The famous adage, "Knowledge is power," is particularly true in an industry where change is not the exception, but the norm. When new mission-critical software updates loom on the horizon, you need to know about new features and enhancements ahead of time to plan your migration.
SAP BI 4.3 IS A MAJOR RELEASE
Generally speaking, major releases involve many enhancements, features, and functionality, often accompanying a substantial change in software architecture. While this version has not received a new major version number (ie BI 5.0), in our opinion there are enough improvements to consider this a major version update.
Anecdotally, SAP did not name this version 5.0 to avoid confusion with legacy systems running v5 of the original software from the 1990s.
SAP BI 4.3 features a hybrid architecture, increasingly focused on cloud computing, so whether you're an existing user or new to the product, this release is an ideal starting point for companies adopting the technology in Cloud.
IMPROVEMENTS TO SAP BI 4.3
Improvements can be grouped into three main surroundings:
Company: additions in terms of base, source management and platform
User interface: visual harmony between cloud and mobile environments
Hybrid: new features that involve the interrelationship between premises and the cloud
HERE IS OUR SUMMARY OF THE 8 KEY REASONS TO UPGRADE TO SAP BI 4.3
<Spoiler>: The new license model, simplified authentication setup, new supported data source types, and removal of some old tools (Xcelsius, Explorer, Widgets) are not reasons enough. All of these changes are welcome, but not disruptive enough to make our main list!
The changes that we think are revolutionary, and make the update a necessity, are as follows:
1. Introduction of WebI data models
This is a new data modeling concept designed to get the cloud from local data, but local front-end applications will also be able to take advantage of it.
This new concept of WebI data model reuses existing document components, where multiple queries from various data sources can be used, combined and enriched with variables.
This creates a new data set that can be used as a source in the cloud by SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) or locally, feeding new WebI documents, or even in control panels or Live Office using Web Services.
2. The WebI viewer (with Fiori skin) for browsers and clients
The WebI viewer has been enhanced to achieve feature parity with the DHTML viewer, which is already the most compatible with most common browsers (and does not use Java). This new WebI viewer has a Fiori-style look and feel for users.
Also, the “WebI Rich Client” has been modified so that developers who prefer to use the client tool get a unified and familiar HTML5 experience, much like SAC.
3. BI launch pad (with Fiori skin) is now required
The BI launch pad, alternative in version 4.2, becomes mandatory in version 4.3. End users will discover a rejuvenated look with a new color scheme, as well as clearly navigable buttons and tiles.
Some additional features have also been added, including scheduling to multiple destinations.
4. Integration of “Analytics Hub”
The new version includes a new button in the Central Management Console (CMC) called “Analytics Hub”, where the local platform will be configured to communicate with this meta-layer cloud-based device to serve content with hyperlinks and user information.
Corporate content in the on-premises and cloud modules can be managed and protected directly from this hub, a must for any hybrid environment.
5. Web improvements
BI 4.3 incorporates some functionality from other modules such as Lumira Discovery or Lumira Designer:
Micro graphs in cells: for example, trends per line in a table.
Trellis: multiplied graphs based on one dimension, which allows the inclusion of all the components in a single rectangular graph.
Trend lines in graphs: new option to add a linear regression for time series.
Zoom and Pan – Another great interactivity addition, allowing you to highlight a selection using the mouse and subsequent filtering.
6. Improvements in the Universe
A full list of enhancements has not yet been released, but in general the universes have been made faster to render and have better SAC compatibility and security options.
7. Mobility, responsiveness and touchscreen readiness
The completely new front-end, written in HTML5, brings with it a series of new features that improve the user experience, allowing "Analytics on-the-go" through Web Intelligence, full functionality from any device, fully responsive interface across the platform and touch readiness, which is vital for mobile device users.
8. Improved credential mapping for BI platform
Currently, column- and row-level security of corporate data is typically moved to the database due to certain limitations in platform-level user and profile management.
With SAP BI 4.3, users will be able to log in to multiple database sources with different passwords, bypassing current platform and build cycle limitations of repositories, which simplifies and speeds up back-end maintenance.
FINAL CONCLUSIONS
The general direction that the BI 4.3 update is taking is positive. The move away from Flash and JS in favor of HTML5 is impressive, and while older modules like the CMC will stick to a legacy format for now, this bodes well for future interface development.
Still we would like to see these cosmetic advances on the admin side as well!
Working in an environment where innovation is directly related to the success of our business, we can strongly recommend that you evaluate and, ideally, implement this release when it becomes generally available.
You'll get the benefits of a product that is not only highly integrated with traditional BW and ERP back-ends, but is integrated and ready for futuristic SAC and SCP cloud platforms.