Top 10 Reasons Why Companies Should Consider Oracle Third-Party Support
- Cost Reduction: Save up to 50% on support fees.
- Avoid Forced Upgrades: Maintain current versions.
- Legacy System Support: Extend the life of older systems.
- Customized SLAs: Tailored service agreements.
- Stable Environments: No need for frequent updates.
- Security Patching: Custom fixes for vulnerabilities.
- Vendor Independence: Reduce Oracle lock-in.
- Flat Pricing: Predictable costs without annual hikes.
- Support During Transition: Interim solution for replacements.
- Fast Response: 24/7 support with quick resolutions.
Top 10 Reasons Why Companies Should Consider Oracle Third-Party Support
Third-party Oracle support isn’t suitable for every organization. Still, for many companies, it can provide a powerful way to optimize IT spending, gain better service flexibility, and maintain system stability without Oracle’s high support fees.
Below are ten reasons your business might benefit from switching to third-party Oracle support.
1. Cost Reduction and Budget Reallocation
One primary reason organizations turn to third-party support is to reduce costs. Oracle’s official support fees typically consume a large portion of the IT budget, limiting the funds available for other growth initiatives.
- Example: A mid-sized financial services company cut its Oracle support costs by 50% after switching to a third-party provider. The savings were reallocated towards new IT security initiatives and cloud migration, enhancing system security and modernization efforts.
- Significant Savings: On average, businesses can save up to 50% on support costs compared to Oracle’s official fees. This makes third-party support a smart choice for companies looking to optimize their IT budgets.
2. Avoiding Forced Upgrades
Oracle often pushes customers to upgrade to newer software versions, which can be costly and disruptive. Third-party support offers an opportunity to avoid forced upgrades by providing ongoing support for older versions of Oracle software.
- Continue with Stable Versions: For companies that are happy with their current software version, third-party support allows them to avoid the expense and disruption of upgrading.
- No Business Disruption: With third-party support, companies can maintain stability and focus on their business without changing their infrastructure every few years.
3. Extended Support for Legacy Systems
Third-party support is ideal for companies that need to continue using legacy Oracle systems. When Oracle ends its support for older versions, businesses often have limited options: upgrade or lose support.
- Legacy Product Continuity: Third-party vendors such as Rimini Street or Spinnaker Support provide extended support, ensuring that companies using older systems can continue to operate effectively.
- Cost Avoidance: This avoids the cost and resource strain of forced migrations, allowing companies to maximize their current investments.
4. Personalized and Flexible Service Levels
One major benefit of switching to third-party Oracle support is the customized service that most third-party vendors offer. Unlike Oracle’s one-size-fits-all model, third-party providers are known for their flexibility.
- Customized SLAs: Third-party vendors create tailored Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that match your business’s specific needs, whether that means 24/7 support or specific response time guarantees.
- Dedicated Account Managers: Many providers offer dedicated account managers who work closely with the company, providing a more personal level of service that understands your unique environment.
5. Stable Environments with Minimal Need for Updates
Third-party support can be a great fit if your Oracle environment is stable and does not require frequent updates or upgrades. This allows your business to continue running smoothly without incurring high fees for updates you may not need.
- Low Update Requirement: Businesses not relying on Oracle’s latest features can maintain stability and reduce costs by choosing third-party support.
- Proactive Issue Resolution: Even without Oracle’s official patches, third-party providers develop custom fixes and hotfixes that resolve issues efficiently, ensuring your environment stays stable.
6. Compliance and Security Patching
While third-party vendors do not have access to Oracle’s proprietary patches, they provide custom security patches that effectively protect your systems. This approach ensures compliance is maintained and vulnerabilities are managed proactively.
- Custom Security Fixes: These providers develop customized patches to address security vulnerabilities, allowing businesses to remain compliant and secure.
- Risk Management: Third-party vendors often offer proactive monitoring and regular risk assessments to keep systems secure, offering peace of mind without needing Oracle’s direct updates.
7. No Vendor Lock-In Pressure
Oracle often leverages its support agreements to lock customers into its ecosystem, making it difficult for them to leave or transition to different solutions. Third-party support removes this dependency, providing more freedom to make strategic IT decisions.
- Freedom to Transition: If your organization is considering moving away from Oracle or transitioning to another system, third-party support can be an excellent interim solution that supports you during the changeover.
- Reduced Dependency: Third-party support allows you to run your systems without feeling pressured to stay with Oracle’s entire suite of products.
8. Better Cost Predictability
Oracle’s official support fees often increase each year, making budgeting difficult. Third-party support tends to have fixed pricing, offering greater cost predictability over time.
- Avoid Annual Increases: Oracle typically imposes an 8% annual uplift on support fees. Third-party providers often do not impose these increases, allowing for better financial planning.
- Flat Rates: With third-party support, companies enjoy flat-rate fees that allow them to budget without worrying about unexpected cost increases.
9. Supporting Business Transitions
Companies planning to phase out Oracle in favor of another solution may find third-party support a great fit. Moving away from Oracle means they don’t need to continue paying for its costly support, making third-party support a good bridge solution.
- Interim Solution: While transitioning to a new platform, third-party support keeps your Oracle systems stable until the new solution is fully implemented.
- Cost-Effective Transition: This cost-effective support option helps during migration, ensuring businesses aren’t overpaying for support as they transition away from Oracle products.
10. Improved Responsiveness and Faster Resolution Times
Oracle’s official support is often criticized for its slow response times and lack of personalized attention. On the other hand, third-party vendors pride themselves on being responsive and offering faster resolution to issues.
- 24/7 Support Availability: Many third-party vendors offer 24/7 support, ensuring critical issues can be addressed as soon as they arise.
- Quick Resolution: Third-party vendors tend to have more flexible service models, meaning they can often resolve issues faster than Oracle’s official support. This can be crucial for businesses that cannot afford long periods of downtime.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Oracle’s third-party support? It is maintenance and technical assistance provided by independent vendors instead of Oracle. It offers cost-effective alternatives for Oracle products like databases and applications.
How much can a company save with third-party support? Companies typically save up to 50% on support fees when switching to third-party Oracle support compared to Oracle’s official support costs.
Do third-party providers offer the same updates as Oracle? No, third-party providers do not provide Oracle’s proprietary updates. Instead, they offer custom bug fixes and security patches to maintain system stability.
Is third-party support suitable for stable Oracle environments? Yes, third-party support is ideal for stable Oracle environments where frequent updates or upgrades are unnecessary. It helps reduce costs while keeping the systems operational.
How can third-party support help avoid forced upgrades? Third-party support allows companies to continue using their current software versions without pressure to upgrade, avoiding unnecessary costs and business disruption.
What type of service levels are offered by third-party vendors? Third-party vendors provide customized SLAs tailored to each client’s needs, including dedicated account managers, 24/7 support, and specific response times.
Can third-party vendors assist with security patches? Yes, third-party vendors create custom security patches and workarounds to address vulnerabilities, ensuring system security without relying on Oracle’s official patches.
What are the benefits of choosing third-party support for legacy systems? Third-party support extends the lifespan of older Oracle systems, allowing companies to avoid costly upgrades and continue using stable, familiar software environments.
How does third-party support provide cost predictability? Unlike Oracle, third-party vendors typically do not impose annual uplift fees. Their pricing tends to be flat, making budgeting easier and supporting costs predictable over time.
Is third-party support helpful during a transition away from Oracle? Yes, third-party support can be a cost-effective interim solution, providing stability until new systems are implemented.
How quickly can issues be resolved with third-party support? Third-party vendors often provide faster response times than Oracle, with 24/7 availability and dedicated account managers who know the client’s setup.
Are dedicated account managers available through third-party support? Yes, most third-party providers assign dedicated account managers who understand your Oracle environment’s specific needs and configuration, enabling efficient support.
What is proactive monitoring in third-party Oracle support? Proactive monitoring involves tracking system health and performance to identify potential issues before they become critical, ensuring stability and minimizing downtime.
How does third-party support reduce vendor lock-in? Third-party support allows companies to become less dependent on Oracle, offering more freedom in making strategic IT decisions without pressure from Oracle’s ecosystem.
Which companies are leading providers of third-party Oracle support? Leading providers include Rimini Street, Spinnaker Support, and Support Revolution, each offering comprehensive support services for Oracle products at reduced costs.
Read more about our Third Party Transition Service.
