Oracle expands AI, multi-cloud & local partnerships in ANZ
Oracle has intensified its focus on generative AI, data platform enhancements and multi-cloud strategies as it seeks to expand its footprint across ANZ. Below is our interview with Oracle's ANZ heads at Oracle AI World recently.
Generative AI
Oracle is embedding generative AI capabilities throughout its technology stack, from the data platform to enterprise applications.
"What we've heard over the last couple of days is a significant amount of announcements in terms of what Oracle is doing to continue to develop generative AI, but building that as part of all elements of our stack," said Stephen Bovis, Regional Managing Director, ANZ, Oracle.
The company's recent product releases are focused on making its core database AI-ready, enabling connections with disparate data sources - including non-Oracle environments - and preparing them for vectorisation to support AI workloads. Bovis said this approach aims to securely link private corporate data with third-party large language models, which he predicts will drive substantial commercial benefit for clients.
"The latest version of the database that we've announced, is completely AI focused, allowing customers to actually connect to all those different sources of data, and then actually vectorise that data, for use in AI applications," said Bovis.
Applications shift
The company is pushing AI agent functionality into its horizontal and industry-specific applications, with updates now released in 90-day cycles. Bovis reported that the number of pre-built AI agents now exceeds 400 for general applications and 200 for verticals. Partners can contribute their own AI agents to the Oracle Marketplace. "We're also giving them the ability to actually create agents and put them onto the marketplace, so they can offer those agents to not only a customer, but a broad range of customers on the market," said Bovis.
Cloud diversification
Oracle's approach to cloud is described by Bovis as distinctly multi-cloud and distributed, integrating with Microsoft, Google, and AWS. Customers can run Oracle's platforms within these partner clouds and access different large language models. "It allows a customer to effectively run the highly available, scalable, open database, and the platform they can run that in their instances of Azure, or Google, or soon to be AWS," said Bovis.
The company is also promoting its distributed deployment model, including compact rack-based solutions tailored for specific client requirements, and is collaborating with local technology partners to deliver sovereign cloud environments, as evidenced by its work with TEAM IM in New Zealand.
New Zealand cloud
TEAM IM operates the first partner-owned hyperscale cloud in New Zealand, leveraging Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. Ian Rogers, co-founder and CEO of TEAM IM, highlighted the benefits of this model "We get the same services in New Zealand as you would get if you're going into OCI overseas. So it's not a cut down version, it's exactly the same. We started off with 150 services, and now we're up to 550."
This localised approach has brought measurable cost savings. "We guarantee each agency that we'd save them at least 15% but with Inland Revenue, it turns out, we saved them 48%," said Rogers, citing the example of moving workloads from other international hyperscale clouds. He added that for a newly signed government client, the savings are forecasted to reach 60% over four years.
Data residency remains a significant driver for government sector clients. "We can guarantee that no data will leave New Zealand from our cloud unless someone wants it to leave New Zealand. So everything is done in New Zealand. We've got AI services resident in New Zealand. No one has to worry about data leakage offshore," said Rogers.
Partner expansion
Oracle intends to widen its partner ecosystem, with emphasis on the midmarket and mid-enterprise sector in Australia and New Zealand, where it sees ongoing opportunity. "We need to really expand our partnerships, in particular in Australia. We're going to expand the amount of partners, so you will see us make some changes in terms of the way that we're going to do that," said Bovis.
Jason Langley, Managing Director, New Zealand, Oracle, also flagged growth plans: "Expanding that customer reach, customer base is going to be pretty key. So one of my objectives is to grow the partner ecosystem for New Zealand, and part of that is putting a bit of support around them as well.".
Legacy integration
With many established clients running earlier Oracle applications, integrating new AI and cloud offerings into legacy environments is an ongoing challenge. "I think about key takeaways... the purpose of being here, it's really around the value and opportunities being created through AI, but the complexity for business running, I guess, one of the older products is, how are we going to make that fit," said Keiren Lawrence, CIO at Brickworks. She stressed the importance of extracting value from AI investments while managing established systems.
Public sector
Oracle has deep penetration in Victoria's public sector, with a growing presence in other government domains. "Adoption of OCI in, I'd say widespread within government. We've got very, very good customers from a government perspective, and it's quite widespread within Victoria," said Bovis. Multi-cloud adoption and sovereign deployment models remain key attractors for government agencies.
Healthcare focus
The healthcare sector is a priority for future expansion. "We're very well advanced in terms of our overall healthcare offering... whether that be with federal health in Australia, or whether that be with state based health, you know that will, you know, be a very strong focus for us, likewise, over in New Zealand," said Bovis.
AI orchestration
Integration and orchestration of AI agents across platforms remains challenging for businesses. "It's hard, because you don't just need the AI in each individual thing. You need the orchestration between your applications and platforms," said Lawrence.
Software evolution
On the impact of generative AI on custom software development, Lawrence cautioned that core business systems are likely to remain sourced from established vendors. "Coding an ERP sounds a bit silly to me, but in some instances, like some small mobile apps to help do something where there's a low security risk, I don't know, maybe, but not, not for now, not yet," said Lawrence.
Langley added, "You've got to think like a coder to actually get an application that works, that is why Oracle is so strong, we have got our customers covered."
