Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud
What’s New in Release 9
15 September 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS ..............................................................................................................................................2
OVERVIEW .............................................................................................................................................................3
Give Us Feedback ................................................................................................................................................. 3
RELEASE FEATURE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................4
PRODUCT HUB .......................................................................................................................................................6
DATA CONSOLIDATION ................................................................................................................................................... 6
Generate Template Reference Files...................................................................................................................... 6
Batch Updates to Item Class ................................................................................................................................ 7
Perform Data Quality Check on Existing Items ..................................................................................................... 8
Synchronize Multi-row Attributes During Import ................................................................................................. 9
Import Product Structures and Packs Using Import Maps ................................................................................. 10
DATA MAINTENANCE AND PUBLICATION .......................................................................................................................... 11
Item Revision Attachments ................................................................................................................................ 11
View Development Structures ............................................................................................................................ 13
Publish All Items in Pack Hierarchy .................................................................................................................... 14
DATA GOVERNANCE..................................................................................................................................................... 14
GTIN Validation .................................................................................................................................................. 15
Approval Histroy Enhancements for Change Orders .......................................................................................... 16
Entry and Exit Criteria for Change Management ............................................................................................... 17
Change Order Enhancements ............................................................................................................................. 18
Approval Histroy Enhancements for New Item Requests ................................................................................... 19
New Item Request Enhancements...................................................................................................................... 20
AUDIT TRAIL ............................................................................................................................................................... 20
PRODUCT AND CATALOG MANAGEMENT ............................................................................................................ 23
DATA MAINTENANCE AND PUBLICATION .......................................................................................................................... 23
DATA GOVERNANCE..................................................................................................................................................... 23
PRODUCT HUB PORTAL ........................................................................................................................................ 24
DATA CONSOLIDATION ................................................................................................................................................. 24
Schedule Product Data Uploads ......................................................................................................................... 24
Monitor Product Data Uploads and Imports ...................................................................................................... 25
REVISION HISTORY ............................................................................................................................................... 27
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OVERVIEW
This guide outlines the information you need to know about new or improved functionality in Oracle
Product Value Chain Cloud, Release 9. Each section includes a brief description of the feature, the steps
you need to take to enable or begin using the feature, any tips or considerations that you should keep in
mind, and the resources available to help you.
GIVE US FEEDBACK
We welcome your comments and suggestions to improve the content. Please send us your feedback at
[email protected].
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RELEASE FEATURE SUMMARY
Some of the new Release 9 features are automatically visible to users after the upgrade and some
require action from the user, the company administrator, or Oracle.
The table below offers a quick view of the actions required to enable each of the Release 9 features.
Action Required to Enable Feature
Feature
Automatically
Available
End User
Action
Required
Administrator
Action
Required
Oracle Service
Request
Required
Product Hub
Generate Template Reference Files
Batch Updates to Item Class
Perform Data Quality Check on Existing Items
Synchronize Multi-Row Attributes During
Import
Import Product Structures and Packs Using
Import Maps
Item Revision Attachments
View Development Structures
Publish All Items in Pack Hierarchy
GTIN Validation
Approval History Enhancements for Change
Orders
Entry and Exit Criteria for Change
Management
Change Order Enhancements
Approval History Enhancements for New Item
Requests
New Item Request Enhancements
Audit Trail
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












Product and Catalog Management
Item Revision Attachments
View Development Structures
Publish All Items in Pack Hierarchy
GTIN Validation
Approval History Enhancements for Change
Orders
Entry and Exit Criteria for Change
Management
Change Order Enhancements
Approval History Enhancements for New Item
Requests
.
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






4
Action Required to Enable Feature
Feature
New Item Request Enhancements
Automatically
Available
End User
Action
Required
Administrator
Action
Required
Oracle Service
Request
Required

Product Hub Portal
Schedule Product Data Uploads
Monitor Product Data Uploads and Imports
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5
PRODUCT HUB
The following enhancements have been added to Oracle Fusion Product Hub in Release 9:
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Data Consolidation
Data Maintenance and Publication
Data Governance
Audit Trail
DATA CONSOLIDATION
The following data consolidation enhancements have been added to Product Hub in Release 9:





Generate Template Reference Files
Batch Updates to Item Class
Perform Data Quality Check on Existing Items
Synchronize Multi-Row Attributes During Import
Import Product Structures and Packs Using Import Maps
GENERATE TEMPLATE REFERENCE FILES
Product data stewards can now generate template reference files that contain a list of valid values for
the product attributes in the template. Once the reference file is generated, it can be edited and
uploaded to the import map to make it available to suppliers. The supplier can download the reference
file with the template and refer to it for a list of valid template values. This enhancement enables
correct completion of the template files, and a reduction in import errors due to incorrect template
data.
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Template Reference File
STEPS TO ENABLE
There are no steps necessary to enable this enhancement.
KEY RESOURCES
For more information on Product Hub, refer to the following Release 9 guides:


Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Implementing Product Information Management
Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Using Product Information Management
BATCH UPDATES TO ITEM CLASS
You can now update an item class using a batch import process, and leverage spreadsheets for updating
item classes. This enhancement is available on the Manage Items page. This enhancement improves the
productivity of data stewards by streamlining the process of updating item classes.
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Batch Updates to Item Class
STEPS TO ENABLE
There are no steps necessary to enable this enhancement.
KEY RESOURCES
For more information on Product Hub, refer to the following Release 9 guides:


Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Implementing Product Information Management
Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Using Product Information Management
PERFORM DATA QUALITY CHECK ON EXISTING ITEMS
You can now perform a data quality check on existing items that are updated in a batch process. If the
items being updated match existing item cross-references, their status will be set to Matched in the
item batch. This enhancement improves the quality of consolidated data.
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Data Quality Check
STEPS TO ENABLE
There are no steps necessary to enable this enhancement.
KEY RESOURCES
For more information Product Hub, refer to the following Release 9 guides:


Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Implementing Product Information Management
Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Using Product Information Management
SYNCHRONIZE MULTI-ROW ATTRIBUTES DURING IMPORT
You can now synchronize all multi-row attributes during import. Support is provided for a Delete
transaction during import to facilitate the deletion of multi-row attribute values. This enhancement
provides product data stewards with more flexibility when importing data with multi-row attributes.
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Synchronize Multi-Row Attributes
STEPS TO ENABLE
There are no steps necessary to enable this enhancement.
KEY RESOURCES
For more information on Product Hub, refer to the following Release 9 guides:


Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Implementing Product Information Management
Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Using Product Information Management
IMPORT PRODUCT STRUCTURES AND PACKS USING IMPORT MAPS
Import maps have been enhanced to allow definition of mappings for item structures and packs. You
can map the item structure and pack data fields from the source file to the master data fields. The
imported data can be in CSV or XML format. You can define expressions on the mapped attributes to
transform them prior to import. Mappings can be defined for structure hierarchy details, component
attribute details, reference designators, and substitutes. These enhancements enable a more
streamlined data consolidation process by reducing the number of steps required to import item
structures and packs.
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Import Maps
STEPS TO ENABLE
There are no steps necessary to enable this enhancement.
KEY RESOURCES
For more information on Product Hub, refer to the following Release 9 guides:


Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Implementing Product Information Management
Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Using Product Information Management
DATA MAINTENANCE AND PUBLICATION
The following data maintenance and publication enhancements have been added to Product Hub in
Release 9:



Item Revision Attachments
View Development Structures
Publish All Items in Pack Hierarchy
ITEM REVISION ATTACHMENTS
This enhancement enables you to add and manage attachments at the item revision level. Multiple
types of attachments are supported for each item revision, including desktop files, repository files, text,
and URL attachments. This enhancement provides more flexibility in describing the unstructured data
associated with an item. The Item Revision subtab has been added to the Attachments tab to support
item revision attachments. This enhancement is enabled using the Manage Attachment Categories task
on the Setup and Maintenance page.
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Item Revision Attachments
STEPS TO ENABLE
This task defines the attachment categories required to enable attachments for revisions of items.
1.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
In the Navigator, click Setup and Maintenance.
Click the All Tasks tab.
Search for the Manage Attachment Categories task.
Click Go To Task in the Search Results for that task row.
Click Create.
Complete the attachment category fields, selecting Items for the Module option.
Click OK.
Enable the attachment category for both ITEM_ENTITY and ITEM_REVISION_ENTITY.
Click Save and Close.
KEY RESOURCES
For more information on Product Hub, refer to the following Release 9 guides:


.
Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Implementing Product Information Management
Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Using Product Information Management
12
VIEW DEVELOPMENT STRUCTURES
You can view the details of the development structures for an item on the Structures tab on the Item
page. A development structure is a bill of materials for an item that is still in development and has not
yet been published to Production. Development structures are created in the Product Development
work area.
The Development Structures sub-tab has been added to the Structures tab, and provides a hierarchical
view of the components in the development structure. This enhancement provides an integrated view
of a product across the Product Development and Product Commercialization processes.
Development Structures
STEPS TO ENABLE
There are no steps necessary to enable this enhancement.
KEY RESOURCES
For more information on Product Hub, refer to the following Release 9 guides:


.
Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Implementing Product Information Management
Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Using Product Information Management
13
PUBLISH ALL ITEMS IN PACK HIERARCHY
You can now control the publication of the pack hierarchy information, by publishing all of the items in
the pack hierarchy when any one item in the pack has changed. This feature is useful when integrating
with certain retail merchandising systems that treat the pack hierarchy as a single entity. The option All
Pack Items has been added to Item Publication Criteria on the Publication Options tab.
Publish All Pack Items
STEPS TO ENABLE
There are no steps necessary to enable this enhancement.
KEY RESOURCES
For more information on Product Hub, refer to the following Release 9 guides:


Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Implementing Product Information Management
Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Using Product Information Management
DATA GOVERNANCE
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The following data governance enhancements have been added to Product Hub in Release 9:






GTIN Validation
Approval History Enhancements for Change Orders
Entry and Exit Criteria for Change Management
Change Order Enhancements
Approval History Enhancements for New Item Requests
New Item Request Enhancements
GTIN VALIDATION
The product rules framework has been enhanced for Global Trade Item Numbers (GTIN) validation. You
can create validation rules to validate the GTIN digits and syntax, GTIN item associations, and changes in
GTIN item associations. The GTIN validation rules are created on the Manage Item Rule Sets page. These
enhancements improve data governance by enforcing industry standards, and enforce internal business
policies by ensuring that a GTIN is assigned before commercializing a product.
GTIN Validation
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STEPS TO ENABLE
There are no setup steps necessary to enable this enhancement.
KEY RESOURCES
For more information on Product Hub, refer to the following Release 9 guides:


Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Implementing Product Information Management
Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Using Product Information Management
APPROVAL HISTROY ENHANCEMENTS FOR CHANGE ORDERS
The approval history for change orders has been enhanced to include additional details. The approval
history has been split into line-level approval and header-level approval. You can view the approval
history based on the approval stage and the assignee. You can view the assigned items for each linelevel approver. Any actions or comments that an approver includes in the approval notification are
recorded in the approval history. These enhancements provide support to identify and mitigate
bottlenecks in the approval management process.
Change Order Approval History
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STEPS TO ENABLE
There are no setup steps necessary to enable this enhancement.
KEY RESOURCES
For more information on Product Hub, refer to the following Release 9 guides:


Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Implementing Product Information Management
Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Using Product Information Management
ENTRY AND EXIT CRITERIA FOR CHANGE MANAGEMENT
The change management workflow has been enhanced to enforce rule-based entry and exit criteria for
new item requests and change orders. The rule set framework has been extended to include Change
Order Type and New Item Request, and can be used to create an entry and exit validation rule for each
status value in the workflow. The validation rules are created on the Manage Item Rule Sets page. These
enhancements increase operational control over the change management process.
Change Management Entry and Exit Criteria
STEPS TO ENABLE
There are no setup steps necessary to enable this enhancement.
KEY RESOURCES
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For more information on Product Hub, refer to the following Release 9 guides:


Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Implementing Product Information Management
Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Using Product Information Management
CHANGE ORDER ENHANCEMENTS
The change order approval workflow has been enhanced to provide more flexibility. You can assign
user-defined approvers, or determine approvers based on rule sets, using the Assignment Method field
for header approvals. Optional approvers can be added, and have the power to reject change orders.
You can define whether a response is required from one approver or all approvers to approve or reject a
change order. You can rapidly configure approval workflows that conform to your business needs. These
enhancements provide increased control over the change management process.
Change Order Workflow
STEPS TO ENABLE
There are no setup steps necessary to enable this enhancement.
KEY RESOURCES
For more information on Product Hub, refer to the following Release 9 guides:
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18


Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Implementing Product Information Management
Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Using Product Information Management
APPROVAL HISTROY ENHANCEMENTS FOR NEW ITEM REQUESTS
The approval history for new item requests has been enhanced to include additional details. The
approval history has been split into line-level approval and header-level approval. You can view the
approval history based on the approval stage and the assignee. You can view the assigned items for
each line level approver. Any actions or comments that an approver includes in the approval notification
are recorded in the approval history. You can also review new items scheduled for final approval. These
enhancements provide support to identify and mitigate bottlenecks in the approval management
process.
New Item Request Approval History
STEPS TO ENABLE
There are no setup steps necessary to enable this enhancement.
KEY RESOURCES
For more information on Product Hub, refer to the following Release 9 guides:


.
Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Implementing Product Information Management
Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Using Product Information Management
19
NEW ITEM REQUEST ENHANCEMENTS
The new item request approval workflow has been enhanced to provide more flexibility. You can assign
user-defined approvers, or determine approvers based on rule sets, using the Assignment Method field
for header approvals. Optional approvers can be added, and have the power to reject item changes.
Define whether a response is required from one approver or all approvers to approve or reject a new
item request. You can rapidly configure approval workflows that conform to your business needs. These
enhancements provide increased control over the item request process.
New Item Request Approval Workflow
STEPS TO ENABLE
There are no setup steps necessary to enable this enhancement.
KEY RESOURCES
For more information on Product Hub, refer to the following Release 9 guides:


Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Implementing Product Information Management
Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Using Product Information Management
AUDIT TRAIL
Audit trail support has been added to Product Hub in Release 9. Features include:
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
Configure Audit Policies. You can audit changes to Product Hub objects such as items,
structures, and item extensible flexfields. Select the business objects and attributes to be
audited based on regulatory requirements and specific business needs, and then select the
audit level. The audit levels are predefined and specify the events to be audited, such as insert,
update, and delete events. Auditing is disabled by default, and is enabled using the Manage
Audit Policies task on the Setup and Maintenance page.
Create Audit Reports. Audit reporting allows you to track the changes to objects in your
application. With audit reports, you can see who made what changes in the application, and
when the changes were made. For example, you can track when records are created, updated,
or deleted, and by whom. For each field that you audit, you can see the old field value and the
new field value. The audit report includes the following fields:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Date
User
Event Type
Business Object Type
Description
Attribute
Old Value
New Value
Publish Audit Reports. You can export audit reports to Microsoft Excel for further analysis and
publication.
Audit Report
STEPS TO ENABLE
This task enables auditing for individual business objects and attributes.
1. In the Navigator, click Setup and Maintenance.
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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Click the All Tasks tab.
Search for the Manage Audit Policies task.
Click Go To Task in the Search Results for that task row.
In the Oracle Fusion Applications applet, change the Audit Level field to Auditing.
Click the Save button.
Click the Configure Business Object Attributes button.
Set the Application value to Product Management.
Select the objects and attributes that you want to audit, and click OK.
Click Save and Close.
TIPS AND CONSIDERATIONS




You can track an unlimited number of fields per auditable business object, including custom
fields.
You can track one or more business objects, including custom objects.
Generating very large audit reports may impact performance. Keep in mind that the more data
you track, the larger your audit reports will get, which may impact performance. We
recommend that you track only the data needed.
If an audit is not needed for a period of time (for example, if you are importing a large amount
of data or doing system testing), you can turn audit off at the application level for performance
reasons.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
From the Navigator menu, select Setup and Maintenance.
Select the All Tasks tab.
Search for the Manage Audit Policies task.
Click Go To Task in the Search Results for that task row.
Uncheck the Audit check box in the applicable application row.
Click Save and Close.
When finished, you can turn audit back on by rechecking the audit check box for the required
application row.
KEY RESOURCES
For more information on Product Hub, refer to the following Release 9 guides:


Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Implementing Product Information Management
Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Using Product Information Management
Return to Release Feature Summary
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22
PRODUCT AND CATALOG MANAGEMENT
This section lists the enhancements that have been added to Oracle Fusion Product and Catalog
Management in Release 9.
DATA MAINTENANCE AND PUBLICATION
The following data maintenance and publication enhancements have been added to Product and
Catalog Management in Release 9:



Item Revision Attachments
View Development Structures
Publish All Items in Pack Hierarchy
Refer to the Product Hub section of this document for details about these enhancements.
DATA GOVERNANCE
The following data governance enhancements have been added to Product and Catalog Management in
Release 9:






GTIN Validation
Approval History Enhancements for Change Orders
Entry and Exit Criteria for Change Management
Change Order Enhancements
Approval History Enhancements for New Item Requests
New Item Request Enhancements
Refer to the Product Hub section of this document for details about these enhancements.
KEY RESOURCES
For more information on Product and Catalog Management, refer to the following Release 9 guides:


Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Implementing Product Information Management
Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Using Product Information Management
Return to Release Feature Summary
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23
PRODUCT HUB PORTAL
The following data consolidation enhancements have been added to Oracle Fusion Product Hub Portal
in Release 9.
DATA CONSOLIDATION
The following data consolidation enhancements have been added to Product Hub Portal in Release 9:


Schedule Product Data Uploads
Monitor Product Data Uploads and Imports
SCHEDULE PRODUCT DATA UPLOADS
This enhancement enables the supplier product administrator to create a schedule to automate the
upload of product data files. The upload frequency can be set to once, hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly.
Multiple data files can be uploaded in each upload process. The supplier product administrator can
enable and receive automated e-mail notifications to monitor the data upload process.
Schedule Product Data Upload
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STEPS TO ENABLE
There are no steps necessary to enable this enhancement.
KEY RESOURCES
For more information on Product Hub Portal, refer to the following Release 9 guides:


Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Implementing Product Information Management
Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Using Product Information Management
MONITOR PRODUCT DATA UPLOADS AND IMPORTS
Automated worklist notifications are sent to the product data steward to monitor critical product data
events. You can also enable automated e-mail notifications to be sent to the supplier product
administrator and to the product data steward. Notifications are sent for critical product data events,
such as data upload success, data upload failure, data import success, and data import failure. The
notifications contain details of any errors encountered during the data upload or import process, and
recommended actions to take, enabling fast resolution of any upload or import issues.
Monitor Product Data Upload
STEPS TO ENABLE
There are no steps necessary to enable this enhancement.
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25
KEY RESOURCES
For more information on Product Hub Portal, refer to the following Release 9 guides:


Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Implementing Product Information Management
Oracle Product Value Chain Cloud: Using Product Information Management
Return to Release Feature Summary
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26
REVISION HISTORY
This document will continue to evolve as existing sections change and new information is added. All
updates are logged below, with the most recent updates at the top.
Date
.
What’s Changed
Notes
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