This is a guest blog by Oracle ACE Director Gustavo Gonzalez

I recently attended the OUGN 2023 conference that took place in Oslo, Norway, and I almost won the trophy for the person who traveled the most to get to OUGN 2023. The award went to Connor McDonald, Oracle Developer, who flew 1613 kilometers more than I did to get there!

The OUGN 2023 conference is an annual event, which was impacted by the pandemic – yeah, right, who wasn’t? – and had a glorious comeback this year, bringing together Oracle users and professionals from around the world to share insights and best practices, as well as to learn about the latest innovations and developments in Oracle technology. And I mean it because I had the pleasure of talking to someone who flew all the way from Iceland!

Those privileged like me that had the chance to have participated in the OUGN 2016 still have the fresh memory of a fantastic cruise from Norway to Germany with exhilarating views and a conference that combined knowledge, networking, and fun.

OUGN boat 2016

OUGN16 on the boat!

 

2023 had the theme “back to the future”, and the incredible team of the OUGN board led by Ann-Sofie Vikstrom Often, one of the newest Oracle ACE Associates, made a magnificent combination of 7 tracks!  The venue was different. Its name, “Rebel,” was anticipating that it would not be a traditional location. There was a room with sofas (instead of seats) where you could relax while learning about Oracle’s strategy.

The theme featured an actual DeLorean – I couldn’t resist getting a picture of it and felt for a few minutes that I was Marty Mcfly, typing a date on the car to go somewhere on back in time.

DeLorean

I couldn’t resist not to seat in the DeLorean

 

The conference started with a cocktail for all speakers and the opportunity to thank the OUGN board for the organization. It was time to meet new people from the region and say “hi” to fellow Oracle ACEs from around the world.

OUGN speakers

Cocktail for speakers with Samuel, Ann-Sophie, and Ruben.

 

After the cocktail, we walked to a nice restaurant where the Oracle ACE team organized a welcome dinner.

Oracle ACE dinner

Oracle ACE Dinner in Oslo, Norway

 

As a presenter at the conference, I had the opportunity to showcase my experience in Oracle Analytics Cloud and Fusion Applications. I connected with other professionals and users from different organizations of these technologies. I was surprised by the excellent adoption of Oracle Cloud Applications in the region.

Marty Mcfly

A side note: the host of the event’s keynote was dressed the same as Marty McFly was in the movie and even a skateboard!

And by the way, he is a South African and a professional skier living in Norway.

 

My sessions on Oracle Analytics Cloud and Fusion Applications were well-attended and received positive feedback from the audience. During the presentation on Oracle Analytics Cloud, I demonstrated how the platform could help businesses gain insights and make better decisions by providing potent data visualization tools and advanced analytics capabilities. I also highlighted the benefits of a cloud-based analytics solution, including increased scalability and flexibility, reduced infrastructure costs, and improved collaboration and data sharing.

In the presentation on Fusion Applications, I shared the benefits of using a comprehensive suite of enterprise applications designed to work seamlessly together, providing a complete solution for managing various business processes. I demonstrated how Fusion Applications can help businesses to streamline their operations, reduce costs, and improve efficiency by providing a unified view of their data and processes. Many of the attendees were using Applications Unlimited such as E-Business Suite. They had great questions on how they can prepare for their journey to Oracle Cloud Apps concerning training and technical changes that will impact their daily activities. I received many questions on my comment regarding that “I’m demystifying the misconception that Fusion Apps cannot be tailored,” I showed them live how a complete custom application built by the KNEX team is embedded in Oracle Cloud Apps and integrated into many modules across Fusion.

 

Gustavo presenting

Presenting at the Applications Track Auditorium

 

Overall, the sessions were a great success, and I had the opportunity to connect with other professionals in my field and exchange ideas and best practices. Still, as usual, we had some time to play around.

playing tennis

Having fun playing table tennis at the event

 

Oh! I also spent some time with Arturo Viveros, an Oracle ACE Director Alum, with whom we have shared multiple trips and who has been living in Oslo for almost eight years.

dinner

ACEs Spanish-speaking meeting with Samuel, Gustavo, Arturo, and Ruben.

 

My participation at the OUGN23 conference was a valuable experience that helped me deepen my understanding of Oracle technology and to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in the field.

I want to finish this post with a Poem!

 

“In the land of fjords and midnight sun,

Where the mountains touch the sky,

There lies a country of stunning beauty,

Where Oracle Technology thrives.

In Norway, OUGN23 conference is held,

Where tech enthusiasts gather and share,

Knowledge and expertise, all unveiled,

And Casper Ruud, the tennis star, is there.

The conference buzzes with excitement,

As experts from across the globe unite,

To share their wisdom and enlightenment,

And to bask in Norway’s natural light.

From the stunning landscapes to the Oracle tech,

There’s no shortage of wonder to behold,

And as we delve deeper into Norway’s depths,

Our thirst for knowledge only grows.

So let us celebrate Norway’s majesty,

And the brilliance of Oracle Technology,

As we learn and grow together in unity,

At OUGN23, the ultimate symphony.”

 

the poem was composed using ChatGPT

 

This year, it will be my eleventh anniversary as an Oracle ACE Director, and I cannot express how privileged I feel whenever I get invited to speak at world-class conferences. Thank you, Oracle, for having such a great initiative and, thank you to the fantastic team running it – Jen, Oana, Sapna, Gerald for all the hard work you put into this!

If want to see more or “live the events I participate”, I invite you to follow me on Twitter.