It is no secret that since SAP completed the acquisition of BusinessObjects in January of 2008, the community of non-SAP ERP users has gone through a lot of sudden and unexpected changes. SAP is working non-stop to stabilize the transitions before the first official release of BI 4.0 later this year. In this column, I’ve highlighted some of the questions that remain, and some of the ways SAP is addressing them.

1. What does SAP mean to legacy customers using SAP BusinessObjects?

Yes, three years later, that’s a question that’s still on the minds of SAP ERP and legacy customers of SAP BusinessObjects alike. 2010 brought a lot of changes -software name changes, roadmaps focused more on SAP integration than actual product enhancements, problems with technical support, and the increasing loss of well-known former BusinessObjects senior executives, like Marge Breya. I don’t want to focus on the negative, but these points are prevalent when striking up a conversation with legacy customers and partners using SAP BusinessObjects software. The question they ask is, “What is SAP doing to change this?”

SAP cares, and it has already taken many steps to remedy this impression. This can be seen by the launch of new platforms, such as the SAP BusinessObjects Customer Experience website, a portal dedicated to guiding legacy BusinessObjects customers on the various resources available to them. While SAP still struggles to create the necessary online ‘buzz’ needed to make this portal flourish, it is a good indication that it is working to change some of these negative perceptions. My advice is to check it out, not only because SAP is working to make it a permanent hub for the SAP BusinessObjects product and solution managers, but it’s also a great place to meet other customers and partners.

2. Is there a difference between business analytics and business intelligence?

Some customers and partners have indicated to me that they are confused by SAP’s new business analytics terminology. The first and most obvious change is SAP’s push to turn the traditionally horizontally-focused SAP BusinessObjects suite of software to a more vertically-focused software package, something that SAP is well-known for with its modular Business Suite. Hence, if you take a look at what SAP is calling its ‘new’ SAP Business Analytics suite of software, you will see that most of the solutions are now pre-packaged and industry-focused.

While this is great for new SAP customers, what does it mean for legacy customers and partners using SAP BusinessObjects software? They have questions about whether it will affect their existing implementations, and where the strategy adds value. Partners that have traditionally supported SAP BusinessObjects wonder whether they should address specific market segments, and when SAP will educate them on the changes.

3. Is Aurora really that exciting to legacy customers using SAP BusinessObjects?

SAP has done a great job of creating ‘buzz’ around two things in 2011 — HANA, the in-memory initiative that Hasso Plattner promises will change the software industry, and Aurora (aka BI 4.0, the next release of the SAP BusinessObjects platform). While this is exciting news for long-time SAP customers, is there really anything for legacy customers using SAP BusinessObjects to get excited about? New vertically-focused software, higher license and maintenance fees, a new semantic layer and the death of long- loved desktop apps such as Deski have left them a little jaded.

Yes, there is. As one senior SAP executive pointed out to me on Twitter, “… @BusinessObjects #BI4 is a Suite, Mico! Expect to see more seamless BI experience; less focus on tools. .” While this may seem like a simple concept, it’s actually very good to note that SAP is working on the experience and holistic customer solution, as opposed to focusing on a particular software tool. In addition, there have been some very exciting developments in the mobile arena with tools such as SAP BusinessObjects Explorer, which brings together search and navigation capabilities from SAP BusinessObjects with the SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse Accelerator to help customers mine large data sets in seconds. My advice would be for customers new to SAP BusinessObjects to implement BI 4.0, keep track of the forums and online communities for feedback, and then get in line for the SAP BusinessObjects 4.1 release.

I will continue to cover these and more topics this year, specifically focusing on legacy customers and partners using SAP BusinessObjects software, but lending helpful advice for SAP ERP customers as well. My hope is that this column will shine light on the most important changes in SAP BusinessObjects. My goal is to continue the conversation, and I look forward to your feedback.

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3 Comments for SAP BusinessObjects in 2011: Top Three Questions from Customers

Jamie Oswald

Great first post, Mico. Can’t wait to see more coming.

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Mico Yuk

Thanks Jamie. Got a lot of good feedback via email from customers. Weird the folks did not post it publicly. Look forward to additional bloggers and more insight.

Mico

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HUNAIN

4.0 DOES NOT SUPPORT .NET. WILL 4.1 SUPPORT .NET SO THAT CUSTOMERS CAN RUN IIS

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