What’s new for Oracle Hyperion 11.1.2.4.

So while Oracle Openworld has all the ritz and glamour, Larry and Aerosmith etc…..  for the past few years the most informative event I’ve been attending over this side of the Atlantic is the Oracle EMEA partner forum, this year held is  Utrecht in October 2014.

Although the forum caters for a wider range of products, my focus as always is EPM the following update will concentrate on the EPM stream.  Hope this helps...........

Firstly, 11.1.2.4. is promised for release end of 2014 but probably late November.

Hyperion Financial Management (HFM)

Announced as the biggest release of HFM ever and this is mainly down to some staggering improvements in performance.  They have made ‘under the cover’ improvements around database integrations and the UI much faster.

The performance improvements are hundreds of times faster in the testing against 11.1.2.2.  Oracle themselves haven’t tested against 11.1.2.3. because they don’t have enough dot 3 environments live.  That is a fairly damning assessment on 11.1.2.3.  Certainly in my experience, before patch 500, it was a little bit flaky on HFM.

LCM will now include data and process status, not just metadata – useful for backups.

Everybody was expecting the cloud to be release for HFM, following Hyperion Planning last year.  However, the next big step for HFM is Exalytics and will be available on from 11.1.2.4.

Financial Data Management Enterprise Edition (FDMEE)

FDM is definitely dead and linked to this, Enterprise adapters have not been developed for the replacement that is FDMEE so if you want to continue with Enterprise it’s FDM only on an old version.

FDMEE becomes the product to product tool of choice i.e. HFM to Planning but drill back is not working yet.  Previous functionality was available with Data Synchronisation  but performance has always been slow so this EPMA is going.

Financial Close Management (FCM)

FCM next release three discrete modules (CM, ARM, SDM)

Supplemental Data Manger (SDM)

Used for collating information that is supplementary to the core financial statements which would be included within HFM.  You can pull down and push back up data to HFM and it has its own database with its own metadata that is separate to what’s in HFM.

Reporting is via BI Publisher, hmmmmm.

Disclosure Management (DM)

Further investment still being worked but product is on its way out so I would continue to give a wide berth.

Account Reconciliation Management (ARM)

Successful in the USA, not Europe.  Did not discuss any improvements for 11.1.2.4. although I seem to remember some rumours around detailed reconciliations.  Will have to do some digging……..

Oracle Financial Management Analytics (OFMA)

Previously version was far too rigid and adoption was low, more features to allow customers to change the dashboards, and includes mail alerts for key accounts.

It now opens as a tab within HFM now so you can easily tab between HFM screens

HFM Exalytics

New in 11.1.2.4.!!!   Business case is still around reducing the cost of ownership in IT.  Windows and Linux capable but in first release only Linux supported.  You still need to run Windows for EPMA and DRM so you still need another server.

Financial Reporting Cloud Service (FRCS)

Brand new cloud based solution for narrative based reporting and has been developed from scratch i.e. there isn’t already an on premise solution.  Will replace disclosure management but phase 1 does not include all of the DM functionality.  There’s no IXBRL functionality at the moment but it’s coming – watch out DM!

The current version only supports Word documents.  For editing you check out documents, download into Word, edit and upload back up.  Alternatively you can log in directly to Smartview MS Word.  You can also work offline.

There is workflow for approval of content, lots of workflow.

Will include Essbase (BSO but with ASO query engine) for storing and working with data from report packages.

Hyperion Tax Provisioning (HTP)

Now FDMEE can have HFM as a source so great if you want to take data out of your main HFM application into Tax Provisioning application.  Aside from that, not many more features, other than those associated with HFM.

Smartview (SV)

For 11.1.2.4. now has HFM Journal capability in Excel, very cool!!!!!!!!

More formatting has been made available and you can see the HFM “Entity Detail Report” now.

Data Relationship Management/Governance (DRM/DRG)

DRG Has now had successful implementations since it was introduced last year for 11.1.2.3.

New in 11.1.2.4. will be integration with PBCS and the authorization process will be enabled for the EPM app.

With DRG it will now be possible to initiate new requests via a file so will facilitate bulk requests for new accounts rather than one at a time, cool!

Support

11.1.2.x premier support moved from 2015 to 2018

Internet Explorer 11 capability from patches 500 for 11.1.2.2.500 and 11.1.2.3.500.  However, feedback in the room from most partners was that 11 is not the case, and 11 is very glitchy.

Enterprise Planning

More availability to access the tablet UI interface for planning.  The simplified interface completely by passes workspace and would be useful for ‘non core’ users.  It is very similar to the cloud interface.

Reports in the simple user interface are only available in 11.1.2.3. on snapshots of data which seems prehistoric.  11.1.2.4. provides that reports will be available dynamically.

On the fly iterative planning using sandboxes is new.  This feature allows a version to be copied on the fly, useful if certain users want to take data out of the system and then work off line for a while and then push back into the main version.  It’s not a full ‘version’, created from the web form.

Valid member combinations will be automatic based on initial member selections

Has been some performance improvements around the UI

Planning and budgeting cloud service (PBCS)

The three client installs are still Smartview, Predictive Planning add in and Reporting Studio

On line support feedback goes to support and product management but aside from that the support model is still SR to Oracle support.

FDMEE is still only available in limited format, no scripting is allowed so straight mapping on and can only be flat files.

In 11.1.2.4. “CAPEX” and “Workforce” standard modules will be available.

Dashboards and reporting can now be created on the fly from a grid and better drag and drop on grid

Scheduler and automation new tool– “EPM Automator” allows importing /exporting of data & metadata, plan refreshes etc…..

11.1.2.4. Oracle are removing constraints around maximum number of members in dimensions and number of users (used to be 350)

New Admin Console looks simpler

Still no integration with active directory but it is planned.

Oracle Openworld Presentations 2014

So now the party’s over and the presentations have been completed, thought it might be a good idea to share with you guys the link to the presentation material.

First a few stats.  For those of you have never been to Openworld, the size and scale is off the roof

• Number of sessions 2,037
• Number of speakers 3,334
• Number of exhibitors 797

Well in general if you read any of the presentation material then you’ll see that Oracle have definitely learnt how to spell the word ‘cloud’ as it’s mentioned constantly.  Although this has been an overly used buzzword over the last few years, the big red square are certainly taking this seriously and especially in EPM.

Have a search.  Lots of good stuff, click below.  I will be blogging a fuller update on 11.1.2.4. over next few days.......................

CLICK HERE FOR OPENWORLD 2014 PRESENTATIONS

Don't forget it's not too late to join the "Hyperion EPM Ultras" Fantasy Football League

To enter, Click here to Fantasy League Premier site

League code is 1549801-570079

Any problems, contact the Dark Lord for an invite

"Hyperion EPM Ultras" Fantasy Football League

Following the exciting news that the Dark Lord is soon to be joining KPMG to build the new Oracle EPM Practice and the start of the new Premier League season, I have created a fantasy league private league called "Hyperion EPM Ultras"

There will be a prize for the winner at the end of the season.

To enter, Click here to Fantasy League Premier site

League code is 1549801-570079

Any problems, contact the Dark Lord for an invite

Oracle Hyperion EPM 11.1.2.3. Patch 500 – New features

Oracle released EPM version 11.1.2.3. almost a year ago and it was hailed as a minimal feature update but consolidating on the quantum leap forward to 11.1.2.2. but without the bugs.

 

In the main, they were right but those that have moved to 11.1.2.3. have noticed some really frustrating performance defects over the past few months.  Oracle have saved up the bug fixes and bundled them together with a patch release called “500” which is one of the biggest releases the Dark Lord has ever seen.

Given that, it seemed like a good opportunity to summarise these for your enjoyment so here goes:

Supported Path

Note this is only a patch for 11.1.2.3.0

Third Party Software

WOW – Actually supported for Windows 8 and Internet Explorer 10.  Firefox gets a boost too and 24 is now supported, 17 no longer.

Office 2013 now joins the party too!

Virtualization

For years and years, Oracle and Hyperion beforehand would not support virtual technology, insisting that if a problem could not be resolved, you would need to replicate the problem on a physical solution for them to support.

Name me somebody who’s not using virtualisation in some way shape or form……….

Well from now onwards, Oracle are officially supporting Microsoft Hyper-V (Virtualization Windows Server 2008 and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) for Windows).

BIG NEWS!!!

Mobile

So we all love mobile technology eh.  With the 11.1.2.3.0. release it became possible to view Financial Reports using a mobile device but it didn’t work too well.  Now it does, hooray.

There is an EPM app, available through itunes and the Google app store.  I’ve not found it yet so can’t offer and opinion but it’s supposed to work on:

i)                 Hyperion Planning

ii)                Hyperion Financial Management

iii)              Hyperion Tax Provision Management

As soon as I get a chance I will be reviewing this and will feed back to you all the juicy info.

Administrators can make available to planners a tablet-friendly user interface for performing common planning tasks such as accessing their task lists, working with data, approving budgets, viewing reports, and controlling settings…………..interesting, need to play here.

All of this works for IOS 7 and Android 4.1, 4.2 & 4.3

FDMEE

Now certified for Peoplesoft 9.2, whoopee

Defects fixed

There is a huge list of defects fixed in this patch release.  I will create a separate post for this.

Summary

I’ve missed out loads and just concentrated on some highlights.

The readme doc is 76 pages long and available through the Oracle web site.  If you have any questions, drop me a line.

Cheers,

TDL

CGMA European Conference - Maximising ROI in Finance System Development

For those that don’t know, the Chartered Global Management Accountant CGMA is a joint venture between the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants CIMA and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants AICPA, creating a recognised global brand of accounting professional.

The European CGMA conference is November 13^th and 14^th in London and I shall be speaking about Maximising ROI in Finance System Development.

Many interesting speakers on the Bill including Nick Leeson and Robert Peston and a presentation of the CIMA research study “From insight to impact: unlocking opportunities in big data” by Peter Simons which I shall definitely be attending with interest.

I’d urge you to go if you can.

http://www.cgma.org/Development/Conferences/Pages/cgma-european-conference.aspx

 

 

The Dark Lord is speaking for CIMA - Derby Oct 10th

Following on from the first session in Hull last month, I’m speaking in Derby on October 10^th for the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.  The session is called “From spreadsheets to systems”, details below.

http://www.cimaglobal.com/Events-and-cpd-courses/Events/CPD-Technical-update-business-intelligence2/

CPD technical update: "From spreadsheets to systems"

When Lotus 123 was introduced in 1982, few could have predicted the impact spreadsheets would have on the working environment for the next 30 years.

In today’s modern finance function, our complex planning and reporting requirements have outgrown the humble spreadsheet driving the need to establish a more systematic approach for performance management solutions.

What you can gain?

By attending this half-day event you will:

• review the appropriate use of the spreadsheet in today’s modern finance environment
• be walked through an implementation roadmap to best practice using enterprise performance management systems
• discover how your processes will change from working with spreadsheets to working in a systematic based environment
• receive tips and tricks to ensure successful implementations and the pitfalls to avoid
• receive demonstrations for the solutions discussed.