How Simplified Analytics Streamline Procurement Operations

Hello Oracle PeopleSoft users,

You may have heard of Simplified Analytics or seen a demo at one of the last PeopleSoft user conferences. Today specifically, I want to show you the beauty of Simplified Analytics for Procurement Operations and how they can streamline processes and ease workload for Procurement managers.

PeopleSoft Procurement Operations in Fluid UI allows managers to access the important procurement information they need, wherever they are at, from a desktop, tablet or mobile device. Important events such as Procurement Spend, supplier’s non-conformance to SLAs and any pending approvals can be monitored and acted upon while on the go.

In addition to the mobility and flexibility that Procurement Operations in Fluid UI offers, managers can view interactive, Simplified Analytics for enhanced data analysis. From the Procurement Operations homepage, managers can set up different events as tiles for simplified and streamlined navigation, personalizing them with the exact information they would like to monitor. Managers can set up various thresholds for each event, receiving a notification when a threshold on a certain event is exceeded and needs to be reviewed, such as the number of contracts due to expire. 

Procurement managers can set up a tile as a Supplier Watch List to monitor violations and assess whether suppliers should continue to hold the organization’s key supplier positions. From the Supplier Watch List page, suppliers are listed on the left-hand side with alerts underneath the suppliers that currently have violations. New suppliers will not have any activity under their names. Suppliers can be added to the Supplier Watch List using a simple search and add feature. On the right side of the details section, users can access My Analytics to combine data from within the page to make a report using the Create Analytics Wizard. 

Users can enter a new report name and specify whether they would like the data from the PS Query to be shown in a chart, table or Pivot Grid. Users can specify and filter through which data and fields they would like to be included in the report. 

After clicking Next, the chart automatically appears. Users can select or deselect the information they would like to include in the chart, using a click and drag to add additional fields. Users can also save the report for future reference by clicking Save in the top right corner.

The analytic can also be added to the homepage as a tile or shared with others through accessing the Publishing Options button if the user has administrative access.

1. Publish this report to ‘My Analytics’ of other users
This option publishes and places the Analytic report in all users’ My Analytics that use the component.

2. Publish this report to the tile repository of other users
This option publishes and saves the Analytic report as a tile in the My Analytics folder for all users that use the component, providing them with the ability to add the tile to their homepage.

Other options for Simplified Analytics include the ability to go back in through the tile and alter filters, chart layout, grid transaction details, sort options and export into an Excel sheet. Users can also save the updated analytic report or publish another analytic to their homepage. 

You could also look at the Supplier 360 view that allows users to access a single page of all the information on a supplier.

Interested in learning more about how you can access Oracle's Simplified Analytics on Procurement Operations? Visit peoplesoftinfo.com. 

Submitting a Payment Request in Fluid UI

Entering and approving non PO payment requests can be an extremely time consuming and costly process for many organizations. Now, with PeopleSoft Payment Request in Fluid UI, all employees can follow the intuitive navigation to submit ad hoc payment requests without the need for assistance from Accounts Payable. PeopleSoft Fluid Payment Request provides enhanced self service, allowing employees to submit payment requests while on the go, from a tablet or mobile phone.

To access the Payment Request feature, users simply click on the Payment Request Center tile on the Fluid Employee Self Service homepage. From the Payment Request Center page, users can view all recent Payment Requests as well as any messages on Payment Requests sent by the organization’s designated request approvers. Users can also filter to find the exact Payment Request that they are looking for. 

An activity guide walks users through the easy, four step process to create new payment requests:

Step 1: Enter in Invoice Summary Details
Users can follow along, entering in information such as invoice number and date, cost and description. After entering in the Cost Sub-Total along with any other costs such as taxes or freight charges, a total amount is automatically calculated. The Fluid Payment Request also has the ability for users to upload attachments to a request, such as an invoice or other related documentation during this step.

Step 2: Enter Supplier Information
After entering in invoice summary details, users are prompted to enter supplier information, allowing a search by Supplier Name or Supplier ID. If a new supplier needs to be entered into the system, users can click on the “Enter New Supplier” button to fill out the necessary details and add them to the request.

Step 3: Enter Invoice Details
In the third step of the activity guide, users are prompted to enter invoice line details such as quantity, unit and unit price. Users can search by Item ID to look through all of the items found within PeopleSoft, and can then add that item to the invoice details page. In addition to invoice and supplier information, users can enter in the accounting information as well. Fluid Payment Requests utilize predefined Accounting Tags, which automatically enter in accounting details for that line of the request.

Step 4: Review and Submit
In this final step, users are prompted to review all of the information entered before submitting the payment request. After the request is submitted, users can view the approval history and see who the designated approver is.

Within Fluid UI, approvers can access one, convenient location to view all pending payment requests, cutting down on navigation by removing the need to flip between pages. Through the Pending Approvals page, the approver can filter through requests and group requests (such as by date, type or person), view approval details and approve or deny the request directly from the page. 

By utilizing Fluid Payment Requests, organizations can cut down on processing time and allow for a faster turnaround of payments. Fluid Payment Requests streamline organizational operations and allow Accounts Payable departments to focus strategically on other important tasks, cutting down their workload to reviewing, auditing or correcting.

For more information about Fluid Payment Request and other features found in PeopleSoft FSCM 9.2, click here to access the Oracle PeopleSoft FSCM 9.2 Payables PeopleBook.

Make a Note of These Seven PeopleSoft Core HR Features

Last week, Julie Alonso, Oracle Product Management Director for Core HR, presented a webinar entitled “Working the “Core”—Getting the Most Out of PeopleSoft HR”. PeopleSoft is the number one HCM solution in the world with over 4,000 customers currently utilizing the power and functionality that PeopleSoft HCM has to offer. In the webinar, Alonso highlighted many of the new features released in the latest PeopleSoft HCM 9.2 Update Image 17as well as many new developments planned to be released within the next 12 to 18 months.

Guided Self Service
One of the most notable developments in the HCM Update Image 17 is enhanced Guided Self Service capabilities. Guided Self Service, introduced in PUM Image 9, walks managers through transactions step by step, from beginning to completion. No customization is needed as Activity Guides are configurable. In Update Image 17, Activity Guides now allow users to set up compound transactions to make the transaction and approvals process as seamless and efficient as possible. In Update Image 17, users are also able to upload helpful resource documents to the transaction, allowing managers to access the help and information they need without navigating away from the page.

Another additional feature released in Update Image 17 is Reg Region Lockdown, which allows users to lockdown action reasons by Reg Region.

Julie confirmed that within the next 12 months, Guided Self Service will be delivered on the small form factor, allowing managers access to complete a transaction/approval process while on the go.  Responding to customer focus group requests, Oracle is also in the development stages to add features to Guided Self Service such as a Push Back feature, allowing a manager to push back a transaction rather than killing the transactions when it is not approved.

Simplified Analytics

First delivered in Image 16, Simplified Analytics allow HCM users to build tables, charts or pivot grids, providing a visual representation of data for enhanced data analysis and decision making. Users never have to leave the transaction page to create analytics and can save analytics.  Within the next 18 months, Oracle is planning to deliver somewhere between 10 and 20 additional HR analytics. PeopleTools 8.55 is required to run Simplified Analytics.

Onboarding/Offboarding

Planned to be delivered within the next 12 months is a new Onboarding/Offboarding Guided Process framework utilizing Activity Guides. Customers will need to be on PeopleTools 8.55 in order to utilize this new framework. The Onboarding/Offboarding framework will include configurable steps. Users will be able to track the status of the steps, allow dependencies between steps (example: users cannot move on to step 3 until they successfully complete step 2), have approval workflow in each step and have alerts/notifications. Another great feature is that the new framework can include both PeopleSoft and non PeopleSoft steps (can include 3^rd party content).

HR Administrator Experience

With Update Image 17, PeopleSoft has released an enhanced HR Administrator Experience and is now grouping more functional pages together, using tiles as application start pages.

Company Directory
In Image 17, the Company Directory is now more user friendly on mobile devices. Within the next 12 months, PeopleSoft will deliver users with the ability to export or print from the directory, show job title (not just generic job code) and display preferred name.

Employee Snapshot
An Enhanced Employee Snapshot page will also be delivered, allowing users within an organization to have a 360 view of employees, including a simplified talent summary and ability to initiate actions, as well as an interactive employee page. Employee Snapshot will be delivered first to managers.

Display Name Configuration
Within the next 12 months, PeopleSoft is planning to make it easier and more configurable to add in names, configurable by country. A functional user will be able to go in and modify names without the need for a technical background.

Interested in learning more about how you can upgrade to PeopleSoft HCM 9.2 and access these features? Visit peoplesoftinfo.com for more information.

14 Reasons Why You Should Uptake FSCM Update Image 18

Oracle just announced the release of PeopleSoft Update Image 18 for FSCM 9.2. 14 reasons why your organization should consider uptaking this image?

Reason #1: Accounts Payable Integration with Imaging Solutions
Utilizing web services for either Accounts Payable or eSettlements, images can be integrated into PeopleSoft in FSCM 9.2 Image 18 through a content management or imaging solution. This allows organizations to capture documents completely through character recognition and enable them to automatically fill in data and route invoices to specific users within an organization. Once the data is integrated into PeopleSoft, users are able to go in and make changes using the Quick Invoice component and then build a voucher from the image data. Users are able to view the original image from the Accounts Payable or eSettlements page.

Reason #2: Fluid Payment Request and Accounting Tag

PeopleSoft Payables in FSCM Image 18 utilizes the Fluid User Interface to make entering a payment requests easier than ever before. Users simply click on the Payment Request Center tile on the Fluid homepage to either filter through requests or create one of their own using a 4-step activity guide. To create a payment request, users enter in summary details, supplier information (by either selecting an existing one or creating a new supplier) and invoice line items, including Accounting Tags. Accounting Tags make it easy to standardize commonly used accounting transactions within PeopleSoft while saving users valuable time, removing the need to type in commonly used ChartField combinations each time.

Reason #3: My Billing Work—Fluid 

In FSCM Image 18, WorkCenter capabilities within Fluid UI have been expanded. Users can add the My Billing Work tile to their homepages, making it easy to access while on the go. The page provides an overview for Billing Managers/Operational Leads to examine the current workload and address any exceptions that may arise. Numbers displayed next to each work item in the list represent the number of transactions within each item that are waiting to be reviewed. By clicking on “Invoices Not Finalized,” users can access and filter bills that are not completed, drill into the line items and take action directly from the page, such as printing the bill or marking the bill as complete.  **It is important to note that in Image 18, the Billing WorkCenter is only available on small form factors and requires that organizations are running on PeopleTools 8.55

Reason #4: Procurement Operations Home Page Simplified Analytics
In PeopleSoft Procurement in Image 18, analytics can be shown directly to the right of the Supplier Watch list page when the Simplified Analytics option is enabled. Users can create a new report directly from the page, selecting the items they would like to include in the report. The report is saved in the My Analytics pane for future reference. Users also have the option to add the report to their Fluid homepage.

Reason #5: Fluid eProcurement Requisition Enhancements
The Fluid Requisition homepage in eProcurement is a one-stop shop for users to view requisition details and look through the Catalog, as well as create/submit any requisition requests. 

Reason #6: Fluid Mobile Inventory, Phase 2
Image 18 provides a platform for the integration of PeopleSoft Supply Chain Management with mobile devices. All Mobile Inventory transactions are now available to users through Fluid. Fluid UI allows users to access transactions in a Single Item view or List view, providing enhanced flexibility and navigation. The solution is also intuitive, with notifications signaling to users that they have saved or completed an update successfully.  

Reason #7: Master Contracts—Fluid
With Master Contracts in Fluid, users can access a summary view of contract information, including the master contract as well as all child procurement contracts, and create new contracts. Image 18 offers a combined and simplified approach to managing contract information. Users have the ability to add the Group and Special Contracts tile to homepages, allowing for quick access.

Reason #8: Fluid Travel Authorization and Simplified ChartField Entry
PeopleSoft Fluid Expense Report and Travel Authorization pages are now available on mobile devices, tablets and desktop through Fluid UI, utilizing a new ChartField Framework. The Travel Authorization entry component now matches the look and feel of other Expense components in 9.2 for a streamlined user experience. The Travel Authorization page in Image 18 also includes an Accounting Default button.

Reason #9: Electronic Signatures with DocuSign
The addition of DocuSign in PeopleSoft Supplier Contract Management allows users to sign documents electronically, storing the documents in the cloud. DocuSign allows users to upload documents and create signature fields, create authentication steps, check document progress and more.

Reason #10: Expanded Bank Reconciliation
Image 18 extends the functionality of PeopleSoft Treasury by allowing automatic bank reconciliation for multiple items to only one bank statement line. The Reconciliation Rules page provides users with an intuitive and consolidated way to set up Group and Match Reconciliation Date as well as the ability to set up Filter Criteria. The Process Reconciliation page provides users with the ability to run a reconciliation using the External Bank ID and Account Number. The newly expanded Bank Reconciliation feature reduces the amount of manual labor required by users and increases the accuracy of matching and automation.

Reason #11: AR Aging with Contracts
Aging Reports are now available to users using the Contract Number. Users can now access a new SQR Process—Aging by Department. The new reporting capability in AR provides users with enhanced flexibility, allowing users to run the report based on a single customer, group of customers, department(s), contract(s) or business unit(s).

Reason #12: PayPal Payments in eBill Payment
PeopleSoft eBill Payment now allows for PayPal as an acceptable form of payment. eBill Payment utilizes PayPal Express Checkout, providing customers with increased levels of flexibility when it comes to payment options. Users are guided through the checkout process using an Activity Guide, being taken to a PayPal login page to enter their logon credentials, provide payment from their PayPal accounts and then be taken back into the PeopleSoft application.

Reason #13: Revenue Recognition Enhancements, Phase 2
PeopleSoft Contracts Revenue Recognition feature is now updated with additional enhancements, including the ability to identify the Revenue Profile of a contract based on a new contract attribute, ability to see product revenue list prices utilizing Order Management and the Enterprise Pricer and the ability to enter revenue’s total contract price, among others.

Reason #14: EDI File Transformation with the Data Export Utility
Data Export Import Utility (DEIU) in Image 18 offers users support with electronic data import and export, replacing EDI Manager and Application Messaging. Using DEIU, users can import EDI files into staging tables or export data in EDI files. PeopleSoft offers users programs utilizing DEIU within FSCM 9.2 to assist in Billing, Purchasing, Payables and Receivables processes.

For more information, download the Oracle White Paper on PeopleSoft FSCM Update Image 18.  You will need your Oracle ID and password to access Oracle Support.

3 Reasons Why You Should Be Using PeopleSoft Workforce Availability

The PeopleSoft Fluid Workforce Availability feature equips managers with the tools they need to track and monitor employee time, training and attendance using an intuitive schedule view on a desktop, tablet or mobile device. The Fluid Workforce Availability feature enables enhanced managerial decision making, lowered compliance risk and workforce costs.

Interactive Viewing
The Workforce Availability page within the Manager Self Service dashboard shows an overview of all employees’ scheduled and reported times, with a daily or weekly view. Using the filter options, managers can search for and filter only the employees they would like to see, such as employees reporting to them during a particular shift. Managers can see who has approved or unapproved absences quickly, who is sick and who is taking vacation time. In addition to filtering capabilities, there is also a Sort command, allowing managers to sort by name, telephone, reported time and scheduled time. 

The Workforce Availability page uses rectangles to represent an employee’s scheduled time, with green bars reflecting actual, clocked time. Managers are able to see an employee’s attendance down to the minute. Managers can drill down and view more details about an employee’s time, such as the time they punched in and out, or when they took their lunch break.

Immediate Action
The Workforce Availability feature allows managers to take action immediately in regard to an employee’s time or attendance. For example, using the filters, managers can see who did not clock in for work on a given day and follow up quickly with a phone call by referencing the telephone number displayed under the employee’s name. Managers can take other actions in regard to an employee’s attendance by clicking on the related actions button next to an employee’s name. Managers can take actions such as approving overtime, approving an absence or emailing an employee to ask about a deviation in his or her attendance.

Extended Insight
Another helpful feature for managers is the Schedule Variance total displayed in the upper right corner of the pages. The page displays the total number of scheduled hours among all employees, the total hours reported and the overall percentage of variance. Managers can use this insight, taking it into account when making decisions and planning for the future.

Four Focuses of PeopleTools 8.55

With PeopleTools 8.55 released at the end of last year, Oracle continues to focus on delivering the best features and functionality through PeopleTools. Oracle has been focusing on four major investment and delivery areas within PeopleTools. The areas of focus include the following:

Focus Area #1: User Interface—Oracle is continually investing in ways to make the user’s experience within the applications modern and intuitive. In PeopleTools 8.55, Fluid UI is enhanced as Oracle continually looks for ways to provide customers with simplified navigation and mobility. Some Fluid enhancements in PeopleTools 8.55 include master/detail layouts, interactive and auto-sized titles (including a new Tile Wizard that walks users through tile creation step-by-step) and enhancements with Activity Guides and Dashboards. Fluid Homepages are also enhanced to better support tiles, intuitive navigation and personalization.

In 8.55, Fluid UI is the default. When a user now logs into a PeopleSoft 9.2 application, they will see a Fluid homepage with tiles rather than the Classic interface. Users will experience unified navigation with the Fluid header, including the Nav Bar, Menu and Notifications, present on both Fluid and Classic pages.

Focus Area #2: Life Cycle Management—Oracle is focusing on simplifying and streamlining how customers manage their applications. PeopleSoft Update Images are now delivered through Deployment Packages in 8.55. This allows PeopleSoft customers to deploy Update Images on any native OS for Windows or Linux. While VirtualBox still remains an option, customers have additional alternatives and the flexibility to choose. Deployment Packages make it easy to run environments in the Oracle Cloud. 8.55 also offers an Update Manager Dashboard, allowing users to see where they are at with maintenance. As far as what is coming up in 8.56, PeopleTools will be delivered through a continuous delivery model.

Focus Area #3: Analytic and Search Capabilities— 8.55 offers users simplified analytics for aided organizational decision making as well as enhanced search capabilities, making it easy for users to find the information they are looking for. In 8.55, users can see analytics, or visual representations, of the transaction page that they are on with the ability to alter the report to determine which fields or information is taken into account within the analytics. Users can stay on the same page without having to navigate away to create the report or find the information they need. Users can view the report from within a Pivot Grid, drilling down to the transaction level and filtering the data. As far as search capabilities go, PeopleTools 8.55 offers users the Global Search bar throughout applications as well as Secure Enterprise Search. Oracle is currently in the development phase to allow PeopleSoft applications to support Elastic Search as well. Ataway believes that Elastic Search will be delivered in 8.56.

Focus Area #4: Developer Productivity—In 8.55, developers can utilize the Application Designer andPeopleCode Editor, making it easy to build upon or customize PeopleSoft applications. Improvements include features such as find/search for PeopleCode as well as Application Classes and auto-complete, among others.

Why You Should Take a Look at HCM Update Image 17

PeopleSoft recently released the newest Update Image for HCM—Image 17. Wondering why you should leverage selective adoption to uptake some or all of the new features within this newest image? Here are the top 10 reasons.

Reason #1: Fluid Company Directory Usability Improvements
The Company Directory feature is now enhanced and has been redesigned through the Fluid User Interface with on-the-go users in mind. The Directory can now be displayed on mobile devices, tablets and desktops. After clicking on the Company Directory tile from the landing page, users will be able to search the Company Directory through a search bar, enhanced with filters to allow users to set their own search criteria and find the employees they are looking for. Users will also be able to access recently viewed pages and browse through their favorites pages with the number of employees in each collapsible section prominently displayed. In addition to accessing contact information or even map location of employees through their profiles, users can access/modify their own profiles easily. Mobility and navigation is intuitive and seamless, providing users with the information they need at their fingertips.

Reason #2: Direct Report Framework for Training Administration
PeopleSoft eDevelopment utilizes the same direct reports configuration with Update Image 17 as with other existing manager self service pages. The Training Summary feature displays the Employee Selection Criteria page with the same list and set up of employees as with the other manager self service pages. This ensures a consistent look and feel across pages.

Reason #3: Element Browser for Global Payroll and Absence Management
The Element Browser, enhanced in Fluid UI, provides users with the ability to maintain rules from a mobile device. Users can search by country using the Global Payroll Element Browser. Users are able to see element information and how each element is related to other elements within the system. To find a specific element, users can scroll through a list of elements for the selected country or search through the elements using the pin name, code or description. The search capability also includes a filter button and sort button to make finding elements simple and intuitive. From each element page, users can edit the element and refresh to reflect the changes, as well as select the Rebuild Effective Date Element command when adding/deleting related element members to rebuild the element map. An element breadcrumb is displayed at the top of the page, making it easy to navigate back and forth between elements.

Reason #4: Guided Self Service (Phase 2)
In Update Image 17, self service transactions utilize the PeopleTools Activity Guides Framework. Now, the same configuration pages will be used to set up transactions. Self service transactions will match the flow of Activity Guides.

Reason #5: Manager View as Feature
The My Team tile on Manager Self Service homepage offers managers useful information about direct and indirect reports. With Update Image 17, managers can quickly access the reporting structure for all managers who report up to them by selecting the View My Team next to another manager who is a direct report or by clicking the Change Team button next to the “Team of” field at the top that displays that manager’s name and job title. After selecting another manager, the page automatically changes to that manager’s list of direct reports. This enhanced navigation makes accessing reporting structures easier than ever before.

Reason #6: Self Service Matrix Management
Matrix teams can be managed through the Self Service Matrix Management tool. After clicking on the Manage Matrix Teams tile on the Self Service homepage, managers can add or edit teams from the Manage Matrix Teams page. Filtering capabilities allow users to add search criteria and quickly find the teams that they are looking for. When adding a new team, managers can select the type of team, add team members and set team leads.

Reason #7: Talent Acquisition Management Print Application
Using the Talent Acquisition Manager, users can determine which information fields to include when printing out applications. Using checkboxes, users can select which information they would like to include in the printed applicant report in one convenient PDF file. Other options include the ability to print attachments like resumes or responses to an online application questionnaire.

Reason #8: Updating Disability and Veteran Status in the Fluid User Interface
Users can now update Disability and Veteran status using the Personal Details tile on the Employee Self Service homepage through Fluid UI on a mobile device. Another enhancement is the addition of Form I-9 completion instructions and a link to the form itself to complete it directly from a phone.

Reason #9: Workforce Administrator and Talent Administrator Homepages
The new Workforce Administrator and Talent Administrator Homepages enhance navigation by making it easy for administrators to access commonly used information and transactions. The tiles make it easy for administrators to access WorkCenters, dashboards, analytics and more.

Reason #10: Workforce Availability
The Workforce Availability feature through the Fluid User Interface equips managers to view and track their team members time and schedules—both for the day and for the week. Filters allow managers to sift through employee tracked times, such as those employees with a schedule deviation or those away from work. Managers can take action on an employee’s reported time, such as approving overtime or notifying an employee about an absence.