Release 12.2.14 is the latest in a series of EBS 12.2 updates Oracle have delivered approximately annually over the past 10+ years. Since 2018, Oracle has also delivered twice-annual updates to Enterprise Command Center (ECC) functionality, a critical subset of EBS 12.2.
While EBS 12.2 and ECC 12.2 updates are on parallel release cycles, they are not tightly coupled. As a result, you can apply the latest ECC update – currently ECC V13 – to an EBS 12.2 release earlier than 12.2.14, such as 12.2.9. In other words, you do not need to update your EBS 12.2 system to 12.2.14 to take advantage of the latest ECC functionality.
In addition to delivering regular release updates, Oracle has committed to providing long-term support for EBS 12.2. As of April 2024, Oracle have extended EBS 12.2 Premier Support through 2035. This continues the pattern, begun five years ago, of extending the end date for 12.2 Premier Support by an additional year as each year passes. Oracle refers to this as their “rolling 10+ years” commitment to provide at least 10 years' notice if they were to end EBS 12.2 Premier Support. To read more about all things Oracle EBS-related, read our series of blogs written by Nadia Bendjedou, VP of E-Business Suite Product Strategy at Oracle:
Here are the critical aspects of the most recent update you need to know, and don’t forget to check out our EBS Services if you need advice or support with any element of the below:
ERP Highlights
The Oracle EBS 12.2.14 update introduces several ERP-specific features to Cash Management Command Centre, Lease Accounting and Service Procurement.
Key ERP Enhancements:
- Cash Management Command Center: In 12.2.14, Oracle added support for reconciling bank-originated entries on bank statements,
such as bank service charges and interest payments.
- Lease Accounting: 12.2.14 includes enhancements to Lease Accounting, which applies to the many organisations that lease equipment such as copiers, cars, and networking devices.
- Services Procurement: Price, Receive & Cost Goods in Complex Services Order: In 12.2.14, Oracle added support for an “EZ” invoicing flow that simplifies the processing of small monetary transactions. Also, in 12.2.14, Oracle improved support for seller-facilitated orders, where the servicing
agency that does the work and knows the order details can pre-populate the order on behalf of the requesting agency. These are just some of the G-Invoicing enhancements that Oracle have added to 12.2.14.
SCM Highlights
The Oracle EBS 12.2.14 update introduces several SCM-specific features to Order Management/Inventory/Costing, Mobile Supply Chain Applications (MSCA), Warehouse Management, Product Hub, Process Manufacturing, Mobile Maintenance and Service Contracts.
Key SCM Enhancements:
- Order Management/Inventory/Costing: Return or Cancel Internal Sales Orders & Internal Org Transfers: Starting with EBS 12.2.14, you can return an internal sales order to an organisation different from the one that shipped it. For example, if your distribution centre ships materials to a
retail store where the materials are no longer needed, the retail store can transship the materials to another organisation where the materials are needed instead of returning them to the distribution centre.
- Mobile Supply Chain Applications (MSCA): User Experience Productivity Enhancements: The latest release of the MSCA smartphone apps includes additional configuration options and user interface improvements. Because some customers don't need all the fields on the MSCA user interface, Oracle has simplified personalising the interface directly from the app. For example, you can now hide fields that aren't relevant to your business.
- Warehouse Management: Pick by Additional Documents: Since 12.2.10, Oracle has provided mobile warehouse users additional options for picking items based on various documents, including picking by sales order and picking by pick slip. In response to ongoing customer requests, 12.2.14 provides still more flexibility for mobile picking activities.
- Product Hub: Manage Product Structures with Product Workbench HTML UI: Before 12.2.14, Oracle provided an MS Windows-based user interface for configuring and editing bills of materials for products. In 12.2.14, Oracle now provides a more modern workbench interface built with Oracle JET technology to replace the legacy MS Windows interface.
- Process Manufacturing: Production Scheduler Workbench in HTML: In Process Manufacturing, Oracle has had an Oracle Forms-based production scheduler workbench that includes a Gantt chart. With 12.2.14, Oracle has now provided a modern HTML alternative that uses Oracle JET technology to support an interactive Gantt chart.
- Mobile Maintenance: Personalisation Framework and Updated Look & Feel: In 12.2.14, Oracle has added a personalisation framework that lets you hide fields that are not relevant to your business. And they've continued to adopt Oracle’s latest “Redwood” look and feel.
- Service Contracts: Enhanced Usage Billing: Starting with 12.2.14, you can price usage transactions based on the billing period date instead of the service contract date. This applies to cases where you revise your price list
several times per year, Oracle wants to bill based on current pricing as of the billing period versus pricing established when the service contract was initiated.
HCM Highlights
The Oracle EBS 12.2.14 update introduces several HCM-specific features to HCM Succession Planning and Self-Service Human Resources/Approvals Management.
Key HCM Enhancements:
- HCM Succession Planning: Uptake Latest User Experience Technology HCM Succession Planning provides a spider chart for comparing the competencies of potential succession candidates. In 12.2.14, Oracle replaced the legacy interface built with Oracle Application Development Framework (ADF) with a more modern, interactive interface built with Oracle JET.
- Self-Service Human Resources/Approvals Management: Better Timeout Processing with Enhanced Surrogate Approver: In 12.2.14, Oracle improved Approvals Management Engine (AME) support for timeout processing – i.e., cases where an approval goes up the organisational hierarchy to an approver who doesn't respond within the timeout interval. You can configure rules to redirect the approval to a surrogate or alternate approver based on different business conditions. For example, for hiring approvals, a surrogate approver could be an HR employee or an HR position.
Support for Oracle APEX Extension and Customisation
With 12.2.14, Oracle has enhanced its support for integrating Oracle APEX extensions with EBS, allowing you to:
- Register an APEX page using a new EBS function type
- Two modes are supported: External or Embedded
- The Embedded mode allows a custom APEX page to appear within an HTML OA Framework page, providing a more consistent look and feel as the user moves between standard and custom pages
- Navigate seamlessly from EBS to APEX using EBS-configured authentication
- SSO (OAM or IDCS) or Local authentication
- Access is controlled via EBS function security authorisation
- Integrate an APEX workspace schema with EBS
- APEX schema is registered as a custom EBS schema
- APEX schema is editions-enabled to work with Online Patching
We expect to see more updates in 2025, so make sure to follow our LinkedIn page or subscribe to EBS Insights to be the first to know when they happen. If you want help deploying Oracle E-Business Suite 12.2.14, get in touch with our experts today about our EBS R12.2 Upgrades, or book a meeting…