Case Study – Oracle Licensing Assessment – New Look (UK Retailer) – $3M Saved
Background
New Look is a major fashion retailer based in the United Kingdom, with over 500 stores and a large e-commerce presence.
The company has thousands of employees worldwide and relies on Oracle technology for critical operations. Oracle Database powers key retail systems (point-of-sale and e-commerce), and Oracle Java SE runs on many servers and in-store devices.
Over time, New Look’s Oracle usage grew across on-premises data centers and VMware environments, but license governance did not keep pace. Leadership grew concerned that they might be unintentionally out of compliance and overpaying for Oracle licenses.
Challenges
An internal audit in 2024 uncovered several Oracle licensing risks for New Look. Oracle’s new Java SE licensing rules meant that the company’s widespread Java deployments could require costly subscriptions that were not previously budgeted.
Next, the company’s Oracle Databases were running on VMware without hard partitioning. Under Oracle’s policy, a single Oracle VM could trigger licensing of the entire VMware cluster, potentially exposing a significant amount.
Oracle’s account team had already floated an expensive “solution”: sign an Unlimited License Agreement (ULA) and a company-wide Java subscription. This tactic – using audit fear to sell an oversized deal – is common for Oracle.
How Redress Compliance Helped
New Look engaged Redress Compliance to perform an expert Oracle licensing assessment and remediation.
Redress’s team conducted a thorough review of the company’s Oracle deployments and entitlements, then executed a focused plan:
- License Audit & ELP: Redress collected data on all Oracle Database instances and Oracle Java installations, then compared usage versus entitlements. They produced an Effective License Position report pinpointing exactly where New Look was under-licensed and where licenses were over-licensed.
- Java SE Remediation: To close the Oracle Java licensing gaps, Redress helped New Look shrink its Oracle Java footprint. Systems that didn’t truly need Oracle’s JDK were identified and switched to OpenJDK, eliminating the need for many subscriptions. For the remaining essential Java uses, Redress recommended a targeted Java SE subscription only for those users/servers instead of a blanket subscription for all employees. This strategy slashed Oracle’s proposed Java costs.
- Database License Optimization: Redress tackled Oracle Database compliance by re-architecting and rightsizing licenses. They helped New Look isolate Oracle databases to a few dedicated VMware hosts (with vMotion disabled) so that Oracle licensing would apply only to those servers. They also turned off or removed unused Oracle Database features that were running without licenses, immediately lowering license requirements. For any remaining shortfall, Redress negotiated a small license purchase at a steep discount, avoiding Oracle’s ULA.
- Audit Defense & Negotiation: As New Look’s Oracle audit defense advisor, Redress handled communications with Oracle. They presented New Look’s newly corrected compliance position to Oracle, diffusing any audit threats. Backed by Redress’s negotiation expertise, New Look secured favorable terms on the few licenses it did need to add.
Outcome and Impact
With Redress Compliance’s guidance, New Look achieved full Oracle compliance. By avoiding a one-size-fits-all ULA and minimizing Java subscriptions, the company saved $3 million. All compliance issues were resolved proactively – no penalties were incurred, and Oracle backed off its audit threats.
New Look also trimmed its annual Oracle support expenses by eliminating unnecessary licenses. With an optimized license estate, the retailer’s IT and procurement teams have regained control over Oracle spending. Now New Look is prepared for any future audits and can negotiate with Oracle from a position of strength.
Client Testimonial
“We knew our Oracle licensing had issues, but Redress Compliance revealed the full extent and showed us how to fix it. They pinpointed our gaps in Java and databases, guided us to remediate them, and negotiated with Oracle. We avoided a multi-million-dollar spend and became fully compliant. We saved $3 million and no longer worry about surprise audits. Redress gave us the confidence and leverage to deal with Oracle on our own terms.”
– Head of IT Procurement, UK Retailer
Call to Action
Facing Oracle licensing challenges or audit pressure? Contact Redress Compliance for an Oracle licensing assessment. Our experts will reduce Oracle Database licensing costs, ensure Oracle Java compliance, and prevent overspending. Don’t wait for an Oracle audit notice – take control of your Oracle licensing now.
Further:
- Read about other Oracle Licensing Assessment Case Studies.
- Read more about our Oracle License Management Services.
