Key highlights
50%
Faster batch cycles supporting more efficient overnight merchandising operations
3x-5x
Application performance improvement across critical merchandising processes
80%
Reduction in unplanned downtime, improving platform availability and operational resilience
Summary
A global luxury home furnishings retailer partnered with Zensar to modernize its mission-critical merchandising environment. Zensar upgraded Oracle Merchandising Foundation Cloud Service from version 19 to version 26 and modernized the MuleSoft integration estate during the same cutover. The transformation improved performance, resilience, security, and transaction processing while safeguarding critical distribution and business operations.
Client overview
The client is a global luxury home furnishings retailer operating through an extensive network of design galleries, digital channels, hospitality offerings, and distribution operations across North America and Europe. Its Oracle Retail environment supports core merchandising, product, pricing, allocation, sales auditing, and inventory processes. The platform also exchanges business-critical information with order management, warehouse management, business intelligence, point-of-sale, finance, collaboration, and supply chain systems. Maintaining the availability, accuracy, and performance of this ecosystem is essential to the client’s daily trading and fulfillment operations.
Zensar’s Brief - Steps taken by Zensar
Upgrade Oracle Merchandising Foundation Cloud Service directly from version 19 to version 26
Preserve and validate existing end-to-end merchandising processes
Modernize the MuleSoft integration estate within the same release
Migrate 200 interfaces spanning more than 30 connected applications
Replace the Data Access Schema with Oracle Retail Data Store
Implement OAuth 2.0 and modernize the API landscape
Plan and execute the cutover without disrupting North American pick-drop operations
Validate inventory, accounting, and cross-application data before and after go-live
Beyond the Brief - How it helped the client
Combined the Oracle Retail and MuleSoft upgrades into one coordinated transformation
Avoided a second major integration disruption after the merchandising upgrade
Protected critical distribution center operations during the cutover
Held and replayed warehouse shipment messages to prevent transaction loss
Established a modern data foundation for analytics and future AI use cases
Moved the program to steady-state production support within six days of go-live
Challenges
The retailer’s Oracle Retail version 19 environment was nearing the end of its standard support window, increasing exposure to delayed security patches, limited bug fixes, and regulatory update risks. Seven versions of accumulated technical debt were driving recurring performance issues and longer nightly batch cycles. The merchandising platform was integrated with order management, warehouse management, point-of-sale, finance, analytics, and several other enterprise applications. The client therefore needed to modernize the platform and integration layer without disrupting critical trading, inventory, fulfillment, or distribution center processes.
Solution
Executing a direct seven-version Oracle Retail upgrade and MuleSoft integration modernization through one coordinated cutover
Zensar designed and delivered a direct upgrade from Oracle Merchandising Foundation Cloud Service version 19 to version 26, avoiding a lengthy sequence of intermediate upgrades. The program preserved and verified the retailer’s end-to-end business processes, implemented OAuth 2.0, introduced REST-based integrations, and transitioned the data architecture from the Data Access Schema to Oracle Retail Data Store. In parallel, Zensar upgraded MuleSoft and migrated 200 interfaces across more than 30 connected applications. The combined cutover was sequenced around distribution operations, with queued transactions securely held, validated, and replayed after services were restored.
Direct platform upgrade
Zensar moved the merchandising platform directly from version 19 to version 26. The approach addressed seven versions’ worth of accumulated technical debt in a single transformation while preserving and validating existing end-to-end retail processes.
Integration modernization
The team upgraded the MuleSoft estate to version 4.9 and migrated 200 interfaces across more than 30 applications. By combining the integration and merchandising upgrades, the team eliminated the need for another major disruption shortly after go-live.
Controlled cutover
The cutover was carefully sequenced around distribution center operations. North American pick-drop activities were protected, international processing impacts were agreed upon in advance, and warehouse shipment messages were held and replayed rather than being lost.
Validation and stabilization
Zensar coordinated QA, user acceptance testing, smoke testing, reconciliations, and post-cutover validation. Accounting checks confirmed no discrepancies, nightly batch processing was completed ahead of schedule, and all identified post-go-live issues were resolved before the transition to steady-state support.
Solution enablers
Oracle Retail Platform
Oracle Merchandising Foundation Cloud Service version 26
Oracle Retail Merchandising System
Oracle Retail Sales Audit
Oracle Retail Price Management
Oracle Retail Data Store
Oracle Analytics Cloud
Oracle APEX
Integration and security
MuleSoft 4.9
REST APIs
SOAP service replacement
OAuth 2.0
Okta identity and access management
Sequential interface deployment and validation
Enterprise ecosystem
Order management systems
Warehouse management systems
Business intelligence platforms
Finance and enterprise resource planning systems
Point-of-sale platforms
Supply chain and collaboration applications
Zensar capabilities
Oracle Retail business and technical architecture
Application and enterprise services
Digital engineering and integration services
Quality engineering
Production support
Cutover planning and program governance
Accounting reconciliation and data validation
Business outcome
A faster, more resilient, and future-ready merchandising platform delivered through a controlled transformation with no accounting discrepancies
Outcome | Description |
7 versions | Upgraded directly from Oracle Retail version 19 to version 26 in one transformation |
Under 4 hours | Reduced the time required for platform patch updates |
50% faster | Improved batch cycle time, accelerating overnight processing |
3x-5x faster | Increased performance across key merchandising processes |
80% reduction | Reduced unplanned platform downtime and improved operational resilience |
40% faster | Improved transaction processing across the retail technology ecosystem |
200 interfaces | Migrated interfaces spanning more than 30 connected applications |
Zero discrepancies | Completed before-and-after accounting validation without discrepancies |
The transformation provided the retailer with a supported, secure, and resilient platform for its mission-critical merchandising operations. Faster transaction processing and batch cycles improved efficiency across inventory, pricing, sales auditing, and downstream business processes. Reduced unplanned downtime strengthened operational continuity, and all accounting validations were completed without discrepancies. The modern REST-based integration architecture increased flexibility and feature velocity. Oracle Retail Data Store and Oracle APEX also provide a scalable foundation for improved reporting, new user experiences, and future AI-enabled merchandising use cases.
Client testimonial
“Given the technical complexity and tight dependencies, navigating the challenges through go-live was no small feat. The team’s focus, technical leadership and problem-solving approach were instrumental in successfully delivering the transformation.” - Senior technology leader, global luxury home furnishings retailer