Part 1 of this blog is here. This session covered other capabilities are not released as the 4.1 suite but you will start to see them throughout the year. The usual disclaimer applies that things discussed (including the items below) in this ASUG webcast are subject change.
Source: SAP
Please note these are my notes taken during the webcast.
Figure 1: Source: SAP
Figure 1 shows a new tool that is “unique” and “quite exciting” says Ty Miller, SAP.
It is a native, intuitive search & exploration experience on Hana
Hana has an application language called XS allows you to create applications on top of Hana platform
One of those applications is a Data Discovery, native on hana web-based consumption / mobile experience
Visual Intelligence will also be a will be part of that, allowing you to create data and visualizations
It is native on Hana and you will leverage the speed and also the application layer is on Hana you can leverage the speed. It is optimized for the web and tablet.
Visual Intelligence will be used for the creation of content consumed
Figure 2: Source: SAP
First iteration of this data discovery which is native on Hana will be the cloud. Cloud Analytics powered by Hana is now in beta
This will allow you to synchronize with Hana Cloud and consume via tablet based experience
It is using Hana native calculation engine & application layer and gives you a new BI focused around data discovery.
Figure 3: Source: SAP
Visual Intelligence is on a 6-8 weeks release cycle. 1.08 of Visual Intelligence release is coming up.
SAP is adding the acquisition of more data sources, more formats, ability to have control over the charts and formatting, create user defined views without scripting coding.
SAP is adding in the future will include annotation in results and share with colleagues – on premise or cloud based
Figure 4: Source: SAP
Figure 4 shows Predictive Analysis
Predictive Analysis is a super-set of Visual Intelligence.
It uses the same code base as Visual Intelligence
It can take advantage of Visual Intelligence connections – a .UNV, .UNX, direct SQL connection, connect Hana, etc.
In the future they are adding a predictive wizard and visualizations and more R algorithms
Figure 5: Source: SAP
Analysis for Office (similar to Visual Intelligence, Predictive Analysis, Design Studio) has its own release schedule and is not part of 4.1
Coming this year is the ability is the ability to broadcast and schedule workbooks
You will see more integration with Design Studio
Also coming this year is the ability to create mobile apps off Excel workbooks
SAP is adding the flexibility around grids and layouts of worksheets
Figure 6: Source: SAP
For Design Studio they are working on universe-based data sources (Analysis Office is as well)
It will have a richer visualization and components
As a premium alternative to BEx Web Application Designer, Design Studio will offer a deeper integration into the SAP landscape
Figure 7: Source: SAP
For Web Intelligence, a number of API’s are being made available to interface and additional RESTful based API’s at both the UI level and data processing
It will have the ability to connect Web Intelligence along with Crystal for Enterprise, Dashboards directly against Analytic Views (skipping universe requirements)
You will also be able to use query stripping/parallelization for better performance of Web Intelligence against SAP Hana
You will be able to do a preview of a Web Intelligence to see the Mobile BI view in design time experience
Figure 8: Source: SAP
Crystal for Enterprise has new platform support, for example connect to Hana via SAML
Like Web Intelligence will be able to Hana analytic view connection without the universe
For Mobile, today, Crystal in Mobile BI is a native Crystal document
Figure 9: Source: SAP
Figure 9 shows the continued innovation of XCelsius dashboards for Mobile.
SAP Design Studio will take on more data connectivity for consumption in a Mobile BI environment.
For Web Intelligence being able to ranking, charting, and track changes on the mobile device.
BusinessObjects Explorer integrated into single mobile BI client
Figure 10: Source: SAP
Figure 10 shows you have unique ways to visualize data such as tag clouds, heat maps, bubble charts, and geo-spatial capabilities
Figure 11: Source: SAP
Figure 11 shows collaboration with BI
SAP started this with StreamWork, a cloud based collaboration platform.
SAP acquired SuccessFactors, and part of that is a platform called Jam. Jam is taking over the activity-based collaborationof StreamWork – integration will be with Jam in the future. You can comment on BI content in the document or the BI Launchpad on a BI object or instance.
Figure 12: Source: SAP
Figure 12 shows improved specifics integration of the BI suite with SAP BW and ERP.
SAP is looking to add back authored universes on a limited set of BEx 7.3 queries for the universe aware tools such as Crystal for Enterprise, Web Intelligence, Dashboards and BusinessObjects Explorer. You must be on BW 730.
It expects to improve performance design time for universe aware tools against BW
SAP will merge prompts into one place for Analysis for OLAP
Variable variants – save prompts for public and private use – consume those with Analysis OLAP and Design Studio
Office-based Analysis against BW will have the ability to broadcast and schedule workbooks.
Please see the recently updated Roadmap for SAP integration with BI here https://websmp206.sap-ag.de/~sapidb/011000358700001392242012E.pdf (Service Market Place logon required)
Key Resources, provided by Ty Miller:
Getting started with SAP BusinessObjects BI Solutions
How to Select the Right BI Tool
SAP’s Release Strategy for Major Releases of SAP BusinessObjects BI
SAP Named Worldwide Market Share Leader for Business Intelligence
Also here is the tweetdoc of the the webcast.
Subset of Question & Answer:
Q: When is general availabilty date of 4.1?
A: GA dates are based on ramp-up and 4.1 is not in rampup yet
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Q: If you are just starting development of Dashboards, would Design Studio be the better choice for that?
A: If BW is the main data source, that is what SAP recommends
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Q: What about Bobj? for Dashboards?
A: Here is the SAP statement of direction on dashboards
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Q: What about BICS connection if we wanted to eliminate universes? we are on BI4 and we are having issues with this...has this been enhanced?
A: Today you still need the universe to connect to BW with Explorer (depending on landscape)
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Q: we are in BI4.0. If we decide to upgrade to BI4.1, what are the key points to consider?
A: He covered you could do a new install with 4.1 or an "in place" upgrade
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Q: WebI - Can Input controls/Filters perform filtering across multiple reports in a document
A: Merging Prompts will allow this now
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Q: you have to be on xir3 sp6 to use deski? we are on xir3 sp4, so that will not work?
A: Please see http://scn.sap.com/docs/DOC-31798 for details
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Q: When will Visual Intelligence has a 32-bit client?
A: That has been available since November 1.07
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Q: For mobile BI- Are there plans to support the mobile Win8 OS? If so, when will the be available?
A: Yes this year
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Q: What is the future of Live Office (Is Analysis Office replacing)?
A: Working on how to continue Live Office - as today and more Analysis Office will have those capabilities (e.g. connect to the Universe) ; working on a combination of what we have today and extend to Analysis Office. Office integration roadmap coming in the next few months
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For sure BI4.1 will be covered at ASUG Annual Conference this year and BI 2013 in March in Las Vegas.
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