INFOCUS 2026: JD Edwards, Redwood and AI at a glance

from Boss Info Redaktion

ERP

Modernization without disruption: The key message from Denver

INFOCUS, hosted by the Quest Oracle Community, is the central conference for users, partners and experts around Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne. Over three days at the Sheraton Denver Downtown, numerous sessions, workshops and live demos provided a comprehensive insight into the latest developments and future possibilities of the platform.

The conference opened with the keynote «JD Edwards: Modernization without Disruption» by Paul Houtkooper, Vice President Applications Development at Oracle.

The key message: modernization no longer has to be a one-off large-scale project. Instead, it is about continuous development with targeted improvements that can be integrated step by step into existing operations. This allows companies to modernize their JD Edwards environment without unnecessarily changing proven processes and stable workflows.

Release 26: Making exceptions visible automatically

One focus of the practical sessions was Release 26 and the question of how exceptions in day-to-day business can be identified and processed more quickly. The approach: users no longer have to actively search for deviations. Relevant notifications appear directly where they occur and can be analyzed and processed in a targeted way.

Several sessions used concrete examples to show how such scenarios can be implemented in EnterpriseOne, including UX One, widgets, personalization, and orchestrations. This turns traditional troubleshooting into a proactive process: the system draws attention to relevant deviations, supports analysis, and helps identify errors earlier. This reduces manual checking and makes daily work with JD Edwards more efficient and intuitive.

Release 27 and Redwood: Where JD Edwards is heading

In addition to the current functions of Release 26, Oracle provided first insights into Release 27 at INFOCUS. For companies, this information is particularly valuable because it shows at an early stage which topics could play a role in future JD Edwards projects.

The new features presented help companies better assess their own roadmap and plan upcoming steps more specifically. This is particularly important for existing JD Edwards landscapes, as new functions should not be viewed in isolation, but in connection with processes, system architecture and user experience.

Redwood creates a more modern user experience

With Redwood, Oracle is placing greater focus on the user interface. The modern design system is intended to make JD Edwards more consistent, intuitive and aligned with today’s user expectations.

For users, this means clearer navigation and a more consistent user experience. This can make onboarding new employees easier and simplify daily work with EnterpriseOne.

Redwood is therefore more than a visual update. Modern user guidance is becoming increasingly important so that processes not only work technically, but can also be used efficiently in everyday operations.

AI in JD Edwards: Starting pragmatically instead of following the hype

Artificial Intelligence was one of the central topics at INFOCUS 2026. However, the focus was not on hype, but on how companies can integrate AI into existing JD Edwards processes in a meaningful, gradual and controlled way.

Concrete use cases, a reliable data foundation and clear framework conditions are essential. Successful AI readiness does not start with technology alone, but with a clear business case and the right data.

One particularly interesting outlook concern Release 27. Oracle announced plans to integrate an MCP server, or Model Context Protocol, into JD Edwards. This creates a standardized interface that will allow AI applications and agents to interact with JD Edwards in a controlled way in future.

At the same time, JD Edwards already offers possibilities to automate processes and make them more efficient today. These include Orchestrator, Low-Code/No-Code functions and Enterprise Automation. They help integrate systems, automate business processes and relieve employees in day-to-day operations.

In Denver, it became clear that JD Edwards is not being reinvented, but developed in a targeted way. For companies, this is a major advantage because they can use innovation without unnecessarily putting stable processes at risk.

Thomas Müller, Head of Oracle Development, Boss Info

Especially when it comes to AI and automation, hype is not what matters. What counts is concrete value in the business process. Clean data, clear use cases and a roadmap that fits the company’s own system landscape are essential.

Thomas Müller, Head of Oracle Development, Boss Info

What do the new developments mean for JD Edwards customers?

The impulses from Denver show that JD Edwards continues to evolve. Companies do not have to wait for the next major upgrade to benefit from new possibilities. Instead, it is worth reviewing the current release status regularly and using new functions where they create concrete added value.

For companies, this results in clear starting points:

Plan updates continuously.
Assess and use the possibilities of Release 26 in a targeted way.
Identify manual workflows and automate them with Orchestrator.
Prioritise AI use cases and ensure data quality.

Not every new possibility has to be implemented immediately. What matters is identifying the right topics for the organisation and deriving realistic next steps from them.

International exchange at the Redfaire Partner Meeting

As part of INFOCUS 2026, the annual Redfaire International Partner Meeting also took place. The international Redfaire community brings together JD Edwards partners from different countries and markets, creating an important platform for exchanging insights on current developments, experiences and challenges.

The focus was on topics that currently concern many companies: the further development of existing JD Edwards environments, the need for automation, the use of new technologies such as AI and the question of which projects should be prioritised in the coming months.

The direct exchange with partners and JD Edwards customers was particularly valuable. Requirements differ depending on industry, company size and region, but many challenges are comparable. This change of perspective helps to assess developments early and derive concrete fields of action for practice.

Our conclusion from Denver

INFOCUS 2026 made it clear that JD Edwards continues to evolve without losing sight of the stability of existing processes. Release 26 already shows concrete opportunities for greater efficiency and automation. Release 27, Redwood and new AI functions provide an outlook on the next development steps.

For us, the combination of technological impulses, international partner exchange and direct conversations with JD Edwards customers was particularly valuable. After all, the benefit of new technologies only becomes visible when they support concrete requirements within the company.

From Denver, we therefore take away not only new information, but above all concrete impulses for the further development of our customers and their JD Edwards landscapes.

Further developing your JD Edwards roadmap

Would you like to know which developments from INFOCUS 2026 are relevant for your JD Edwards environment?

Our JD Edwards specialists support you in assessing your current situation, identifying potential and deriving concrete next steps. This ranges from using the possibilities of Release 26 and Orchestrator automation to preparing for Release 27.

Please feel free to contact us