1 Feature Summary

This chapter describes the feature enhancements in this release.

Noteworthy Enhancements

This guide outlines the information you need to know about new or improved functionality in the Oracle Retail Supplier Evaluation Cloud Service update and describes any tasks you might need to perform for the update. 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.

Note:

Where new fields, User Interface (UI) changes, or glossary entries are introduced as part of a change, the portal owner may need to apply their own translations of the core system text.

Column Definitions

  • Feature: Provides a description of the feature being delivered.

  • Module Impacted: Identifies the module impacted associated with the feature, if any.

  • Scale: Identifies the size of the feature. Options are:

    • Small: These UI or process-based features are typically comprised of minor field, validation, or program changes. Therefore, the potential impact to users is minimal.

    • Medium: These UI or process-based features are typically comprised of field, validation, or program changes. Therefore, the potential impact to users is moderate.

    • Large: These UI or process-based features have more complex designs. Therefore, the potential impact to users is higher.

  • Delivered: Is the new feature available for use immediately after upgrade or must the feature be enabled or configured? If no, the feature is non-disruptive to end users and action is required (detailed steps below) to make the feature ready to use.

  • Customer Action Required: You must take action before these features can be used. These features are delivered disabled and you choose if and when to enable them.

Table 1-1 Noteworthy Enhancements

Feature Module Impacted Scale Delivered Customer Action Required?
Assessment Request Brief Notification

Supplier

Small

No

 Enable email notification and modify the email Body text if required.
Manage Extension to Audit Issue Due Dates Supplier Small Yes Set new Audit and Visit Template configuration settings as required.
Data Warehouse Rebuild Strategy

All

 Small Yes No
Oracle Digital Assistant All Small Yes Enable system parameters.
Reset System Delivered Views in New User Interface All Medium Yes Where system views have been updated, these updates will need to be made again.

Assessment Request Brief Notification

This is an enhancement to the Assessment Request Wizard so suppliers can be notified that they have been invited to participate in a sourcing exercise and provide instructions and supporting documentation.

The wizard modification introduces an additional step, Supplier Message & Briefs, which includes the following:

  • A supplier message field which can be sent to suppliers using an email notification.
  • Facility to upload documents that are associated with the Assessment Request.
  • A selection list of supplier and site contact roles available to be notified.
  • Options regarding whether an email notification is sent based on whether the Assessment Request is new or amended.

On finishing the Assessment Request:

  • The new information provided in the wizard is stored against the Assessment Request folder and available for view on the list view Info Panel.

  • An email notification is generated and sent to the selected Supplier and/or Site contacts identified for each Supplier with Sites that were included in the Assessment Request. In addition, the email notification is also be sent to the contact email on the Supplier records.

    The email notification includes:

    • The supplier message, if populated.
    • A link list of any documents associated with the request.
    • The Response Due Date.
    • An assessment link list.

Manage Extension to Audit Issue Due Dates

This feature introduces configuration to control the user type that can edit the Due Date of an Audit Issue at Awaiting Corrective Action or Awaiting Amendment status and if a Reason Required comment is required.

There are two new parameters available on Audit and Visit templates:

  • Retailer Controls Issue Due Date

    This controls whether a Supplier or Retailer users can edit the Due Date field of an issue when the Audit or Visit is at a status of Awaiting Corrective Action or Awaiting Amendment.

    The default is No in existing and new templates which will allow only a Supplier User to edit the field. When set to Yes, only a Retailer can edit the field.

  • Reason Required for Issue Due Date Change

    This controls whether a mandatory field is available on amending the Due Date field when the Audit or Visit is at a status of Awaiting Corrective Action or Awaiting Amendment.

    A Reason for Due Date Change field is now available in the Audit & Visit list views, held under the Issue category.

Data Warehouse Rebuild Strategy

To ensure there is always a built Data Warehouse schema for DW reports to run against, there will be two sets of Data Warehouse tables, one with a prefix of “W_” and the other “W2_”. This allows the schema to be updated on one DW set and DW reports to run against the other DW set, thereby improving reporting availability. The following new system parameters in the admin area show the status of this rebuild strategy:

  • Data Warehouse Active Prefix - This displays the current active set of Data Warehouse tables.
  • Data Warehouse Successfully Built On - This displays the date and time of the last successful rebuild.
  • Data Warehouse Last Successful Build Duration (mins) - The duration, in minutes, of the last successful rebuild.
  • Data Warehouse Next Build - Date and time of the next rebuild.

Oracle Digital Assistant

This release introduces the Oracle Digital Assistant. The Oracle Digital Assistant (ODA) is an AI-powered platform that enables users to interact with various business applications and services through natural conversations using chat interfaces.

Note:

The ODA is only available in customer production environments where Retail Home is enabled. Non-production environments do not have this feature enabled.

With ODA, end users can:

  • Get Answers Quickly: Ask questions and receive timely, accurate responses to common queries about applications, policies, or business processes.
  • Personalized Experience: Receive tailored information and notifications based on your role, preferences, and recent activity.
  • Simple Interaction: Use natural language (typing or speaking) to communicate. ODA is designed to understand common phrases and conversational requests.

If the ODA widget is enabled within an environment, it will be available to users who have been assigned a new AI Chatbot Authority Profile. The AI Chatbot will use the language locale specific to the logged in user.

For the best experience, access the ODA window by clicking the conversation icon at the bottom of the screen, state your request or question clearly, and follow prompts or suggestions as they appear. If ODA cannot resolve your request, consult the documentation or log a service request to get additional support.

If there is an issue accessing ODA, customers are advised to log a service request (SR), so that Oracle can provide a resolution.

Reset System Delivered Views in New User Interface

As part of this upgrade, System Delivered Views in the new User Interface are reset back to their default position. If amendments have been made, in a portal, to these system-delivered views, then these changes need to be made again after the upgrade has taken place.

Privately created user views will not be impacted by this reset.

Post Release Tasks & Impact on Existing Installation

The following post release tasks and impact on an existing installation must be taken into account as part of this release.

Note:

See the Noteworthy Resolved Issues document for 26.1.101.0 for additional post release tasks.

Database Update Scripts

The following feature includes a database upgrade script:

Reset System Delivered Views in New User Interface

In upgraded portals, the System Delivered Views in the new User Interface will be reset back to their default position. Any customization of these views will need to be reapplied after the upgrade.

Permissions

The Oracle Digital Assistant feature introduces a new authority profile, the AI Chatbot (CHATBOT). Assign the new authority profile to user roles and users, as appropriate.

System Text

The following features include new system text:

  • Assessment Request Brief Notification
  • Manage Extension to Audit Issue Due Dates
  • Data Warehouse Rebuild Strategy

System text records are added automatically during the release process, however any translation overrides must be added manually, by the retailer administrator.

Post Release Configuration and Testing

The following feature has post release configuration and testing requirements:

  • Assessment Request Brief Notification
  • Manage Extension to Audit Issue Due Dates
  • Data Warehouse Rebuild Strategy
  • Oracle Digital Assistant
Assessment Request Brief Notification
  • If this feature is required, enable and review the new email template ASSESSMENT_REQUEST for any custom override requirements.

  • Reports

    The Assessment Request query has been updated to include the Supplier Message and Notify Contact Roles to allow reporting on this new information.

  • RDS

    The RDS tables which include Assessment Request data, have been updated to include the fields Supplier Message, Notify Contact Roles, Notify Suppliers, and Re-send Briefs.

Manage Extension to Audit Issue Due Dates
  • The initial default settings, conform to current behaviour. To change the behaviour, update the new configuration settings on the Audit and Visit Templates to manage the user type that can edit the Due Date field, and whether documenting a reason, for changing the date is required.

  • Reports

    The Reason for Due Date Change field has been added to the report queries:

    • Audit
    • Audit Status History
    • Audit/Visit Scores Latest/Completed
Data Warehouse Rebuild Strategy

Verify that the data warehouse table is rebuilt and that reports run successfully before, during, and after a rebuild.

Oracle Digital Assistant

A new AI Chatbot Enabled system parameter on the Global page must be enabled.

Retail Home must also be enabled.

To access the ODA, the AI Chatbot Authority Profile is required.

Sample Questions:

Question Expected Response Document for Reference
Where in the system do I create new suppliers? The New Supplier action is available in the Suppliers tab. Supplier Evaluation Cloud Service Supplier User Guide
What is the difference between News Items and Resources? Resources are for the more static items, such as links to external bodies or training resources. Supplier Evaluation Cloud Service Workspace User Guide
What is the Runtime Value field used for, when setting up report filters? Using the Runtime Value allows the user to enter a value when they schedule the report. Otherwise, enter a fixed value in the Value field when you set up the report filter. Supplier Evaluation Cloud Service Reports User Guide
What is the meaning of the Scoring Rules Version, which is shown in the Scores tab in the Product record? This refers to the version of the Evaluation Scoring Rules glossary used to calculate the scores. Supplier Evaluation Cloud Service Product User Guide

Application Program Interfaces (APIs)

The following API is affected by this release. Consider if changes need to be made to any external systems that call the API.

  • Audit REST API: The Manage Extension to Audit Issue Due Dates feature adds Reason for Due Date Change from the Issue record.

For further information on the data content, see the associated Data Dictionary documents.

Enabling Identity Management Notifications

As an IDCS or OCI IAM Administrator, verify that Notifications are enabled in the corresponding Stage / Production tenant.

Enabling User Roles

If they do not already exist, configure the Power User, Account Administrator, Assistant Technologist, and Site Inspector user roles, and assign to the appropriate users.

The instructions for downloading and uploading the amended Permissions spreadsheet are as follows:

  1. Log in as an Oracle Authorized Administrator user and go to Company > Admin > Roles & Permissions.

  2. Open the Permissions page.

  3. Download the active spreadsheet by selecting the row with true in the Active Permissions column, click Download Selected, and save locally.

  4. Edit the downloaded spreadsheet, make the changes described above, then save the spreadsheet.

  5. Upload the edited spreadsheet by clicking Upload Permissions, select the spreadsheet, and click Ok.

  6. Apply the changes by selecting the uploaded spreadsheet row, click Process Selected, and then click Ok to confirm.