For the better part of the last three decades, JD Edwards software (JDE) has been one of the most popular ERP systems on the market. However, there is some concern about the future of JDE.
The Future of JDE
JD Edwards has been a popular system, especially in the field of distribution and manufacturing. It has garnered a solid fan base. Many chief information officers have used the product for years and have raved about its quality and usability. However, since it was purchased by Oracle, there have been some questions about the future of JD Edwards. Will JD Edwards be around for the long haul? JD Edwards has committed to a 2030 roadmap, or at least has committed to offering some support for the product until 2030.
Organizations looking to make long-term plans are right in questioning whether JD Edwards is still a good fit for their organization going forward. This applies equally to deciding whether to use JD Edwards software for the first time or to organizations that are already using the ERP.
The New JD Edwards
In late 2020, Oracle announced the release of JD Edwards version 9.2. This version had hundreds of improvements and tweaks designed to offer more functionality. Some took this as proof that Oracle is committed to investing R&D money and supporting the product for at least another decade. And while it may look like this on the surface, something different becomes apparent when you scratch beneath the surface.
When you look at the tweaks made to JD Edwards in its newest version, you see that most of these tweaks are simply cosmetic in nature. These include an improved user interface, tweaks to the efficiency of workflow, and similar cosmetic changes. What you don’t see is the in-depth improvements that you are seeing with other systems. While Oracle has laid out a roadmap for JDE that theoretically should take the product into 2030, the lack of material improvements to the software leads many to wonder if that roadmap will actually materialize.
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Assessing Your Organization’s Risk Tolerance
Your organization needs to assess how it will be impacted if Oracle decides to pull the plug on JDE and stop supporting JDE by 2030. If you are a midsize distribution or manufacturing firm, sticking with JDE may not be the end of the world. If it is already a good fit and you are content with having an unsupported product that may be giving error messages or a product that does not have the latest features, then sticking with JDE may be okay.
However, if you are like many organizations dealing with a competitive market and you rely on your ERP technology to give you a competitive edge, it could be that JDE will hold you back. You will need an ERP that grows over the years and is backed by in-depth R&D and innovation. In that case, investing in a new and innovative ERP, like NetSuite, is going to be your best bet.
Migrating from JD Edwards Software
If you feel that now is the right time for your organization to migrate from JD Edwards software to a more innovative ERP, like NetSuite, you will need to create a roadmap that includes:
- Data
- People
- Project Scope
- Tools and Technology
Are you planning a like for like migration, functional migration, or transformational migration? These will require different resources to accomplish the goal, including good leadership. This starts with the executive sponsor and goes down to those who will do the final testing.
How To Learn More
Eighty percent of ERP data is inactive. Preparing data for conversion and migration is the first step as you plan your project. Finally, you will need tools to properly implement migration.
Our Fusion CPA team can help walk you through the migration, implementation, integration, and optimization processes. Our ERP of choice is NetSuite. However, we are experienced in helping our clients migrate their accounts to a variety of platforms. Push the discovery button below to learn more.
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