J.D. Edwards…What does that name mean to you? Some of us have no idea how J.D. Edwards has influenced or affected our lives.
Back in the 1990’s there was an acronym that identified the major Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software providers. JBOPS was the acronym which was meant to identify J.D. Edwards, Baan, Oracle, PeopleSoft, and SAP. In the early part of this millennia JD Edwards was sold to PeopleSoft, and within a day or two Oracle announced its plans to acquire PeopleSoft. For those of us who have been associated with the JD Edwards software since that time there sure have been a lot of changes.
So, what does that have to do with today? Many of us will remember how Ed McVaney (the Edwards in the name J.D. Edwards) proclaimed St. Patrick’s day as the birthday of J.D. Edwards. It all started in 1977, and now 43 years later the foundation built by Jack Thompson, Dan Gregory, and Ed McVaney still stands strong.
I cannot name all of the companies who run JD Edwards Software now (eventually the name was adjusted by removing the periods after the J and the D), but I can tell you that it has an effect on everyday lives of each of us. From manufacturers of equipment for First Responders to wine growers, hospitality companies to gas and oil companies, manufacturers of household goods (plumbing material, flooring, etc) to companies in the entertainment industry. JD Edwards has touched the lives of countless millions of people in a positive, meaningful, and beneficial way.
Happy Birthday JD Edwards! Thank you, Ed, Dan, and Jack, for the blood, sweat, and tears that were invested in creating, building, and sustaining JD Edwards!