More than a year has passed since the first actionable 4.3 versions were launched, which provided massive visual enhancements, a simplified WebI interface, a harmonized look and feel, and increased integration with SAP Analytics Cloud. However, these improvements were not enough for many customers, who had been reluctant to upgrade or migrate during 2021, meaning that previous versions are still in common use.
With the start of a new year, and the announcement of this most recent version upgrade, some key features that were missing are finally back. In addition, surprisingly, there is a collection of new features that will boost capability, usability, and productivity for adopters of this version to a much higher level than they have previously experienced.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
For those still using earlier versions, key items already launched in 4.3. were, briefly, the HTML Fiori look and feel, a simplified WebI interface, and the Live Data Connector with SAP Analytics Cloud, which have already been described in a previous article here. However, the latest version, which only recently launched, constitutes the first productionable version to include the following long-awaited additional features:
Cloud Drive Support: With many installations already in the Cloud, to be able to consume or distribute data stored in Cloud files becomes a must-have. Here, SAP proposes to use Google Drive for now, with more vendors to come on board in the future. The authorization and authentication happens via OAuth and OpenID, providing End-to-End SSO, which also works with Snowflake.
WebIntelligence OData Web Services: Information from a platform query or query block (i.e., static table) can be exposed to be consumed internally (from another WebI document) or externally from any external 3rd party tool via OData standard protocol, covering the gap that was left by the disappearance of Web Services / QaaWS. This will leave the Live Office product in a redundant position, and therefore likely to be replaced by this emerging protocol.
New features for WebIntelligence: The most interesting enhancements are:
Presentation mode: providing refreshable and dynamic visualizations for displays in presentations and shows.
Unified query panel: using objects and conditions universally for all source types on the query side and object properties being managed in the document area.
Show and hide tabs: dynamically depending on their data value.
More usable prompts and input controls.
An improved formula editor with more space and better use of color.
WebI features that are back: A few features that were missing in 4.3 version for some customers in order to give a green light for the upgrade are:
Shared Elements, i.e., WebI items built once and re-used across many WebI documents.
Local files as a source, using MS Excel or TXT external files with manually processed data.
Freeze panels, first introduced in 4.2.
Reintroduction of WebI extensions: with added JavaScript API support, providing:
Continuity for paid add-ons like Galigeo geo-maps.
Need4viz freemium, a currently free complement that enhances WebI with data exploration and visualization. This is a good option for those who miss Lumira and are not there yet in SAC.
Compatibility with Private Cloud Edition (PCE), which opens a new path to the cloud in a new licensing model where SAP hosts the SW & OS and take care of HW and upgrades. This will extend support beyond 2027 and is planned to run indefinitely.
CONCLUSIONS
SAP is still strongly committed to investing in the on-premises BI suite and WebIntelligence is still the most widely used reporting tool. It has acquired a harmonized look & feel and enhanced user experience, placing it in a strong position compared to its direct competitors.
Plans for the future include continuing to integrate the platform into the new world of cloud platforms such as MS Drive, Sharepoint, and cloud databases, delivering greater Data Management capabilities in WebI Intelligence, and driving better usability by focusing on users’ ideas and requests.
Before planning for your migration to this latest version, check potential issues with the version zero which was launched on December 21st. If one of the following scenarios applies to your organization, then we’d advise you to ensure a correction plan is in place before upgrading:
Version 4.2 SP3 or lower
Design Studio or Lumira Designer content
WebI on top of Free Hand SQL sources
If you have any questions or would like more information in order to help you plan for your migration to SAP BI 4.3. please contact us at info@clariba.com.