I headed over to my almost second home Las Vegas in the United States – where I was at the coalface at the Oracle CloudWorld Event hosted at the Venetian. I, like others, have traditionally known Oracle as the database company – despite OCI generating a foothold in the market. Stephen Bovis, Regional Managing Director of Oracle Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands sat down with me to quash some of my crowdsourced views towards Oracle. With over 18 months in his current role, Bovis has been at the forefront of Oracle’s metamorphosis in Australia and its renewed focus on customer engagement.

Customer Engagement and Cultural Shift

Oracle has historically been viewed largely as an old database company, a perception that even I admitted to holding. Bovis acknowledged this observation but reminded me of the significant strides Oracle has made in cloud technology, positioning itself as a formidable hyperscaler. The company’s shift from a product-focused to a service-focused approach is at the heart of this transformation.

“We’re continuously engaging with our customers through our diverse cloud services” said Bovis, painting the picture towards Oracle’s commitment to fostering a more service-oriented culture.

Reengaging and Educating Customers

Bovis informed me of Oracle’s need to continuously communicate the value of its cloud services to overcome outdated perceptions. This drive includes various marketing events and roadshows like the Data AI Forum across multiple cities.

“What we’re constantly doing is bringing value to the customer every day. Because now what we’re providing is cloud services, whether they be software as a service or platform as a service or infrastructure as a service.”

Noted Bovis.

The Executive reminded me of the importance of demonstrating Oracle’s modern capabilities and innovations.

Technological Evolution and Innovation

Oracle’s portfolio has evolved, moving beyond traditional databases to pioneering advancements in artificial intelligence and autonomous functionalities. This diversification into modern cloud services tailored for various industries aims at addressing specific needs. Despite these advancements, Bovis admitted that Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) still isn’t the first name that comes to mind for many when discussing cloud services.

However, Bovis confidently stated, “OCI is the fastest-growing hyperscaler” alluding to Oracle’s substantial investments and strategic partnerships with tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and AWS to bolster its cloud offerings.

“How can you be late to anything with technology changing so constantly?”

Navigating Market Perceptions

Mr. Bovis didn’t shy away from discussing the challenges posed by legacy perceptions of Oracle in the Australian market, a stark contrast to its image in North America. He pointed out the mature approach of Australian customers towards IT, which demands tailored and individualised engagement strategies. This maturity means Oracle had to work harder and smarter to communicate its value propositions effectively.

Customer-Centric Innovations and Success Stories

Customer feedback has been a cornerstone of Oracle’s strategy under Bovis’s leadership, leading to innovative solutions in multi-cloud and distributed cloud services. Bovis shared a compelling example involving New Zealand’s Team Cloud, where Oracle swiftly delivered sovereign cloud services, outpacing other hyperscalers. Collaborations with other cloud providers like Azure enable customers to leverage Oracle’s infrastructure alongside other platforms for optimal performance of mission-critical applications.

Addressing Cost and Performance

Bovis gave prominence towards Oracle’s multi-cloud approach not only meets customer demands but also provides cost-effective and high-performance solutions. Oracle Cloud’s faster capabilities and pay-as-you-go model translate into tangible cost benefits for customers.

Rebuilding Trust and Enhancing Customer Relations

Oracle is actively working to rebuild trust and improve customer relationships, acknowledging previous dissatisfaction and customers being actively disgruntled. Bovis shared successful turnarounds, where Oracle managed to renew engagements with formerly dormant customers. Continuous customer advisory boards and other feedback mechanisms are requisite to ensuring Oracle’s offerings align with customer needs.