Financial Close and Consolidation with Oracle Cloud EPM
Oracle Cloud EPM FCCS streamlines financial consolidation, enhancing accuracy and compliance.
November 12, 2024
No Comments
Menu
PeopleSoft Platform Conversion & PeopleSoft Tools Upgrade
CFC embarked on a significant technological transformation by partnering with Elire in early 2023 to plan and execute the conversion of their PeopleSoft deployment from an antiquated DB2 platform to a modern MS SQL platform. The strategic initiative aimed to complement CFC’s high-priority goal of phasing out their Mainframe environment. The primary objective was to migrate the HCM and FSCM systems from DB2 to SQL Server, including an upgrade of PeopleSoft Tools, all while ensuring minimal impact on core business operations and daily activities. The migration would involve numerous dependencies between HR, FS, and other applications, prompting Elire to meticulously map the processes to prevent disruptions.
Elire and CFC sought to establish a stable migration process within their operational environment, allowing for a seamless production cutover. To complete this task, Elire and CFC’s teams would need to migrate data from DB2 to SQL Server for all in-scope applications and environments. Additionally, it was essential to retrofit Structured Query Reports (SQRs) and PeopleSoft customizations to ensure they functioned correctly on the new SQL platform.
Elire recommended a quick assessment and planning engagement, Phase I, to learn about CFC’s environment, identify delivery options, and estimate the level of effort required for the project. This initial phase delivered a proposal including a detailed conversion strategy, approximate timeline, budget, and resource allocation estimates. Phase I enabled CFC leadership to understand the project’s full complexity and lay the groundwork for the full-scale migration effort.
The project presented several complex challenges that required meticulous planning and execution. One primary challenge was executing this strategic effort alongside other competing CFC initiatives. This prohibited CFC from having the ability to freeze development activities during the migration, which posed a significant risk to the project’s timeline and success. Elire developed a strategy that allowed ongoing development to continue while coordinating migration activities to avoid conflicts.
Another challenge was the volume of existing DB2 code that needed to be converted and optimized in the new SQL Server. Team Elire leveraged advanced tools and methodologies to ensure a seamless transition without compromising data integrity. Additionally, the concurrent upgrade of PeopleSoft Tools from version 8.58 to 8.60 added complexity, requiring rigorous testing and validation to ensure compatibility and performance.
Overcoming project challenges, Elire and CFC successfully completed the project on time and below budget. With two key go-live dates – HCM on May 6, 2024, and FSCM on July 6, 2024 – Elire’s team successfully transitioned CFC from the old DB2 environment to new the new SQL Server Platform.
Key factors contributing to the project’s success included rigorous planning, comprehensive documentation, and the professionalism of both teams. The creation of detailed conversion runbooks became a critical differentiator, enabling the team to deliver on all four pillars of project management: Time, Budget, Scope, and Quality.
Looking back on the project, CFC’s Enterprise Architect Robert Chasten stated, “I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the exceptional service Elire provided during our migration from Mainframe DB2 to SQL Server. Elire’s dedication and hard work allowed us to achieve a dream that began nearly 6 years ago! While we had some bumps in the road, and sometimes it felt like the wheels came off, the chassis remained intact, and you dug deep and got the job done. Elire’s ability to troubleshoot and resolve all the challenges that arose made the go live migrations a great success”
Ultimately, the project resulted in new efficiencies for CFC’s staff, including enhanced performance and reliability of HCM and FSCM systems and streamlined processes. Elire’s project team’s exceptional problem solving, and monumental effort, aided in the achievement of CFC’s long-term system goals. The migration marked a new era of efficiency and stability for CFC, paving the way for future advancements.
Cincinnati Financial Corporation (CFC) is a dedicated provider of property and casualty insurance, operating through its subsidiaries: The Cincinnati Insurance Company, The Cincinnati Indemnity Company, and The Cincinnati Casualty Company. As an organization that stands firmly in the competitive insurance market, CFC is the 20th largest insurance company in the United States. Providing reliable coverage and exceptional service, CFC is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of their policyholders and the communities they serve.
Interested in learning more about how Elire can assist your PeopleSoft team? Visit our PeopleSoft Services Page or contact our team at [email protected].
Oracle Cloud EPM FCCS streamlines financial consolidation, enhancing accuracy and compliance.
Oracle EPM Task Manager simplifies budgeting with automated tracking, intuitive dashboards, and centralized task management for more efficient financial processes.
Join Elire’s Jenny Wang for an insightful webinar covering the transformative shift from Task List to Task Manager in Oracle EPM Planning. Discover how centralized
Taleo has a long-held market share as a standalone, cloud-based, robust recruitment platform. Post release 13, Oracle released its own response to the evolving recruiter