Crocus Consulting, a Gold level member of Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN), has announced a new Upgrade Laboratory facility for UK PeopleSoft customers. Users, who send copies of their PeopleSoft Financials, Payroll or HCM systems to the lab, can have their system upgraded to PeopleSoft 9.1, the latest release of the software. The files are then returned to the user for their own internal testing and deployment. Should the user require it, Crocus Consulting can also host the new version for users seeking to reduce the cost of ownership. The new scheme is seen as representing a risk free and low cost route for users to ensure that their PeopleSoft systems are kept up to date.

Crocus believes that by upgrading, users not only benefit from the latest features and security standards but that they also have the potential of integrating with Oracle’s new OBIEE analytics product set. This will ensure that not only are users operating with the latest technology in place but in being able to access OBIEE they can boost decision making and business process optimisation. It is also an ideal platform should users that want to consider Oracle’s latest Fusion products.

Commenting on the launch Vince Blockley Customer Support Director of Crocus Consulting commented, “Crocus has many years experience of upgrading PeopleSoft systems, whether Financials, HCM or Payroll. We have now combined our experience to create an upgrade laboratory at our Midlands based HQ. The objective is to make upgrades as risk free, low maintenance, and as cost effective as possible for PeopleSoft users. In doing so we take away much of the aggravation surrounding this process. There are also several options available, depending on whether Crocus is going to host the upgrade or not. Given this level of flexibility we expect there to be significant demand for the service.”