Key Takeaways from the 2024 OTM User Conference

Last week, a team from Redwood attended the 2024 OTM User Conference in Philadelphia. This annual event is organized by users — specifically, the OTM Special Interest Group, or SIG. It provides a valuable forum for logistics professionals to share their ideas and experience using the Oracle Transportation Management (OTM) and Global Trade Management (GTM) platforms. 

While the event is aimed at highlighting new developments in OTM and GTM, it’s always a great opportunity to meet and connect with other logistics and supply chain professionals, as well as industry leaders. The conference features product strategy updates from Oracle, customer presentations, and Oracle-led product demos and use cases.  

This year, Redwood was honored to co-present with two valued customers. Our joint session with The Toro Company highlighted how we were able to configure OTM to automatically route over 90% of orders to Toro’s specified carriers, accommodating numerous factors such as payment terms, transportation modes and shipping origins, while also considering Toro customers’ specific requirements. In our shared session with ChemTreat, we discussed how this customer has used OTM to develop processes for shipping bulk chemical materials, which requires multi-compartment configuration and planning. ChemTreat also leverages Redwood’s Parcel API for rating and manifesting hazardous and non-hazardous items. Redwood customers Harbison Walker International and The TTX Company also presented at the Conference. 

Three Trends to Watch 

Every year, we receive great feedback from Redwood customers who leave the event inspired by the impactful takeaways and insights they can apply in their own roles. If you’re an Oracle user and missed the conference, here are three key takeaways. 

In optimizing transportation, logistics teams continue to face increasingly complex challenges. Oracle is paying attention — and addressing these challenges with exciting new technology innovations. 

Environmental, Sustainability, and Governance Framework 
As transportation teams work to increase sustainability and minimize their environmental impacts, they can leverage Oracle’s new environmental, sustainability, and governance framework. Introduced in release 24B, we expect these sustainability capabilities to continue to expand throughout 2025. Three new ESG features to check out in the upcoming 24C include:  

• Calculating and Planning for Shipment CO2 Emissions
• Canadian Provincial Rail Carbon Tax Calculation and Settlement
• Support Calculate Carbon Tax

Embedded Machine Learning 
Introduced in Oracle’s 24C release, the new embedded machine learning (ML) framework provides ML capabilities embedded within OTM. You can now capitalize on advanced ML capabilities from within your production and development environment. OTM is initially rolling out ML for two use cases: Predictive ETA and Order Route Prediction. 

Oracle Business Network 
Also new in the 24C release is the introduction of OTM’s capabilities with the Oracle Business Network (OBN). This secure, cloud-based business-to-business (B2B) collaboration platform automates electronic transactions between Oracle customers and their trading partners. The initial connection to OBN is focused on offering external rating engine connections for FedEx, Schneider, and Uber Freight. Going forward, Oracle plans to rapidly grow the partner network and extend its supported connections to cover the entire end-to-end life cycle for all transportation transactions — including rate inquiry, spot rating, planning, booking/tendering, tender accept/decline, conditional booking, tracking events, invoice receipt and payment.  

A top theme throughout the conference this year was Oracle’s growing ability to enable flexibility. No two logistics teams are the same — and both OTM and GTM are adding more flexible features to meet special customer requirements and various use cases.  

For example, OTM includes many out-of-the-box actions, but automation agents help deliver custom workflows for customer-specific use cases. Since one size does not fit all, this is an effective way to customize OTM for your own needs. 

In addition, flex fields help you add additional variables as inputs to OTM. These are complements to the standard fields in OTM, and they allow you to get all the information you need into the solution. 

Finally, enhanced workbenches in OTM provide a multi-plane dashboard that allows your team to see all the information they need on a single screen. Whether that means seeing your orders and shipments on the same screen, or your invoice and shipment cost details side-by-side, workbenches are the way to go. If you’re still using single screen sets, it’s easy to upgrade and increase your visibility and efficiency. 

If you’re still utilizing on-premises OTM software, this year’s conference made a strong  case for migrating to the cloud. Several customers presented about their on-prem to cloud migrations at the event. Oracle added special urgency by announcing that its latest on-premises version (6.5.3) will be supported until Q4 2026. After that, the software will remain in use, but it will be unsupported by Oracle. If you’ve been considering a move to the cloud, the time is now. Don’t find yourself working in an unsupported environment in Q1 2027 — which is just nine quarters away! 

Make Plans to Attend the 2025 Event Now 

Next year, the OTM User Conference is expanding to a larger venue, the Minneapolis Hilton, to support the growing user community. The 2025 event will include sessions on OTM, GTM, and Oracle Cloud’s Warehouse Management System. Watch the OTM SIG website for details and other news — and consider becoming a member if you aren’t already. There’s no fee, and you can find all the information here. 

Oracle is continuously improving and updating its solutions, and you don’t want to miss out on any new features and functionality. You should make it a point to have someone from your organization attend the OTM User Conference every year to ensure you don’t get left behind by Oracle’s growing system capabilities. 

Maximize Your Oracle Investments with Redwood 

Redwood consultants are always advocating for continuous improvement for their customers to maximize their Oracle software investments. We can help you identify new features that add value for your team, enhance existing functionality, and upgrade to the cloud. 

Reach out to Christy Ament by emailing cament@redwoodscs.com to learn more about how Redwood can help take your Oracle investment to the next level. Or contact us to schedule a one-on-one session about your specific challenges and opportunities related to Oracle solutions.