As an enthusiastic Apple iPhone user, I am very pleased to see that our Applications Unlimited team has released their newest iPhone application: Oracle Business Approvals for Managers. This free (!) iPhone application allows managers to handle pending E-Business Suite actions related to expense reports, purchase order requisitions, human resources vacancies, and HR job offers. Managers can use this mobile app to evaluate pending EBS approvals, request more information, and approve or reject pending requests.
This iPhone app builds on the Oracle Business Indicators iPhone application. Oracle Business Approvals for Managers provides optional access to analytic reports related to the type of approval that users are reviewing. This configuration retrieves data from Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition Plus (OBIEE) or Oracle Business Intelligence Applications. All communications are secured via SSL encryption and may be optionally integrated with Oracle Identity Management components, too.
iPhone + Apps R12 Integration Architecture
There's a lot of technical wizardry going on under the surface:
As you can see from the architecture diagram, this application requires the following prerequisites:
- Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12 version 12.0.4 and higher
- Oracle SOA Suite 10.1.3.3 and higher
- Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition Plus (if you wish to use the optional OBIEE reports)
The Oracle SOA Suite, running on the Oracle application server, uses BPEL to handle the main worklist functionality and the subsequent back-end integration with Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12. Web Service calls are intercepted and authenticated by the Oracle Web Service Manager (OWSM). It uses the Oracle Application Adapter for its integration with the E-Business Suite. In addition, if access to analytic reports is enabled, Oracle BI EE Plus handles the request for business intelligence data that supports each worklist item.
For complete details about configuration and features, see:
- Oracle Business Approvals Connector for Managers Configuration Guide (PDF, 1.3 MB)
- Oracle Business Approvals for Managers User Guide (PDF, 2 MB)
A Word About Licencing
Although the iPhone app itself is free from the Apple iTunes store, Oracle Business Approvals for Managers requires licensing of a server product called Oracle Business Approvals Connector for Managers. This connector provides secure integration with Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12 using Oracle SOA Suite and the optional OBIEE technologies. This connector can be licensed directly from Oracle.
Feedback is Welcome
Like the previously-announced Oracle Business Indicators app, this application breaks new ground for mobile support for the E-Business Suite. I know that our Applications Unlimited development team is eager to hear your feedback about this product. If you post any comments or questions here, I'll make sure that they're passed directly to that team.
Comments (15)
Steven,
You've got to be crazy happy over this one. Now, if Floyd and I could just get VMWare to work with Visio and Projects, Apple would be the only way to go...:-)
Good stuff.
thx,
John
Posted by John Stouffer | November 14, 2008 5:08 AM
Posted on November 14, 2008 05:08
Hi, John,
My private exchanges with Floyd suggest that he's switched back from VMWare Fusion 1.1.3. I'm running that older version, too (2.0 didn't pass muster).
I don't have any trouble with either Visio or Projects under VMWare. Might it be a PEBKAC issue? ;-)
Regards,
Steven
Posted by Steven Chan | November 14, 2008 10:06 AM
Posted on November 14, 2008 10:06
Steven -
This is very cool stuff! Do you know if there are any plans for a Blackberry flavor of Oracle Business Indicators and Business Approvals?
Thanks in advance,
Robin
Posted by Robin Reese | November 17, 2008 5:49 AM
Posted on November 17, 2008 05:49
Hi, Robin,
Yes, this is very cool -- the static descriptions don't do justice to the real experience of using this firsthand.
I don't think that the team that owns this product has any immediate plans to port this to the Blackberry platform. This product has been expressly developed to take advantage of the iPhone's built-in features such as pinch-zooming, tap-zoom, graphics rendering, and so on. I suspect that it would be a real challenge to duplicate that user experience on the Blackberry.
Regards,
Steven
Posted by Steven Chan | November 17, 2008 10:02 AM
Posted on November 17, 2008 10:02
Steven,
Business Approvals for Managers is not quite free, the BPEL Connector is a licensed component.
Bob
Posted by Bob Jones | November 18, 2008 2:40 PM
Posted on November 18, 2008 14:40
hi i am using i-Mate windows mobile. shall i use E Business Approval for Manager. Please let me know.
Posted by sangi | November 18, 2008 8:43 PM
Posted on November 18, 2008 20:43
Bob,
Yes, I've noted that in the "A Word About Licencing" section already. The client is free; the back-end connector requires a licence.
Regards,
Steven
Posted by Steven Chan | November 19, 2008 8:43 AM
Posted on November 19, 2008 08:43
Hi, Sangi,
This product isn't available for Windows Mobile-based devices. This application runs only on the Apple iPhone.
Regards,
Steven
Posted by Steven Chan | November 19, 2008 8:44 AM
Posted on November 19, 2008 08:44
Hi,
can somebody bail me out on PO/requisition approval on blackberry. My management has given me the project and I am at cross road. We have done all the patching on EBS but the approval is not yet working on blackbbery, what can I d?.
Thanks
Posted by Oseni Yaya Ayokanmi | November 27, 2008 2:57 AM
Posted on November 27, 2008 02:57
Hi, Oseni,
I don't have any ideas as to why this isn't working. I'd recommend logging a formal Service Request via Oracle Metalink to get one of our Support engineers engaged.
Regards,
Steven
Posted by Steven Chan | December 1, 2008 12:45 PM
Posted on December 1, 2008 12:45
Hi, Oseni..
I am also working on the same task...
can you please help me if u have solution...
Posted by Ravi Thota | March 22, 2009 3:30 AM
Posted on March 22, 2009 03:30
H, Ravi,
If you're having trouble approving Workflow Notifications on Blackberry devices, I'd recommend logging a formal Service Request via Metalink to get one of our Procurement specialists engaged.
Regards,
Steven
Posted by Steven Chan | March 24, 2009 1:02 PM
Posted on March 24, 2009 13:02
It is working now. We used blackberry BES and BIS.
Posted by Oseni Yaya Ayokanmi | March 26, 2009 7:39 AM
Posted on March 26, 2009 07:39
Can someone give me some details on approvals using blackberry approvals for purchase orders and requistion approvals
regards
senapathy
Posted by Senapathy | June 18, 2009 3:08 AM
Posted on June 18, 2009 03:08
Hello, Senapathy,
I'm not a Purchasing or or Requisitions specialist, so I'm forced to theorize on first principles here. If either of those two products can generate emails via Workflow for requesting approvals from end-users, then those emails can be approved or rejected using any standard HTML-compliant mail application. This should include Blackberry devices and other mobile mail clients.
If you want a definitive reply for those products specifically, your best bet would be to log a formal Service Request via My Oracle Support (formerly Metalink) to get one of our specialists engaged.
Regards,
Steven
Posted by Steven Chan | June 23, 2009 11:37 AM
Posted on June 23, 2009 11:37