Are you about to upgrade to the latest version of On-Premise Hyperion planning? Have you considered moving to the Cloud instead? Cloud Computing has proved to be both transformative and revolutionary in recent years, and for existing Hyperion customers looking to upgrade, switching to the Cloud could actually save you money and increase your functionality.
According to the Cloud Industry Forum (CIF), 63% of UK businesses are planning to move their entire IT estate to the Cloud in the near future. Taking that leap by implementing a Cloud structure rather than continuing with your upgrade could be the difference between progressing as a business and holding it back.
Oracle recently announced support for on premise until 2030, but does that mean you should upgrade your on-premise application rather than looking at moving to Cloud? The answer is no, and here’s why…
Business Benefits of Moving to the Cloud
IT organisations are moving to the Cloud in droves with high hopes to improve efficiency, increase agility and save money. Here we cover the business benefits of moving to the Cloud in more detail…
• Saves you Money
Cloud computing TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) is cheaper compared to on-premise systems. When evaluating the direct and indirect costs and benefits involved with implementing Cloud computing vs on-premise systems, on-premise were shown to be more expensive to operate than their Cloud-based counterparts, with the overall cost 60% higher on an annual basis.
In challenging times, where businesses are continuously looking for ways to reduce cost, the Cloud provides everything you have now but for less money.
• Increases your Functionality
The latest release of on-premise was 11.1.2.4 back in 2015. At the annual Oracle OpenWorld 2017 event, Oracle indicated the next upgrade patch for on-premise will be early 2019. This seems like a long wait, especially when you consider that the Cloud is updated every month. This means that Cloud owners will be over three years ahead of on-premise owners.
Also, perhaps more importantly, the 2019 patch will not bring on-premise to parity with Cloud. Oracle has indicated that only features most liked by customers will make it into the patch. So, whilst Oracle is supporting on-premise, the clear strategic direction for development is Cloud.
If you are using on-premise, your functionality will always be somewhat behind compared to the Cloud, by up to three years at the current release rate. Meaning you could be missing out on the monthly innovations. Plus, the new functionality may never make it into the on-premise world.
• Offers Exclusive Services
Some products like Enterprise Performance Reporting Cloud Service (EPRCS Oracle), a secure, collaborative and process driven service for defining, authoring, reviewing, and publishing financial, management, and regulatory report packages, were created on Cloud and will never be ported to an on-premise product. So, on-premise users lose out on software, whilst Cloud users get to benefit from these exclusive services.
Common Concerns of Moving to the Cloud
• Data Security
Top concerns for Cloud adoption by businesses are related to data security. However, Oracle’s security solutions enable organisations to implement and manage consistent security policies across their hybrid data centre. Oracle has made huge investments in their data centres and cyber security so security can be gained through all hardware.
Security needn’t be a concern to businesses considering Cloud adoption as data, if anything, is likely to be more secure, particularly with use of single configuration, and consistently up-to-date patching, making potential risks easier to manage.
• Integration with your Existing Systems
Oracle understands that companies will not shift everything to the Cloud in one go. A hybrid state of on-premise and Cloud systems will exist as companies gradually make the journey towards the Cloud.
With that in mind, the EPM Cloud comes with all the tools you need (Data Management, EPM Automate) to transfer data from your source systems (GL) to your EPM applications in a ‘lights out’ process, whether you are moving data on premise to the Cloud, or between your Cloud applications.
Moving to the Cloud is Inevitable…
It seems moving to the Cloud is inevitable, and it’s simply a matter of time. So the real question is, if you are about to upgrade, why wouldn’t you opt for the Cloud instead? For those seriously considering it, EPM planning solutions are one of the places Oracle recommends to start your journey.
As Cloud technologies continue to evolve, more and more software buyers are evaluating software as a service (SaaS) solutions against on-premise offerings. So, for existing Hyperion customers looking to upgrade, we recommend switching to the Cloud to save money, increase functionality and gain the latest services.
While there are many factors that influence which deployment model is best for any particular business, the cost of the system is often a key factor. And, not only is the Cloud the cheaper option, its innovation and reduction in security risk mean companies who don’t embrace it, will be left at a disadvantage.
Where Do I Start?
With the utilities and expertise available, it’s easier to move to Cloud than you think, so why not start your journey today? Contact our friendly team at Absolute EPM for more information.