Cerner will be able to use Oracle’s infrastructure, AI, machine learning and cloud capabilities to accelerate product and technology development and make care more accessible and secure. Oracle’s usability and voice-enabled user interface features, for instance, will be added to Cerner's EHR solutions to help reduce the time medical providers spend using systems and give them more time to directly care for patients.

Cerner will join Oracle as an Industry Business Unit and expand its reach internationally, as well as locally, with Oracle helping it expand its community presence, including where it is based in the Kansas City area. Additionally, customer investments in Cerner will be protected following the acquisition and will grow in value with the availability of more modern and connected technologies.

"Oracle has been slow to tap into the cloud opportunity landscape relative to other big tech firms, and the Cerner acquisition may provide the boost it needs to become a strong contender in an emerging space with significant headroom for growth," said Paddy Padmanabhan, founder and CEO of Damo Consulting, a growth strategy and digital transformation advisory firm, in a statement.

Oracle provides solutions to a number of industries, including financial services, telecom, utilities, pharmaceuticals, hospitality, retail, food and beverage, construction and engineering, manufacturing and government. Its cloud infrastructure helps drive digital modernization and substantially reduces the total cost of IT in these industry sectors. Oracle will use Cerner as its anchor asset to expand into healthcare, according to David Feinberg, president and chief executive officer for Cerner.

“Cerner has been a leader in helping digitize medical care and now it’s time to realize the real promise of that work with the care delivery tools that get information to the right caregivers at the right time,” said Feinberg. “Joining Oracle as a dedicated Industry Business Unit provides an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate our work modernizing electronic health records (EHR), improving the caregiver experience, and enabling more connected, high-quality and efficient patient care.”

Upon completion of the deal, Oracle will move Cerner's systems to its cloud data centers. The deal is expected to help Cerner transition the company from an EHR-focused organization to a platform organization that incorporates third-party products and technologies like AI. This has been a goal for Cerner since 2019, reports Modern Healthcare.

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