Tech Triumphs & Turkey Tales: Navigating Insum's November

For those of you celebrating, hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. While you were tucking into turkey and pumpkin pie, the Canadians at Insum had a rather peaceful week, with no judgment for replaying Celine Dion's greatest hits. A win-win, if you ask me!

This past month at Insum has been as exciting as finding that last discounted TV in the store.

First there was the release of Oracle APEX 23.2. Packed with new features, it's like the tech version of a Black Friday sale – everything you didn't know you needed until now.

We're also thrilled to introduce Innovate, our new service that's like a GPS for companies feeling a bit lost in the digital economy. It's designed to guide you through the twists and turns of digital transformation, ensuring you don't end up on a dead-end street (or a website crash mid-checkout, we've all been there).

Last but not least, our team's foray into AI through blogs and webinars is proving to be enlightening. They're unpacking AI mysteries with the precision of a seasoned shopper unboxing a new gadget.

So, as we gear up for the holiday season, let's take a moment to appreciate the quieter moments, the bustling ones, and everything in-between.

Oracle APEX 23.2 is out!

Feeling lucky post-Thanksgiving? Well, the Oracle APEX 23.2 release is like successfully navigating a family dinner without a single debate about politics or religion. It’s packed with features that are all about making life easier, not harder. With Application Working Copies, you can experiment without risk, and the new Workflow system is as smooth as steering the conversation to safe waters. Plus, with nifty new page items, your APEX projects will be as satisfying as finding common ground over pumpkin pie!

The YouTube Playlist has some great videos that highlight the newest features.

Insum ACEs in Action

We're proud and grateful to have 10 Oracle ACEs as part of the Insum team. Community and sharing has always been part of the Insum DNA, and that's what being an ACE is all about. What have our ACEs been up to lately?

1. Tips, tips, more tips! Louis continues to start your week right with his Monday APEX tips , and Anton (with his forever special guest, Hayden) continues to wrap it up nicely with his Friday APEX Instant Tips. Recent episodes have included Deep Linking , VSCode Snippets , and Markdown , just to name a few! Full Instant Tips playlist here .
2. Since our last newsletter, we're excited to share that two of our colleagues have been named apex.world members of the month. Congratulations to Louis Moreaux , for September's honor, and Plamen Mushkov for earning October's distinction.
3. Look who's talking! Both Monty (You can bet on Oracle APEX) and Adrian (Store your APEX treasures in OCI Object Storage) earned prestigious speaking spots at Oracle CloudWorld. Plamen showed us how to get oriented in the booming world of AI at UKOUG, and Luc Demanche and Louis Moreaux showed how APEX and OCI AI Services can be leveraged to create an app to predict winners of the Rugby World Cup (TSE Tech Lounge hosted by Oracle).
4. Community Plug-Ins: Insum team members Ender, Velimir, Louis and Plamen have all contributed template components that are both useful (text compare, empty state..) and fun (Playing cards, anyone??). Check them out on apex.world .
5. Adrian, Canada's only ACE Director (woot!) is diving deep into AI and Machine Learning with some great content. Check out how to Generate Art Using Latent Diffusion Models and NFC Tags , Deploy and Use Fine-Tuned LLMs in Oracle APEX, Predict the Rugby World Cup 2023 Winner (hint: it wasn't Canada) and Speaking AI to your database .
6. Blogs, blogs and more blogs! To keep up with all the cool content from our experts, check out our team blog page for highlights from their most recent posts.

APEX Community Updates

• LCT - Low Code Testing had a huge new release, bringing Interactive Grid Testing, Variable Rework, New Output View, and more.
• Call for papers: deadlines approaching for a number of APEX Conferences, including Analytics and Data Summit 2024, APEX World 2024, KScope24, and APEX Alpe Adria. For links and dates, check out ClocWise app.
• Wondering where to find all the awesome #orclapex bloggers? Jon Dixon as created the APEX Developer Blogs app to provide an easy way for APEX and ORDS developers to find blog posts related to APEX, ORDS and PL/SQL.
• United Codes released their newest commercial product APEX Message Service , providing real-time messaging in APEX.
• Tune in to the next APEX JAPAC Office Hours to learn about PDF and Excel Reporting in APEX.
• Do you know SQuizL ? It's like Wordle, but for SQL enthusiasts. It's fun to see the community share their successes (and occasional failures). To test your SQL prowess, be sure to try it out .
• Feuertips is back for an episode with none other than Jon Dixon! Join Jon and Steven Feuerstein this Wednesday, November 29th, at 11 am EST, live on our YouTube channel.

Kscope24 - Call for Abstracts

ODTUG Kscope24 is hitting the stage in Nashville from July 14-18, 2024, and it's shaping up to be the Thanksgiving feast of Oracle APEX! As your humble APEX Track Lead, I'm currently rounding up a committee of APEX aficionados to review submissions.

With a smorgasbord of topics like Analytics, Machine Learning, and, of course, Oracle APEX, there's a flavor for everyone's taste. And hey, we're not limiting you – submit up to five abstracts to showcase the range of your expertise. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a fresh face in the scene, Kscope24 is your platform to shine, share knowledge, and connect with the crème de la crème of the Oracle community.

So, if you've got something to say in the world of Oracle APEX, now's your chance. Submit your abstract , tag it right, and who knows, you might just be the next big hit at Kscope24. Can't wait to see what you all bring to the table!

Innovate - Your Digital Transformation Journey Simplified?

Here at Insum, we're serving up something special. We've recently launched 'Innovate' - our digital transformation program that's like the secret ingredient to your company's success recipe. It's designed to help your business gobble up the competition by enhancing your digital capabilities and boosting your efficiency. So, while you're thankful for the bountiful feast this year, remember, Innovate is here to ensure you’ll be grateful for your business's transformation for years to come. Let's toast to innovation and the journey ahead ! To learn more about Innovate, click here .

New Blog Post: When Is Custom App Development the Right Choice?

Ever wondered when to say yes to custom application development? In my latest blog, I'm dishing out the recipe for when custom really cooks! Consider your tech needs: Existing software limitations? Unique business processes? Need for system integration? While any of these alone could nudge you towards custom development, it’s the combo that truly calls for it. Trust me, not considering custom in these cases might leave you with more regrets than forgetting to send out your holiday cards (and pssst: it's that time!)

Eager to learn more? Click through for a full serving of insights.

Insum's Cyber Monday Deals

Ok, not really. But think it's too late to make a splash in 2023? Think again! There’s still time to strategically position yourself and your business for a stellar start in 2024. Stumbled upon that forgotten budget stash? Let’s put it to good use! Our team of APEX and OCI wizards is on standby to add some sparkle to your year-end projects. From snappy APEX proofs of concept to comprehensive application/database audits, tailored training sessions, or insightful OCI Cloud consulting – we’ve got you covered. Interested in clinching some last-minute victories? Click through to discover how you can still score big wins before the year wraps up!

Oracle Forms Modernization: Ready for the Leap?

As the year winds down and we start to look ahead to some big 2024 initiatives, why not take a moment to assess your readiness for a journey into modernization? Modernizing legacy applications such as Oracle Forms is more than a technical leap – it's like preparing for a festive feast (but for your business!) Our specially crafted survey is your secret recipe to uncover the less obvious yet crucial aspects of readiness for a smooth transition. Think of it as your checklist to ensure everything's in place for a successful modernization with Oracle APEX. Intrigued? Click through to take our survey and find out if you're ready.

And that's a wrap, folks! If you'll excuse me, I'm off to snag some last-minute Cyber Monday deals (because who doesn't need a banana slicer??). Here's to a December filled with innovation, inspiration, and perhaps a few surprise finds!

APEXionately yours,

Michelle from the Insum Team