We are excited to share details of a new Continuous Release Model for the Siebel CRM application.

Following improvements in Innovation Pack 2017 with business agility, application deployment and test automation, it is now possible to move to a new release model.

The new model provides the ability to deliver new features and innovation faster to our customers. Our customers can now embrace frequent innovation updates without the need for major upgrades.

The key changes and benefits are as follows:

  1. All future features and fixes to be delivered in “Updates”, these are similar to Patch Sets but may also contain innovations.
  2. The Updates can contain features as identified from the latest Statement of Direction. For example, Updates containing features, coming in 2018 will relate to the “Siebel CRM 2018 Statement of Direction”.
  3. We are rationalizing the naming process to be more logical and related to the date of release, so an update in April 2018 will simply be called 18.4.
  4. The new delivery model will begin with our 18.4 Update. 17.6 is the last “Patch Set” and 18.4 will be the start of “Updates”. Note that a customer moving from 17.6 to 18.4, is simply applying an update, like a patch, this is not an upgrade (no IRM process or repository changes). Certain Updates in the future that contain particular types of features may require IRM to be used. Updates are cumulative.
  5. This new model means our customers on 17.x and above will never run out of updates for their release. The concept of 18 months of error correction no longer applies.
  6. This greatly simplifies the application update process, reducing maintenance costs over the old application upgrade approach. This approach allows us to provide additional improvements and new features related to functional and security improvements.
  7. There are no major changes for our customers on Innovation Pack 2017 with the new process, other than the fact that they can look forward to a more continuous delivery in the future.
  8. Align with agile development & deliver cumulative releases. More intricacies of the application delivery process will be revealed soon but in essence the concept is that of continuous updates.

For more information please refer to the Siebel CRM Updates portal and to the Continuous Release Model FAQ on My Oracle Support.