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Ascend 2026 brought together Oracle users, partners, and industry professionals for a knowledge-packed four days in Orlando, Florida. The Oracle Applications & Technology Users Group (OATUG) and Oracle HCM Users Group (OHUG) hosted an enlightening conference that delivered a strong mix of education, networking, and proactive conversations around enterprise technology.
From over 200 informative sessions to interactive discussions with 200+ speakers, attendees had countless opportunities to deepen their understanding of Oracle solutions while connecting with the 1,450+ Oracle HCM professionals that took part in the conference. Ascend continues to bring together a global audience with 29 countries represented this year, serving as a key destination for professionals to stay up to date on trends, tools, and strategies that shape the Oracle ecosystem.
Team Elire Highlights
Elire contributed seven sessions to Ascend 2026, covering topics from AI-powered automation and data-driven insights to cloud and system modernization. By using hands-on demonstrations and real-world scenarios, our team actively engaged attendees through interactive participation and instantly applicable education.
These sessions were designed to address real challenges organizations face today while also preparing them for what’s ahead.
- Elire Expert, Aaron Bulthuis led a session on creating intuitive user experiences using data visualization in Oracle Redwood. He also delivered an engaging presentation on how organizations can utilize the Oracle AI Agent Studio to automate HR tasks.
- Ken Tyson and Edmund presented a compelling session on Kamehameha Schools’ (KS) journey migrating from PeopleSoft to Oracle Fusion Cloud.
- Edmund also led a presentation on how KS improved testing processes using visual analytics and Smartsheet.
- Elire’s Jayjay Gutierrez provided an overview of applying AI-driven forecasting with multivariate models.
- Elire Expert, Heather Adamski, presented sessions on using AI to proactively prevent errors in PeopleSoft, and how to improve decision-making in HR workflows by embedding insights.
Throughout these sessions, a few key themes emerged. There is a growing focus on automation and efficiency using AI with continued investment in cloud transformation. The continued evolution of AI within enterprise applications becoming directly embedded into workflows allows teams to spend less time troubleshooting issues, so they can focus on strategic initiatives. These trends reinforce the need for organizations to stay informed and active as technology evolves.
Beyond the sessions, Ascend 2026 fostered meaningful collaboration, bringing Elire and the Oracle community together to share ideas and explore new ways to drive efficiency and innovation. Our team didn’t just present; they participated in conversations, asked questions, and collaborated with attendees to better understand the challenges organizations are facing today.
Elire appreciated the opportunity for in-person connection at Ascend 2026. It was valuable to engage directly with clients, industry peers, and new faces to build relationships and exchange insights for best practices on optimizing systems. Attendees that came with specific goals or challenges were able to leave with actionable insights and new perspectives because of the strong collaborative spirit of Ascend.
"The highlight for me was the conversations—reconnecting with colleagues and clients, meeting new people, and exchanging ideas on Oracle Cloud implementations. Being able to hear how others are solving complex HCM challenges is exactly why this community is so valuable." — Aaron Bulthuis, Associate Partner, Managing Consultant
What’s Next?
Ascend 2026 reinforced the value of staying connected to both the Oracle community and the latest innovations shaping the industry. For organizations looking to enhance their systems, or explore new solutions, the insights shared at this year’s conference offer a strong foundation to build on.
Elire remains committed to helping clients navigate these changes and get the most out of their Oracle investments. Whether you’re exploring cloud adoption, optimizing existing systems, or planning your next transformation, our team is here to help.
To request a copy of Elire's presentation slide decks, reach out to Marketing@elire.com. Subscribe to Elire’s Monthly Newsletters and follow Elire on LinkedIn and X for more updates, insights, and resources. We’ll see you at the next Ascend.
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