We have been following the blogs, tweets, comments and discussions since our release of the SAP BusinessObjects Dashboarding Statement of Direction (SOD) and the AllAccess SAP webinar held in April. First and foremost we want to thank you for your comments and for engaging with SAP.
I just answered some of the most common questions here on SCN but we would like to address more specifically the apprehension expressed by our customers who are using non-SAP data sources.
SAP offers two solutions for professionally authored dashboards and application building: SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards and the Web application designer tool of SAP Business Explorer (SAP BEx). SAP BEx is a solution SAP already had and SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards was added through the Business Objects acquisition. We will continue to serve both customer bases while working towards a gradual convergence.
Zen, as introduced in the Dashboarding Statement of Direction (SOD), is a new technology and also a solution that will beta shortly. “Zen the technology”, is where the convergence will take place as we slowly merge these two solutions together following the phases mentioned in the SOD.
“Zen the solution” is a first beta and targeted specifically for SAP BEx customers using the Web application designer tool. This first beta is a greatly improved designer for those customers but does not offer an equivalent functionality nor visualization library to the customers of SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards.
The Zen technology is being built and will bring innovation to both solutions. Some of the Zen technology innovation will be evident in SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards with the HTML5 release coming in Q4. This convergence is an evolution over time and each step of the way we will be listening to customer feedback.
SAP fully intends to ensure that customers can build professionally authored dashboards in ALL MAJOR data sources and to bring the Zen technology into SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards solution to provide mobility first and innovation.
We know it is critical that our customers make use of all their data, no matter where it resides, to make informed decisions. Our customers can be certain that SAP remains committed to the goal of enabling better decision-making by providing you with vital information at your fingertips anywhere, anytime – no matter the data source.
Disclaimer: This article contains forward-looking statements and all information about future products only outlines possible developments that are subject to change.
