Oracle last week deliveredon its promise to continue supporting PeopleSoft applications. It unveiled several upgrades to key PeopleSoft modules meant to bridge the gap until Oracle's Fusion generation of software ships in 2007 or 2008. Fusion will incorporate elements of PeopleSoft and JD Edwards applications that Oracle acquired in January.

"This is a clear sign of Oracle's commitment to continue to invest in the PeopleSoft product line," says Rich Rodgers, Oracle's VP of financial-application product strategy. "It's a launching pad to the applications we'll develop under project Fusion."

Among the updates are PeopleSoft Enterprise Supplier Relationship Management 8.9, which is optimized for working with multiple suppliers and provides tools for modeling costs and assessing purchase risks, and PeopleSoft Enterprise Supply Chain Management 8.9, which lets suppliers automate vendor-managed inventory tasks. PeopleSoft Enterprise Financial Management 8.9 automates cash-flow statements and helps companies adhere to financial reporting standards.