Oracle E-Business Suite( EBS )

Oracle EBS is a group of integrated Internet-based applications from Oracle. Introduced in 2001 as Version 11i, it includes modules for CRM, finance, human resources, supply chain management as well as applications for business intelligence.

Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS), also commonly known as Oracle Applications, is a suite of business applications made up of a large number of distinct software modules. Some of the modules are: Oracle Financials, Oracle RAC, Oracle CRM, Oracle Supply Chain Application, Oracle Order Management and Human Resources (HRMS). Whether you implement one module at a time, multiple modules, or the complete suite — Oracle E-Business Suite provides better business information for effective decision-making and enables an adaptive enterprise for optimal responsiveness.

E-Business Suite is a fully integrated system package that provides access to Oracle's business applications in a database environment. The suite is available in internet format and provides strong flexibility in integrating Oracle systems across applications. The E-Business Suite includes multiple products, such as Oracle Financials (Oracle General Ledger, Oracle Payables, Oracle Receivable), Oracle Logistics, Oracle HR, and Oracle Sales. The most current E-Business Suite release is edition 12, which debuted in January 2007.

Oracle's E-Business Suite (also known as Applications/Apps or EB-Suite/EBS) consists of a collection of enterprise resource planning (ERP), supply-chain management (SCM) computer applications either developed or acquired by Oracle. The software utilizes Oracle's core Oracle relational database management system technology.

This E-Business Suite is the most comprehensive suite of integrated, global business applications that enables organizations to make better decisions, reduce costs, and increase performance. It is a comprehensive suite of business applications for the enterprise. Protect your existing environment, extend the value of your applications, and evolve to next-generation business applications with Oracle E-Business Suite. It equips you with the functional best practices and industry-specific capabilities you need to adapt to change and compete more effectively. Application integration has never been easier. Leverage your applications investment by integrating your existing applications using Oracle's pre-built, standards-based Application Integration Architecture.

Architecture

The technical application structure is approximately as follows:

• Database layer - containing the database (stand-alone or RAC).

• Application server layer - containing the application server.

• Development tool layer - containing the run-times for Forms and Reports used by the application.

• Application layer - containing the business application modules.

Structure

The suite is comprised of a three-tiered hardware architecture. The tiers are database, application and PC. Sometimes referred to as Oracle's "E-Business Suite", Oracle Applications (currently Release R12, released 31st January 2007), contains several product lines.

The software utilizes Oracle's core Oracle relational database management system technology. It contains several product lines which include:

1. Oracle CRM

2. Oracle Financials

3. Oracle HRMS

4. Oracle Logistics

5. Oracle Mobile Supply chain Applications

6. Oracle Order Management

7. Oracle Transportation Management

8. Oracle Warehouse Management Systems

Oracle Financial Applications

The Oracle E-Business Suite provides a set of financial applications used internationally in businesses. Oracle Corporation groups these applications into "suites", which it defines as sets of common, integrated applications designed to execute specific business processes.

Oracle Financials refers to the closely related financial modules such as:

• Oracle Assets

• Oracle General Ledger

• Oracle Payables

• Oracle Receivables

• Oracle Cash Management

• Oracle Tabs

The key business processes enabled by the Financial Applications include:

Procure-to-Pay business process flow involving activities such as procurement, purchasing, making payment to Suppliers and subsequent accounting.

Order-to-Cash business process flow involves activities such as Customer Orders, Order fulfillment, receiving payment from Customers & subsequent accounting.

Conclusion

The applications that are included in the E-Business Suite cover the wide range of business processes that are found in any company. The industry-specific solutions supplied by Oracle can easily reduce the time and resources required to implement the solution and provide businesses with configured business processes that will improve overall effectiveness.