FUSION HCM INTEGRATION OPTIONS

CONTENTS
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................................2
Inbound Integration.......................................................................................................................................................2
HCM File-Based Loader .............................................................................................................................................2
HCM Spreadsheet Loader..........................................................................................................................................2
Payroll Batch Loader .................................................................................................................................................3
HCM Data Loader ......................................................................................................................................................3
V2 SOAP services .......................................................................................................................................................3
REST Services .............................................................................................................................................................4
Outbound Integration....................................................................................................................................................4
HCM Extract ..............................................................................................................................................................4
ATOM Feeds ..............................................................................................................................................................5
BI Publisher and Services...........................................................................................................................................5
BI Agent .....................................................................................................................................................................5
File Security ...................................................................................................................................................................6
R7 and Early R8..........................................................................................................................................................6
Advanced Data Security ............................................................................................................................................6
HCM Connect V1 .......................................................................................................................................................6
ROADMAP ......................................................................................................................................................................7

Purpose:
This document provides an overview of features and enhancements included in Oracle Fusion Applications 11gR1 Release 11.1.1.7.0 and
applicable updates. It is intended solely to help you assess the business benefits of upgrading your existing Oracle Products to this release, or
implementing completely new Oracle developed products, and planning your I.T. Projects.
Disclaimer:

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This document is intended to outline our general product direction. It is intended for informational purposes only and solely to assist you in
planning for the implementation and upgrade of the product features described. Release information contained in this document is not a firm
development plan. Release information published here should not be used as the basis for customer delivery commitments, as part of
marketing efforts, or during contract negotiations. This is not a commitment to deliver any material, code, or functionality, and should not be
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document is not considered part of the applicable program documentation.
Due to the nature of the product architecture, it may not be possible to safely include all features described in this document without risking
significant destabilization of the code.

INTRODUCTION
This document provides a summary of the tools available in Fusion HCM and the techstack that allow
implementers to develop integrations into and out of Fusion HCM. In addition there is a timeline showing the
targeted releases by which new integration functionality will be made available.

INBOUND INTEGRATION
The inbound integration into Fusion HCM can be handled using either the bulk loading tools such as File Based
Loader, Spreadsheet Loader, Payroll Batch Loader and in the future HCM Data Loader. Additionally specific
integrations can be done in future by a set of REST services that will also be available from R9. All of these tools
have the capability to be automated from outside of Fusion.

HCM FILE-BASED LOADER

HCM File-Based Loader enables you to load data in bulk from any source to Oracle Fusion HCM. It is a tool for
populating the Load Batch Data stage tables with your data and preparing it for processing by Oracle Fusion
internal APIs.
HCM File-Based Loader is most suitable for loading complex hierarchical data, loading large volumes of records,
handling iterative loads and being able to manage records that have data issues.
File-Based Loader is initiated by moving a zip file containing the data to be merged in to Fusion to Webcenter
(UCM) followed by the invocation of the LoaderIntegrationService to process the data. The service invocation can
be configured to run in AutoLoad mode, in this case the data is staged in the FBL batch tables and then moved to
Fusion without user intervention being required.
By creating a wrapper to move a file to UCM and incorporating this and the loaderIntegrationService in an
orchestrated process flow it is possible to control the integration of data from outside of Fusion.

HCM SPREADSHEET LOADER

HCM Spreadsheet Data Loader generates spreadsheets dynamically for several Oracle Fusion HCM business
objects. Each spreadsheet contains columns for the object attributes, identifies required values, and uses lists of
values (LOVs) for many attributes to aid completion. Once you have populated the spreadsheet with your data, the
upload, validation, and correction of the data are straightforward processes.
HCM Spreadsheet Data Loader is most suitable for loading setup data, nonhierarchical data and simple hierarchical
data, small-to-medium volumes of data.
HCM Spreadsheet Loader requires manual intervention meaning that it does not lend itself well to automated
integration. However it does lend itself to ad-hoc end user data loading.

PAYROLL BATCH LOADER

Payroll Batch Loader can be used to integrate data into Fusion, in particular many of the payroll objects are
supported by this utility.
The process is completed in 2 steps; load batch from a file to the payroll batch loader staging tables, and from
there transfer the data to Fusion via the business object layer.
The steps in the payroll batch loader flows can be automated using the FlowActionsService.
Payroll Batch Loader is integrated with WebCenter (UCM) so by placing a file in UCM and then invoking the
FlowActionsService the Load Batch from File step can be completed without manual intervention.
Similarly the Transfer batch process can also be invoked using the FlowActionsService.

HCM DATA LOADER

HCM Data Loader is a new product that will be available over the next 12 months and is an evolution of File Based
Loader. The intention is that in the long term it will support all business objects covered by File Based Loader and
Payroll Batch Loader and many more. Beside the standard maintenance include create, update merge and delete
of objects, HCM Data Loader also supports bulk flexfield, translation loading and partial data loading.
The principle of using HCM Data Loader is similar to File Based Loader in that a file is placed in UCM and then the
integration into Fusion is performed by invoking a web service.
The differences include a different file format, the way key data is handled, the ability to handle partial data sets as
well as the dedicated UI that has been built around the new offering.
In the long term HCM Data Loader will supersede File Based Loader.
HCM Data Loader can be invoked from its own dedicated UI or from a web service, thereby allowing it to be
automated from outside of Fusion.

V2 SOAP SERVICES
In R7 a set of external, message protected SOAP based services was developed as an evolution of the original V1
services that were delivered as internal only. The V2 services as they are known are based on a framework that
allows them to be used independently but also to underpin the future HCM Data Loader tool

Hence the SOAP Services developed in R7 are under controlled release and are only available to specific partners. If
customers have compelling use cases that justify the use of a V2 SOAP Service then development management will
determine whether to approve their use on an exception basis.

REST SERVICES
From R9 HCM will begin to deliver a set of REST services and these will be the primary mechanism for interacting
with Fusion on an ad-hoc / real-time basis.
The REST services have the benefits of standardization and discoverability and in particular they lend themselves to
integration on mobile apps more readily than SOAP.
The initial set of REST resources being delivered in R9 will focus on the Employee allowing the management of the
employee lifecycle, maintenance of the employee details, roles and responsibilities. They will also allow the extract
of individual employee details providing real-time outbound capability.

OUTBOUND INTEGRATION
Data can be extracted out of Fusion in bulk using the HCM Extract tool and also via BI Publisher both of which have
services that allow the processes to be automated from outside Fusion.
In R9 a set of ATOM feeds will be delivered that allow a consumer to be notified when certain business events
occur in Fusion. This will introduce the ability for Fusion to trigger processing in downstream systems outside of
Fusion.

HCM EXTRACT
The primary tool for bulk retrieval of data from Fusion is HCM Extract which is a flexible tool for generating data
files and reports.
HCM Extract has a dedicated UI for specifying the records and attributes to be extracted. The set of records to be
extracted can be controlled using complex selection criteria. Data elements in an HCM Extract are defined using
fast formula database items and rules.
The output of an extract can optionally be generated in the following formats by leveraging the built-in integration
with BI Publisher: CSV, XML, Excel, HTML, RTF and PDF.
HCM Extracts can be invoked from the UI in the Data Exchange workarea or from the Checklists UI in the Payroll
workarea. Alternatively they can be invoked using the FlowActionsService from outside of Fusion allowing the
outbound extract to be automated as part of an overall integration flow.
Once an HCM Extract has completed the raw hierarchical XML can be downloaded using the
PayrollProcessingActionService. Alternatively the formatted BI report (CSV etc) can be downloaded using the BI
ScheduleService. In both cases the output is streamed in a byte array and so any orchestration mechanism would
have to be able to handle this possibly via wrapper code.

It is also possible to generate an HCM Extract with no output format specified at the design stage, and then to
subsequently generate a BI report output based on the specific extract using BI Publisher or the BI ReportService.
This technique uses a dedicated BI Data Model that is delivered to interface with the HCM Extract XML that is
generated.

ATOM FEEDS
In order to provide notifications of events that have occurred in the Fusion the ability to generate ATOM feeds has
been added in R9. These ATOM feeds will be tightly integrated with the REST resources described above.
When an event occurs in the Fusion system the corresponding ATOM feed will be pushed to the ATOM server. The
feed will contain details of the REST resource on which the event occurred. Subscribers will be able to consume the
ATOM feeds allowing them to use the REST resource to call back to Fusion to retrieve additional information about
the resource, and allowing them to orchestrate downstream processing based on the Fusion event.
Examples of the ATOM feeds being delivered in the first instance are New Hire, Employee Terminated, Employee
Basic Info Changed, Employee Contact Info Changed.

BI PUBLISHER AND SERVICES

BI Publisher allows scheduled and ad-hoc reporting to be performed, either based on pre-delivered OTBI analysis
structures or by defining custom data models. Reports can gen generated in a variety of different formats
depending on the particular requirement.
BI Publisher is one option for outbound integration, and in this case the reports would be constructed in a format
that lends itself to automatic downstream processing, for instance XML or CSV.
There are 2 BI services that may be of use when integrating BI reporting into an orchestrated flow:
ReportService provides the ability to run predefined reports and download their content
ScheduleService provides the ability to retrieve the output of reports already run, possibly via a scheduled
process
See http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E28280_01/bi.1111/e22259/webservices.htm for more details about the BI
services.

BI AGENT
A BI Agent is a mechanism for using a BI Analysis report or KPI to determine if certain conditions have been
satisfied and to invoke one or more actions if such conditions have occurred. An action can include calling out to
an external service so using this technique it is possible to monitor the Fusion instance and to invoke downstream
processing when certain conditions are detected.
The BI Agent is executed on a schedule basis i.e. it is not real-time detection of events, however in theory the
schedule could be set up to monitor Fusion on a frequent basis.

FILE SECURITY
A number of the integration tools listed above rely on data files being moved to and from Fusion. Many of these
files contain sensitive information and customers therefore need to be able to ensure that the contents are
protected from unauthorized access. The following sections discuss the current and future positions on this.

R7 AND EARLY R8
In Release 7 there is no native file encryption or file security when using File Based Loader or HCM Extract. The
only security is as result of access limitations based on the username/password and roles granted.
Files delivered to and from the Fusion sftp site are only restricted based on the access to the sftp site. However
files that are sent to File Based Loader for processing are removed from the sftp site once they are consumed.
From there the file is moved to the Fusion server where it will reside unencrypted. Only the cloudOps engineers
with access to the customer environments would be able to reach these files.
Files that are placed in UCM prior to uploading to Fusion are restricted to only those users with the access rights
arising from a provisioned role. In the same way as with sftp, once the file has been consumed it is moved from
the UCM site.
HCM Extract writes output files to the BI server and these can be downloaded using the BI ScheduleService. These
files are not encrypted by default.
HCM Data Loader streams files from UCM and does not explicitly move a file to the Fusion server. It currently
leaves the file in UCM, but in the future there will be a configuration setting that will allow the file to be removed
once it has been processed.

ADVANCED DATA SECURITY

Advanced Data Security allows Oracles Cloud Services Team to manage the application and database environment
and file system without being able to see the data inside the database files.
It comprises 2 parts; Transparent Data Encryption which protects Fusion Applications Data which is at rest on the
file system from being read or used and Oracle Database Vault which restricts the DBA and other privileged users
from accessing application data, protects the database and applications from unauthorized changes and enforces
strong controls over who, when, and where application can be accessed.
When used in conjunction with Web Center Server (UCM) Advanced Data Security can be used to ensure that the
files that are being processed through the HCM bulk integration tools are fully protected.
Advanced Security is an additional service which is separately priced on the price list.

HCM CONNECT V1
HCM Connect v1 will be available in the second half of 2014 on Release 8 and will enable the transfer of PGP
encrypted files from the customers server to UCM (Web Content Server). As well as coordinating the invocation of
FBL/HCM Data Loader to upload the files. FBL and HCM Data Loader will be modified to handle an encrypted file
and to accept instructions to decrypt it before uploading the data to Fusion.

HCM Connect v1 will also allow customers to generate PGP encrypted output from HCM Extract and provide their
servers or 3rd party servers as destinations for this output.
The product facilitates the automated transfer and at the same time ensures data in transit and at rest stays
encrypted. It is comprised of a set of light-weight binaries and use-case driven instructions. HCM Connect V1
utilizes existing Fusion data migration tools, such as FBL, to perform migration of business objects into Fusion
HCM. The binaries, which can be downloaded or hosted in the PaaS cloud, perform the more mundane steps of
typical Fusion HCM in-bound integration process by performing the file transfer, loading the file into UCM, and
triggering the FBL/HCM Data Loader process.

ROADMAP
The following tables gives an indication of the integration tools that are or are planned to be available in the
forthcoming releases.

File Based Loader

Spreadsheet Loader
Payroll Batch Loader
HCM Data Loader
V2 SOAP Services
REST Services
HCM Extract
ATOM Feeds
BI Publisher
Advanced Data Security
File Encryption

R7
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes Controlled Release
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes additional cost
No

R8
Yes
Yes
Yes
Limited Availability
Yes Controlled Release
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes additional cost
Patch on R8 from mid-year

R9
Yes
Yes
Yes
Controlled Availability
Controlled Release
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes additional cost
Yes