So, after a few days of catching up on the 'to-do list' plus a few days shaking off some serious jet lag, I’ve finally had the time to reflect on my key takeaways from the sessions, the keynotes, and countless inspiring conversations.

JD Edwards: Here for the Long Haul – A Roadmap to 2036 and Beyond!

One message echoed loud and clear throughout the entire conference, JD Edwards is here to stay. Oracle's commitment to JD Edwards EnterpriseOne 9.2 has never been stronger, with Premier Support now extended through at least December 2036. This isn't just a number; it's a green light for your future planning and investment in your current JDE environment. We're being empowered not only to modernize and optimize but also to seamlessly enhance JD Edwards with powerful Oracle Cloud capabilities. This wasn't just Oracle talking the talk; the quantity and quality of outstanding customer presentations at Blueprint truly showed it.

The Big Idea: If your JD Edwards system feels stuck in 2005, it's time to fast-forward to 2025! The runway is clear for modernization. Take a fresh look at your tried and trusted ERP, and get creative. 

Cloud: Your Strategic Partner in the JD Edwards Journey

We've hit a tipping point! We've crossed the chasm! The times they are 'a-changin'! (We prefer quoting Bob Dylan to the business gurus.)

We're seeing a significant surge in Cloud adoption among our own customers, and this trend was unmistakable at
Blueprint 4D. Cloud is a recognized ally, a vast opportunity waiting to be harnessed. What's truly exciting is the growing confidence and skill set the JDE community is building around Cloud technologies. I had so many insightful conversations on this topic, and the clear consensus was that, because every customer is unique, no two Cloud journeys are the same. Yet, while no two paths are identical, most fall into one of five major paths as  identified by IDC: 

• Innovate around the Core,
• Minimalistic,
• Peel the Onion,
• Reimagine,
• Kill the Datacenter

We had a great session on this topic at our London, Applications Focus Event in March

What we are seeing in our community is: 

• JDE on OCI is The Smart Starting Line. Many of our customers begin their Cloud Journey by running JDE on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). It’s a logical first step that delivers benefits across the board – think enhanced security, scalability, performance, disaster recovery, and easier access to AI capabilities. And yes, it absolutely makes sense from an ROI perspective. Check out our JDE on OCI Pricing Calculator or hear from our customer Circle K.

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  • Augmenting JDE with Fusion Cloud Applications. For areas where Oracle Cloud offers specialized, best-of-breed functionality (like advanced financial management, HR, or supply chain planning), the strategy is to seamlessly integrate these cutting-edge cloud applications with your core JDE system. This approach lets you maximize your existing JDE investment while tapping into the latest cloud innovation and AI. We have developed expertise in this area, including a powerful integration between Oracle Supply Chain Planning and JDE, truly augmenting JDE's capabilities.

The Big Idea: No matter where you are, there’s a Cloud Journey perfectly tailored for your JDE environment. While your path is unique, you can learn valuable lessons from those who've already blazed similar trails. 

AI: More Than Hype, Practical Potential for JD Edwards

Of course, AI was everywhere. How could it not be?

AI isn't a magic bullet. It offers immense potential, but sometimes, the challenges we're trying to solve with AI can be just as effectively addressed with tools you already have, like Orchestrator. Start building your AI skills and exploring use cases, but don't let the AI hype blind you to optimizing the powerful JDE tools already at your fingertips.  Our client Adnams featured as part of the JDE Keynote as leading lights on how to use JDE & AI in a practical, iterative way. 

The Big Idea: You won't be replaced by AI but you may be replaced by someone who knows how to harness the power of AI. 

Release 25: Your Catalyst for Digital ERP Transformation

JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Release 25 marks a significant leap forward, solidifying JDE as the ideal foundation for your Digital Transformation.

• Orchestrator – The Gift That Keeps On Giving. This is arguably the biggest story for us! Orchestrator just keeps getting better, continuing to be the bedrock for automation, integration, and simplification within JDE.
  
  
• No-Code/Low-Code Extensibility. Oracle is making huge investments in allowing us to extend JDE without traditional coding. Think tools like Widgets (the evolution of One View Watchlists), logic extensions, and expanding the application's reach using Visual Builder Cloud Service (VBCS) to deliver rich mobile experiences. This truly empowers your business analysts and power users to drive innovation directly!
  
  

• • Platform Certifications & Technical Muscle. The focus on supporting Oracle Database 23ai (with its native AI/ML capabilities), the 64-bit architecture transition, and improved performance with features like TCP Fast Open on Oracle Autonomous Database Serverless means a more robust and future-proof foundation for your JDE system. And for JDE customers, this powerful foundation might be more affordable than you expect!

The Big Idea: Get code-current and do it now!

Data is Gold: Driving Decisions with JD Edwards Insights

We all know the critical importance of data-driven decision-making. The new Widgets tool from JD Edwards is a fantastic way to access and visualize important information. (Okay, I'll just say it: I love Widgets!)

What's more, data is essential for any AI initiative, so ensuring your JDE data is clean, accurate, and compliant is non-negotiable. Our data experts have been reflecting on this and have used their knowledge of over twenty years working on JDE Data management to inform their thinking.  

The Big Idea: Proactive Data Management is Foundational

Security and Compliance: Still Our Top Priority for JD Edwards

With cyber threats becoming increasingly sophisticated, securing your JD Edwards environment isn't just important—it's paramount. Blueprint 4D underscored the vital need for:

• Stronger access controls: Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) and enhanced role-based access controls (RBAC) for JDE.
• Automated security updates and patching.
• Regular security audits and penetration testing.
• Leveraging Cloud &  AI for cybersecurity: Exploring how AI can help monitor and protect your JDE environment.

The Big Idea: Getting your JD Edwards onto OCI is great way to protect your company.

Mindset Shift: From "Do With" to "Do For" – The Art of the Possible

Chris Laping kicked off the conference with a truly thought-provoking presentation on how us techies need to shift our mindset from a "Do With" to a "Do For" approach. Instead of waiting for end-users to request solutions, the community was encouraged to proactively leverage the latest JDE functionality to anticipate needs and deliver value upfront.

Sometimes, especially in the tech world, we go hunting for the "next big thing" when we already have everything we need right in front of us. With all the fantastic innovations outlined above, there's so much we can already achieve with JD Edwards to make a real difference for our users and our businesses.

The Big Idea: Get creative! 

Travelling to Blueprint brings a fresh perspective, and if I had to have just one takeaway, it would be this: take the initiative. Shake things up, brainstorm with your teams, and truly empower your users and your organization. It's time for a fresh look. As the JDE team reminded us, it's 2025, not 2005!

It was great seeing you all, and I can't wait to do it all again in September at Infocus. See you there! 

Also worth a listen is the recap of Blueprint from the JDE Podcast.