As organizations begin their annual planning for 2026, one question is how to get more value out of Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS). Oracle first introduced natural language query (NLQ) for EBS 12.2 in late 2024, and in May 2025 released a set of important enhancements that made the capability more robust and practical. With these updates, it’s now possible to enable Oracle EBS natural language query using APEX and Oracle Generative AI — allowing business users to ask questions of their EBS data in plain English and get answers instantly.
This isn’t about replacing your IT-built reports or financial controls. It’s about making EBS more approachable, empowering non-technical users to explore data quickly, and reducing the reporting bottleneck that slows decision-making.
The Shift: From SQL to Natural Language
Traditionally, accessing EBS data required technical skills. Users either had to write SQL or rely on their IT department to build reports and dashboards. That approach has always worked — but it creates a bottleneck. Requests have to be prioritized, and the lag between a business user’s question and the final answer could stretch into days or even weeks.
Oracle APEX has already helped bridge this gap by extending EBS with custom dashboards, workflow automation, and modern web applications. For many organizations, APEX has become the tool that makes EBS more usable — surfacing data in interactive grids, converting spreadsheets into web apps, or building approval workflows that keep processes moving.
With EBS natural language query, the experience changes again. A procurement manager can type “Show me suppliers with late payments this quarter” and see results immediately. An HR leader can ask “List employees with more than 20 years of service and their certifications” and get the answer without waiting for a report to be created. Instead of navigating multiple menus, or filing a ticket with IT, they simply ask a question the way they would ask a colleague.
How EBS Natural Language Query Works (a 30,000-foot view)
Behind the scenes, several technologies come together:
- APEX as the front end – The APEX app runs inside EBS menus, honoring single sign-on and role-based security. End users don’t have to learn a new tool; they use a familiar interface.
- Oracle Autonomous Database with Select AI – An Autonomous Database (ADB) instance in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) acts as the intermediary. The Generative AI model runs in OCI and uses Select AI to generate SQL. Importantly, ADB doesn’t store your EBS data. Instead, it contains curated metadata and schema definitions that guide the AI in building valid SQL. The SQL itself is executed directly against your live EBS transactional database, so results are real-time.
- Cloud requirement — Because the Autonomous Database and Generative AI services run in OCI, this capability is only available to customers with EBS connected to Oracle Cloud. On-premises-only EBS environments cannot currently use NLQ.
- AI Profiles (domain scope) – AI Profiles scope natural language queries to a defined set of database objects and business domains (such as HCM, logistics, or finance). They improve both accuracy and performance, and they can be mapped to EBS Responsibilities through role-based access control (RBAC).
- Security-first design – Oracle’s approach enforces separation of duties. The AI model only sees metadata, not live data, while record-level security and Virtual Private Databases (VPDs) ensure results are filtered according to each user’s permissions.
- Explainability features – Users or admins can review how a query was constructed, building trust in the answers.
The result is a user-friendly experience that feels conversational while still respecting enterprise-grade governance.
Benefits for EBS Customers
The potential benefits of Oracle EBS natural language query are significant:
- Accessibility for business users – Staff no longer need SQL or BI tools to get answers. They can explore information themselves, with far less dependence on IT.
- Faster decision-making – Leaders get answers in minutes instead of waiting for a reporting cycle, allowing them to respond quickly to changing conditions.
- Seamless integration – Because the feature is built on APEX and EBS authentication, it feels like part of the existing system, not a separate tool.
- Improved accuracy – Domain-based AI profiles reduce irrelevant or misleading answers by keeping queries focused on the right data sets.
- Enterprise security model – VPDs, role-based access control, and audit trails maintain the same protections organizations rely on today.
Limitations and Considerations
As with any emerging technology, EBS natural language query comes with important caveats:
- Prototype maturity – Oracle describes this capability as a prototype and reference model. That means it’s a solid foundation, but not yet a turnkey product ready for every production environment. Organizations will need to evaluate carefully how and where it fits.
- Cloud-only – Autonomous Database with Select AI and OCI Generative AI are required. That means on-premises-only EBS deployments cannot use NLQ today.
- AI hallucinations – Generative AI sometimes produces SQL that looks plausible but doesn’t fully align with the user’s intent. Oracle acknowledges this, which is why testing and validation are essential.
- User confidence – Features like “Explain” mode allow admins to see the SQL generated behind the scenes. This helps build trust and ensures power users can validate logic when needed.
- Governance required – NLQ should complement, not replace, validated reporting. For financial close, regulatory compliance, or other high-stakes processes, traditional BI and prebuilt reports remain critical.
- English-only support (as of this writing) – Oracle notes the prototype is currently limited to English. Global organizations will want to track language support as the capability evolves.
- Not a retrofit for existing reports – NLQ is designed to generate new SQL dynamically. It doesn’t automatically enable natural language interaction with prebuilt reports, though results can be further explored in APEX interactive grids, charts, and dashboards.
In short: NLQ is a powerful tool, but not a silver bullet. It enables new possibilities for day-to-day analysis, but organizations should deploy it with a thoughtful governance plan.
Use Cases Across the Enterprise
The possibilities of EBS natural language query span many functional areas:
- HR: “Show employees with more than 20 years of service and their certifications.”
- Finance: “List invoices pending approval this month by cost center.”
- Supply Chain: “Which shipments are overdue by more than 15 days?”
- Operations: “Show overdue maintenance tasks by facility.”
- Customer Service: “Show open disputes by region and days outstanding.”
- Projects: “Which projects have exceeded budget allocations by more than 10%?”
These examples illustrate how quickly business questions can be answered when the barrier to asking them comes down. Instead of technical queries, users simply state their intent in plain language.
Why Now Matters
Timing is everything. Oracle first introduced NLQ for EBS 12.2 in December 2024, and in May 2025 announced a set of important enhancements. Since then, many organizations have been experimenting with pilots or proofs of concept. By September, it’s clear that natural language query is moving from theory to practice.
This aligns well with annual planning cycles. As CIOs and business leaders set priorities for 2026, the question isn’t just how to maintain EBS, but how to unlock more value from it. Natural language query represents a new way to extend the return on an existing system — giving teams faster insights without a major new investment.
For organizations already running EBS in the cloud and using APEX to modernize and extend it, adding NLQ could be a logical next step. For those still relying heavily on IT-driven reporting, this may be the right moment to evaluate Oracle APEX development services more broadly as a platform for modernization. And for companies still using EBS only on premise, this may be a reason to explore cloud functionality.
What EBS Natural Language Query Means for the Future
APEX has long been the bridge for modernizing Oracle EBS. Natural language query is the next evolution: giving more business users more direct access to data, while maintaining the security and reliability EBS is known for.
Looking ahead, expect three things:
- Broader domain coverage – more AI profiles to cover additional EBS modules.
- Higher accuracy – as Oracle iterates on its Generative AI models and metadata curation.
- Richer user experiences – integration with APEX interactive grids, charts, and dashboards so users can visualize results on the fly.
As you set priorities for 2026, consider where this capability fits. For some, it may be an early pilot — a way to explore the technology. For others, it may be part of a broader modernization strategy that combines APEX extensions, EBS dashboards, and AI-enabled insights.
Either way, the door is now open for Oracle EBS natural language query. And that’s a development worth planning around.
Ready to take the next step? Traust specializes in helping organizations extend their EBS installations with modern APEX applications — from dashboards and workflows to AI-enabled insights. Reach out to us to explore how we can help you unlock more value from your Oracle investment.
