END OF MAINTENANCE FOR SAP BUSINESS OBJECTS 4.3 IS ANNOUNCED FOR 2025. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN AND WHAT SHOULD BE DONE NOW?
We will be addressing these and other questions today in our conversation with Henrike Tietje. Henrike is Head of Application Management SAP Analytics at ISR and supports customers in the implementation and operation of SAP software products for business intelligence solutions. With her expertise, she can provide us with valuable information and perspectives. We will talk in detail about the impact this has on companies and what needs to be done now, based on the motto: To BI or not to BI, which brings us to the first question:
"End of Maintenance SAP BO 4.3" sounds very final. Who should take notice now, and who still has time to react?
Henrike: End of (Mainstream) Maintenance means, first and foremost, that SAP is signaling: Dear users, if you are using SAP BusinessObjects 4.3, you should start thinking about what to do next by December 31, 2025. You can either upgrade to a successor system or take advantage of paid extended Priority One support. The more pressing issue is the end of Priority One support for the previous version of SAP BusinessObjects 4.2. Support for this version will end definitively on December 31, 2024.
So should customers who are still using version 4.2 act now if possible?
Henrike: Exactly. Anyone who continues to use version 4.2 after December 2024 risks compatibility issues with other software applications. In the worst case, this can lead to security vulnerabilities in the system. It is therefore recommended to upgrade to SAP Business Objects version 4.3.
But for version 4.3, the end of mainstream maintenance has already been announced for 2025, so what will happen after that?
And what does the future hold for SAP Business Objects?
Henrike: As far as the future of BI at SAP is concerned, SAP has announcedthe next version of SAP BusinessObjects, "SAP BusinessObjects BI 2025" . Customers can choose whether they want to stay with the on-premise solution or switch to the cloud. They can either migrate to SAP BusinessObjects Private Cloud Edition (PCE) or build an alternative solution with SAP Analytics Cloud. However, it is important that both approaches are completed by 2027 at the latest. SAP BusinessObjects BI 2025 will be available for both Windows and Linux and will improve report creation, information access, and integration into sophisticated structures. The release is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2024, and supporting packages will be provided on a regular basis. Mainstream maintenance will end at the end of 2029, and support will be guaranteed until 2031.
Sounds like switching directly to SAP BusinessObjects BI 2025 would be the smarter move?
Henrike: There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Since the first version will not be released until Q4 2024, it is advisable to start (preliminary) planning now. A switch to SAP BusinessObjects BI 2025 will affect both the front end (e.g., SAP BO BI Launchpad) and the back end (SAP BusinessObjects Data Services – BODS). SAP BusinessObjects BI 2025 focuses on the most frequently used tools, such as Web Intelligence, Crystal Reports Classic, SAP Analysis for Microsoft Office, and the SAP BusinessObjects BI Platform, which includes the BI Launchpad. SAP will offer replacement solutions for components that are no longer supported after version 4.3 of BusinessObjects. It is therefore important to carefully evaluate the current installation, analyze future requirements, and create an upgrade and migration roadmap. Customers should take this into account, especially when deciding whether to move data warehousing to the cloud.
And how can relevant users and our customers proceed now?
Henrike: First , you should contact us directly, regardless of whether you are already a customer or not. Using SAP Analytics tools and BI systems, we offer various BI solutions to find the best and most customized solution for all your questions. However, it is easy to lose track of things along the way. That's why it's always beneficial to have someone at your side who can keep track of things and see the big picture. As an SAP Gold Partner with many years of experience in business intelligence, we understand the technical, procedural, and organizational challenges. Together, we analyze your current SAP BusinessObjects usage and work with you to implement further steps to develop an SAP roadmap for you.
Thank you very much, Henrike, for this brief but informative insight.
If your company is affected by the change or if you would like to find out more about SAP Business Intelligence solutions, please feel free to contact us! Our experts are at your disposal!
Henrike Tietje
Head of Application Management SAP
Application Management
henrike.tietje@isr.de
+49(0)151 422 05 405
