Overview

Background

SAP BusinessObjects is a Business Intelligence (BI) software platform that is used across the University for operational and strategic reporting and analysis.

Information Services has sought to maximise use of BusinessObjects in order to enable a culture of evidence-based decision-making. To that end, IS has recently invested in next-gen BusinessObjects licensing and software.

This project follows on from that investment, insofar as it’s aim is to upgrade SAP BusinessObjects from version 4.1 Service Pack 4 to the latest version. As part of the planning process for this project, an audit of our current implementation has been conducted by ITelligence Business Solutions. This has provided us with a recommended upgrade plan.

There are several key drivers for this project:

1. The University is phasing out the use of Java in browsers, and the new BusinessObjects user interface no longer uses Java.
2. The upgrade reduces dependency on Flash content; the new BusinessObjects dashboard tools now produce content in HTML 5, not Flash.
3. Our version of BusinessObjects is currently 4.5 years old; upgrading provides a better experience of BI for everyone, since it will provide new features and tools for end users, admins, and developers.

Scope

Upgrade the current BusinessObjects platform and associated tools and applications.  This will affect all users of the current BusinessObjects platform.

• To provide new DEV, TEST and LIVE infrastructure and install the latest version of Business Objects
• Content purge to reduce number of stored documents and universes by Service Management and key business administrators
• Migrate data (reports, explorer spaces, and developer content) from old to new environments.
• Installation and configuration of new and upgraded client tools
• Communication, engagement and provision of training materials to the business users
• Provide an updated set of project and end user documentation, such as new wiki and web pages.

Out of Scope

• BusinessObjects content and security infrastructure' review

Objectives and Deliverables

Benefits

Benefit from doing the audit is:

• It provides us with a professional, recommended plan for upgrading the BusinessObjects platform.

User benefits from the upgrade would be:

• A performant BI environment that is up to date and fully supported.
• Removes dependency on Java, which browsers are phasing out; users will experience faster content load times without any loss of functionality.
• Redesigned Launchpad and report viewer experience makes it easier to find and consume reports, as well as scheduled documents. (Note that old and new interfaces are available via separate urls; the report designer experience has not changed)
• Many new enhancements in Web Intelligence make content creation easier, more professional, and faster to load and distribute e.g. new KPI tiles and charts; report elements gallery lets users drag-in pre-canned charts from the side bar; parallel query processing = faster data load.
• Full list of new user features here.

Technical benefits from the upgrade would be:

• BusinessObjects sized and scaled to deliver optimal performance.
• All developers using updated and correct versions of client tools
• Better memory handling within WebIntelligenceProcessing.server, entailing reduction of incidents related to poor performance.
• Authentication and SSL: now supports TLS 1.2 and x.509 auth standard
• New ways of controlling content growth; can now cap document storage across Favourites and Inboxes
• New auditing database driver and reports installed by default, no extra work required
• Bulk change of UNV documents to use UNX version of same universe (via utility on the server)
• Integrated virus scanner can check all objects for viruses in the CMS (can be disabled)

Success Criteria

• The project will deliver all the Must Have deliverables within the estimated timeframe.
• The application version and infrastructure architecture meets or exceeds the recommendations as provided by the audit.

Assumptions

There are two routes the project could take. The BI Upgrade has been estimated based on Dev Tech doing the upgrade work, and the milestones assigned accordingly.  We also have the option of ITelligence supporting the DEV build, where Dev Tech will put the infrastructure in place and hand over to ITelligence.  ITelligence would also sign off on the Dev build complete and TEST build complete milestones to ensure that they are happy with the build.

The assumption is that Dev Tech has the availability to proceed with the upgrade work, upgrading DEV, TEST and LIVE. Any change to availability could mean that ITelligence could pick up the DEV build. The build review documentation from ITelligence will be reviewed by Dev Tech and a decision point will be made as to the input required from ITelligence on the build.

Project Milestones