SAP releases BusinessObjects social and mobile updates

SAP has released version 4.0 of its BusinessObjects Edge Business Intelligence (BI) software, which boasts mobile updates and geolocation enhancements.

Customers can now access the BI suite on iPad devices, and Google Maps integration allows for location-based analytics.

The launch coincides with updates to SAP's Hana high-performance analytic appliance, and will allow customers to analyse in-memory data.

MWD analyst Helena Schwenk highlighted this integration and the ties with complementary technologies as the most interesting enhancements.

"Real time, social and mobile are some of the key themes and trends in the BI and information management market, so it will be interesting to track and compare SAP's performance in the coming year against rivals such as Oracle and IBM who are all advocating similar approaches," she told V3.

Schwenk pointed out that SAP had pre-announced many of the updates to the BusinessObjects Edge suite in February, and that it deserves recognition as "a substantial release".

"Version 4.0 represents the company's first major platform release since it acquired BusinessObjects in 2007, and thus signifies a final push towards consolidating, harmonising and unifying parts of the original BusinessObjects and SAP portfolio amassed over the years," she said.

Schwenk believes that version 4.0 offers a broad set of best-of-breed BI capabilities covering query, reporting, online analytical processing, dashboards, visualisation, search and navigation.

"The suite provides good support for the general business user with its Web Intelligence, Analysis and Crystal Reports tools, but is also making significant strides to extend its appeal to non-traditional and casual users with tools such as SAP BusinessObjects Explorer, the Xcelsuius dashboards and mobile BI capabilities," she said.

However, Schwenk warned that, like most major software releases, the new BI suite will be a "significant upgrade project" for customers.

"Organisations will need to ramp up to 64-bit operating systems and hardware to take full advantage of the scalability and superior performance," she said.

SAP has provided a new Upgrade Manager and report conversion tool to help with the transition to version 4.0 and lessen the disruption, but organisations need to carefully manage the upgrade.

"Organisations need to carefully plan and manage to ensure user buy-in, minimise disruption and get a full understanding of the business benefits and value of upgrading balanced against the risks and costs," said Schwenk.