For many organizations that we have supported across Southern Africa, Oracle E‑Business Suite (EBS) has been the backbone of finance, supply chain, HR, and operations for over decades. But there’s a reality everyone is facing: cloud is no longer optional — it’s strategic.
Oracle is doubling down on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and Fusion Cloud Applications, and EBS customers with years of customizations need a solid plan.
Given this reality, here are some thoughts on what your next steps could be. I am not sure that we have exhausted this topic so look out for expansions we might put o the next blog, but this is a good start.
1. Start with a Cloud Readiness Assessment (Especially for heavily customized EBS)
Whether its public or private sector, Southern African companies often run highly tailored EBS instances. Before migrating, you need clarity on:
- Which customizations truly add business value
- Which can be replaced with standard cloud capabilities
- Which integrations can be simplified or retired
OCI supports lift‑and‑shift migrations that preserve existing customizations without major redesigns, allowing you to run EBS as-is on cloud infrastructure. This reduces disruption while giving you time to modernize incrementally.
OCI migration guides emphasize that you can move EBS “without significant configuration, integration, or business process changes” during lift‑and‑shift. [oracle.com]
2. Understand Your Migration Path: EBS → OCI vs. EBS → Fusion Cloud
Option A: EBS → Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)
Best for companies with deep customizations. Benefits include:
- Preserve customizations & workflows using a lift‑and‑shift approach.
- Improved performance and better reporting.
- Significant cost reduction.
- leverage OCI services to modernise processes and deliver value
Option B: EBS → Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications
This is a transformational shift — not just technical migration.
Key challenges include:
- Handling years of customizations
- Rebuilding complex business rules in Fusion’s configuration framework
- Managing user change and process redesign
Fusion Cloud offers the long‑term benefit of continuous innovation (AI, analytics, automation), but the effort is bigger.
3. Stabilize and Clean Your Data Before You Move
Data is the #1 point of failure in migrations.
Automated migration studies stress:
- Data must be validated, cleansed, and aligned before movement.
- Errors and inconsistencies in financial, supplier, or HR data can cripple your cloud environment.
This is a huge issue in many organizations with long-lived EBS systems and multiple subsidiaries.
4. Review Customizations: Keep, Kill, or Rebuild?
This is probably the most important review
EBS customizations can be hundreds of objects deep. But in the cloud:
- OCI allows you to retain them immediately (lift and shift).
- Fusion Cloud forces you to rethink them using low‑code configuration and extensions.
Without a doubt handling customization is one of the trickiest parts of EBS cloud modernization projects.
Create a catalog:
✔ Extensions still required
✔ Features replaced by delivered cloud functionality
✔ Custom reports that can be rebuilt with Oracle Cloud reporting tools
Do not fall into the trap of rebuilding EBS on Fusion
5. Upskill Your Team — Especially for OCI & Fusion
Because cloud brings:
- New architecture concepts
- New security models
- New automation tools
- New upgrade cycles (Quaterly releases)
Many organizations underestimate the learning curve, especially when shifting from EBS custom code to Fusion configuration.
Start training early — not during migration.
6. Plan for Phased Modernization (Hybrid Strategy)
For most companies with large customizations, the most realistic journey is:
- Migrate EBS to OCI (quick wins: stability, cost savings, better performance)
- Modernize selectively (new features, analytics, automation)
- Move functional areas to Fusion Cloud gradually.
Final Thought: Cloud migration isn’t a single leap — it’s an ongoing journey, and having the right implementation partner makes all the difference.