Technical New Features R12.2.

3
Online Patching
Traditionally, Oracle E-Business Suite has needed to be shut down to apply patches and bug fixes of various kinds.
Scheduling the downtimes needed can prove difficult to combine with requirements for the highest possible
availability of business-critical systems. This is exacerbated by the increasing move to consolidate systems into a
single instance that may support worldwide operations, and which consequently does not have a natural downtime
window. Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12.2 introduces online patching, which greatly reduces the need for such
downtime. All patching in Release 12.2 is performed using this new model.

Enhanced virus scanning of all attachments and file uploads

-Limited to Symantec server
-Can be enabled or disabled at site, responsibility, application or user level with FND: Disable Virus Scan
-OA Framework customizations can selectively enable or disable virus scanning

Cookie Domains
-Protects the Oracle EBS session cookie from web-based attacks
-Set to domain by default in profile option ICX_SESSION_COOKIE_DOMAIN

Cross-site Scripting (XSS) Protections

-Check file uploads and attachments for XSS
-XSS checking in Messaging Rich Text Editor
-Use AntiSamy library for XSS filtering

Frame Busting
-Provides protection against clickjacking by disallowing OA Framework pages from being embedded into frames from
third-party sites
-Enabled by default

Module Wise New Features R12.2.3

Order Management

1. In R12.1.3, AME had not been integrated into OM.

However, it has been released in R12.2. Please refer to the Oracle Order Management Release Notes for
Release 12.2.2 Document 1377743.1, which states: Use Approvals Management Engine for Approval
Mechanism of Order Lines. In this release, Order Management has been integrated with Oracle Approval
Management for the workflow "Negotiation Flow - Generic with Approval" and "Order Flow - Mixed or Return
 with Approval" to provide an additional option to use Approvals Management Engine (AME) for the approval
mechanism of order lines with the above work flows.

2. User Defined Attributes (UDA)

UDA is now we can have an unlimited number from additional data elements on an order header and an order
line. First is these new fields are not accessible from the standard order entry Java forms. They are in HTML
pages. This means the order entry person will need to leave the order to enter this data. The second piece of
bad news is these attributes are not recorded to the order header and order line tables (like descriptive
flexfields). They are recorded to two new tables (OE_ORDER_HEADERS_ALL_EXT_B,
OE_ORDER_LINES_ALL_EXT_B. Any custom reports will need to retro-fitted to incorporate these new tables.

Oracle started using UDA in the Projects Management module back in 11.5.10 and extended their use in the
Master Data Management (MDM) products. In R12.2, Oracle is extending this technology into more modules.

3. Order Information Portal Enhancements

R12.2. has six enhancements to the Order Information Portal (OIP). The first is the ability for the Bill-To
customer to view and track sales orders. Previously only the Sold To customer could do this. The second is
the ability for external users to receive notifications when an event like schedule date change or shipping
occurs. The third enhancement is the integration of OIP with the FND security model. This allows rule based
access to order information. The fourth enhancement is the addition of new search parameters like customer
number, invoice number, and Order on hold. The fifth enhancement is the addition of new fields on the
summary and detail views. These fields include hold status, active holds, request date, ship-to customer,
ship-to contact, and several others. The last enhancement is the addition of a new region for service items.
This region will contain service information like the service start date, service end date, service duration,
coverage template, and billing option.

4. Assemble-To-Order (ATO) Items in Pick-To-Order (PTO) Models and Kits

In Release 12.2, Assemble to Order (ATO) items can now be designated as included/mandatory items in Pick
to Order (PTO) Models and Kits. To use this functionality, we will need to update two system profile options
(OM: Allow Standard ATO Items as PTO/Kit Included Components,BOM: Allow ATO item in a KIT or as
mandatory in a PTO Model) to Yes.

5. Tax Calculation Timing and Tax on Freight Charges

Before R12.2, Order Management would calculate an estimated tax when the order is entered. This tax did not
include tax on freight. In R12.2., we now have the ability to estimated tax on freight. The tax on freight is
based by the system parameter Invoice Freight as Revenue.

Also included in R12.2, is the ability to determine when the tax calculation will occur. Using the profile OM:
Delay Tax Calculation, we can change the tax calculation from the time of entering the sale order line to the
time when the order line is saved.

6. Credit Tolerance for Honoring Manually Released Credit Check Holds

There are a couple of changes in placing credit holds. The first is the ability to retain a credit release when
the order is being modified. Prior to R12.2, if we manual released an order from a hold, the hold would be
automatically re-applied when the order was modified. Now the credit hold will only be re-applied if the
change is above a tolerance limit. The tolerance can be an amount or a percentage of the order.

7. Support for Credit Hold Based on Bill To Customer

In prior releases, orders were placed on hold if the Sold To customer was on hold. In R12.2. we can place
orders on hold if the Bill To customer is on hold. The holds can either be placed hold

based on the order header Bill To customer or it can look at the Bill To customer at the line level. There is a
 new system profile option that controls this functionality Apply Credit Hold Based On. Choices are Sold
To Customer, Header Level Bill To Customer and Line Level Bill To Customer. The system will default to
the Sold To Customer option.

8. Selling Services Enhancements

There are four improvements related to selling services in Order Management. The first is the inclusion of
subscription contracts. Before R12.2. we could only order extended warranty contracts in OM. The second
enhancement is the ability to bill for extended warranties in installments. Prior to R12.2, OM will invoice for
the entire amount of the warranty. Now we can either 1.) invoice the entire amount, 2.) invoice the first
installment in OM and the remaining installments in the Service Contracts module, or 3.) generate all
installments in the Service Contracts module. The third enhancement is the addition of two new fields on the
order line Service Coverage Template and Subscription Contract. And, the final enhancement is the new
service section in the Order Information Portal.

9. Support for Service as Promotional Goods

Before R12.2, we could only define standard items as promotional goods in Advance Pricing. Now we can
define and extended warranty contract as promotional good.

10. Scheduling Enhancements

There are three scheduling enhancements in R12.2. The first is the ability to split the order line (during
schedule) to available quantity on the requested date and schedule the remaining quantity on the available
date. A new system parameter Scheduling Auto Split Criteria has been added to control this functionality.
The second enhancement improves the substitution functionality. Instead of substituting the entire amount
on the order line, OM will split the line to schedule the ordered item for the available quantity and schedule
the substitute item for the remaining quantity. To use this feature, configure the new system parameter
Scheduling Auto Split Criteria to With Partial Substitution. The last scheduling enhancement controls the
display of the Availability window on the Sales Order form. In R12.2 we can disable the automatic display
even when the profile OM: Auto Schedule is set to Yes. We will need to set a new profile option OM: Pop
Up Availability Window to No to disable the display.

11. Support for Advanced Catch Weight

With the convergence of Process Manufacturing in R12, the support of dual unit of measures was adopted.
Catch Weight refers to the practice of using two unit of measure in buying, storing, and selling an items. This
practice is common in industry where the items are not uniform in shape, size and weight. in R12.2, there are
four enhancement supporting Catch Weight. The first is the option to fulfill the order based on the equivalent
quantity in the Secondary UOM. The second is a pricing option to determine if pricing should be calculated
on the Shipped Quantity in the Ordered UOM or Primary UOM. The third is support of primary and secondary
UOM in the RMA process and the last enhancement is the addition of new fields in the Availability Window
to support dual UOM.

12. Credit Card Authorization Reversal

R12.2 gives we a new option to reverse an authorization and execute a new one when there are changes to an
order. We can choose to 1.) reverse the authorization and re-authorize immediately, 2.) defer the reversal of
the authorization and re-authorization to specific events such as picking, shipping and fulfillment., or 3.)
place the order or order line on hold. A new system parameter Reversal of Credit Card Authorization and Re-
authorization and a new option Reversal of Credit Card Authorization and Re-authorization in the
Transaction Types form have been added.

Advanced Pricing

1. Changes to Advance Pricing Module in R12.2

Service Item Support in Promotional Modifiers

To support the automatic bundling of services with a product (such as 1 year free support with purchase of a
 specific product), Oracle Advance Pricing can now (in R12.2) add a service item automatically. This feature
will increase ourr order accuracy because the person entering the order will not have to remember that the
service is bundled with the product. This is especially helpful it the inclusive of the service is part of a
specific promotion.

To use this feature, we need to use the service item as a get product in the promotional modifier setup.

2. Non-Continuous Price Breaks

Companies use non-continuous price breaks to incentivize customers to purchase products in quantities that
are economically advantageous to us. Before R12.2 the Value From field in the Price Breaks form must
start with 0 and there can not be gaps between breaks. In R12.2, we can start price break with any positive
value.

Advanced Pricing has added this enhancement to allow gaps in the setup of price breaks. Businesses
sometimes want to provide discounts for only certain tiers and want to keep gaps in the tiers. This is
common where manufacturers keep ready made packages for certain quantities and if users order anything
other than that, additional cost is incurred to package the order.

Manufacturing

1. Changes to Manufacturing Operations Center (MOC) Product in R12.2

This product was introduced in R12.1 to allow the collection and display on manufacturing data from multiple
sources. Using a data warehouse platform, this product displays information with a variety of pre-built
integrators and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). In R12.2, the integration with Oracle ERP was improved.
Also we are now able to correct data loading errors and recalculate past output. They have included an Asset
Performance dashboard and a Production Supervisor dashboard. For the Apple users, there is the ability to
view the MOC dashboards on an iPad or iPhone. We will need to download the app from iTunes to be able
to view them.

2. Introduction of the Electronic Kanban Product in R12.2

In R12.2, Oracle introduces Electronic Kanban. Kanban is a tool to control the amount product to be
purchased based on the level of production. The classical kanban example is the 3 bin system. One bin of
parts is on the the factory floor, another is in the warehouse, and the third is at the supplier. When the bin on
the factory floor is empty, the bin is replaced with the one in the
warehouse. Since the bin in the warehouse is empty, it is replaced by the one at the supplier.
Each bin has a card containing the product details. These cards are used to communicate demand.

Access to this functionality is control by a new profile option (FLM: Enable E-Kanban). At this time, E-
Kanban appears to work only with Flow Manufacturing.

3. Changes to Manufacturing Execution System (MES) in R12.2

The Manufacturing Execution System (MES) was introduced in R12.1 and in R12.2 there are several
enhancements. MES allows us to display, record, and collect our shop floor activity. It can be integrated with
different applications and Oracle ERP. Using Fusion middleware, we can run the MES application when the
Oracle ERP system is unavailable. The data recorded in the MES will be synced back to the ERP system. The
R12.2 enhancements include improvements to work order with serial numbering, user interface
enhancements, and the additional custom extensions during standard and express moves.

Inventory
1. Changes to Oracle Inventory module in R12.2
Along with other supply chain modules, the Inventory module has added the ability to use catch weight.
Catch weight refers the products that vary in weights due to how the item is produced or grown. The classic
example is in the food industry. Lobsters are sold by the pound but the weight of a single lobster varies
greatly. Catch weight will allow us to track the individual units along with their weight. Items are defined two
unit of measure (dual UOM). The primary unit of measure is usually the fulfillment unit of measure.

General Ledger

1. Automatic Updates to Encumbrance (GL) Date

 Requesters specify an Encumbrance Date for each distribution against a line at the time of
creating requisitions. If this date is within a closed period, and is hence invalid, then the
application can automatically update the date to the current date. This feature requires a profile
value setting to be activated.

iProcurement

1. Visibility of Item Master Attachments in Item Search and Detail Pages

While viewing the details of the item after having searched for them in the store, iProcurement
users will now be able to see attachments associated with the Item Master for those items. This
will enable users to gain access to item attachments like design specifications etc, and thus better
equip them to choose the right product to order.

iSupplier

1. Integrate with Oracle Flow Manufacturing to View and Edit E-Kanbans

Oracle iSupplier Portal integrates with the E-Kanban feature of Oracle Flow Manufacturing.
Suppliers can now use iSupplier Portal to view a summary of their E-Kanbans and update the
status on their E-Kanbans.

2. Capture Additional Supplier Contact details

Oracle iSupplier Portal now offers the following set of additional fields to capture Supplier
Contact Information: URL, Alternate Contact Name, Alternate Area Code, and Alternate Phone
Extension. Prospective suppliers will now be able to use these fields during registration. Buyers
will be able to enter / update these fields for each contact on the Supplier Profile. Supplier users
will also be able to update these fields while

Purchasing

1. Support for Additional Extension Hooks

Oracle Purchasing provides additional extension hooks that enable usage of custom validations
for the Purchase Order submission process. Buyers now have the ability to make changes to the
target document during the Autocreate flow.

2 Add Requisition lines to a Draft Negotiation (RFx & Auction)

Currently, buyers can select requisition lines using Demand Workbench and use them to create a
draft negotiation or an amendment negotiation document. Buyers can also select requisition lines
and create a new draft negotiation using the Document Builder. However, buyers may want to
add some additional requisition lines to the negotiation.
With this release, buyers can use Demand Workbench, select requisition lines, provide the
negotiation number, and add the lines to the negotiation. Alternatively, buyers can navigate to the
Demand Workbench page from within a draft negotiation by selecting the add requisition lines
from the Lines tab. This provides flexibility to the buying organization in the negotiation
creation process, as buyers can add demand to the draft negotiation during the negotiation
creation process.

3. Response Withdrawal
Oracle Sourcing now provides suppliers with the ability to withdraw responses submitted on an
RFI/RFQ. A new negotiation control enables Sourcing buyers to determine if suppliers can
withdraw submitted responses on that negotiation. Suppliers can withdraw submitted responses
only as long as the negotiation is open for bidding. Surrogate withdrawal is also possible where
the Sourcing buyer withdraws surrogate responses on behalf of the supplier.
4. Track Amendment Acknowledgements
The Supplier Activities Page now shows a chronological log of all the supplier activities on the
negotiation. Sourcing buyers can now track acknowledgements from invited suppliers to
amendments made to a negotiation.

5. Staggered Awards
Sometimes sourcing awards are desired only for part of a negotiation. In these cases, optimal
timing for awarding different parts of the negotiation occurs at multiple dates. For example, a
large project scenario may involve a negotiation with many lines, with the entire project in one
document. In this case a single award timeframe may be premature for the decision on certain
lines.
With staggered awards a sourcing professional may evaluate and award one or more lines, and
later revisit the negotiation and award additional lines. The staggered award process allows the
buyer to award different lines at different points in time. New awards can be used to create a new
Purchase Order or Agreement in Purchasing.

6. Import of Price Breaks

A new spreadsheet upload supports the buyer uploading price tiers when creating a negotiation.
Support for both price tiers and price breaks makes spreadsheet use more effective. Price breaks
uploaded via spreadsheet may reduce manual effort updating line-level price breaks, especially
for complex negotiations or negotiations having a very large number of lines. As before, price
breaks on awarded bids may automatically generate Blanket Purchase Agreements in Oracle
Purchasing for rapid implementation of negotiated terms.

7. Negative Cost Factors

Cost Factors are typically positive values which are added to a bid price for a line to help a buyer
understand total effective cost in competitive bidding scenarios. To expand this valuable
capability, the buyer may now define cost factors whose values may decrement the total cost for
a line. For example, a bidder may want to submit a rebate or discount as a cost factor to improve
the competitiveness of a bid.

8 Sourcing APIs
Many sources of demand can automatically populate a negotiation in Sourcing with relevant,
integrated data. Now an additional scenario is supported: an API to create negotiations through
direct data upload. The API supports the creation of RFIs, RFQs and Auctions, and negotiations
are created in draft status. Organizations can now leverage an API to directly create a draft
negotiation document from information available outside the system.