Nadine Engler, SAP, presented this webcast to ASUG and other user groups last week on the Customer Connection for BI Platform. You can view the recording here
Nadine is the preparation lead, joined by SAP BI Platform product owners Derek Wang and Saroj Parmar for this webcast.
The usual legal disclaimer applies that things discussed are subject to change.
Figure 1: Source: SAP
On the right of Figure 1 is the customer advisory councils.
Customer Engagement Initiative is for new products (middle)
Left is the customer connect, which is used to optimize today’s products
Figure 2: Source: SAP
Customer Connection is used for small enhancements, support packages, and is open to user groups.
User groups propose the focus topics.
It is a customer-driven program.
Focus run in a project approach with a clear start and finish date.
Figure 3: Source: SAP
Nadine explained that customer connect projects have a fast cycle time with a dedicated scope
It takes 2-3 months for the collect phase
Improvement requests are prioritized by subscription, which means you intend to use it in production
SAP will only consider improvement requests with 5 or more subscriptions
Figure 4: Source: SAP
Figure 4 provides the details on BI Platform customer connect scope.
Figure 4 shows what is in scope and out of scope.
SAP plan to deliver customer connect improvements for BI4.0 and BI4.1
Figure 5: Source: SAP
Figure 5 shows some samples improvements already in the queue for BI platform.
Submitted improvement requests are shown above to help get you inspired and start subscribing to them, if you are interested.
Nadine said the USF User group already submitted 20+ improvement requests.
Figure 6: Source: SAP
Figure 6 shows a high-level project plan.
The define phase ended with focus group USF, who proposed the customer connect.
Kick off was conducted on 5/7 to start the collect phase.
Customer’s task is to submit and subscribe to improvement requests
SAP will ask for clarification on improvement requests.
Collect phase will be open for 2 months.
7/19 is planned for final call. SAP will list of improvement requests and ones with more than 5 subscribers.
After the final call you have 1 week to enter ideas and subscribe before the workspace is closed
After 7/26 no more improvement requests submitted and then the select phase begins and SAP looks at qualified requests – those with more than 5 subscribers. SAP will review ones which are feasible – important that they can be easily adopted and no side effects.
At the end they have a select call and SAP relays which improvements will have been accepted (October).
SAP will have 3-6 months of development – SAP needs customer help in providing feedback in development and testing – will contact the improvement owner and subscribers. SAP will ask you test and validate improvements.
In Q1 2014 SAP will have a delivery call for when improvements are available.
See this blog for details on how to get started with the customer connection program, starting at Figure 6 of that blog.
Question & Answer:
Q: Do you consider ramp-up customers or is it a different case?
A: some restrictions with ramp-up but it is a different program
Q: Hello, what is the ''scope'' of the acceptable improvement requests? Can it cover Webi improvements?
A: This is not the case; this is the administrative part of the BI platform
Q: Is this for new release?
A: No improvements will be delivered with BI 4.0 and BI 4.1 in Q1.2014
Q: What about the existing enhancement requests which are in the roadmap for 4.0 sp6/7 and beyond?
A: Go ahead and submit improvement request
Keep in mind SAP has only so many resources just like your company. Please ask for things that are important to you.
Q: How long does registration process take?
A: 1 to 2 working days after you complete registration
Special thanks to nadine.engler for bringing this to ASUG, kevin.geiger , ASUG BI volunteer, for moderating, derek.wang and Saroj Parmar of SAP.
Join ASUG at ASUG Annual Conference (co-located with SAPPHIRE NOW) this week for these BI Platform and Strategy sessions:
Meet Derek Wang at session 4309 for the ASUG BI Platform Influence Council, 5/16, 11:00 am.
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