Discover what's new in PeopleTools 8.63 with Brooke Repine, Steven Valentine, and Sasank Vemana as they discuss the latest features, upgrades, and ways customers are modernizing PeopleSoft. Get the rundown on key improvements and what they mean for your PeopleSoft experience.

• Enhanced search capabilities, including semantic search and typo tolerance
• Redesigned landing pages for improved user experience and personalization
• Expanded AI integration and new "magic button" functionality
• App Designer AI Assist for developers
• Security upgrades with Single Sign-On (SAML 2.0) and Two-Factor Authentication

00:00 Overview of PeopleTools 8.63 features

04:12 Enhancing search with OpenSearch features

07:18 Improving landing page flexibility

11:27 Integrating AI with OpenSearch data

13:51 AI integration in performance reviews

19:58 AI assistance in App Designer

22:37 Discussing AI and technology evolution

27:00 Explaining multi-factor authentication

28:33 Implementing simple 2-factor authentication

Hear about the latest advancements in PeopleSoft, highlighting the upcoming release of PeopleTools 8.63 and key features aimed at modernizing user experience and increasing organizational efficiency. A key theme that emerged in our chat was the integration of AI enablement, including the new Natural Language Assistant and enhancements to search functionality such as semantic search and typo tolerance. The discussion explored customer-driven innovation through tools like the Ideas Lab, emphasized the importance of staying current with updates for both security and functionality, and included success stories from organizations leveraging new features like the landing page and customization insights. Several points were raised, including strategies for managing technical debt, facilitating smoother upgrades, and resources available for the user community to share best practices and feedback.

00:00 Blueprint conference AI updates

04:39 Using AI for backend updates

07:08 Building search indexes and REST services

12:28 Discussing Customization Insights in PeopleSoft

13:51 Streamlining with PeopleSoft updates

17:02 Enhancing PeopleSoft search functionality

21:48 Highlighting PeopleSoft Innovator Stories

24:22 Using customer feedback for development

27:10 Importance of staying updated

In this episode of the PeopleSoft Connection, co-hosts Stephen Valentine and Brooke Repine are joined by Laura Papero, Vice President of Programming & Strategy at Quest Oracle Community, for an in-depth discussion on the PeopleSoft Community survey. Laura shares how Quest uses the results to shape events, webinars, and other programming for PeopleSoft users.

Key survey findings from 2025 PeopleSoft Community Survey results included PeopleTools upgrades, PUM updates, analytics, dashboards, Fluid UI, workflow optimization, and growing interest in AI and cloud strategies. The survey also showed that many organizations plan to continue investing in and modernizing their PeopleSoft environments rather than replacing them.

The conversation also highlights Quest’s community-driven approach, where customer feedback directly influences conference sessions, webinars, and collaboration with Oracle product teams. Listeners learn that Quest offers access to many webinars and resources through a free Quest account, while memberships provide additional networking, learning materials, and event benefits.

01:43 Community Survey releases each fall

02:28 How survey results are used

07:58 Results are also shared with Oracle

11:48 Diving into 2025 survey results

15:39 Create a free Quest account

17:04 Member benefits

19:58 Extend & modernize existing solutions

22:55 Watch for & respond to the 2026 survey

This episode is packed full of insight from Jeff Dudas, ERP expert at Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System. He shares insights into the organization’s journey to transfer paper-based documents and processes to electronic ones using PeopleSoft. The discussion covers the implementation of an electronic project request form to replace a manual, paper-based process, a successful go-live with PeopleSoft grants that eliminated reliance on a third-party Access database, and the organization’s upgrade strategy for PeopleTools 8.62. Additionally, Jeff details a novel AI-powered automation project for non-PO invoice processing, highlighting improved efficiency, user adoption, and change management lessons. Listeners can look forward to upcoming presentations on grants and AI at Blueprint4D, reflecting Sarasota’s commitment to leveraging PeopleSoft innovation for business success.

01:05 Jeff Dudas PeopleSoft Journey

02:02 Project Request Form

11:00 Grants Go Live

17:03 PT 8.62 Upgrade

22:57 AI empowered invoicing for non-PO invoices

29:26 BP4D 2026 sessions

In this episode of PSFT Connection, co-hosts Brooke Repine and Stephen Valentine are joined by Rajesh Thiru, ERP Manager at Powers Health, to discuss their experience as early adopters of PeopleTools 8.62. Rajesh Thiru shares insights about Powers Health’s annual PeopleSoft upgrade strategy, their approach to implementing new functionality like the landing page and Fluid Work Centers, and the importance of user collaboration throughout the process. Listeners will also hear about what’s in store for their upcoming Blueprint 4D conference presentation.

01:15 Rajesh Thiru’s Current Role at Powers Health

02:25 Yearly Upgrade Strategy

04:30 PeopleTools 8.62 and the Landing Page Benefits

06:42 Involving End Users in the Process

15:44 Customization Insights

18:45 Updating PTF Scripts for this Upgrade

22:55 Additional Benefits of PeopleTools 8.62

30:25 BP4D 2026 Early Registration Discount

In this episode of the PeopleSoft Connection podcast, co-hosts Stephen Valentine and Brooke Repine sit down with Sasank Vemana from Oracle to dive into the latest PeopleTools 8.62 release and its standout features. The conversation centers on the new Landing Page functionality, designed to streamline the user experience and enhance productivity, as well as Customization Insights, which helps organizations better manage and evaluate their customizations. Listeners are encouraged to explore the new capabilities, join the Quest community, and share feedback to help shape future product development.

00:40 Introducing Sasank and his role at Oracle

01:50 New Landing Page – what is it?

05:01 Key features released in PeopleTools 8.62

06:11 Look and feel of new Landing Page

12:18 How to Get Started

14:16 Delivered Landing Page Examples

15:49 Landing Page Modeler Tool

16:53 Resources

21:31 Quest PeopleTools Technology User Group

24:16 Customization Insights

As 2025 comes to a close, The PeopleSoft Connection looks back on a year defined by practical learning and strong community momentum. The podcast evolved into a forum where customers, product experts, and peers could share how they are using PeopleSoft functionality to solve real business problems.

Join Co-Hosts, Brooke Repine of Samaritan’s Purse and Stephen Valentine of Milton Hershey School, as they recap the first season that explored how organizations are modernizing their PeopleSoft environments—without over-customizing or over-complicating.

Beyond the technology itself, the conversations emphasized something equally important: community. Listeners heard how starting small can lead to meaningful wins, how peer-led SIGs and working sessions helped us move our projects along, and how channels like Idea Space and focus groups give customers a real voice in the product’s future.

In this year-end reflection episode, Stephen and Brooke revisit key moments from the season, share what they learned along the way, and look ahead to 2026—highlighting upcoming enhancements, Blueprint 4D, and the continued evolution of PeopleSoft.

Fluid WorkCenters & User Experience (1:23)

Key takeaways from the Fluid WorkCenters discussion, adoption lessons, and what’s next with the Work Management Framework.

PeopleSoft Insights: From Data to Decisions (2:15)

Why starting small matters, Workforce Insights as an entry point, and how teams shifted from reporting to analytics.

PeopleSoft Test Framework (PTF) (3:51)

What’s changed since early PTF days, why automation is more achievable now, and the value of community-led working sessions.

Configuration over Customization (5:10)

Page and Field Configurator, change tracking, notifications, and why small configuration changes can drive outsized value.

Mobile Asset Inventory & Idea Space (5:36)

Real-world use of mobile asset scanning and how customers can influence the PeopleSoft roadmap through Idea Space and focus groups.

Blueprint 4D, Innovator Awards & 2026 Outlook (7:10)

Community challenges, upcoming enhancements, and a call to stay engaged in the year ahead.

This episode brings together the voices of organizations serving communities around the world and the PeopleSoft tools that help them operate with purpose and precision. Stephen Valentine (Milton Hershey School) and Brooke Repine (Samaritan’s Purse) sit down with Tina Thames, Director of PeopleSoft Asset Lifecycle Management (ALM) Product Strategy, to explore one of the most anticipated enhancements of the year: QR-code-based mobile asset tracking and physical inventory.

Opening: Gratitude Month and Mission Work

Stephen and Brooke open with a reflection on gratitude—highlighting the mission-driven work of their organizations, the operational backbone PeopleSoft provides, and the dedicated people behind the scenes who make it all work.

Tina’s PeopleSoft Journey (2:22)

QR Codes & Mobile Inventory: A Game-Changer (3:29)

Decentralizing Asset Ownership (6:12)

Implementation Guidance (10:39)

Idea Space and Customer-Driven Innovation (14:37)

SIG Groups & Focus Groups (18:07)

Looking Ahead: QR Codes Beyond ALM (25:43)

Closing Thoughts (28:00)