SAP BusinessObjects Version History
The new vintage SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.2 SP4 will soon be available, likely in week 18 (May). But what does this new service pack hide? It’s already being discussed in the Lab Cosmos Consulting.
First, it’s important to note that this SP4 is the first SP delivered under the new SAP Labs approach. It obviously includes fixes from previous patches but most importantly, new features! Indeed, SAP is aiming to bring new features with each major release. But before anything else, it is also important to recall the SAP BusinessObjects version history with the recent availability of SP3 and SP4.
Release Date Major Version 2000 BO V5 2003 BO V6.5 2005 BO XI R2 2008 BO XI 3.1 2011 BI 4.0 2013 BI 4.1 2016 (March) BI 4.2 SP2 2016 (August) BI 4.2 SP3 May-17 BI 4.2 SP4What’s New in SP4?
TOP 5 New Features
Below is the list of new features by technology. There are already exciting things coming.
For the BI4 Platform
Spotlight on the new version of the BI launch pad in HTML5 Fiori style. A new user experience will now be available. You will have 2 access URLs to keep the old URL with the traditional format or choose the new version.
For Web Intelligence
Spotlight on the main information: complete parity is ensured in HTML compared to the JAVA interface! You can now forget about the JAVA JRE, which causes so many issues. Other useful options include mass-changing Webi document data sources from one universe (UNV) to a new universe (UNX).
For the Semantic Layer (Universes)
Spotlight on improved access to CMS metadata with default database drivers. Other new features are expected for Live Office, Crystal Reports for Enterprise, Crystal Reports, Analysis for OLAP, the BI Platform SDK, Platform Support, and data access.
Why Upgrade to SAP BI4.2?
Choosing to upgrade or update your SAP BusinessObjects server can be complex. It often requires planned downtime, several days of services, and technical expertise is strongly recommended to avoid pitfalls. However, it is important to regularly update and in any case, choose this latest SAP BusinessObjects version as it liberates your decision-making information system in many aspects. Here are the top reasons to upgrade to SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.2 SP4!
JAVA is no longer required to use BO!
No more headaches with JAVA version installations on client machines, security issues, or compatibility with other JAVA business applications. You now use preferences for viewing, modifying, and creating documents in HTML format!
I can parallelize Web Intelligence queries!
You immediately gain execution time and performance since all your Web Intelligence queries run in parallel, up to 64 at the same time by default.
I have access to a new “Fiori” portal for my BI launch pad (formerly Infoview)!
A new user experience for the BI launch pad, more ergonomic, easier to understand and manipulate. A real (r)evolution.
I can dedicate servers to user groups!
System resources and performance can now be dedicated to processing specific documents or specific user groups. If certain processes are prioritized.
What Recommendations?
The previous version SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.2 SP3 Patch 6 is recommended. The version in Patch 5 is not!
Recommendations
- BI 4.2 SP4: Recommended (subject to full technical validation)
- BI 4.1 SP3 Patch 6: Recommended
- BI 4.1 SP3 Patch 5: Not recommended
- BI 4.1 SP3 Patch 3: Recommended
- Version earlier than BI 4.1 SP3 Patch 3: Not recommended
SAP BI 2025: The Next Generation of BusinessObjects
Since the publication of this article, SAP has continued to innovate with the launch of SAP BI 2025, available since March 12. This new version marks a significant evolution compared to previous ones, with a particular focus on user experience and creating modern dashboards in Web Intelligence.
Among the major new features, we find:
- An improved BI launch pad performance allowing pinning KPI directly on the homepage
- New interactive elements in Web Intelligence for creating modern dashboards
- An innovative export format allowing users to interact with exported documents in a browser without consuming BO licenses
- Simplified workflows offering significant click savings
- An optimized BI platform with simplified migration and update processes
To deepen your knowledge of SAP BI 2025, we invite you to consult our detailed article on the JapprendslaBI site, our platform dedicated to BI & Data skill development. You’ll regularly find new tutorials there, especially on this latest BI 2025 version.
We have also organized a webinar dedicated to the new features of SAP BI 2025, including a live demonstration of the tool. This session will allow you to discover how these developments can significantly improve your daily use of BusinessObjects, with more intuitive interfaces, increased performance, and new possibilities for data visualization and interaction.
Do not hesitate to contact us to assist you in your transition to SAP BI 2025 and fully take advantage of these new features!
