Monday, December 17, 2018

Top Oracle Certifications and How to Earn Them


We are always asked how to earn an Oracle Certification. Most of these questions are grouped to certification in one of 3 areas - Oracle Database, Oracle Database SQL, PL/SQL, or Java.

Everyone agrees there are very tangible benefits of being certified.  Possibly the most important benefit is the skills you gain while preparing for your certification exam.  The understanding you gain from your study brings confidence when you are faced with tackling the most challenging situations or solving problems.

How to Prepare for an Oracle Certification Exam

  • Identify any knowledge gaps.  
Click on the exam link in the table above and review Exam Topics.
  • Take any missing recommended training.
  • Refresh your knowledge with Exam Prep Seminars and Packages.
  1. Get a focused and fast-paced review of exam material with exam prep seminars.
  2. Look for extras in the Exam Prep Seminar Packages:
  3. Exam prep seminar access, 24/7 (6 month subscription).
  4. Practice test access, 24/7 (6 month subscription).
  5. 1 exam voucher with a free retake, in case you need it (valid for 6 months).
  • Practice. Test your knowledge with Kaplan SelfTest Practice Exams.
  • Plan.  Read this Entrepreneur article on productivity “How to Accomplish More in 4 Days Than Most People Do in 4 Weeks” to create a road map

Our experts say about Oracle Certification Exams


Sunday, December 9, 2018

Oracle Accelerates Data Insights for Retailers with Oracle Digital Assistant


Enabling retailers to build personalized customer experiences as well as voice-enabled assistants to help employees work smarter and more productively, Oracle Retail solutions are now integrated with Oracle Digital Assistant. Together, these offerings empower retailers to find answers to critical business questions such as, "What's the current margin on our new BOGO offer for trendsetters?" faster than ever before.

Announced at Oracle OpenWorld 2018, Oracle Digital Assistant leverages artificial-intelligence (AI) to understand context, derive intent, and identify and learn user behaviors and patterns to automate routine tasks proactively on behalf of the user. By integrating the technology with Oracle Retail Offer Optimization Cloud Service, analysts can easily streamline location-specific sales forecasting, promotional deployment and performance, approval automation and target prioritization.

"Most retailers think about conversational AI in the context of the store or e-commerce, however, retailers can now apply conversational AI to their core operations', via voice or text, to accelerate productivity and optimize processes," said Mike Webster, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Oracle Retail. "Smart digital interactions are an integral part of our everyday life as we query Alexa, Google Home and Siri for recommendations. This latest integration between Oracle Digital Assistant and Oracle Retail Offer Optimization Cloud Service brings the power and simplicity of voice to retail operations, speeding time to insight and action."

Built on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Oracle Digital Assistant goes well beyond standard chatbots available today that provide simple, single skilled, linear responses. By applying AI for natural language processing (NLP), natural language understanding (NLU) and machine learning (ML), Oracle is in a uniquely positioned to leverage its breadth and depth in enterprise applications to offer a digital assistant that can truly span the enterprise.

"Going forward digital assistants will transform how merchants, planners, and marketers collaborate, engage their company's information assets, and how they work," said Greg Girard, program director of intelligent product merchandising and marketing, IDC Retail Insights. "As digital assistants become more conversationally and analytically skillful and more aware of their users' intent and context we'll see more incisive decisions, made quicker, to deliver better business outcomes. Retailers should bring digital assistants into their digital transformation planning assumptions now."

In April, Oracle launched the next generation of promotion, markdown and offer optimization capabilities as a cloud service with the launch of Oracle Retail Offer Optimization Cloud Service. With these new updates retailers can analyze promotion and pricing decisions for the entire product lifecycle while providing consumers with targeted and contextual offers.

What experts say about Oracle Certification Exams



Monday, December 3, 2018

OCA oracle Database SQL Exam - Take the SQL Exam That Gives You OCA Certification


We receive support requests every week from candidates asking for the certificate for passing the non-proctored exam Oracle Database 12c: SQL Fundamentals | 1Z0-061. Each time, we explain that this exam alone does not result in certification. Candidates must pass the next exam in their Oracle Certified Associate (OCA) path to earn a certification and receive a digital badge. This unpleasant surprise results in disappointed candidates who want to receive something tangible for passing a certification exam.  

Don't face this same disappointment


With the imminent retirement of Oracle Database 12c: SQL Fundamentals | 1Z0-061 (November 30, 2019), now is the perfect time to switch your focus to the exam that proves fluency in and a solid understanding of SQL language, data modeling and using SQL to create and manipulate tables in an Oracle Database, AND results in a SQL OCA certification. 

The SQL Requirement


SQL knowledge is essential to the Database Administrator and PL/SQL Developer roles. Upon its release, exam 1Z0-071 filled a gap in the offerings that fulfill the SQL prerequisite in these paths. This offering has gone on to become the standard. The Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate credential gives a broader, more comprehensive view of SQL, and results in OCA certification. This certification also better fits the defined job role.