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Overview
In complex multinational organizations, keeping ERP deployment code current is critical to maintaining compliance and security and leveraging the latest functionalities. However, long upgrade cycles often introduce technical debt, extend downtime, and result in missed opportunities for innovation.
A continuous upgrade and code‑current approach, characterized by incremental ESU/ASU updates, automated impact assessments, and rapid retrofits, minimizes risk and accelerates ROI.
Our client, a global medical technology manufacturer operating on a patchwork of JD Edwards and legacy QAD instances across LATAM and EEMEA, recognized the need to adopt this agile model. To this end, they partnered with Birlasoft to rationalize their ERP deployments and shift to a continuous JDE upgrade model.
Our team designed and deployed a seamless continuous adoption framework, combining automated analysis, high‑velocity test automation, parallel upgrade tracks, and rapid cutovers to deliver quarterly releases with 95%+ test coverage, smooth go‑lives with zero service disruptions.
Read the details of this engagement below.
The Challenge
With legacy QAD systems nearing end of life, the client wanted to standardize their ERP deployments with JDE 9.2 as a global template for LATAM, EEMEA, and APAC. To enable business-led transformation without freeze windows or disruptions, the client wanted to switch to a continuous upgrade and code current approach, delivering incremental releases every six months.
#1. Inadequate impact analysis tools slowed upgrade cycles
Manual, spreadsheet-based retrofit planning couldn’t keep up with quarterly ESU/ASU cycles. This introduced the risk of delays, version mismatches, and missed dependencies, especially as LATAM and EEMEA rollouts involved region-specific localization updates for critical tax and regulatory compliance.
#2. Feature underutilization, inflated TCO, and technical debt
JDE releases regularly deliver enhancements in UX, localization, supply chain, and OTC processes. Yet without structured adoption, the organization defaulted to custom code. This led to missed opportunities for functional enhancements and increased maintenance effort.
#3. Testing velocity lagged release frequency
Complex integrations and compliance flows required complete regression testing, but manual validation couldn’t scale proportionally. This exposed core supply chain and consignment scenarios to regression risk, especially in countries with custom tax rules or 3rd-party dependencies.
#4. Cutovers could not accommodate high-frequency go-lives
Traditional go-lives involve days of downtime, blocking business for final cutovers. To maintain quarterly upgrades, go-lives needed to be automation-driven, resilient, and have near-zero downtime. This was especially critical as uptime requirements grew across critical product lines and JDE rollouts were underway.
The Solution
Birlasoft designed and deployed a structured, five-step continuous adoption framework to facilitate the client's transition to a code-current ERP model. This enabled the client to deliver quarterly releases with minimal disruption, high process integrity, and zero downtime.
#1. Framework for continuous upgrades aligned to global rollout rhythm
Birlasoft implemented a repeatable five-steps upgrade model spanning Discovery, Initiation, Periodic Updates, Initial Release, and Continuous Release. This framework was tailored to the client’s multi-wave JDE rollout across LATAM, EEMEA, and APAC.
The framework also supported continuous refinement of core business flows, including OTC, supply chain, and consignments across country-specific process variants.
A parallel development and deployment setup enabled our team to deliver upgrades alongside other transformation programs, keeping the system available while providing new features every six months.
#2. Automated impact analysis and object-level governance
Using proprietary accelerators like IMPACTA and REPLICA, Birlasoft automated object impact assessments, cross-referenced ESUs/ASUs, and generated custom retrofit manifests.
New ESUs were proactively tested in Birlasoft’s staging environment, allowing early defect identification and feedback to Oracle, reducing downstream defects during client deployment.
This reduced analysis effort by 70-80%, improved traceability, and ensured faster, risk-free adoption of code changes across ERP instances with region-specific localization requirements.
#3. High-velocity test automation for global regression coverage
To support rapid validation across waves, Birlasoft deployed automated regression testing using Oracle Orchestrator and client-defined testing frameworks.
Over 95% of test scenarios, spanning order-to-cash, consignment, and tax compliance flows, were scripted. This accelerated regression testing and enabled faster, data-driven release approvals for each upgrade cycle.
#4. Production-ready release orchestration and cutover acceleration
Release packaging, environment switchover, and validation were streamlined using Auto Pack and ProVue monitoring. This enabled cutovers to be completed within hours instead of days without any freeze windows.
Moreover, each release embedded key kernel and security enhancements to strengthen system resilience and mitigate vulnerabilities flagged in prior audits.
As a result, business continuity was maintained across time zones and business units, while post-go-live hypercare support were significantly reduced.
The Impact
In the hands of our world-class JDE practice, our client swiftly transitioned to quarterly continuous upgrades across their global JDE footprint. This drove measurable speed, cost, and operational resilience improvements across global JDE deployments.
- Cumulative upgrade investment reduced by 66%, with improved quality, faster cutovers, and lower validation effort.
- System stability and security improved with each cycle through the timely adoption of kernel, orchestration, and localization updates.
- Reduced upgrade analysis effort by 70-80%, accelerating ESU/ASU adoption with faster object-level scope and impact visibility.
- Achieved 90% test automation coverage, cutting UAT duration in half and improving regression reliability across regions.
- Saved over 2,000 SME hours, reducing validation effort by 65% and minimizing disruption to business operations.
With a continuous upgrade model now fully institutionalized, the client is well-positioned to scale future JDE rollouts, adopt innovations faster, and maintain a secure, compliant, and business-aligned ERP landscape.
Looking to future-proof your JD Edwards ERP ecosystem with structured, code-current adoption?
Get in touch with Birlasoft to begin your transformation.
