Introduction
Oracle Fusion Applications Suite (Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications) provides multiple data extraction options to support reporting, analytics, integrations, and downstream data consumption. These options produce data in different formats (for example, files and report outputs) depending on business needs such as ad-hoc analysis, scheduled reporting, operational extracts, or bulk data movement.
This blog summarizes the available data extraction tools and patterns in Oracle Fusion Applications Suite and provides practical guidelines for choosing the right option based on common requirements (data volume, frequency, latency, security, and target format). It is intended for Fusion practitioners who need a clear way to evaluate extract approaches during implementation and ongoing operations.
Oracle Fusion Applications Suite is engineered as an integrated set of cloud applications built on a unified data model across core business functions – Finance (ERP), Supply Chain (SCM), Human Capital Management (HCM), and Customer Experience (CX: Sales and Service). Because data spans modules, selecting the right extraction approach is an essential part of designing enterprise reporting and integration solutions
Data Extraction Use Cases
The most common data extraction use cases in Oracle Fusion Applications Suite (Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications) include:
- Initial (full) and incremental (delta) extracts
Extract a complete baseline dataset for the first load, and then extract only changed data on a recurring basis. - Move Fusion Cloud data to downstream platforms
- Load data into an enterprise data warehouse (cloud or on‑premises) for analytics and enterprise reporting.
- Transfer data to another Oracle Cloud application, Oracle Database/Database Cloud, or an on‑premises system as part of an integration.
- Extract, transform, and mass update data back into Fusion
Export data, apply formatting/standardization, and then update or correct data at scale in Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications. - Third-party verification and enrichment
Provide data extracts to approved third-party services for validation, cleansing, verification, or enrichment (ensure this aligns with Oracle security/privacy requirements and contractual controls). - Self-service business analysis (small-volume extracts)
Enable business users to quickly export a small set of records for ad-hoc analysis and operational decision-making. - Identify record keys for data association
Extract record identifiers (IDs/keys) needed to relate child records to existing parent records during data loads, conversions, or integrations.
Data Extract Tools & Options
Fusion Cloud Applications Suite has purpose-built data extract options that give customers flexibility to choose the right tools for their implementation requirements. The table below summarizes the data extract options available within Fusion Cloud Applications.
| Extract Option / Tool | Description | Supported Formats |
|---|---|---|
| Data Extraction Tool** (Note: business objects and views are being incrementally added) | New data extraction feature introduced from release 26A. This innovative approach is positioned as a modern alternative to BICC for supported objects, with ongoing expansion and Redwood-based experience. | CSV, JSON |
| Fusion Desktop Integration (Refer to user guide documentation) | Across all applications, many screens will have the export capability for users to export available data through the application. This option is not recommended for data extraction. | Microsoft Excel, CSV |
| Export Management | Move / Extract CX data out of Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications in the form of CSV files. | CSV |
| HCM Extracts | Extract and export HCM data elements. Using the built-in integration with Oracle BI Publisher, you can generate extracts in various formats. | CSV, XML, Microsoft Excel, HTML, RTF, PDF |
| Financial Reporting Center (Note: OTBI is a reporting tool and not recommended for data extraction) | The primary function for ERP Cloud enables end-users to access pre-built reports and export if available. | Microsoft Excel |
| Item / Product Data Publication | Item Publication enables you to schedule and publish item objects automatically. | XML |
| OTBI (Online Transactional BI) (Note: OTBI is a reporting tool and not recommended for data extraction) | Built-in analytics & reports within every pillar for application users to gain real-time insight into transactional data, understand data patterns, and be alerted to key events and data anomalies. | Microsoft Excel, XML |
| BIP (Business Intelligence Publisher) (Note: BIP is a reporting tool and not recommended for large-scale or integration-grade data extraction) | Business Intelligence Publisher is the report generation and delivery engine for Oracle Fusion Applications Suite. | Word, Excel, PDF, RTF, HTML |
| BICC (BI Cloud Connector) | Business Intelligence Cloud Connector (BICC) is used to extract data in bulk from Oracle Fusion SaaS applications and load it into designated external storage areas. | CSV |
| Fusion Business Events with Oracle Integration Cloud (“OIC”) | Best suited for real-time or near real-time integrations, not bulk data extraction. | JSON |
| REST API | Use REST API’s to extract data. | JSON |
| SOAP Services | Use Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) web services to extract. | XML |
| Fusion Data Intelligence (“FDI”) Additional subscription may be required. | Oracle Fusion Data Intelligence formerly known as Fusion Analytics Warehouse provides analytics for Oracle Cloud Applications, powered by Autonomous Data Warehouse and Oracle Analytics. | Pre-built, Cloud Native analytics applications |
** This feature requires your environment to have certain necessary configurations. Ask your help desk to contact Oracle Support, who can verify what your environment has and address any gaps.
When you have complex data extraction, transformation, and integration requirements, leveraging Oracle Cloud Infrastructure capabilities such as Compute, Data Integration, Functions, Object Storage, Autonomous Database, Analytics, and other capabilities will simplify seamless automation and integration.
The table below provides a high-level view of available data extract capability across all pillars in Fusion Cloud Applications. Note that HCM and CX pillar has purpose-built extract/export utilities best suited to corresponding pillar objects/entities.
| Extract Option | Typical Need | Expected Volume | Best Suited For | CX | HCM | ERP | SCM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Extraction Tool | Extract bulk data to on-premises / reporting; incremental extract supported | High | Batch | ! | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fusion Desktop Integration* | Users to analyze specific data outside | Low | User interaction | Not recommended for data extract | |||
| Export Management | Extract CX objects | High | Batch | ✓ | |||
| HCM Extract | Extract HCM objects | High | Batch | ✓ | |||
| Financial Reporting Center* | Financial statements | Medium | User interaction | Not recommended for data extract | |||
| Item / Product Data Publication | Item data for bulk or asynchronous real-time integrations | High | Batch | Not applicable | ✓** | ||
| OTBI (Online Transactional BI) * | Seeded Subject area and analyses | Low | User Interaction | Not recommended for data extract | |||
| BIP (Business Intelligence Publisher) | Seeded reports available in pillars ~ | Low | Batch~~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| BICC (BI Cloud Connector) | Extract bulk data to on-premises / reporting; incremental extract supported | High | Batch~~ | ✓ | ✓*** | ✓ | ✓ |
| Business Events | Trigger actions when data changes | Very Low | Real-Time | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| REST API / SOAP Services | Get data mostly for real-time integrations | Very Low | Real-Time | Intended for real-time integrations only, and not recommended for data extract | |||
| Fusion Data Intelligence | Extract bulk data from Oracle Cloud applications to FDI | High | Batch | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
! When available (Refer to the latest documentation for availability)
* Only for reporting purpose and not recommended for data extraction
** Product Hub only; can also be used for asynchronous real-time integrations
*** Supported only for Fusion Data Intelligence / Oracle Analytics Cloud; Refer to the detailed blog on Reporting and Data Extracts in HCM
~ BIP is a reporting tool and not recommended for data extract using custom SQL
~~Avoid using BIP for real-time integrations
The table below provides the consolidated Oracle documentation inks for respective data extract options from every Fusion Cloud Application Suite pillar. As a best practice always use the latest documentation.
| Extract Option | CX | HCM | ERP | SCM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Extraction Tool | Data Extraction Tool Mapping Spreadsheet | Data Extraction Tool Mapping Spreadsheet | Data Extraction Tool Mapping Spreadsheet | |
| Fusion Desktop Integration | Refer to User guides of corresponding pillar | |||
| Export Management | Not applicable | |||
| HCM Extract | ||||
| Smart View / Web Studio | Not applicable | Not applicable | ||
| Item / Product Data Publication | Not applicable | |||
| OTBI (Online Transactional BI) | ||||
| BIP (Business Intelligence Publisher) | ||||
| BICC (BI Cloud Connector) | BICC – Common guide for all pillars | |||
| BICC Data Extracts | Refer to Common guide for all pillars | Refer to Common Guide for all Pillars | Extract Data Stores for Financials | Extract Data Stores for SCM |
| Business Events | OIC CX Cloud Adapter OIC Supported CX Business Events | OIC HCM Cloud Adapter | OIC ERP Cloud Adapter OIC Supported ERP Business Events | OIC Supported SCM Business Events |
| REST API | ||||
| SOAP Services | ||||
| Fusion Data Intelligence (“FDI”) | FDI – Common guide for all pillars | |||
Data Extraction Guidelines
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Consider Fusion Data Intelligence formerly known as Fusion Analytics Warehouse (“FAW”) option that provides native analytics applications with pre-built analytics for all pillars and ready-to-use insights to users for effective decision making. Refer to A-Team blog for additional details.
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Explore available data extract/export options and choose the right one based on your requirements. For all pillars requirements that involve large volumes and incremental (delta) extracts, the Data Extraction option is the preferred approach when the required objects are available.
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Understand the supported objects and volume/size limitations from pillar (HCM / CX / ERP / SCM) documentation based on your extract option.
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Consider the use case (analytics/BI, integration feed, data warehouse replication, mass update, ad-hoc analysis), latency/mode of integration (batch or real-time), type of integration (synchronous or asynchronous), frequency (daily, weekly, monthly, …), data volume (# of records to be retrieved/processed), consumers (users vs downstream systems), expected file size, storage/retrieval options, duration, and performance while choosing the extract option.
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Document the data extract requirements and design the solution by considering usage of data, automation, and performance.
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Do not use OTBI for data extract. Note that OTBI is a reporting tool and not recommended for synchronous integrations. OTBI analysis has limitations on 25,000 records for exporting to Excel.
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Avoid developing BIP reports using custom SQLs for data extracts and integration requirements. Consider performance, timeout, file size, and formatting if you are developing custom BIP reports.
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BICC is the recommended option of extracting bulk data for ERP, SCM, CX in batch out of Fusion Cloud Applications for external applications/data warehouse/reporting. BICC supports incremental extract. For HCM, primarily leveraged for HCM analytics use cases (FDI/OAC), with limited general-purpose extract usage. Refer to the BICC Best Practices paper on customer connect.
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Consider Security, compliance, data privacy, encryption requirements while designing the data extraction/replication solution.
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Leverage Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and Oracle Integration Cloud (OIC) capabilities for orchestrating and automating the data extracts and integrations.
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Avoid using REST API / SOAP services for extracting/exporting high-volume data set from Oracle Fusion Cloud Application. REST API / SOAP services are recommended only for real-time integrations.
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Always refer to the latest documentation to get updates on features.
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Research cloud customer connect if you find gaps and create ideas as needed.
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Log a Service Request with Oracle if any of the above extract options don’t meet your needs to get the right guidance.
Conclusion
To conclude, for all pillars requirements that involve large volumes and incremental (delta) extracts, the Data Extraction option is the preferred approach when the required objects are available. Until all required objects are available in the Data Extraction tool, select the right data extract option for your Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications implementation by using the purpose-built standard capabilities aligned to each pillar and object domain – HCM Extracts for HCM, Export Management for CX, Item Publication for Products/Items, and BICC for SCM and ERP. Avoid using OTBI and BI Publisher (BIP) as mechanisms for synchronous integrations or integration-grade data extraction, since they are designed primarily for reporting and analytics.
I hope this blog helps your organization design and implement efficient data extraction processes for Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications.
References
Note: Always refer to the latest documentation.
- Best practices from Oracle Support
- Oracle Applications Cloud: Data Export Best Practices (Doc ID 2615185.1)
- Oracle Fusion Transactional Business Intelligence and BI Cloud Connector Performance Recommendations (Doc ID 2679006.1)
- Oracle BI Publisher Best Practices for SaaS Environments (Doc ID 2145444.1)
- BI Reports and Analytics Resource Center (Oracle CX Sales and B2B Service) (Doc ID 1624768.1)
- Using Seeded Data Extract Services for Oracle ERP Financial Cloud (Doc ID 2303683.1)
- Using External Data Integration Services for Oracle ERP Cloud (Doc ID 2102800.1)