Oracle to update JD Edwards World at Collaborate '07 |
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By Mark Brunelli, News Editor
13 Apr 2007 | SearchOracle.com |
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Oracle is set to release JD Edwards World A9.1 -- the newest version of its full-service ERP suite for IBM iSeries -- at next week's Collaborate '07 Oracle users conference in Las Vegas.
Oracle says the new version of JD Edwards World delivers more than 1,250 enhancements designed to, among other things, simplify upgrades and reduce the cost of integration. The company also says it worked closely with IBM to optimize the performance of JD Edwards World on Big Blue's System i business computing platform.
Oracle will demonstrate the new suite at next week's Collaborate '07 event after the software becomes generally available, John Schiff, Oracle vice president and general manager of JD Edwards World, said in an interview. The software is available for traditional deployment as well as on demand via Oracle On Demand, Schiff said. A double-byte version of JD Edwards World A9.1 will be available later this year.
The JD Edwards World product was initially released by JD Edwards, a company that was ultimately acquired by PeopleSoft Corp. The product fell under Oracle's control when Oracle bought PeopleSoft at the beginning of a three-year acquisition spree that also included the purchases of CRM giant Siebel Systems Inc. and, more recently, business intelligence software maker Hyperion.
Fike Corp., a Blue Springs, Mo.-based manufacturer of fire suppression and explosion protection equipment, has used JD Edwards World since 1995 and has already begun deploying the newest version as part of Oracle's early adopter program.
Despite the fact that these days, new JD Edwards World users at Fike are frequently turned off by the system's traditional "green screen" user interface, the suite is continuing to work out well for the firm, said Marty Nelson, director of business systems at Fike.
"For occasional users, I think it would be easier if [some of the applications] had more of a GUI-type interface and more of a point-and click-type thing," Nelson said.
New features
The latest version of JD Edwards World includes a new software component for handling service and warranty contracts. Schiff said the Service and Warranty Management module lets users do things like record service contracts, accept returns of materials for repair and bill repair costs to the customer.
Oracle has also tried to make it easier for customers to upgrade to JD Edwards World A9.1. The suite includes new tools for retrofitting custom code, testing the system and training users, Schiff said.
Among other enhancements, Schiff said, the JD Edwards World Web interface now supports a Java deployment, and the entire suite has been service-enabled to improve performance for customers adopting service-oriented architectures.
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