Why Different Types of Inbound in Oracle Cloud ERP (and How HCM Does It Differently)
When you hear the word inbound in Oracle Cloud, it simply means data coming into the system. Similarly, outbound means data going out of the system. Simple enough, right?
But here’s where it gets interesting: Oracle Cloud ERP and Oracle Cloud HCM handle inbound and outbound in different ways. And if you’ve ever been in a project discussion, you know how easy it is for the terminology to get mixed up.
Let’s break it down.
🔹 What Does Inbound Mean in Oracle Cloud ERP?
Inbound in ERP is all about bringing business transactions and master data into the system — invoices, journals, purchase orders, suppliers, items, and so on.
Now, not every business scenario looks the same. Sometimes you’re migrating a million records, sometimes you just want to upload a few, and sometimes you need real-time integration. That’s why Oracle gives us multiple inbound options.
ERP Inbound Options
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FBDI (File-Based Data Import)
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Best for bulk data loads.
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Example: migrating one million invoices from your legacy system.
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ADFdi (Application Desktop Integrator)
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Excel-based, interactive upload.
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Example: a business user uploading 50 journals at month-end.
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APIs (SOAP/REST Web Services)
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Real-time integrations.
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Example: your CRM system creating a sales order in ERP instantly.
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OIC (Oracle Integration Cloud)
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Middleware to orchestrate integrations with other SaaS or on-prem apps.
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Example: automating vendor master data sync between ERP and a third-party system.
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👉 Think of it like modes of transport: sometimes you need a truckload (FBDI), sometimes a car (ADFdi), and sometimes instant delivery (API).
🔹 Outbound in Oracle Cloud ERP
Outbound means data leaving ERP and going elsewhere — reports, dashboards, or integrations.
The main outbound choices in ERP are:
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BI Publisher Reports → For formatted, scheduled reports.
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OTBI (Oracle Transactional BI) → For ad-hoc, interactive analytics.
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APIs (REST/SOAP) → To share ERP data with other systems.
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OIC → For automated data feeds and system-to-system connections.
🔹 How Oracle HCM Handles It
Here’s where the story changes. In HCM (Human Capital Management), Oracle packaged inbound and outbound under specific product names.
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Inbound in HCM
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HDL (HCM Data Loader) → Handles bulk employee, job, position, payroll, and benefits data.
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HCM Spreadsheet Loader → Excel-based, easier for business teams to use.
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Outbound in HCM
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HCM Extracts (Data Extracts) → A dedicated outbound tool designed for sending employee data to payroll providers, benefits vendors, or other downstream systems.
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Extracts are flexible: you can filter, join, and format data exactly as needed.
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So while ERP talks in terms of reports and integrations, HCM clearly calls outbound Extracts.
🔑 ERP vs HCM: Side-by-Side
| Direction | ERP (Finance / SCM / Procurement) | HCM (HR / Payroll / Workforce) |
|---|---|---|
| Inbound | FBDI, ADFdi, APIs, OIC | HDL, Spreadsheet Loader |
| Outbound | BI Publisher, OTBI, APIs, OIC | HCM Extracts |
🔹 Real-Life Scenarios
Let’s make this more practical:
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HCM Scenario
You’re working with a payroll vendor like ADP. Every month, you need to send employee salary, deduction, and tax details. You use HCM Extracts to push that data out. -
ERP Scenario
Your CRM system closes a new deal. The sales order needs to flow into ERP instantly. Here, you use an API or OIC integration for inbound.
Different needs, different tools — that’s why Oracle gives us options.
✅ In Short
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ERP has multiple inbound methods (FBDI, ADFdi, APIs, OIC) because the data and business processes are diverse.
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ERP outbound = reports, OTBI, APIs, or OIC.
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HCM inbound = HDL, Spreadsheet Loader.
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HCM outbound = Extracts (a dedicated outbound feature).
So the next time someone says “send me an inbound file” or “give me an extract,” check whether they’re talking about ERP or HCM — the answer (and the tool you’ll use) may be completely different.
