Executive Summary
A leading North American retailer needed to modernize its integration architecture following the succession of Oracle Retail Integration Cloud Service (RICS) by Oracle Integration Cloud (OIC). The organization required a highly scalable, future-proof integration platform to support its cloud merchandising ecosystem, centered on Oracle Retail Merchandise Foundation Cloud Service (MFCS).
To achieve this, the retailer partnered with QBCS to design and implement a robust, scalable integration solution on OIC.
Within a three-month implementation window, QBCS delivered a comprehensive solution featuring:
- A modern, scalable integration architecture built on OIC
- A fully operational message hospital framework
- Automated retry functionality across all MFCS message flows
- Payload dependency validation controls
- Automated regression testing capabilities
The solution was successfully deployed ahead of peak trading season and now processes well over 1 million messages per day, performing reliably at scale.
Business Objective
With RICS being succeeded by OIC, the retailer needed to implement a future-proof, post-RICS integration platform to support its Oracle Retail cloud merchandising landscape.
Key objectives included:
- Implementing OIC as the new enterprise integration backbone
- Supporting MFCS message flows with high scalability
- Introducing a comprehensive message hospital
- Enabling automated retry and dependency validation
- Ensuring operational transparency and performance monitoring
- Delivering the solution within a fixed-bid, accelerated timeline
The initiative required close collaboration between QBCS and retailer stakeholders to ensure both technical robustness and operational readiness.
Technology & Architecture
The solution leverages a modern, cloud-native technology stack, including:
- Oracle Integration Cloud (OIC)
- Oracle APEX
- Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS)
- REST and JSON APIs
- New Relic for logging and observability
The integration layer connects MFCS with key enterprise platforms including:
- Bamboo Rose
- Databricks
- Merchandising systems
- Warehousing platforms
- CRM systems
- Planning tools
- Commerce solutions
Key Architectural Features
1. Message Hospital Framework
A highly functional and operational message hospital was implemented within OIC, enabling:
- Centralized failure monitoring
- Flexible message search and diagnostics
- Automated and manual retry capabilities
- Payload dependency validation
- Event logging and traceability
2. Automated Retry & Dependency Checks
The system supports automated reprocessing of failed messages while ensuring upstream and downstream dependencies are validated before retry execution.
3. Scalability & Performance Optimization
To support peak trading volumes, the solution includes:
- Message bundling
- Throttling controls
- Bundle size optimization
- Cloud elasticity aligned with best-practice scalability standards
4. Integration Test Automation Framework
QBCS implemented a comprehensive test automation framework that enables:
- Automated regression testing of integration flows
- Autonomous test scenario generation
- Dynamic scaling of test execution
- Regression validation following system upgrades
- Automated reporting and traceability
Implementation Approach
- Delivery Model: Fixed-bid engagement
- Timeline: 3 months end-to-end (including testing)
- Collaboration: Close alignment with retailer stakeholders throughout design, build, and testing
The accelerated delivery timeline required disciplined governance, continuous stakeholder engagement, and rigorous testing to ensure readiness before peak trading.
Results & Business Impact
1. Proven Scale & Performance
- Successfully deployed before peak trading season
- Processes over 1.3 million messages per day
- High-volume integration flows performing reliably at scale
2. Operational Excellence
- Centralized and efficient failure reporting
- Greater flexibility in managing retries and dependencies
- Enhanced visibility through structured logging and monitoring
- Reduced manual intervention in exception handling
3. Testing at Scale
- Automated, autonomous regression testing
- Dynamic and scalable test scenario execution
- Reduced risk during system upgrades
- Improved delivery confidence and release velocity
4. Future-Ready Integration Platform
The retailer now operates on a modern, scalable integration platform that:
- Aligns with Oracle’s strategic direction post-RICS
- Supports continued growth and system expansion
- Enables cloud-native scalability
- Reduces operational complexity
- Enhances system resilience
Conclusion
By transitioning from RICS to Oracle Integration Cloud, the North American retailer successfully modernized its integration landscape and established a scalable, resilient foundation for future growth.
Delivered in just three months, the solution demonstrates how a well-architected OIC implementation, combined with robust operational controls, automation, and testing at scale can support enterprise-grade retail operations processing millions of messages daily.
Our partnership resulted in a comprehensive, future-proof integration solution that not only meets today’s performance demands but positions the retailer for continued innovation and expansion.
The solution is available as an Oracle extension.
Are you interested in more details? Please contact the QBCS team and we’ll get back to you.