterprise software is a central database which draws data from and feeds data into modular applications that operate on a common computing platform, thus standardizing business processes and data definitions into a unified environment.

Brief History of ERP

The focus of manufacturing systems in the 1960’s was on Inventory control. Most of the software packages then (usually customized) were designed to handle inventory based on traditional inventory concepts. In the 1970’s the focus shifted to MRP (Material Requirement Planning) systems that translated the Master Schedule built for the end items into time-phased net requirements for the sub-assemblies, components and raw materials planning and procurement.

In the 1980’s the concept of MRP-II (Manufacturing Resources Planning) evolved which was an extension of MRP to shop floor and Distribution management activities. In the early 1990’s, MRP-II was further extended to cover areas like Engineering, Finance, Human Resources, Projects Management etc i.e. the complete gamut of activities within any business enterprise. Hence, the term ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) was coined.

Why is it Necessary?

By becoming the integrated information solution across the entire organization, ERP systems allow companies to better understand their business.
With ERP software, companies can standardize business processes and more easily enact best practices.
By creating more efficient processes, companies can concentrate their efforts on serving their customers and maximizing profit.

Market Leaders

The top five ERP vendors, SAP, Oracle Corporation, Peoplesoft, Inc. (now Oracle Corp.), JD Edwards & Company, and Baan International, account for 64 percent of total ERP market revenue. These vendors continue to play a major role in shaping the landscape of new target markets, with expanded product functionality, and higher penetration rates. SAP dominates the $6.7 billion ERP applications market in Europe with 39% market share. Oracle and PeopleSoft come second and third respectively, followed by SAGE Group and Microsoft Business Solutions.

Overview of popular ERP Products

Oracle E- Business Suite

Oracle E-Business Suite is the industry’s only complete and integrated set of enterprise applications, working together seamlessly to streamline every area of your business—from sales, service, and marketing, through financials and human resources, to supply chain and manufacturing.

Oracle E-Business Suite is your fastest path to high-quality enterprise intelligence, bringing your company a true 360-degree view of your finances, your customers, and your supply chains, so you can make faster, better decisions and grow profitability in a competitive marketplace.

Oracle E- Business Suite – Industry Applications

Oracle E-Business Suite 11i.10 offers over 2,100 new capabilities, half of which meet specific industry needs, including:

Financial Services: SOP documentation and auditing for compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and other regulations

Healthcare: Medication administration, patient encounter-specific financial information, integrated patient care and operational intelligence

Manufacturing/High Technology: Option-dependent sourcing, automated spare parts return and repair processing, international drop shipments, distribution planning

SAP

What is SAP?

SAP (Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing) is the leading ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software package.
SAP was the first to integrate a corporation’s worldwide functions tightly into one application.
SAP R/2 was released as the first version of their software in 1979. Its domination of the market occurred during the 1980s, expanding first throughout Europe (early 1980s) and then North America (1988).
SAP R/3, an advanced, client-server based version of the popular R/2 product, was released in 1992 and sparked a stunning takeover of America’s largest businesses — 44% of US companies were using it within five years of its expansion.

In 1999, SAP introduced its newest major product upgrade. Named mySAP.com to emphasize its shift to an e- business focus, mySAP.com builds on the strengths of the SAP R/3 product in a fully Internet enabled architecture

SAP R/3 Overview

SAP R/3 is SAP’s integrated software solution for client/server and distributed open systems. SAP’s R/3 is the world’s most-used standard business software for client/server computing. The software is highly customizable using SAP’s proprietary programming language, ABAP/4.
R/3 is scalable and highly suited for many types and sizes of organizations. SAP R/3 is based on various hardware and software architectures, running on most types of UNIX, on Windows NT and OS/400. SAP R/3 runs on several databases Oracle, Adabas D, Informix, DB2 for UNIX, DB2/400, and Microsoft’s SQL Server 6.0.

mySAP ERP

mySAP ERP combines the world’s most complete, scalable, and effective software for enterprise resource planning (ERP) with a flexible, open technology platform that can leverage and integrate SAP and non-SAP systems. It provides end-to-end software functionality for enterprise management and support — plus support for systems management — all powered by the SAP NetWeaver platform.

mySAP ERP comes with four individual solutions that support key business processes:
mySAP ERP Financials
mySAP ERP Human Capital Management
mySAP ERP Operations
mySAP ERP Corporate Services

PeopleSoft

PeopleSoft Enterprise is a suite of best-in-class applications built on our Pure Internet Architecture and designed for the most complex business requirements. Ideally suited for large, company-wide functions across all industries, it provides industry-leading web services integration with multi-vendor and homegrown applications. PeopleSoft Enterprise can be easily configured and adapted to meet the most unique customer requirements. In addition, it supports the broadest choice of technology infrastructure in the industry.

Campus Solutions
Customer Relationship Management
Financial Management
Human Capital Management
Service Automation
Supply Chain Management
Enterprise Tools and Technology
Siebel

What Is Siebel?

Siebel Systems is an eBusiness solutions company and a market-leading provider of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software.
Tom Siebel (CEO) and Pat House (Executive Vice President) founded Siebel Systems in July 1993. Headquartered in San Mateo, California.

Siebel’s initial product set out to organize and automate the sales force with calendars and contact management systems. It has since added numerous other Customer Service, Marketing and e-Commerce applications to its product line.

Siebel Product Overview

Siebel’s applications allow companies to access information about their customers whenever they need it. Siebel’s main product line includes its Call Center, Field Services and Sales, and Marketing applications, which allow employees located in different parts of a company to have access to the information they need to assist, service and make additional sales to customers.

Advantages of Oracle E-Business Suite

Oracle ERP Suite is based on Oracle Apps framework. What that essentially means to the customers is that no matter which component of the suite you buy, you get the same look and feel.

Oracle Database

The biggest USP of Oracle ERP is that it is based on Oracle Database, which in itself is a market leader. So the Oracle ERP is best placed to take advantage of the advances in the database technology. The buzzword is “If it is in the database, you will get it and get it fast!!”

Consultants

As far as the components of the suite itself are concerned Oracle Financials is a market leader, Oracle HRMS and Payroll they are catching up pretty fast. So the market indications are pretty positive and you have enough consultants in the market to cash in.

UI

Oracle Apps UI comes in two flavours – The Oracle Forms and the Oracle Self Service Application (HTML). The former is meant for the power user and provides incredibly quick learning curves for people from the finance and other domains who are used to Fox pro and dBase forms.

The Oracle Self Service Application is an HTML based solution and specifically caters to the global organization where Internet plays a major role.

Role Based Security

Oracle has been a pioneer in Database Security systems and the buzz word of Oracle Database is “Unbreakable”. Oracle Apps seem to gain from this legacy of secure systems. The role based security system offered by Oracle Apps is one of the better security models available currently.

Advantage over Best of Breed Software

Best of breed software cater to specific areas like HRMS, Financials etc. If your business is looking for software in only one specific area and you don’t think s/w for the other areas are required, you might be tempted to go for these offering… But one word of caution, in case you go for s/w for other areas where you select another best of breed s/w, you might end up paying exceptional amount of money in integrating the two softwares.

This is where Oracle Apps and other Suite vendors like SAP score over the best of the breed software. Implementing different parts of the suite would be much less costly than best of breed software and getting them to talk to each other.

Fast adoption of standards

By past record Oracle has a good record of adoption of new legal and technological standards which keep arising from time to time. So standards like Rosettanet, uccnet would be adopted as they solidify.

Ease of customization and installation

Oracle has a good record on supporting products. Oracle Apps are quite easy to install and customize according to your business needs.