If you use any Oracle-owned application suite, you need a Fusion strategy. Waiting until 2007 to plan will limit your options. Even though Fusion details have not yet been released, you should develop your business case and migration strategy now. Three basic strategies are possible:

Migrate to Fusion as soon as possible. If Fusion will quickly provide significant business benefits, begin your migration preparations soon. Start training your technical and business staffers. Migrate your applications to a release that supports a Fusion upgrade. Acquire ERP implementation experience now; hire new people, train your internal staff or find outside consultants. Get ready to initiate the project as soon as Fusion is released.

Hedge your bets and defer migration. If Fusion doesn't offer clear benefits for your company in the short term, wait to migrate. After three or four years, the "hot skill" premium for Fusion expertise will decrease, and the software will have fewer bugs. Consider upgrading your applications in the meantime, however. Newer releases offer additional functionality and will reduce the complexity of your eventual migration.

Do nothing. If you are running an older Oracle-acquired application that's meeting your business needs well, don't migrate. Run your current package for three or four more years, then revisit the business case. At that point, it may be easier to install a completely new ERP system than it would be to undertake the double migration that Fusion requires. This has the added advantage of allowing you to completely re-evaluate your ERP strategy down the road and possibly select a non-Oracle solution.

Whatever you do, you need to begin developing your Fusion migration strategy now. If your CEO reads airline magazines, it won't be long until he asks you about your plans. In addition, Oracle will soon be bombarding your executives with reasons to migrate to Fusion. If you don't have an Oracle strategy, Oracle's sales force will definitely have a strategy for you. Do your research ahead of time, and be thoroughly prepared when the questions start.