business objects education, updates, training - · pdf file1sap acquired business objects in...

www.BI2012.com

Register by Feb. 3 and

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The conference for BUSINESS OBJECTS:Users

Developers

Support staff

Technology teams

Project managers

Strategies and skills development for:Installations, upgrades, and migrations

Dashboarding and visualization

Universe design

Enterprise reporting

Security and administration

User training

Self-service and Web-based BI

System performance

Updates, instruction, and hands-on labs for:SAP® BusinessObjects™ BI 4.0

Xcelsius®

Crystal Reports

Web Intelligence

The new information design tool

BUSINESS OBJECTS education, updates, training

Presented by WIS Publishing, the publisher of BusinessObjects Expert, the leading online resource for the BUSINESSOBJECTS community

Attendees get access to BusinessObjects Expert

for 6 months – FREE!

For more information and to register, visit www.bi2012.com or call BusinessObjects Expert at +1-781-751-8700

2Join us

Join us at the most important event of the year for the Business Objects1 community.

Mico YukBenchmarkers Business Intelligence

Mico Yuk is the co-founder of EverythingXcelsius.com (the “Xcelsius Gurus” network). She has implemented executive dashboards for various SAP BusinessObjects global services clients, and has been an SAP mentor since 2010.

“With the release of SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0, please join us to learn more about SAP BusinessObjects

Dashboards (Xcelsius) to see what’s

new and learn best practices!”

Timo ElliottSAP BusinessObjects

Timo Elliott was the eighth employee of Business Objects, and has been working in the space for over 20 years. He works closely with SAP research and innovation centers, focusing primarily on information strategies, innovation in analytics and social media, and collaborative decision-making.

“2012 will be an incredibly exciting time for analytics, and I look forward to talking about the innovations,

opportunities, and impacts for Business Objects customers.”

David RathbunPepsiCo

David Rathbun has been working with SAP BusinessObjects products since 1995, and is an expert in universe design. In addition to speaking regularly at SAP BusinessObjects events, Dave is the founder of the Business Objects Board (BOB), helping members of the SAP BusinessObjects community better collaborate and share information.

“Can you really have too much of a

good thing? You will never know until you try, so why

not join me at BI 2012 and fi nd out?”

Dallas MarksKalvin Consulting

Dallas Marks is an expert in SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence migrations, universe design, and SAP BusinessObjects BI administration. He has years of experience and expertise in providing technical and project leadership on all aspects of business intelligence projects.

“What happens in Vegas... could transform your

business intelligence strategy. Join me at BI 2012 for expert sessions

and professional networking that

can change the way you use Business Objects Business

Intelligence.”

Dan KearnanSAP

Dan Kearnan has more than 15 years of experience working with large and mid-size companies to help define and plan their BI strategies. He has extensive knowledge in business intelligence, enterprise resource planning, and data warehousing applications.

“What’s all the fuss about SAP HANA™

and why should I care? Join me at BI 2012 to better understand how

SAP HANA is used by SAP customers today and how it can add value as both a high per-

formance Analytic Appliance as well as platform to run high-performance

applications.”

Jenny ShahCapgemini

Jenny Shah has extensive experience helping SAP BusinessObjects customers create long-term BI strategies and roadmaps. She also has robust knowledge of BusinessObjects integration capabilities, particularly for Desktop Intelligence, Crystal Reports, Web Intelligence, and Xcelsius.

“Don’t gamble with your business! Join me at BI 2012

to learn how to beat the odds with intelligent

reporting using SAP BusinessObjects. See

you in Vegas.”

1SAP acquired Business Objects in 2007. SAP has recently instituted new naming conventions and employs the following terminology:

• “Business Objects” is now SAP BusinessObjects. • “Crystal Reports” is now SAP Crystal Reports.

• “Xcelsius” is now SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards• “Web Intelligence” is now SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence


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Pre-conference labs, orientation, networking, and foundational sessions

Attend 3-hour pre-conference tutorials for a deep dive into the functionality, requirements, usage scenarios, and process optimization techniques for specific Business Objects technologies you may be evaluating, implementing, or optimizing. Visit hands-on labs for real-world training on Business Objects solutions such as Xcelsius, Crystal Reports, and Web Intelligence. Gain comprehensive and foundational knowledge to better understand and benefit from the lessons and advice offered throughout the main conference.

OverviewJumpstart Day • Monday, February 27, 2012

Main Conference • February 28 - March 2, 2012More than 250 sessions spanning 10 tracks

Track 1. BI strategies and Business Objects updates Page 12

Track 2. Universe design and the semantic layer Page 15

Track 3. Web Intelligence Page 17

Track 4. Xcelsius Page 19

Track 5. Crystal Reports Page 22

Track 6. Business Objects skills development and knowledge transfer Page 24

Track 7. Business Objects installations, migrations, and upgrades Page 26

Track 8. BI landscape administration and security Page 28

Track 9 Business planning and consolidation (BPC) 0

Track 10. Mobile BI Page 32

Business Objects tools covered at this conference include:SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0BPCXcelsiusCrystal ReportsDesktop IntelligenceWeb IntelligenceInformation Design ToolSAP BusinessObjects ExplorerSAP BusinessObjects EIM 4.0SAP BusinessObjects AnalysisSAP HANA

BI principles and strategies covered at this conference include:AggregatesAnalyticsAuditingAdministrationImplementations and upgradesChange managementContext promptingDashboardsData cleansingData migrationData modelingData qualityData servicesExtraction, transformation, andloading (ETL)GovernanceIntegrationOn-demand and mobile BIPower user programsQuery browser connectorQueriesReportingReport distributionReport publishingWeb IntelligenceSecurityUniverse design

Monday, Feb 27 Tuesday, Feb 28 • Wednesday, Feb 29 • Thursday, Mar 1 • Friday, Mar 2

Pre-ConferenceJumpstart Day

BI 2012 The conference for the BUSINESS OBJECTS community• 4 Days • 10 Tracks • 250 Instructional sessions

• 1-on-1 meetings with Business Objects experts

• Countless opportunities to elevate your expertise and the value your organization derives from Business

Objects technology


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• Live product demonstrations

• Customer case studies

• Roundtables

• Panel discussions

• Moderated networking sessions

• Special invitation-only programs

• Special sessions presented by thought-leaders and industry luminaries

Column5 EPM Summit content will be presented at the Column5 EPM Education Center during BI 2012

Column5 Consulting is pleased to announce that it will be hosting the Column5 EPM Education Center in partnership with Wellesley Information Services, publisher of SAPinsider magazine and producer of SAPinsider events. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to attend the Column5 EPM Education Center, focusing on the SAP® BusinessObjects™ enterprise performance management (EPM) product suite including BPC.

Admission to the Column5 EPM Education Center is now available for FREE when you register to attend BI 2012.

The Column5 EPM Education Center sets the industry standard in quality curriculum, with over 35 sessions of course content developed by top field experts on SAP products and delivered in a variety of formats including:

Column5 was founded in 2005 by key parts of the team that made OutlookSoft an international success. The company was formed to fulfill a need for a

consulting partner that could bridge the gap between the software provider and pure implementation contractors. We are proud of our position as the largest SAP

BusinessObjects dedicated Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) partner. A great deal of the knowledge base and expertise around SAP BusinessObjects EPM

sits with Column5 and we ensure our clients have full access to this.

NEW! Column5 EPM Education Center


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Educational and networking opportunitiesMore than 250 educational sessions and forumsExpand your skills and knowledge by learning from top Business Objects experts, independent consultants, and

your industry counterparts. BI 2012 offers more than 250 sessions across 10 tracks that will show you how to get

the most out of the Business Objects functionality you already own, as well as assess and evaluate new solutions.

Jumpstart Day – Hands-on labs and workshopsSpecial three-hour, pre-conference sessions and labs hosted on Monday, February 27, offer you the opportunity

to explore new trends and strategies, fortify your understanding of critical SAP technologies and solutions, and

enhance your learning experience at the main conference.

Ask-the-experts Sit down one-on-one with leading experts to ask questions and get detailed, authoritative answers. Build on what

you learn in the breakout sessions, and get insights you can apply at your own organization.

Insider discussion forumsHear about your peers’ projects, challenges, and ongoing initiatives. Benefit from the insights of a moderator

who is a topic expert and who will also facilitate discussion. Hear “war stories” and gain “how-to” information and

techniques that have worked for other companies.

Customer-led case studiesTake away best practices and methodologies taught by the companies that practice them. Learn from highly

experienced BusinessObjects customers to solidify your own strategies and tactics. Build a network of peers you

can call on for years to come.

LIVE forums

These popular forums offer attendees the opportunity to meet leading authors from the BusinessObjects Expert

knowledgebase and discuss topics from recent articles. Follow the framework of the article as the author guides

you through the most important parts. You’re not just a reader — you’re a participant.

Evening receptionsInteract with the best and the brightest minds working with Business Objects software. The people you meet here

share the same challenges — they are peers you will stay in touch with and look to for guidance well after the

conference is over. Network with leading vendors to learn more about solutions and services that complement

your Business Objects landscape.

Co-located events

BI 2012 is hosted with Administration & Infrastructure 2012, Mobile 2012, and Cloud & Virtualization 2012.

Registration at one conference admits you to all four events. It’s a perfect opportunity to educate your entire team.

Advance your career and keep your certification current. Earn 37 CPE credits by attending sessions offered at BI 2012. No prerequisites are required and The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) awards CPE credits in:

Business Managementand Organization

Computer Science

Finance

Management Advisory Services

Personnel/HR

Specialized Knowledge and Applications

Statictics

SAPinsider is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.learningmarket.org.


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Join us for Jumpstart Day — Monday, February 27Jumpstart Day offers a hands-on learning experience, as well as comprehensivethree-hour sessions that enable you to:

Fortify your understanding of critical technologies and solutions Explore new trends and strategies Enhance your learning experience at the main conference Increase your skills and proficiency with Business Objects technologies

By registering for Jumpstart Day, you can:

Attend any Jumpstart Day sessions of interest to you• Pre-registration is required for hands-on labs to assure a seat

Benefit from expert-led instruction, demos, guidelines, and dedicated question-and-answer time

Receive exclusive Jumpstart Day take-home materials containing the material from all the day’s presentations and labs

Participate in a networking lunch with other Jumpstart Day attendees

Jumpstart Day

Jumpstart Day continued on next page

Jumpstart Day SessionsMonday, February 27

Morning sessions • 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Lessons for preparing, deploying, and optimizing SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence 4.0 7

A comprehensive guide to evaluate and optimize SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation 7

A comprehensive guide to evaluating and getting started with SAP and Sybase solutions for mobility 8

Hands-on Lab: Building highly formatted reports with SAP Crystal Reports 2011 8

Hands-on Lab: Rapidly prototype a dashboard with SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards 4.0 (formerly Xcelsius) 9

Hands-on Lab: Self-service reporting with SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence 9

Lunch • 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Afternoon sessions • 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Hands-on Lab: Building highly formatted reports with SAP Crystal Reports 2011 8

Hands-on Lab: Rapidly prototype a dashboard with SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards 4.0 (formerly Xcelsius) 9

Hands-on Lab: Self-service reporting with SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence 9

What every Business Objects customer needs to know about the new SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 release and its impact on your current BI landscape 10

Comprehensive guidelines to speed data analysis using the analytical engines from SAP 10

A detailed guide to conducting a mobility assessment: A critical first step before beginning your SAP mobile project 11


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Jumpstart Day

Lessons for preparing, deploying, and optimizing SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence 4.0Jason Rose, SAP

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

This three-hour session provides a comprehensive over-view of critical factors that must be identified and addressed when considering or executing an SAP BusinessObjects Busi-ness Intelligence 4.0 implementation or upgrade. Discuss core questions every organization should ask itself prior to beginning, upgrading, or adding new functionality to a BI landscape, including architectural requirements for running SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0.

Learn what steps you need to take in your existing SAP or SAP BusinessObjects environment to prepare for an upgrade to SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 — from a technical, operational, and end-user perspective

Ask questions directly to SAP about recent changes to SAP BusinessObjects BI products, including SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards (formerly known as Xcelsius)

Step through a demo that shows how the new common semantic layer enables faster and more efficient access to both SAP and non-SAP data sources

Receive system diagnosis and monitoring techniques for enhancing the scalability and performance of your SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 solutions

Examine improved integration capabilities between SAP BusinessObjects BI solutions, SAP NetWeaver® BW, and SAP Business Suite applications

Learn how to leverage the new SAP BusinessObjects Analysis client to more efficiently analyze SAP NetWeaver BW and other OLAP data sources on the Web and in Microsoft Office

Gain insight into SAP’s vision and strategy for in-memory computing — including SAP HANA — and hear how it impacts existing SAP NetWeaver BW customers and the SAP data warehousing roadmap

Leave this session with the knowledge to chart a practical and effective short- and long-term BI strategy that accounts for evolving business requirements, advances in technology, and SAP product updates

A comprehensive guide to evaluate and optimize SAP BusinessObjects Planning and ConsolidationJens Koerner, SAP Labs

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

This deep-dive session provides step-by-step instruction to help new and experienced users alike optimize their planning and consolidation processes using SAP BusinessObjects Plan-ning and Consolidation.

Get best practices, starter kits and content for common scenarios, including:

– Capital expenditure planning – Profitability planning – Cost center budgeting – Liquidity planning

Prepare for the steps you need to take to achieve unified planning, consolidation, and management reporting across your business, including process alignment, data harmonization and change management

Gain insight into critical project success factors such as team composition, communication and data integration - illustrated using real-life customer case studies

Learn how to create business rules to optimize common consolidation activities, including:

– Currency translation – Carry-forwards – Intercompany bookings – Account transformations

Understand the operational and end-user effects of SAP’s most recent release of SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation 10.0

Get insight into using BPC 10.0 on top of SAP’s in-memory platform SAP HANA


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Jumpstart Day

Hands-on LabBuilding highly formatted reports with SAP Crystal Reports 2011Brian Durning, Dell

This session occurs at two convenient times. Attendance at this hands-on lab is limited. Pre-registration for an added fee prior to the event is required to assure a seat.

9:00 am – 12:00 pm2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

This hands-on session provides detailed instruction for build-ing, formatting, and deploying SAP Crystal Reports® 2011 in a stand-alone or SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise environment. SAP Crystal Reports designers — both experienced and new to the tool — should attend to:

Become familiar with the capabilities of SAP Crystal Reports 2011, such as the enhanced Database Expert for more seamless connection to back-end data sources

Learn to exploit new export features and formats, including the XSLX feature to export reports to a Microsoft Excel 2007 workbook

See how to create groups and utilize group property values and formulas to create conditional groups and group names

Get tips for more efficient object placement, such as placing graphs in page headers

Understand when and how to use an on-demand subreport, and examine common subreport properties, such as linking and shared variables

Leverage the OpenDocument call to SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence® to infuse more interactivity with drag-and-drop and hierarchical drill-down capabilities — without the need for complex grouping

Examine connectivity options between SAP Crystal Reports 2011 and SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards (Xcelsius), and learn how to embed a dashboard directly within a formatted report for further data analysis and user interaction

Take away completed SAP Crystal Reports samples with comments and tips for reference back at the office

A comprehensive guide to evaluating and getting started with SAP and Sybase solutions for mobilityPrashant Chatterjee, SAP

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

This session provides a comprehensive introduction to the SAP and Sybase solutions designed to meet a business’s mobility needs, ranging from accessing email and workflows on a smartphone to integrating data collected during sales and service calls into an SAP system. In this session you will:

Step through the options for accessing SAP data and applications on mobile devices

Get a guided tour of the different SAP and Sybase mobility solutions

Understand how these solutions integrate into your existing SAP landscape

Find out how to use the Sybase® Unwired Platform (SUP) to support Windows Mobile, Windows laptops/tablets, BlackBerry, and iPhone devices with native clients

Assess the mobile security and device management capabilities of Afaria®

Learn how to manage mobile infrastructures while minimizing user downtime and optimizing bandwidth

Learn how to leverage SAP’s flexible, open infrastructure to strategically respond to rapidly-changing device types and evolving data sources


9Jumpstart Day


Hands-on LabSelf-service reporting with SAP BusinessObjects Web IntelligenceJay Riddle, COMERIT


9:00 am – 12:00 pm2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

This hands-on session provides step-by-step instruction for leveraging SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence to build self-service queries and reports, including guidelines to inte-grate them with back-end SAP and non-SAP data sources.

Learn how to use standard SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence functionality to create user-friendly, ad hoc reports. Learn how to better use variables and functions

See how to enable drill-down capabilities for detailed analysis

Practice techniques for making self-service Web analytics more interactive, including tips for enabling drag-and-drop capabilities

See how to optimize a SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence self-service reporting environment by exploiting key report distribution and publication capabilities

Practice using input controls and graphics for more sophisticated and dynamic Web reports

Go beyond core functionality and explore the best ways to use calculation contexts, and set up input and output parameters

Learn how to generate SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence BI Web services and import them into a dashboard

Get tips for leveraging new SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence 4.0 charting features and multi-source capabilities

Hands-on LabRapidly prototype a dashboard with SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards 4.0 (formerly Xcelsius)Scott Leaver and Matt Lloyd, SAP


9:00 am – 12:00 pm2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

This hands-on session provides step-by-step instruction for rapidly building a dashboard using the new, out-of- the-box functionality available with SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards 4.0 (formerly Xcelsius).

Gain direct experience with the latest drag-and-drop and free-form design capabilities in SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards

Find out how to embed what-if analyses into your dashboards, providing users with fact-based decision support

Learn how to design and edit high-performing queries using the new universe-based query panel

Apply the concept of direct binding from a component to the results of a query, leverage the query results in a chart or scorecard, and see a live preview of the query data at design time

Understand how to add alerts to a scorecard

Build a composite dashboard, and use content linking to pass values from one dashboard to another dashboard (or to a report)

Translate text in an enterprise dashboard by applying localized formats to dates and numbers, and incorporate currency symbols independent of these formats


10Jumpstart Day


Comprehensive guidelines to speed data analysis using the analytical engines from SAPDr. Bjarne Berg, COMERIT

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

This comprehensive three-hour session offers strategic advice for leveraging data warehousing and analytical engines from SAP to increase the speed and efficiency of data processing and analysis.

Step through examples and demos that explore the analytical capabilities and requirements of each solution, including:

– SAP HANA – SAP NetWeaver BW Accelerator – SAP BusinessObjects Explorer – SAP BusinessObjects Analysis

Get evaluation criteria for mapping each solution to your organization’s IT landscape and business requirements

Identify the best ways to exploit key capabilities and synergies, including integration considerations and performance benchmarks

Uncover technical considerations and prerequisites of an SAP NetWeaver BW Accelerator deployment, such as hardware sizing, network capacity, indexing and compression speed, and day-to-day operational requirements

Explore the most common use cases for SAP HANA, including real-time data warehousing, dashboard deployments, and landscape rationalization

Discover how to leverage SAP BusinessObjects Explorer for unstructured analysis and exploration without the need for queries or traditional data stores

Examine three distinct ways to deploy OLAP tools within SAP BusinessObjects Analysis — via Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, or the Web interface — and get criteria to map each approach to your analytical requirements

Walk through a detailed demonstration to understand key differences between the Microsoft and OLAP editions of SAP BusinessObjects Analysis

Explore metrics and strategies to demonstrate the value of your data warehousing and analytics effort to key stakeholders

Come away with a deep understanding of what these solutions can do and when to use them

What every Business Objects customer needs to know about the new SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 release and its impact on your current BI landscapeChris Dinkel, Deloitte

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

The release of SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 introduced a new wave of capabilities for faster and more efficient BI report-ing, analysis, and data visualization. But how exactly will these enhancements affect the BI landscape of business objects customers who may not yet be running SAP? Attend this detailed, three-hour session to identify enhancements and functionality that matter most to your organization, and receive proven adoption strategies for exploiting them.

Understand how the revamped semantic layer and new information design tool affect universe design and facilitate data connectivity across multidimensional data sources

Explore the technical considerations and prerequisites for integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 with non-SAP data sources, such as XML, and see how this differs from the way SAP NetWeaver BW data is accessed

Get tips for leveraging new system monitoring dashboards and notifications for real-time updates on server status and user thresholds — even if your organization isn’t running SAP Solution Manager

Review criteria to help determine whether and how to migrate or upgrade to SAP Crystal Reports 2011 or SAP Crystal Reports for Enterprise

Explore strategies, technologies, and workarounds for enabling a successful migration from SAP BusinessObjects Desktop Intelligence™ to SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence

Determine which SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 upgrade or migration strategy — for example, staged or incremental versus a “big-bang” approach — is most appropriate for your BI landscape and requirements

Get tips for leveraging the new upgrade management tool


11Jumpstart Day

A detailed guide to conducting a mobility assessment: A critical first step before beginning your SAP mobile projectJim Cameron, ExpertIG

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

This detailed three-hour session delves into the skills, training, architectural, and technical considerations that must be care-fully assessed before deploying SAP applications on mobile devices.

Delve into the diverse set of technical and business skills required to plan, design, develop, roll out, and manage an SAP mobile solution

Gain an understanding of when and how to involve the business — especially business process experts — in your SAP mobile design and deployment

Step through a process for conducting a mobile skills gap analysis of your workforce

Assess the best options for getting your existing team up to speed on mobility skills and when external resources may be necessary

Explore all aspects of the mobile architecture, including SAP application connectivity, mobile middleware requirements, and device deployment and management

Gather best practices for navigating the three critical steps required to architect an SAP mobility solution:

– Blueprinting the infrastructure – Deciding what components of the infrastructure will

be developed and managed internally or via cloud or a hosted service

– Setting preferences and guidelines for choosing middleware and devices

Walk through strategies for supporting native device capabilities

Get key considerations for developing cross-platform applications

Find out what tools are available to help you monitor, enforce, and secure your mobile assets

Exclusive take-home resources: Technology checklists to use when selecting devices and middleware, sample mobile architecture maps, sample job description templates, and staging plans that can be adapted to your company’s needs.


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BI strategies and Business Objects updates

Special AssemblyI don’t have SAP – what’s in it for me? Innovations and future directions that matter most to Business Objects customersTimo Elliott, SAP BusinessObjects

2012 is shaping up to be an incredibly inter-esting time for analytics, with new SAP BusinessObjects technologies changing the way users think about and implement their BI strategies. This session focuses on the recent innovations and future directions that matter the most for Business Objects customers not necessarily running SAP ERP systems. Under-stand how the release of SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 works in platform-independent land-scapes, and how it will impact your current reporting initiatives and overall BI landscape. Explore the SAP BusinessObjects BI future roadmap to learn how business collaboration, mobility, and unstructured data capabilities could change the way decisions are made in your organization.

Best practices for establishing and supporting a scalable BI center of excellence (COE)Buntic Georgian, Archius

Determine if and how a center of excellence (COE) could help reduce total cost of owner-ship (TCO) of your BI landscape, and get tips for building and optimizing one that offers the greatest return on investment (ROI). Acquire strategies for aligning both technical and func-tional COE resources. Get tips for overcoming common challenges associated with estab-lishing a BI COE, from data standardization to user adoption and change management. See how to ensure COE scalability to support an evolving or newly-upgraded BI environ-ment. Explore various BI COE organizational structures — including enterprise-level, cross-functional team model, and distributed hub-and-spoke structure — and get criteria for determining which would work best in your environment. Understand what’s required to properly govern a COE initiative, and get tips for creating and maintaining a COE gover-nance model. Take home a checklist outlining the steps required to build a new BI COE or optimize the one you already have.

Case StudyThe role of a BI competency center in Bank of New York Mellon’s enterprise-wide BI strategyChristopher Pohl, BNY/Mellon

This session examines Bank of New York Mel-lon’s best practice approach to executing an effective enterprise-wide BI strategy, includ-ing critical success factors and guidelines for developing and maintaining a successful BI competency center. Hear how the company achieved high-level executive sponsorship, and see how this helped mandate change for an enterprise-wide approach and outcome. Get recommendations from Bank of New York Mellon for staffing and structuring a BI com-petency center, including tips to identify and utilize internal BI resources. Explore the role of the competency center in the company’s over-all BI strategy, including how it was leveraged to help break down organizational barriers and remove limits of a departmental focus. Come away with lessons and ideas to leverage a BI competency center to help resolve business challenges in your organization, including tips to incorporate the priorities of line of business (LoB) teams, IT, and customers.

Best practices for driving continuous improvement and managing change as your BI strategy evolvesPenny Silvia, IBM

A successful BI strategy is an evolutionary process. This session offers best practices for ensuring continuous improvement and adapting to changes within your BI reporting environment. Understand how a solid enter-prise-wide communication strategy is key to achieving long-term BI success, and get tips for establishing such a strategy that involves your end users. Explore different techniques for managing change in the early phases of your reporting initiatives — even when migrating from a non-SAP reporting environment. Under-stand when (and when not) to involve users in the requirements-gathering and testing phases of a BI initiative. Acquire best practices for handling new or advanced requirements after your SAP or SAP BusinessObjects solu-tion has already gone live. Leave with proven methods for engaging users and effectively handling change, such as hosting focus groups and establishing super user communities.

SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence 4.0: Strategy, roadmap, and technical considerationsJason Rose, SAP

This session provides specific examples of how to leverage SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 to gain greater insight into your business, make smarter decisions, and measure their results. Examine key differences between business intelligence and business analytics, and under-stand how BI solutions can serve a broader business analytics strategy. Learn how to employ a common look and feel across inter-nal and external SAP data sources with the new common semantic layer. See how to use event-driven data processing to better iden-tify opportunities for customer engagement. Gain insight into new and future improve-ments planned for Web reports and analyses, formatted reporting, and dashboards. Become familiar with the new SAP BusinessObjects Analysis client for multidimensional ad hoc analysis of OLAP data sources. Come away with a comprehensive understanding of SAP’s busi-ness intelligence roadmap, with emphasis on where BI fits into SAP’s broader business ana-lytics strategy.

Track 1

Track 1 continued on next page


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Happy users and a well-controlled, cost-effective BI strategy — you can have both!Penny Silvia, IBM

One of the hallmarks of a successful reporting or BI strategy is also one of the most challeng-ing — user satisfaction and adoption. This session provides best practices for manag-ing user expectations as their reporting needs change over time. Explore critical components for working with user communities of all skill and technical levels, and acquire strategies for assessing how comfortable they are with various SAP or SAP BusinessObjects report-ing solutions. Understand the impact user skill level has on design and branding approach, and explore questions to ask during the plan-ning phase of a reporting or BI initiative. Get best practices for dealing with and prioritizing competing requirements from various func-tional groups. Leave with proven strategies for setting up your reporting program for success — from conducting scoping sessions to gather requirements, to distinguishing the “wants” from the “needs,” to managing new require-ments and user expectations after go-live.

E-learning, help desk, and more: Picking the right training and adoption approach for your BIuser baseDallas Marks, Kalvin Consulting

This session explores various user training and adoption methodologies for BI end-users and provides criteria for selecting the best approach for your business and user needs. Step through examples that weigh the pros and cons of user training methodologies, rang-ing from traditional classroom learning and e-learning, to one-on-one mentoring. Get tips for analyzing and revamping the relationship between your organization’s user base and help desk to ensure users are getting the right information at the right time. Explore the bene-fits of creating an internal power user program to increase user self-sufficiency and address common help desk calls. Get tips for leverag-ing power users as addendums to local and national user group meetings. Understand the importance of routine user training — such as weekly or monthly — rather than just a one-time post-implementation initiative. Evaluate criteria to choose the most appropriate user training method based on your organization’s training budget and geographical make-up. Take home a sample agenda for a power user group meeting to reference back in the office.

Case StudyHow Schwan’s Food Company streamlined enterprise-wide analytics and increased visibility into business operations Karthik Palanisamy and Dave Barkus, Schwan’s Food Company

This session explores the processes and tools deployed by Schwan’s Food Company to enable enterprise-wide analytics, including critical steps and considerations to determine and optimize a BI methodology. Get lessons from the company on scoping and require-ments gathering, including the steps it took to ensure that the needs of four distinct busi-ness units — consumer brands, food service, home service, and global supply chain — were represented and met. See how Schwan’s Food Company leverages a self-service portal to ensure decisions are based on the most accu-rate and up-to-date information. Understand the importance of hierarchy reporting, and get tips for deploying it in SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence. Gain insight into how the company reached agreement and set policy on a common look, feel, and navigation path for its enterprise dashboards and reports. Step through demos of Schwan’s Food Company’s department-specific dashboards — from food services to supply chain — for insight into how they provide immediate business value to the enterprise.

Strategies for leveraging BI to solve organizational challengesDeepa Sankar, SAP

Understand the importance of a clear, well-articulated BI strategy. Find out how an effective BI approach benefits IT and line of business teams alike, from aligning business partners and formalizing business needs, to removing limits of departmental silos. Explore critical success factors for developing and deliv-ering a comprehensive BI strategy that meets business expectations. Learn best practice approaches to executing this plan enterprise-wide, including guidelines to define and run a successful BI competency center. Hear key rec-ommendations to achieve high-level executive sponsorship that can help mandate change and organize cross-functionally for an enter-prise-wide approach and outcome. Come away with a repeatable framework that engages and brings together the priorities of both CIOs and business executives to address organizational challenges that a BI strategy can resolve.

Introducing a scientific method to keep your BI initiatives aligned with business goalsHari Guleria, HCL Axon

According to Gartner, only 50% of business intelligence implementations fully meet busi-ness expectations. This session offers best practices for ensuring your organization’s BI initiatives meet — and even exceed — the expectations of business users, managers, and stakeholders. Explore the two distinct ways in which BI projects are being deployed around the world — “Technology is King” and “Busi-ness Participation and Accountability in BI Projects” — and gauge which would be the better choice for your organization. Obtain proven strategies for boosting the business’ participation in BI initiatives, such as offering a high-level training to all business stakehold-ers prior to the project kick-off. Understand the underlying principles of a business value attainment (BVA) model, including a clear def-inition of business “success.” Learn a scientific methodology to ensure that weekly project status reports are designed to measure prog-ress against desired business outcomes. Take home a BVA checklist for BI project managers, along with a white paper comparing the costs of pre- and post-go-live fixes.

The role of SAP BusinessObjects Analysis in your self-service BI strategyTheirry Audas, SAP

Gain insight into the SAP vision and strategy for positioning SAP BusinessObjects Analysis, edition for Microsoft Office as an alternative to SAP BEx Analyzer, and edition for OLAP as the successor of SAP BusinessObjects Voyager. Examine technical prerequisites, platform capa-bilities, and roadmap details for both editions. Discover how this new BI solution can be used to smoothly transition your user population from the SAP Business Explorer (SAP BEx) to the SAP BusinessObjects BI solutions. See how it can be used to increase self-service BI usage and business user autonomy while minimizing TCO. Explore use case scenarios to see how you can fully leverage previous investments in SAP NetWeaver BW and SAP BEx query design, even if you are migrating to SAP BusinessObjects BI. Learn about its interoperability with various SAP in-memory processing technologies, such as SAP NetWeaver BW Accelerator. Get a sneak peek at the latest version, SAP BusinessObjects Advanced Analysis, which enables advanced, multidimensional analysis.

Track 1: BI strategies and Business Objects updates



14Track 1: BI strategies and Business Objects updates

Strategies for selecting the right BI Client Product based on your own requirementsIngo Hilgefort, SAP

This session examines, in detail, each of the solutions available in the SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x portfolio and evaluates their capabili-ties and suitability to meet specific reporting needs. Understand why some solutions are not an appropriate choice for certain reporting and analytic scenarios, such as high-level manage-ment KPIs or detailed, drill-down analyses. Find out how the various SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x solutions can be integrated and leveraged in a complementary manner, and understand the steps required to do so. Learn an approach that you can use to leverage your business require-ments and how to use those requirements and match them against the strength and weak-nesses of the BI products. You will see how you can use the approach to find the right tool for the job.

Case StudyLessons from Northrop Grumman’s forward-looking BI strategy and roadmapAlan Avakian, Northrop Grumman

Examine critical success factors from Northrop Grumman to develop and deliver a comprehen-sive BI roadmap that identifies a shared set of goals and delivers planned results. Explore best practice approaches to executing a BI roadmap program-wide. See how Northrop Grumman leveraged its roadmap to plan, scope, and assign resources to future BI initiatives up to five years in advance. Gain insight into how the company established a dedicated team to support the key components of its BI road-map, including stakeholder and management buy-in, research initiatives, and implementa-tion approach. Learn how Northrop Grumman leveraged the Accolade Vision Strategist as a roadmapping tool to create a physical BI road-map and more accurately assess the financial impacts of future BI projects. Hear why the company publishes its BI roadmap on a bi-annual basis. Take home a sample BI roadmap and checklist to help determine an effective BI strategy for your organization.

Evaluation criteria and guidelines for deploying SAP BusinessObjects BI OnDemandPierre Leroux, SAP

This session explores the benefits and tech-nical considerations of deploying SAP BusinessObjects BI OnDemand. Step through detailed demos that show how this cloud-based solution enables users to reach broader internal and external audiences to share data and reports through a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model. Understand what’s required to leverage SAP BusinessObjects BI OnDemand via a hosted data warehouse, including tips to use and customize the preconfigured report and dataset templates. Discover how to best plan for additional functionality, including in-memory acceleration via SAP snap-in archi-tecture to customize and extend cloud-based solutions. Get proven strategies to increase end-user adoption and self-service reporting in your cloud-based BI environment.

Live DemoSAP BusinessObjects AnalysisTheirry Audas, SAP

Attend this live demo to explore the analytical capabilities of SAP BusinessObjects Analysis, and learn how this revamped BI solution can be leveraged to boost self-service BI in your organization -- while minimizing TCO. Walk through common, real-world use cases to understand how the tool could be leveraged in your BI landscape, and understand key dif-ferences between the Microsoft and OLAP editions.


15

The fundamentals of building a universeMichael Welter, Claraview

This session steps through the fundamentals of building a Business Objects universe on a star schema data warehouse, and provides detailed, step-by-step demonstrations of each best practice discussed. Understand what’s required to enable universe connectivity to a back-end data source, such as Teradata or SQL Server. Obtain recommendations for identi-fying the most relevant database tables on which your universe should be built, and get tips to ensure database access is limited to the selected tables. Explore options for join-ing database tables and get criteria to help determine when to use a context vs. an alias to resolve loops. Acquire strategies for building user-friendly folders and objects by leveraging specific naming conventions and color-coding techniques. Review the most effective meth-ods for testing a new universe, and get lessons for on-boarding a team of dedicated power users to serve as testers.

Universe design techniques proven to boost front-end performance David Rathbun, PepsiCo

This session dives deep into universe devel-opment and examines when, why, and how to tweak your existing Business Objects uni-verses for optimal report performance — and when you may need to build new ones. Explore proven techniques for extending a universe to ensure more efficient queries, an optimized end-user experience, and more timely and effi-cient BI operations. Acquire tips to perform index awareness, such as choosing a value from the list of values (LOV) directly within the query panel, rather than using prompts. Learn how to use aggregate awareness to set up complex logic and step through a demo to see how this results in significantly improved performance on the front end. Gain insight into whether and when to leverage shortcut joins to boost query speed. Explore universe design techniques that provide the best performance when pointing to a data source outside your Business Objects system. View detailed demonstrations of vari-ous advanced universe design techniques and leave with proven strategies for incorporating them into your own environment.

A new look at universe design with the information design tool in SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 Richard Chlebek, BICP

Get an overview of the ways in which the new semantic layer delivered with SAP Busi-nessObjects BI 4.0 affects data connectivity and universe creation. Examine key differences between the new information design tool and the previous Business Objects universe design tool, and find out what’s required to convert existing universes to the information design tool .UNX format. Step through guided demos that show how to leverage the new information design tool to develop and pub-lish dimensional and multi-source universes. See how to use editors to create connections, data foundations, business layers, and proj-ects. Learn how to define universe security for distinct user groups. Understand the scenar-ios in which it makes sense to leverage SAP BI Consumer Services (SAP BICS) connectiv-ity versus universes. Take home step-by-step guidelines for creating new Business Objects universes with the information design tool, as well as converting existing universes to the .UNX format.

Case StudyHow Intuit empowers end users and optimizes ad hoc reporting through smarter universe designSteven Krandel, Intuit

Examine the success factors and challenges Intuit has faced when designing universes for Web Intelligence and Desktop Intelligence ad hoc reporting. Get tips and workarounds to avoid common development mistakes that can cause a universe to fall short of its objec-tive, such as using “islands” or putting too many objects in a single folder. Step through detailed examples that illustrate the unique ways in which Intuit leverages multiple context prompts, and hear how they’ve influenced the company’s “customer care” universe. Explore options for using “intelligent” calendars within your universes to facilitate report scheduling, and see how this ensures users don’t have to manually set up prompts for specified dates. Come away with samples of the WebI and DeskI ad hoc reports that Intuit end users have built off these universes.

Hands-on LabBest practices for Business Objects universe design Michael Welter, Claraview and David Rathbun, PepsiCo

This hands-on session offers step-by-step guid-ance for using the new information design tool in SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 to develop and publish dimensional and multi-source universes.

Practice proven techniques for extending a universe to ensure more efficient queries, an optimized end-user experience, and more timely and efficient BI operations

See firsthand how to build the structure of an SAP BusinessObjects universe by adding tables and joins

Learn how to configure connectivity between SAP BusinessObjects universes and back-end databases

See how to build user-friendly folders and objects by customizing names in the list of values (LOVs)

Discover how to use aggregate awareness to set up complex logic

Practice techniques for advanced universe design, including tips to ensure optimal performance when pointing to a data source outside your Business Objects system

Explore options for joining database tables and get criteria to help determine when to use a context vs. an alias to resolve loops

Universe design and the semantic layer

Track 2



16

Getting down to the source: An inside look at the various Business Objects BI data connectivity optionsJamie Oswald, Arch Coal

Find out what’s required to populate reports and dashboards with data from underlying systems, including expert guidance and crite-ria to properly evaluate, choose, and leverage data sources for your analytics. Understand the impact that your current landscape has on data access, and review unique considerations you may need to address if you are running Business Objects with a non-SAP enterprise application, such as Microsoft SQL Server, Peo-pleSoft, Oracle, or Siebel. Find out when an integration kit is required to connect to dis-parate data sources, and when integration is built into the BI platform. Know your options for connecting Xcelsius dashboards to back-end data sources, from Live Office and Query as a Web Service (QaaWS) to Flash Variable and FS Command. Get tips to retrieve Crys-tal Reports data sets from Web services or a Microsoft Outlook Inbox. See how to enhance Web Intelligence queries with multiple data sources. Understand how your data connectiv-ity options will change with the new semantic layer and information design tool delivered in SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0.

Lessons for taking the complexity out of managing change requests in universesDavid Rathbun, PepsiCo

Once a Business Objects universe reaches a certain size, change requests can present a time-consuming and performance-inhibiting challenge if not managed properly. This ses-sion provides proven strategies and actionable advice to plan and execute support and contin-uous improvement activities that occur once your universe goes live. Step through examples that identify the key components of a fail-safe change request plan, including the importance of maintaining up-to-date documentation. See how to add tables to an existing database to support evolving requirements, with mini-mal to no operational disruption. Understand the impact universe change requests have on the front end, and get tips to test a universe against reports to identify and troubleshoot the cause of performance bottlenecks. Exam-ine multiple universe development scenarios that are proven to facilitate multiple change requests, and come away with best practices for effectively managing universe changes up to the production phase.

Insider Discussion ForumUniverse design best practicesto adopt — and worst practicesto avoid Michael Welter, Claraview

Attend this interactive and candid discus-sion to share some of the best (and worst!) practices your organization has leveraged when building Business Objects universes. Chat with peers and tackle tough questions, such as:

What are my options for joining database tables and when should I leverage a context versus an alias?

How can I ensure back-end connectivity and security at the universe level?

What are the top technical considerations for migrating existing universes into SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 — and how will the new information design tool come into play?

What are the most effective methods for testing new universes?

Walk away with the real-world advice to more efficiently design and secure Business Objects universes in your BI landscape.

Guidelines to secure and personalize your BusinessObjects universesDallas Marks, Kalvin Consulting

Learn how to leverage the new information design tool in SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 to secure and personalize universes using secu-rity profiles to address the security needs of distinct user groups within your organi-zation. First, review key differences between the new information design tool and the pre-vious BusinessObjects universe design tool — including the separation of data layer and business layer and support for multiple data sources in a single universe — and gain insight into how these differences impact universe security. Understand how to restrict access to sensitive KPIs in the universe. Walk through live demos to understand how each restriction type configured on the back-end impacts user interactivity on the front end with tools like SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence, SAP Crystal Reports, and SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards.

Track 2: Universe design and the semantic layer


17

Web Intelligence

Web Intelligence “hidden gems”: A look at the most underutilized reporting and design optionsMichael Welter, Claraview

This session explores some of the most com-monly overlooked design options within Web Intelligence and offers best practices for lever-aging them to create more user-friendly, ad hoc reports. Learn how to use calculation con-texts to modify the default contexts used in formulas. Get tips for “folding” a Web Intelli-gence report to view only a footer and header of a table block. Explore options for leverag-ing block type prompts so users can self-select graphs and charts for reports. See how to set up a user-friendly reverse filter. Discover workarounds to avoid performance pitfalls associated with report hyperlinking. Learn how to dynamically section a report on multiple dimensions, and see how this increases end-user flexibility. Come away with a document outlining advanced query techniques and best practices for leveraging variables and functions in your Web Intelligence reports.

Leveraging report variables for more robust SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence reportingDavid Rathbun, PepsiCo

This session explores the role of report vari-ables in SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence 4.0 and offers undocumented tips and tricks to exploit them for more creative and efficient ad hoc reporting and data analysis. Walk through system demos to understand what’s required to merge data providers in SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence, including tips to leverage the ForgeMerge() function to fix unbalanced data providers in a full client document. Obtain best practices for using SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence report functions and other context operations to enable calculations at different levels of granularity. Explore workarounds for displaying UserResponse() values on separate rows in a table, and see how this improves the report consumer’s experience. Get techniques to optimize prompt handling, including insight into whether and how to create a prompt syn-tax that substitutes “today’s date” for a prompt default value.

Case StudyHow Intuit avoids self-service chaos by restructuring audit dataWendy Halle, Intuit

Learn how Intuit restructured audit data and optimized its Web Intelligence self-ser-vice reporting environment by exploiting key report distribution and publication capabili-ties. Understand the business drivers behind the company’s decision to restructure its audit data, including user adoption challenges and report underutilization. Step through detailed examples that show how Intuit restructured audit data and enabled drill-down capabilities for additional information on document size and usage by universe and user. See how Intuit managed issues associated with the depletion of file server space due to unused reports by tracking “users logged in” and “most viewed reports.” Get tips for leveraging publication capabilities to alert users via email of unused Web Intelligence or Desk Intelligence reports that are eating up server space. Take home sample code for restructuring audit data, along with sample audit reports and publications.

Tips and tricks for deploying BI Web services within your Web Intelligence environmentChris Greer, EV Technologies

Attend this session to explore the BI Web ser-vices functionality within Web Intelligence 4.0 and learn how your BI environment might ben-efit from its use. Gain insight into the BI Web services enhancements made within SAP Busi-nessObjects Web Intelligence 4.0, such as no longer being required to use the rich client. Learn how Web Intelligence BI Web services can be deployed to create more sophisticated and customizable Xcelsius dashboards with cross-tabs and user-specific formulas. Receive technical guidelines for setting up input and output parameters, along with a relative URL. Explore options for leveraging BI Web services to source over 500 rows within a dashboard connection — without compromising perfor-mance. Walk through a detailed demonstration of how to create a Web Intelligence report, generate a BI Web service, and import the BI Web service into a dashboard.

Best practices for using input controls and graphics for more sophisticated and dynamic Web reportsNivaan Linhares, Capgemini

This session offers guidelines for exploiting input control and graphics in SAP Business-Objects Web Intelligence to increase user adoption and optimize report performance. Learn how to use input controls to view the same report from multiple angles and enable quick data filtering to analyze reports based on specified criteria. Examine the pros and cons of creating filters on a query-level ver-sus using input controls, including how each approach impacts the user interface. Explore the top challenges faced by report developers when adding graphics, such as optimizing the rendering for InfoView, and acquire strategies for overcoming them. Gain insight into why standardizing headers and footers is always a best practice when adding graphics to Web reports. Get tips to optimally position graphics in reports in a way that ensures user adoption.

Live DemoSAP BusinessObjects Web IntelligenceDeepa Sankar, SAP

Join a leading SAP expert for an interactive look at the latest SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence capabilities. In addition to new charting features and other design improve-ments, the demo will show examples of new data integration capabilities, along with tech-niques for making self-service Web analytics more interactive. Don’t miss this unique oppor-tunity to view the solution and pose your most challenging questions.


Track 3


18

BusinessObjectsexpertLIVEBusinessObjects Web Intelligence and Voyager: When should you use each?Praveen Misra, BI Partners

Don’t miss this opportunity to personally meet Praveen Misra, BI Data Architect and Consultant, BI Partners, and engage in an updated discus-sion about one of his most widely read articles from BusinessObjects Expert — the leading publication and knowledgebase for the Busi-ness Objects community. Explore the reporting capabilities within SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence and SAP BusinessObjects Voyager, and get guidelines for determining which BI tool is a better fit for your organization. Learn why SAP BusinessObjects Voyager is best for financial and real-time reporting where data granularity is low, while SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence lends itself to operational and ad hoc initiatives. Determine which user type, such as executives, power users, or casual busi-ness users, are best suited for each tool.

Empower your business users with ad hoc Web reporting capabilitiesDeepa Sankar, SAP

This session answers your most critical ques-tions about SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence, ranging from how to build self-service queries and reports to how to better integrate your front-end reporting environ-ment with back-end SAP and non-SAP data sources. Examine specific integration improve-ments that have been made between SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence and SAP NetWeaver BW. Step through examples of performance and usability enhancements, including a new charting engine, multisource capabilities, and mobile options. Find out how to train end users to design and deliver interac-tive reports with minimal IT involvement. Gain insight into how you can use simple drag-and-drop techniques to build visually interactive content that can be shared with your col-leagues, customers, and partners.

Insider Discussion ForumBest practices for enhancingthe end-user experience with SAP BusinessObjects Web IntelligenceNivaan Linhares, Capgemini

Join this interactive and candid discussion to hear strategies for enhancing the end-user experience with the ad hoc reporting functionality in SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence. Network with peers and discuss questions such as:

How can I better leverage universe design to empower my end users to create their own Web reports?

Is there a more effective way to perform SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence drilling and report linking?

How can we establish an enterprise design standard for our ad hoc and Web reports to boost user acceptance?

What are some enhanced drag-and-drop techniques end users can perform to build intuitive and interactive reports?

Walk away with ideas to empower your end users to create their own Web reports, while reducing reliance on your IT department.

The top 10 things to know when migrating from Desktop Intelligence to Web IntelligenceJay Riddle, COMERIT

This session examines strategies, technologies, and workarounds for migrating from Desktop Intelligence to Web Intelligence. Examine the capabilities and features of the two reporting solutions for insight into key similarities and differences, such as custom groups, input con-trols, and free-hand SQL. Get expert guidance for using the new report conversion tool from SAP, and acquire classification strategies to identify report types that may not be fully con-vertible. Learn how to fix partially-converted reports, including tips to identify where addi-tional conversion steps or manual redesign may be required. Find out whether and how to redesign your existing SAP BusinessObjects Desktop Intelligence reports within another BI tool such as SAP Crystal Reports. Take home a sample project plan for SAP BusinessObjects Desktop Intelligence to SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence migration and a document outlining key report conversion steps.

Case StudyCallaway Golf’s innovative approach to improve SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence performanceNorman Ruppert, Callaway Golf

This session goes behind the scenes with Calla-way Golf and offers practical solutions to optimize SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence report per-formance, including critical integration, design, and process decisions. Examine Callaway Golf’s approach for setting up the connection between SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence and SAP NetWeaver BW, including integration, architec-ture, and design considerations, and see how the company overcame challenges associated with MDX query access. See how the company’s chosen integration approach affects SAP Busines-sObjects Web Intelligence report performance. Hear how Callaway Golf identified and leveraged performance-enhancing options for data model design. Get tips from the company to avoid design “worst practices” that can slow down SAP Busi-nessObjects Web Intelligence report performance, from leveraging exclusion filters to using details as navigational objects. Gain insight into how the company ensured an optimal end user experience, including how it avoided large reports at the docu-ment number level and used flags to restrict data.

Making sense of the latest SAP BusinessObjects features, functions, and terminologyJay Riddle, COMERIT

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 comes with signifi-cantly enhanced functionality, new integration capabilities, and even new terminology for some familiar products. This session clearly explains all of the updates in order to provide you with a comfortable, working knowledge of this new solution. Explore key technical consid-erations surrounding an SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 installation, such as integration with SAP Solution Manager and the enhanced Change and Transport System to support the transport of non-ABAP™ objects (CTS+). Familiarize your-self with the administrative changes in the new release, including revamped lifecycle manage-ment and monitoring capabilities. Learn how the new information design tool and data federation engine will impact your data con-nectivity approach. Get up to speed on the latest SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 nomencla-ture to understand, for instance, the difference between a transient universe and the seman-tic layer, or SAP Crystal Reports 2011 and SAP Crystal Reports for Enterprise. Take home a “quick reference guide” of SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 best practices, along with links to webi-nars and wiki resources to help your team get familiar with the new release.

Track 3: Web Intelligence


19

Xcelsius

Case StudyHow Dell customized Xcelsius dashboards for improved customer and business relationships Brian Durning, Dell

Hear how Dell deployed Xcelsius dashboards to managers, executives, and over 1,000 exter-nal facing customers to better facilitate internal HR performance management and inquiries and external customer service. Explore dash-board design best practices leveraged by Dell to ensure a standard look and feel across its global organization. Gain insight into how the company delivers customized Xcelsius dash-boards to thousands of managers, enabling them to monitor employee performance and HR compliance. See how Dell enables self-service reporting on detailed HR and per-formance management data by embedding hyperlinks into its dashboards with Web Intel-ligence. Step through detailed demos to see how the company delivered customized dash-boards to over 1,000 of its premier customers to better manage their assets, and see how this improved overall business relations with Dell. Review Dell’s roadmap for future dashboard development, including plans for user-specific, yet flexible, Xcelsius dashboards.

Supercharge dashboard performance and usability with tips to avoid the top 10 design pitfalls Nivaan Linhares, Capgemini

This session reviews the top 10 pitfalls of SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards (formerly Xcel-sius) design, and offers proven strategies for overcoming them in your own BI environment. Receive guidelines for gathering dashboard requirements from different stakeholders — senior managers, users, functional analysts, and IT. Get tips for avoiding “cluttered” screens by arranging data more effectively, adding but-tons to toggle between table and graph views, and using appropriate colors. Learn how to dis-play a loading screen within your dashboards so end users know when new data is being loaded into charts or graphs. Walk through detailed examples of design methods proven to boost user adoption, such as the use of pop-ups, hover-over descriptions, or custom-ized dialog boxes amongst others. Leave the presentation with insights and techniques for designing dashboards that are aligned with the way business users see and think.

Advanced techniques to design an Xcelsius dashboard like the gurusRyan Goodman, Centigon Solutions

Hoping to become a dashboard design expert? Attend this session to gather best practices for SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards design to confidently approach even the most complex dashboard requirements. Immerse yourself in advanced design techniques for multi-view dashboards, performance tuning, and data exploration — which are all required con-cepts to graduate from basic visualization to robust dashboards. Armed with advanced best practices, save hours of development time while ensuring you’re making the best use of SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards. Discuss common dashboard design challenges includ-ing data volume overload, content scope creep, and mobile deployments, and learn how to overcome them in your organization. Gain important insight and take home sam-ple designs to approach your next dashboard project with confidence.

Connecting SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards to back-end SAP data sourcesChris Hickman, Decision First Technologies

This session examines the various SAP data connectivity options for SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards and identifies pros and cons from a functional, architectural, and performance perspective. Evaluate various out-of-the-box connection options for your dashboards, such as XML data sources, RSS data feeds, and Web services. Get tips for creating universes on the underlying database of an SAP ERP system, such as providing universe objects to build financial reports against the new general ledger. Deter-mine whether Query as a Web Service (QaaWS) or SAP BusinessObjects Live Office would be the best choice for bringing live data into your SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards, and explore the 6 critical steps for developing a QaaWS con-nection. Learn when it makes sense to leverage SAP BI Consumer Services (SAP BICS) connec-tivity, for example, when connecting directly to SAP NetWeaver BW. Weigh the pros and cons of leveraging portal data for dashboard connectiv-ity, such as enabling “communication” between multiple windows within an SAP BusinessObjects BI Workspace. Take home a decision matrix out-lining pros and cons of each data connectivity option outlined in this session.

Connecting SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards to non-SAP data sourcesChris Hickman, Decision First Technologies

This session focuses on best practices for con-necting SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards to non-SAP data sources. Evaluate various con-nectivity options, including XML Data, Flash Variables, and LCDS Connections, to deter-mine which would make the most sense for your organization. Get step-by-step instruc-tion for enabling a Web Services connection, ranging from setting up a Web Service URL to determining standard usage parameters. Eval-uate the pros and cons of using Flash Variables, such as incorporating data from any Web site that supports HTML into your dashboards and the ability to easily pull from multiple data sets. Receive best practices for using Adobe LiveCycle Data Services for dashboard con-nectivity, such as binding data destinations to a range of cells. Hear how new capabilities delivered with SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence 4.0 — including the new semantic layer and query browser connector — affect your data connectivity approach.

Track 4



20

2012 guide to building visually compelling and interactive SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards Emily Mui, SAP BusinessObjects

This session provides an overview of the new release of SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards (formerly Xcelsius) capabilities and require-ments, including architectural considerations and best practices for leveraging it to give man-agers detailed, visual dashboards for improved decision-making. See how to easily incorpo-rate different types of dashboards into your business environment without the need for custom development skills. Examine technical prerequisites, and understand the importance of up-front business and IT design, including well-defined and accepted key performance indicators (KPIs). Obtain best practices for dashboard development and design, including tips to get started — from dashboard layout to which design components to use. Know your options for data connectivity and exam-ine criteria to help determine which one(s) will be most suitable for your requirements and landscape. Come away with tips to ensure the growth and adoption of dashboards for vari-ous decision-making requirements within your organization.

Preventing, diagnosing, and resolving the 20 most common dashboard performance problemsDr. Bjarne Berg, COMERIT

Prevent or correct the most common causes of poor dashboard performance by getting to the root cause of the problem — Excel, data source, universe, or design. Get criteria for selecting performance-enhancing themes, templates, layouts, and navigation paths. Know which Excel functions to avoid, such as decision branches and daisy-chained cells. Identify per-formance-enhancing options for data design and data store usage. Receive tips to lever-age pre-caching capabilities and guidelines to ensure adequate thread handling. Explore if and how in-memory processing can increase your query performance. Find out which add-on components help performance, and which ones to avoid. Understand your options for leveraging the data sharer component to pass data from a parent to child SWF, and see how this enhances performance and manageability of large-scale dashboards. Take home a diag-nostics checklist and troubleshooting guide for resolving dashboard performance problems.

Providing multi-level, “cubed” analysis capabilities within an Xcelsius dashboardChris Greer, EV Technologies

Incorporating multiple levels of data analy-sis within an Xcelsius dashboard can be a challenge when pulling from a relational data-base. This session offers tips and tricks for jumping this hurdle, and providing “cubed” data for further drill-down and analysis within a dashboard — even when working off of a traditional relational database. Learn how to tweak your existing data extraction, trans-formation, and loading (ETL) processes to provide multidimensional aggregates to Xcel-sius. Explore options for creating database views, universe-derived tables, and unions in Web Intelligence reports to serve as a data cube in your Xcelsius environment — all while maintaining row-level security. Walk through detailed demonstrations of each approach dis-cussed to see firsthand how data cubes can be created in relational data sources to boost dashboard performance and usability in your organization.

Customer Discussion ForumXcelsius dashboards at DellBrian Durning, Dell

Ask your toughest dashboard-related questions to fellow SAP BusinessObjects customers who have “been there” and “done that” in this casual and interactive forum. Join Brian Durning from Dell to explore Xcelsius questions, such as:

How can I create a standard look-and-feel for Xcelsius on an enterprise-wide level?

What are the best ways to embed hyperlinks in Xcelsius for drill-down and self-service capabilities?

What are the technical considerations for integrating Xcelsius with Crystal Reports or other BI solutions?

How can I ensure only the highest quality data is populating my dashboard?

Leave this session with real-world strategies for deploying and designing Xcelsius within your organization.

BusinessObjectsexpertLIVEStrategies to better secure your dashboardsAnurag Barua, Strata-Gems Consulting

Don’t miss this opportunity to personally meet Anurag Barua, Business Intelligence Consul-tant, Strata-Gems Consulting, and engage in an updated discussion about one of his most widely read articles from BusinessOb-jects Expert — the leading publication and knowledgebase for the Business Objects com-munity. Discuss best practices for securing your Xcelsius dashboards. Learn how to estab-lish and deploy an enterprise-wide security strategy for Xcelsius dashboards, while still maintaining user-friendliness and flexibility. Explore the security implications of publishing a dashboard within your organization, and the various levels of access a user can have. Weigh the pros and cons of implementing dashboard security settings through the BusinessObjects InfoView Portal vs. within the dashboard itself (once it has been decoupled from the Business-Objects Enterprise Server), and determine which would work best in your organization.

Live DemoSAP BusinessObjects Dashboards 4.0Emily Mui, SAP

Attend this live demo to explore the newest dash-boarding capabilities within SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards 4.0. Walk through best practices for dashboard development and design, including tips on positioning content, and see which chart types best meet specific business requirements. See how integration capabilities introduced in the new release impact data connectivity.

Track 4: Xcelsius



21Track 4: Xcelsius

A guide to SAP BusinessObjects Event Insight: Helping managers respond more quickly to attention-worthy eventsMarie Goodell, SAP

This session explores the analytical capabil-ities of SAP BusinessObjects Event Insight and offers best practices for using the tool to deliver real-time insight to business users via dashboards and alerts. Explore the pre-built, output adapters available in SAP BusinessOb-jects Event Insight for SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards (previously called Xcelsius), along with the alert notification layer in the SAP BusinessObjects BI platform. Get best prac-tices for monitoring streaming business events from a variety of data sources in real time, and learn how to correlate this data with transac-tional data in SAP NetWeaver BW. Obtain tips for determining when events are “attention-worthy” as they happen in real time, such as leveraging alert notifications. Understand the concept of an intelligence event grid and get tips for leveraging one to better monitor and track the progress of operational activities, including order placement, inventory levels, and delivery time.

Proven practices to integrate SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence, SAP Crystal Reports, and Xcelsius with your existing SAP systemsJay Riddle, COMERIT

This session explores the specific nuances of tying SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence, SAP Crystal Reports, and SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards (formerly Xcelsius) to your SAP ERP and SAP NetWeaver BW systems. Find out which metadata layer will offer the best per-formance when incorporating SAP NetWeaver BW data into SAP Crystal Reports. Understand the differences between OLAP universes and relational universes, and how SAP Business-Objects Web Intelligence leverages OLAP uni-verses as a fundamental building block for reporting on SAP NetWeaver BW. Gain insight into the differences between pointing to an SAP NetWeaver BW query versus an InfoCube. Know when, why, and how to tweak your existing SAP NetWeaver BW queries for opti-mal report performance (and when you may need to build new queries). Delve into the dif-ferences between the available connectivity options for delivering quality Xcelsius dash-boards, including LiveOffice, Query as a Web Service (QaaWS), and SAP BI Consumer Ser-vices (BICS).


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Case StudyBreakthroughs in Crystal Reports performance at Service Corporation International Mohammed Imran Alam, Service Corporation International

Explore Service Corporation International’s field-tested strategies to overcome common development pitfalls and ensure optimal Crystal Reports efficiency. Learn how Service Corporation International avoids performance slowdowns caused by hyperlinks by leveraging the OpenDocument method for hierarchical drill-down of reports, easily linking reports without the need for sub-reports or com-plex grouping. Discover how the company increased performance and flexibility of “all” or “wild card” searches by customizing names in the list of values (LOVs). See how to over-come common limitations associated with LOV naming conventions in universes, including workarounds and tips for customizing “prompt” and “prompt text.” Hear how Service Corpora-tion International overcame pitfalls associated with Crystal Reports and Xcelsius integration, including its use of XML Data and Flash Vari-ables data connectivity options. Get lessons from the company to avoid design “worst prac-tices” that can slow down report performance, and come away with performance-enhanc-ing options for report development and data store usage.

Getting more with what you already have: Using Crystal Reports for more than just relational database reportingJamie Oswald, Arch Coal

This session offers lessons and key criteria to enable non-relational database reporting with Crystal Reports, including tips to deter-mine the best way to retrieve your data sets based on specific requirements. Find out when it makes sense to leverage traditional Crystal Reports data connections, such as the seman-tic layer, and when to access non-relational data sources for enhanced report performance, efficacy, and flexibility. Discover how accessing Crystal Reports data from Web services can optimize your overall service-oriented archi-tecture (SOA) investments. See how to leverage data within a Microsoft Outlook inbox to moni-tor email traffic within Crystal Reports. Explore proven strategies for retrieving Crystal Reports data sets via Microsoft Excel and XML format. Walk away with lessons to avoid common pit-falls associated with non-relational database reporting with Crystal Reports, such as failure to monitor public Web services.

Advanced information design techniques for Crystal ReportsCoy Yonce, EV Technologies

The concept of information design is of growing interest in the BI world, as more orga-nizations strive to achieve comprehensive data visualization and analysis. Attend this session to explore information design methodologies guaranteed to increase efficiency and boost user adoption of SAP Crystal Reports. Learn how to leverage field formatting to draw user attention to a specific field or area of a report that needs immediate attention or put forth a call to action. Understand the level and type of information that should be included in a report header, page header, body, and reporter footer. Get tips for incorporating advanced graphics, such as slopegraphs, within SAP Crys-tal Reports. Hear how to leverage interactive parameters, filtering, and sorting capabilities to display only the most relevant information to a specific user or user group. Gain insight into how to effectively use text and color-coding to create a more comprehensive report. View demonstrations of the discussed information design concepts being put to use in the new SAP Crystal Reports for Enterprise design tool.

10 tips and techniques for exploiting the capabilities of Crystal Reports that no BI team should be withoutJenny Shah, Capgemini

Through lecture and detailed demos, this ses-sion offers expert guidance on when and how to use the various options in Crystal Reports to meet unique business requirements. Learn to create sophisticated visualization for bet-ter data analysis by properly leveraging the formula editor, and step through examples of common use case scenarios, including conditional formatting and mathematical manipulations. View demos that show design and formatting best practices to boost user adoption, such as creating check boxes, using text watermarks, and creating “hover over” tool tips. Understand the impact Crystal Report design has on report run times and why sub-reporting and multi-pass reporting can be major culprits behind poor performance. Dis-cover how and when it makes sense to mash up complex data models. Take home a list of commonly-used formulas for high-perform-ing reports.

Crystal Reports

Track 5



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A tale of two versions: Guidelines and criteria for choosing between SAP Crystal Reports 2011 and SAP Crystal Reports for EnterpriseCoy Yonce, EV Technologies

With the release of SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 came two, side-by-side versions of SAP Crys-tal Reports. So which one makes more sense for your organization? Attend this session to understand the major differences between SAP Crystal Reports 2011 and SAP Crystal Reports for Enterprise, and determine which would best meet your reporting needs. Understand how the new read-only report format deliv-ered in SAP Crystal Reports 2011 can protect your reports from unwanted user modifica-tions upon distribution. Learn how the XSLX export feature in SAP Crystal Reports 2011 enables designers to export reports to a Micro-soft Excel 2007 workbook — up to one million rows. Gain insight into why SAP Crystal Reports for Enterprise is a better choice if you are using the SAP BusinessObjects suite of products. Explore the different ways in which SAP Crys-tal Reports 2011 and SAP Crystal Reports for Enterprise connect to back-end data sources, and hear why the Enterprise version may be the better choice for SAP NetWeaver BW con-nectivity. Review technical and architectural considerations for migrating existing SAP Crys-tal Reports investments into each of these new releases.

Techniques, design trends, and architectural considerations to optimize Crystal Reports performanceJenny Shah, Capgemini

This practical session draws on concrete exam-ples from the field and provides workable solutions to optimize performance of your Crys-tal Reports. Identify common landscape and data connectivity problems that compromise report performance. Learn to avoid design trends that can slow down report performance, such as sub-reporting. Understand your options for leveraging the new cache server to significantly enhance report run times. Get criteria for record selection, including key differences between absolute values and formulas. Gain insight into how sub-reporting and multi-pass reporting can slow down Crystal Reports performance, and come away with performance-enhancing work-arounds. Get guidelines for leveraging native Crystal Reports drivers for database connectivity, and see how improper driver selection impacts report performance. Understand your options for performing grouping and sorting on the actual Crystal Reports server.

Decision criteria and technical prerequisites for upgrading or migrating to Crystal Reports 2011 or Crystal Reports for Enterprise Brian Durning, Dell

This session examines Crystal Reports 2011 and Crystal Reports for Enterprise (CRe) — both delivered as part of SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 — and provides criteria to help determine whether and how to adopt one of the new solu-tions. Find out when it makes sense to upgrade to Crystal Reports 2011 and when a migration to Crystal Reports for Enterprise (CRe) will pro-vide the most value. Examine which features in the new solutions are available immediately, and which ones will be delivered in versions to come, and see how this impacts your upgrade or migration approach. Acquire tips for identifying and documenting your current Crystal Reports landscape — along with any new or depre-cated functionality within your reports — prior to beginning a migration or upgrade initiative. Get an overview of supported platforms and compatibility with your existing infrastructure, including required software and available data sources, and get tips to prepare for the absence of physically-defined database connections.

Insider Discussion ForumHow leading customers leverage SAP Crystal Reports to improve report presentation and user satisfactionJenny Shah, Capgemini

Engage in an interactive discussion with counterparts to find out how your peers are creatively deploying SAP Crystal Reports to present information in a more compelling, user-friendly format. Explore questions such as:

How do I fully leverage SAP Crystal Reports capabilities without over-complicating report design?

How do I prioritize my user “wish list” and distinguish between needs and wants?

How can I more efficiently create groups, summary tables, and sub-reports?

How do I ensure optimal data integration between SAP Crystal Reports and my back-end SAP system?

How can I learn from others who are getting started with the latest version of SAP Crystal Reports?

Leave this session with expert advice and real-world strategies for better formatting and designing SAP Crystal Reports, while meeting the changing requirements of your end-user community.

Track 5: Crystal Reports


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Case StudyHow Intuit empowers end users and optimizes ad hoc reporting through smarter universe designSteven Krandel, Intuit

Examine the success factors and challenges Intuit has faced when designing universes for Web Intelligence and Desktop Intelligence ad hoc reporting. Get tips and workarounds to avoid common development mistakes that can cause a universe to fall short of its objective, such as using “islands” or putting too many objects in a single folder. Step through detailed examples that illustrate the unique ways in which Intuit leverages multiple context prompts, and hear how they’ve influenced the company’s “customer care” universe. Explore options for using “intelli-gent” calendars within your universes to facilitate report scheduling, and see how this ensures users don’t have to manually set up prompts for specified dates. Come away with samples of the WebI and DeskI ad hoc reports that Intuit end users have built off these universes.

Case StudyThe role of a BI competency center in Bank of New York Mellon’s enterprise-wide BI strategyChristopher Pohl, BNY/Mellon

This session examines Bank of New York Mel-lon’s best practice approach to executing an effective enterprise-wide BI strategy, includ-ing critical success factors and guidelines for developing and maintaining a successful BI competency center. Hear how the company achieved high-level executive sponsorship, and see how this helped mandate change for an enterprise-wide approach and outcome. Get recommendations from Bank of New York Mellon for staffing and structuring a BI com-petency center, including tips to identify and utilize internal BI resources. Explore the role of the competency center in the company’s over-all BI strategy, including how it was leveraged to help break down organizational barriers and remove limits of a departmental focus. Come away with lessons and ideas to leverage a BI competency center to help resolve business challenges in your organization, including tips to incorporate the priorities of Line of Business (LoB) teams, IT, and customers.

E-learning, help desk, and more: Picking the right training and adoption approach for your BIuser baseDallas Marks, Kalvin Consulting

This session explores various user training and adoption methodologies for BI end-users and provides criteria for selecting the best approach for your business and user needs. Step through examples that weigh the pros and cons of user training methodologies, rang-ing from traditional classroom learning and e-learning, to one-on-one mentoring. Get tips for analyzing and revamping the relationship between your organization’s user base and help desk to ensure users are getting the right information at the right time. Explore the bene-fits of creating an internal user group program to increase user self-sufficiency and address common help desk calls. Get tips for leverag-ing power users as addendums to local and national user group meetings. Understand the importance of routine user training — such as weekly or monthly — rather than just a one-time post-implementation initiative. Evaluate criteria to choose the most appropriate user training method based on your organization’s training budget and geographical make-up. Take home a sample agenda for a user group meeting to reference back in the office.

Best practices for driving continuous improvement and managing change as your BI strategy evolvesPenny Silvia, IBM

A successful BI strategy is an evolutionary process. This session offers best practices for ensuring continuous improvement and adapting to changes within your BI reporting environment. Understand how a solid enter-prise-wide communication strategy is key to achieving long-term BI success, and get tips for establishing such a strategy that involves your end users. Explore different techniques for managing change in the early phases of your reporting initiatives — even when migrating from a non-SAP reporting environment. Under-stand when (and when not) to involve users in the requirements-gathering and testing phases of a BI initiative. Acquire best practices for handling new or advanced requirements after your SAP or SAP BusinessObjects solution has already gone live. Leave with proven methods for engaging users and effectively handling change, such as host-ing focus groups and establishing super user communities.

Business Objects skills development and knowledge transfer

Track 6



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Insider Discussion ForumMeet the gurus behind the Business Objects Board David Rathbun, PepsiCo

Join David Rathbun — the guru credited with creating the Business Objects Board (or BOB Forum) — along with forum members and your peers in the Business Objects community to share best practices, swap lessons learned, and put faces to the names! Not yet a mem-ber? Attend to learn more, and discuss topics such as:

Migration strategies for SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0

Design pitfalls and best practices for Crystal Reports, Xcelsius, and Web Intelligence

Tips and tricks for navigating the BOB Forum to find the topics that matter most to your organization

Leave this session with insight into the latest trends in the Business Objects community and new ideas for collaborating and networking on the BOB Forum.

Happy users and a well-controlled, cost-effective BI strategy — you can have both!Penny Silvia, IBM

One of the hallmarks of a successful reporting or BI strategy is also one of the most challeng-ing — user satisfaction and adoption. This session provides best practices for managing users’ expectations as their reporting needs change over time. Explore critical components for working with user communities of all skill and technical levels, and acquire strategies for assessing how comfortable they are with various SAP or SAP BusinessObjects report-ing solutions. Understand the impact user skill level has on design and branding approach, and explore questions to ask during the plan-ning phase of a reporting or BI initiative. Get best practices for dealing with and prioritizing competing requirements from various func-tional groups. Leave with proven strategies for setting up your reporting program for success — from conducting scoping sessions to gather requirements, to distinguishing the “wants” from the “needs,” to managing new require-ments and user expectations after go-live.

Insider Discussion ForumStrategies for user adoption and training with BI initiativesPenny Silvia, IBM

Join your peers to share best practices for boosting user adoption of SAP and SAP BusinessObjects BI solutions in this casual, discussion-based setting. Swap lessons learned for creating effective end-user training strate-gies, and explore questions such as:

How can I more effectively gather user requirement at the start of an implementation to ensure higher user adoption after go-live?

How do I determine whether a power user program or Center of Excellence might work well for my specific group of users?

Are there any tools or resources available to help my organization develop a standard user training methodology?

Discuss some of the biggest user adoption or training challenges your organization has faced, and receive real-world strategies from other SAP and SAP BusinessObjects customers for overcoming them.

A trainer’s “cheat sheet”: Everything you need to know to drive user adoption of SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0Dave Cartwright, Kingfisher

The SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 suite provides a variety of enhanced reporting, dashboarding, and analytics capabilities; in order to lever-age them to the fullest, however, users must first familiarize themselves with brand new interfaces and navigational paths. This session provides a comprehensive overview of the biggest interface and navigational changes in the latest release of SAP BusinessObjects BI to facilitate optimal user adoption in your orga-nization. Learn how SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence’s new tabbed interface can be leveraged to streamline report development. Explore the revamped common semantic layer and consistent “look and feel” employed across all front-end SAP BusinessObjects BI solutions in 4.0. Receive best practices for hosting an SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 user training program, such as developing an iterative, agile training program (borrowing concepts from the devel-opment world!), and creating team champions to help ensure knowledge transfer after the formal training is over. Take home a list of the top navigation- and interface-related changes within SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 to reference during your own end-user training initiative.

Track 6: Business Objects skills development and knowledge transfer


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Strategies and tools to ensure a seamless migration of Business Objects content from development to production environments Alan Mayer, Solid Ground Technologies

This session offers technical considerations, expert recommendations, and decision criteria for migrating Business Objects content — such as user accounts, groups, folders, reports, universes, security, and servers — from the development phase to the production environment. Start with an overview of the two primary migration options: Business Objects Import Wizard and the SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 Lifecycle Manage-ment Console. Examine each tool’s capabilities, technical prerequisites, and suitability to meet specific migration requirements, such as version control. See what needs to be done differently if you are moving objects from an existing Busi-ness Objects Enterprise (BOE) landscape to a newly-upgraded or implemented BOE environ-ment. Explore recommended strategies and tools to export content from a BOE deployment to a Business Intelligence Archive Resource (BIAR) file, or import content from a BIAR file to your BOE deployment.

Ensuring a successful SAP BusinessObjects Explorer deployment — A systems perspectiveDallas Marks, Kalvin Consulting

This session offers a system architectural per-spective on how to plan, install, and configure SAP BusinessObjects Explorer. View a system archi-tecture diagram and workflow to see how SAP BusinessObjects Explorer fits within the overall con-text of your landscape. Explore various options for SAP BusinessObjects Explorer installations, from sin-gle-server deployments with Business Objects Edge series to larger, multi-server deployments. Examine criteria to evaluate and determine data sources. Understand when it makes sense to leverage exist-ing universes for your SAP BusinessObjects Explorer environment, and when it makes sense to invest in SAP NetWeaver BW Accelerator or SAP HANA. Get advice for managing key security consider-ations, including tips to set custom access levels in SAP BusinessObjects Explorer specific to power users and casual business users. Walk through a detailed demo of how to create, secure, and per-sonalize SAP BusinessObjects Explorer Information Spaces. Get best practices for deploying SAP Busi-nessObjects Explorer onto mobile devices.

Real-world lessons to size, scale, and integrate your SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 landscape for optimal performanceJay Riddle, COMERIT

This session draws on concrete examples from several SAP Ramp-Up customers and provides practical solutions to ensure your SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 landscape is run-ning at optimal efficiency. Assess the pros and cons of horizontal versus vertical scal-ing methods and determine which would work best in your specific BI landscape. Understand the performance implications of leveraging SAP BusinessObjects BI solutions to report directly from SAP ERP versus SAP NetWeaver BW. Explore which SAP Busines-sObjects BI 4.0 integration points have the biggest impact on system performance, and learn how to use the DSL bridge service to optimize SAP BI Consumer Services (SAP BICS) connectivity for SAP NetWeaver BW. Obtain sizing recommendations that will give you the greatest control over report and dashboard performance. Understand your options for leveraging server groups and nodes to moni-tor and manage the SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 platform. Take home an architectural diagram of SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 within an SAP ERP or SAP NetWeaver environment, including typical reporting workflows.

Making sense of the latest SAP BusinessObjects features, functions, and terminologyJay Riddle, COMERIT

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 comes with sig-nificantly enhanced functionality, new integration capabilities, and even new ter-minology for some familiar products. This session clearly explains all of the updates in order to provide you with a comfortable, work-ing knowledge of this new solution. Explore key technical considerations surrounding an SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 installation, such as integration with SAP Solution Manager and the enhanced Change and Transport Sys-tem to support the transport of non-ABAP objects (CTS+). Familiarize yourself with the administrative changes in the new release, including revamped lifecycle management and monitoring capabilities. Learn how the new information design tool and data federation engine will impact your data connec-tivity approach. Get up to speed on the latest SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 nomenclature to understand, for instance, the difference between a transient universe and the seman-tic layer, or SAP Crystal Reports 2011 and SAP Crystal Reports for Enterprise. Take home a “quick reference guide” of SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 best practices, along with links to webi-nars and wiki resources to help your team get familiar with the new release.

Business Objects installations, migrations, and upgrades

Track 7



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Tips, tricks, and gotchas of running your Business Objects enterprise platform on the UNIX operating systemAlan Mayer, Solid Ground Technologies

Get expert advice and criteria to help deter-mine whether and how to run your Business Objects enterprise platform on the UNIX oper-ating system (OS). Examine common UNIX variants — including Linux, Solaris, AIX, and HP-UX — and step through examples that show advantages, drawbacks, and deployment criteria of each option. Walk through detailed instructions for architecting a UNIX-based Busi-ness Objects environment, including tips for tuning, maintaining, and upgrading the land-scape after the initial installation. Discover clustering techniques that enable Windows-only features in a UNIX environment. Come away with an understanding of the unique benefits of running Business Objects on a UNIX-based system architecture, such as increased stability and bandwidth, reduced maintenance, and the ability to run multiple Business Objects environments from the same machine. Come away with an understanding of the core questions every organization should ask itself prior to deploying or enhancing a UNIX-based Business Objects landscape.

The top 10 things to know when migrating from Desktop Intelligence to Web IntelligenceJay Riddle, COMERIT

This session examines strategies, technologies, and workarounds for migrating from Desktop Intelligence to Web Intelligence. Examine the capabilities and features of the two reporting solutions for insight into key similarities and differences, such as custom groups, input con-trols, and free-hand SQL. Get expert guidance for using the new report conversion tool from SAP, and acquire classification strategies to identify report types that may not be fully con-vertible. Learn how to fix partially-converted reports, including tips to identify where addi-tional conversion steps or manual redesign may be required. Find out whether and how to redesign your existing SAP BusinessObjects Desktop Intelligence reports within another BI tool such as SAP Crystal Reports. Take home a sample project plan for SAP BusinessObjects Desktop Intelligence to SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence migration and a document outlining key report conversion steps.

Case StudyNational Life Group’s approach to improving the quality of data that feeds its reports and dashboards(JB) Brahmaiah Jarugumilli, National Life Group

Hear how National Life Group (NLG), a mid-size insurance provider, created an enterprise-wide master data management strategy to ensure only the most accurate and high-quality data feeds its Business Objects reports. Explore the step-by-step approach leveraged by NLG to build an enterprise data management plat-form to ensure a single version of the truth is derived from NLG’s legacy systems. Learn how the organization resourced and scoped its enterprise data management initiative, lever-aging an offshore model. Discover how NLG was able to build cubes within universes and export XML data in industry-standard formats to support home-grown partner gateway func-tionality. View sample Web Intelligence reports and Xcelsius dashboards containing NLG’s detailed, day-to-day sales and performance metrics. Take home a document outlining best practices for creating an enterprise-wide data management strategy within your own organization.

Hands-on labBest practices for SAP HANA operations Serge Muts, Matt Kangas, and Glen Leslie, SAP

Get up to speed on SAP HANA operations in this hands-on session! This is your chance to play around in SAP HANA. The session will include common tasks in SAP HANA like admin-istrating users, monitoring performance, and where to look for troubleshooting information. You will also learn about your options to load data into SAP HANA as well as how to run que-ries from HANA studio. *Learn what is needed to perform lifecycle management tasks in SAP HANA *Get comfortable with the SAP HANA Studio to perform lifecycle management *Prac-tice common tasks like administrating users, changing parameters and monitoring perfor-mance. *Get tips to identify and troubleshoot SAP HANA issues *Understand your options for extracting and loading data into SAP HANA.

ands-on labTechniques to optimize SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 reporting capabilities with SAP HANAPatrice Le Bihan and Vishal Dhir, SAP

In this hands-on session attendees will learn how to exploit the key integration points between SAP HANA and SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 for optimal reporting capabilities. See how to leverage the replication capabilities in SAP HANA to enable near real-time report-ing within your SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 environment. Practice reporting off simple and advanced data models with SAP Busines-sObjects Explorer, SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence, SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards (formerly Xcelsius), SAP BusinessObjects Anal-ysis Edition for Office, and SAP Crystal Reports. Learn how to leverage SAP HANA Studio and Information Design Tool to build a data model within an SAP HANA landscape. Get tips to leverage SAP BusinessObjects Explorer and SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence with SAP HANA to simplify and speed users’ search for information.

Strategies and tools for rapidly deploying SAP analytics solutionsHenner Schliebs, SAP

This session examines criteria and capabilities for leveraging SAP rapid deployment solu-tions — such as strategic workforce analytics and HR executive analytics — to quickly imple-ment analytics solutions with a fixed scope and predefined services, including the flexi-bility for future extensions. Understand which analytical needs are good candidates for SAP rapid deployment solutions and when appli-cation customization is required. Step through detailed demos that show how to leverage SAP rapid deployment solutions to overcome typical BI project pitfalls, including evolving requirements, continuous monitoring, and consolidating data from multiple sources. Get examples of how other customers are using SAP rapid deployment solutions as a low-cost way to quickly address their evolving business demands while reducing the cost and effort of typical deployment scenarios.

Track 7: Business Objects installations, migrations, and upgrades


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BI landscape administrationand security

Track 8

A comprehensive introduction to the Business Objects BI security modelDallas Marks, Kalvin Consulting

This presentation offers an introductory look at the Business Objects BI security model, along with guidelines and technical best practices for ensuring your SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise or Business Objects Edge Series landscape is secure. Get an overview of the key components of a Busi-ness Objects security model, including functional security, data security, and infrastructure security, and understand which should be implemented first. Explore options for defining custom access levels to simplify user and application security, including tips for assigning multiple access levels to a single user. Prevent unexpected access rights for groups and users with tips to establish vary-ing levels of inheritance. Learn how to leverage the scope of rights component to assign specific access rights to sub-folders. Understand how to use Central Management Console (CMC) features like Permissions Explorer and Security Query to identify and troubleshoot potential threats to your security model.

Step-by-step guidelines to formulate a high availability strategy for your Business Objects landscapeEric Vallo, EV Technologies

Review various architectural options for disas-ter recovery, such as leveraging local data centers or third-party vendors, and gauge which option would be best for your Busi-ness Objects system. Determine the ideal level of deployment for your disaster recov-ery initiatives, based on your organization’s size and Business Objects environment. Get tips for constructing a fault-tolerant Business Objects enterprise architecture, such as using redundant components and expanded load balancing capabilities. Discover best prac-tices for supporting high availability clusters for a Business Objects BI landscape without going over budget. Identify the appropriate mix of minimum availability to recovery need to ensure the ongoing availability of mission-critical business analytics. Learn how to create a recoverable and scalable environment even with limited resources. Explore common enter-prise architecture components that can help ensure the availability of your Business Objects applications.

Audit techniques to accurately track report, server, and universe usageEric Vallo, EV Technologies

This session explores the best ways to lever-age Business Objects auditing capabilities to track report, server, and universe usage. Get tips for shifting to a metrics-based reporting structure in Business Objects auditor to identify power users and gauge the efficiency of report scheduling. See how to leverage Web Intelli-gence to drill down further into auditor findings. Learn how SAP BusinessObjects Explorer can leverage InfoSpaces for more efficient analysis of Auditor data without the need for complex data transformation logic. Get tips for leverag-ing self-service reporting capabilities to speed user consumption of auditing data. Review the key differentiators between auditing capabilities in SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 and prior releases, including schema changes and the impact of the new common semantic layer and information design tool. Take home step-by-step instructions for creating an auditor universe in SAP Business-Objects BI 4.0, including sample .BIAR files.

Time for a check-up! Evaluating and diagnosing the effectiveness and performance of your Business Objects systemAlan Mayer, Solid Ground Technologies

This session examines criteria to help determine whether your Business Objects system architec-ture is designed to meet your current and future BI requirements or if it needs improvement. Break down your team’s roles and responsibilities — including the crucial role of power users and report developers — and learn how to get key stakeholders involved. See how to ensure your servers are configured properly by isolating key metrics that impact concurrency rates, CPU, and memory utilization. Understand how to check universes for database-specific acceleration and aggregation formulas, and see how this results in more efficient BI operations. Learn how to per-form auditing operations on server topology and configuration. Discover how to exploit informa-tion lifecycle management capabilities to increase system availability and optimize system perfor-mance. Walk away from this session with new tips and techniques to determine and improve the health of your Business Objects BI landscape to ensure optimal performance on the front end.

Case StudyHow Intuit streamlines compliance and reimbursement processes with Business Objects publications functionality Reid Burkhardt, Intuit

Hear how Intuit deployed and cus-tomized Business Objects publications functionality to optimize internal compliance and reimbursement programs. Explore pitfalls Intuit encountered with the publications func-tionality — such as how it relies on query results rather than report results — and see how the company overcame this setback by using multiple queries to generate a recipients list, exporting the list, and re-using the export as its own data source. Step through Intuit’s workflow scenario and examine query tech-niques that ensure users are only alerted when action is required. Explore report variables that enable one report to send different varia-tions of text, and see how this ensures cleaner email messaging and simplifies report main-tenance. Hear how the company increased end user participation by developing hyper-link variables that can be used to pre-populate online compliance and reimbursement forms. Take home sample variables and an overview of the data flow that links together source reporting systems, multiple Business Objects queries, and an online receipt submission form.



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Requirements and guidelines for accessing Business Objects BI content through Microsoft SharePoint Jared Ellwein, People Services Center

With portal applications like Microsoft Share-Point gaining popularity as a unique and easy point of access to BI content, the ability to embed Business Objects reports and dash-boards is becoming increasingly important. This session examines technical prerequi-sites and “how to” guidelines to eliminate the need for an additional and restricted interface by exploiting the integration capabilities of Business Objects with a Microsoft SharePoint portal. Review interface requirements, includ-ing the benefits a .NET interface provides. Understand when it’s advisable to leverage the software development kit (SDK), Share-Point Portal integration kit, or the integration option for Microsoft SharePoint software from SAP. Get design tips for easy viewing of data in Microsoft SharePoint, from “frames” that provide comparison views by comparing side-by-side data, to hyperlinks for more detailed information.

Case StudyHow Intuit streamlines compliance and reimbursement processes with Business Objects publications functionality Reid Burkhardt, Intuit

Hear how Intuit deployed and cus-tomized Business Objects publications functionality to optimize internal compliance and reimbursement programs. Explore pitfalls Intuit encountered with the publications func-tionality — such as how it relies on query results rather than report results — and see how the company overcame this setback by using multiple queries to generate a recipients list, exporting the list, and re-using the export as its own data source. Step through Intuit’s workflow scenario and examine query tech-niques that ensure users are only alerted when action is required. Explore report variables that enable one report to send different varia-tions of text, and see how this ensures cleaner email messaging and simplifies report main-tenance. Hear how the company increased end user participation by developing hyper-link variables that can be used to pre-populate online compliance and reimbursement forms. Take home sample variables and an overview of the data flow that links together source reporting systems, multiple Business Objects queries, and an online receipt submission form.

Expert techniques for diagnosing and remedying performance and integration problems in your BI environmentKevin Hutto, Kingfisher

Learn how to leverage new advanced search and content linking capabilities available in SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 workspace for better insight into business and system performance. Get customization tips to meet the needs of specific functional or user groups, such as secur-ing tabular content for individual users and groups, and become familiar with the various tabs and browser settings available in SAP Busi-nessObjects BI 4.0 workspaces. Compare new workspace capabilities with those of the dash-board manager tool in the SAP BusinessObjects BI 3.x release, for example, content linking, and tab based creation of personalized content. Obtain best practices for migrating dashboard manager content into an SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 workspace, including tips for leverag-ing BIAR files, along with a transfer toolset for bringing objects to the new system. Learn how to use visual content linking to enable tighter integration between dashboards and report-ing objects. Understand how to administer and manage a workspace, and the various access levels you can deploy for optimized security in terms of what content is available for users to consume and publish in the workspace.

Guidelines to secure and personalize your BusinessObjects universesDallas Marks, Kalvin Consulting

Learn how to leverage the new information design tool in SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 to secure and personalize universes using secu-rity profiles to address the security needs of distinct user groups within your organi-zation. First, review key differences between the new information design tool and the pre-vious BusinessObjects universe design tool — including the separation of data layer and business layer and support for multiple data sources in a single universe — and gain insight into how these differences impact universe security. Understand how to restrict access to sensitive KPIs in the universe. Walk through live demos to understand how each restriction type configured on the back-end impacts user interactivity on the front end with tools like SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence, SAP Crystal Reports, and SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards.

You unplugged what? Strategies and technologies for safeguarding your BI landscapeJared Ellwein, People Services Center

This session covers the often-slighted but crit-ically important topic of backup, restore, and recovery options for a Business Objects BI envi-ronment, and offers best practices for using Business Objects import wizard and the life-cycle management console to support your security strategy. Weigh the pros and cons of creating a restore strategy at the system, report, or universe level and get criteria to help determine which approach is most suit-able for your requirements. Review the key components of an effective restore or backup plan, including designated testing periods and restore instructions. Examine use case scenar-ios to see how the Business Objects import wizard and SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 lifecycle management console can be used to support an organization’s disaster recovery strategy. See how to leverage the SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 lifecycle management console to ensure version control during system restoration, or to export content from a BOE deployment to a Business Intelligence Archive Resource (BIAR) file. Learn how the import wizard can be auto-matically scheduled to back up content to an archive.

Track 8: BI landscape administration and security


30Track 9


Business planning and consolidation (BPC)

Mastering both the SAP NetWeaver and Microsoft versions of SAP BusinessObjects Planning and ConsolidationDavid Dixon, TruQua Enterprises

This session provides a comprehensive overview of the key differences between the SAP NetWeaver and Microsoft versions of SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation. Explore the five user interfaces available within SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation — Web, Server Man-ager, Office, Word, and PowerPoint — and learn what is required to access them. Hear how to lever-age business process flows (BPFs) to guide users through a sequence of tasks, as well as monitor and report on the status of planning and consol-idation processes. Walk through the four distinct methods for creating reports and input sched-ules (i.e., EvDRE builder, drag-and-drop reporting, dynamic templates, or creating them from scratch) and know which method to use, depending on your needs. Understand the significance of the action pane, current view, and dynamic hierarchy editor when creating input schedules and reports.

Case StudyNew Balance Athletic Shoe improves the flexibility and efficacy of financial consolidations and management reportingTodd Paulauskas, New Balance Athletic Shoe

Go behind the scenes with New Balance Athletic Shoe to see how it leveraged SAP Busi-nessObjects Planning and Consolidation 7.5, version for the Microsoft platform for financial and management reporting, as well as bud-geting and forecasting. Understand how the company developed an internal business case for implementing SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation across its global, multi-data source environment. Explore how the com-pany leverages input templates, data manager, SSIS packages, and script logic to load financial data into BPC. Gain insight into how New Bal-ance Athletic Shoe built separate applications that leveraged out of-the-box functionality to accomplish financial, management and statu-tory reporting. Obtain best practices from the company to ensure a successful implementa-tion, and hear about the benefits they have already derived. Hear how a single BPC cost center variance report has drastically improved monthly analysis for the New Balance Athletic Shoe financial team.

Hands-on LabLeveraging SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation 10.0 to derive maximum value from planning, budgeting, and forecasting activitiesJens Koerner, Rich Heilman, and Bruno Ranchy, SAP Labs

This hands-on session provides step-by-step instruction to set up and use SAP BusinessOb-jects Planning and Consolidation 10.0, version for SAP NetWeaver.

Learn how to use standard reporting and formatting functionality, including the use of the new web client.

Get tips for leveraging the new SAP BusinessObjects enterprise performance management (EPM) 10.0 Excel and Web reporting functionality.

Go beyond core functionality and explore the best ways to create and use input schedules, data import capabilities, drill-thru to BEx and Business Process Flows (BPFs).

Receive an overview of the enhanced financial consolidation functionality within BPC, including the consolidation monitor, journals, ownership management and controls.

Explore best practices for creating SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards (formerly Xcelsius) leveraging BPC data for greater financial analysis and data visualization.

Everything you need to know about the latest reporting capabilities in SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation 10.0David Williams, SAP

This session highlights the new reporting features available in the latest release (10.0) of SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Con-solidation, covering both the version for the Microsoft platform and the version for SAP NetWeaver. Attend to explore the latest plan-ning and consolidation capabilities within the 10.0 release, or to determine which release or version would be most suitable to your specific environment. Learn how the new enterprise performance management (EPM) Excel client — part of the new SAP BusinessObjects EPM Add-In for Microsoft Office — along with the new Web user interface provides enhanced reporting and planning capabilities. View dem-onstrations and get tips for leveraging new BPC reporting capabilities, such as drag-and-drop and IntelliSense. Hear real-world SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation 10.0 use cases from other customers, and take home a “Solution in Detail” document for the version for SAP NetWeaver or version for the Microsoft platform.


31Track 9: Business planning and consolidation (BPC)

Key considerations for SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation adoption and data migrationScott Cairncross, TruQua Enterprises

This session explores the many adoption and migration paths available when moving from other SAP planning and consolidation tools to SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolida-tion. Get answers to critical decisions that must be made before embarking on a BPC imple-mentation, for example, whether to start with planning or consolidation. Determine whether older SAP solutions you may be running still have a role in your planning and consolida-tion processes, even if you use BPC. Discuss the specific challenges of moving from BPC, version for the Microsoft platform, to the ver-sion for SAP NetWeaver, such as handling case sensitivity and dimension member formulas — and get proven strategies for overcoming them. Hear detailed, real-world examples that illustrate the successes and challenges expe-rienced by other SAP customers who have chosen to adopt the planning and consolida-tion application. Take home a checklist of key decisions and tasks that must be addressed before deciding whether to migrate data or re-implement the application.

Data modeling techniques for architecting a high-performing SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation environmentScott Cairncross, TruQua Enterprises

Examine the various data modeling options available within SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation and evaluate the impact each option has on your solution’s security, per-formance, and usability. Explore best practices for determining dimension types, and incor-porating planned/actual data into your overall data strategy. Get criteria to help you decide whether to take a data mart versus enterprise data warehouse (EDW) approach to modeling BPC data. Gain insight into when you should leverage application sets (versus application modeling) to ensure optimized performance. Leave with guidance for compounding time dependencies and determine whether to limit the size of your characteristic values ahead of time, or generate new characteristic values to integrate with BPC. Understand the impact your data model design will have on script logic and custom coding. Discover best prac-tices for pulling non-account-based models (e.g., from SAP NetWeaver BW integrated plan-ning) into BPC.

Case StudyHow Colgate-Palmolive created an end-to-end capital management system with SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation, version for SAP NetWeaverNikunj Patel, and Javier Piedrasanta, Colgate-Palmolive

Learn how Colgate-Palmolive empowered its end users to create their own capital expen-diture proposals in SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation through a self-service Web Dynpro portal. Hear how this self-service portal allows users to create capi-tal expenditure proposals as BPC master data objects on the fly. Gain insight into how Col-gate-Palmolive is able to create a Web-based application with drop-down menus to allow for consistent creation of master data by end users — without the need for a central administrator. Step through demos of the BPC reporting features Colgate-Palmolive uses to quickly compare budgets vs. actual costs. Gain insight into how the company integrated BPC with SAP Business Workflow to create an auto-matic approval process for project funding. Understand how Colgate-Palmolive leveraged pre-delivered SAP content, such as BAPIs, to overcome challenges associated with master data management and integration between SAP NetWeaver BW and BPC integration. Hear how the organization ensured data integrity in its new capital management environment by automating the creation of internal orders and reconciliation of cash spending.


32


Mobile BI

Data visualization techniques for tablet-based SAP analytics and dashboards Jim Cameron, ExpertIG

This session provides expert techniques for deploying SAP and SAP BusinessObjects dash-boards and other data visualization applications to tablets. Walk through the requirements and considerations that need to be examined before diving into the design of a data visual-ization interface for a tablet. Learn how tablet features like multi-touch interfaces, GPS sen-sors, and display capabilities enable you to move beyond charts and graphs and gain access to deeper data visualization capabil-ities — such as adding filters to examine a certain cut of the data. Examine trends in data visualization on the tablet such as online visu-alizations with which the user can interact. Take home a 15-point checklist for adding data visualization techniques to any mobile dash-board or chart.

Lessons to successfully configure SAP BusinessObjects analytic applications for iPad and iPhoneAmandeep Aggarwal, PwC

Obtain detailed guidelines for configuring, run-ning, and maintaining analytics and business intelligence functionality from SAP and SAP BusinessObjects on iPhone and iPad devices. Understand the building blocks that an enter-prise must have in place such as the right analytics engine to process the data on the back end. Walk through the various config-urations to mobilize SAP BusinessObjects software, whether or not you run the Sybase Unwired Platform, and the key factors like the types of mobile devices and/or tablets that play a role in deciding which configuration options best suit your company. View a proof-of-con-cept that illustrates how SAP BusinessObjects Explorer is used to display analytics on the iPad. Understand how the functionality of the application is retained, despite modifications necessary to accommodate an iPhone or iPad’s unique screen size and navigation controls.

Case StudySAP BusinessObjects Explorer goes mobile at Fujitsu AmericaVenkatasaimurali Daliboyina, Fujitsu America

This session explains how Fujitsu America accessed, launched, and configured its Web-based mobile SAP BusinessObjects Explorer application to keep up with its mobile work-force and increased volume of data. Step through examples of how Fujitsu’s sales and marketing teams are able to calculate mar-gins and make forecasts in real time via their mobile devices. View a live demonstration that illustrates how Fujitsu accesses SAP Business-Objects Explorer and Xcelsius dashboards on its iPhone and iPad devices. Hear firsthand Fujitsu’s project experiences, including key les-sons for adding search tips, wildcards, filters, as well as sorting data and bookmarks. Come away with an understanding of how Fujitsu makes annual reports, budgets, forecasts, profit margins and other critical business intel-ligence consumable to users of mobile devices.

A comprehensive guide to SAP’s mobile analytics roadmapNic Smith, SAP

In today’s highly mobilized workforce, the need for timely business intelligence does not end when your employees leave the office. Walk through SAP’s mobile analytics road-map and technology strategy and learn what functionality SAP provides to supply mobile workers with real-time visibility into their proj-ect schedules, available resources, and key performance indicators (KPIs). Get practical advice for delivering the right targeted ana-lytics to your mobile workers to ensure that these align with your organization’s budgets and plans. Find out how to get analyses and critical alerts on mobile devices to make more informed decisions faster, and take action on decisions no matter where you are. Walk through real-world business use cases and learn how other organizations have success-fully brought together transactions, analytics, and real-time information.

Mobilizing reports, analytics, and BI functionality from SAP on the BlackBerry PlayBook Ed Bourne, Research in Motion

Learn how to extend your organization’s exist-ing SAP business intelligence content to the BlackBerry PlayBook. This session will examine and walk you through best practices, key archi-tecture considerations, and design methods required to transition existing dashboards, SAP Crystal Reports, SAP BusinessObjects Explorer or SAP BusinessObjects Mobile BI analytic applications to the PlayBook. Hear how to configure your devices to enable BlackBerry push technology that constantly updates data, enabling you to make better, faster decisions. Find out how the Sybase Unwired Platform integrates with the PlayBook, and determine whether and how it could improve data man-agement and security. Take home a quick reference guide that outlines key differences in configuring business intelligence applications for BlackBerry smartphones as compared to the BlackBerry PlayBook.

Live DemoSAP BusinessObjects ExplorerThierry Audas, SAP

Attend this live demo to see firsthand how SAP BusinessObjects Explorer allows you to cre-ate interactive views of information that can be shared on any device. Understand how SAP BusinessObjects Explorer, combined with the in-memory computing technologies of SAP HANA can give business users self-service access to real-time data on a variety of mobile devices.

Track 10


33Track 10: Mobile BI

Introducing Sybase Unwired Platform: Capabilities, requirements, and benefitsBrad Surak, SAP

As the use of mobile devices rapidly increases, so does the need to deliver business analyt-ics to users in real time. Learn how running the Sybase Unwired Platform in conjunction with business analytics from SAP provides an enterprise mobile platform that allows you to integrate data and information for more timely analytics. Learn what steps you can take to relieve the congestion created by traditional data management systems and data ware-houses. Get tips for reducing overdependence on you IT department for ad hoc analysis and interactive visualization by adding function-ality that puts more power into the hands of the user. Find out how to utilize the Sybase Unwired Platform to securely and efficiently deliver data to an increasingly mobile user base in a format that is suited for all devices. Leave this session equipped with proven tech-niques for utilizing Sybase Unwired Platform to link valuable data and resources to your ana-lytic applications and securely deliver business analytic information anytime, anywhere.

Live DemoMobile business intelligence (BI)Pierre Leroux, SAP

Attend this live demonstration session to explore the latest mobile offerings for SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence (BI) solu-tions, and evaluate which would best meet your organization’s unique on-the-go needs. Gain insight into the SAP mobility roadmap to create a strong foundation for your own mobile strategy on your team’s iPhones, iPads, BlackBerrys, Androids, and more.

An inside look at the mobile capabilities of SAP BusinessObjects ExplorerThierry Audas, SAP

This session explores the latest release of SAP BusinessObjects Explorer — within the suite of SAP BusinessObjects BI solutions — and the mobile capabilities it offers. Learn how to leverage SAP BusinessObjects Explorer to cre-ate interactive views of information that can be shared on any device. Understand how SAP BusinessObjects Explorer, combined with in-memory computing technologies like SAP HANA can give business users self-service access to real-time data on a variety of mobile devices. Review the product roadmap for SAP BusinessObjects Explorer to understand how its mobile options will evolve in the coming years. Understand how to bring self-service BI to new users with SAP BusinessObjects Explorer combined with SAP in-memory com-puting technologies. Align with SAP’s product roadmap for data exploration on any device.

Case studyTwo apps are better than one: CSC’s strategy and project plan for simultaneously deploying mobile CRM and BI functionalityQuentin Fisher, CSC

Hear CSC candidly share successes, war sto-ries, and lessons learned from its own SAP CRM Mobile Sales and SAP BusinessObjects Mobile BI implementation. Learn how CSC designed and rolled out a mobile solution that was tightly integrated with the company’s existing CRM and BI processes. Find out which func-tionality CSC started with and how it dealt with challenges of deploying both mobile applications simultaneously. Gain insight into the benefits CSC has realized, including faster, more accurate data capture, KPIs and reports. Come away with important advice for address-ing the unique staffing, skill set, and integration challenges of a multiple mobility apps being implemented at once.


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Valuable take-home resources and demosAs a BI 2012 attendee, you will receive take-home materials and online access to every confer-ence presentation, and expert guidelines and recommendations that will expedite your activities throughout 2012 and into 2013.

All conference attendees will receive instructions prior to the event for joining Insider Learning Network. Membership is free. By joining, you can access, download, or print all the conference presentations and take-home resources.

ADDED BONUS! All attendees of BI 2012 get 6 months of premium access to BusinessObjects Expert. BusinessObjects Expert is an independent resource center for BusinessObjects users and administrators. Depend on validated instruction, tutorials, and best practices proven to help create better reports, advance skills and knowledge, and improve user adoption. You will receive access instructions when you receive your badge onsite at the event. Learn more about BusinessObjects Expert at www.businessobjectsexpert.wispubs.com.

This list is just a sample of some of the invaluable take-home resources available to conference participants:

Step-by-step guidelines for creating new Business Objects universes with the information design tool, as well as converting existing universes to the .UNX format

An outline of steps required to design and optimize a COE to ensure self-service success

A diagnostics checklist and troubleshooting guide for resolving dashboard performance problems

Demos and documents for Business Objects Analysis navigation tips

Step-by-step instructions for creating an auditor universe in SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0, including sample .BIAR files

Sample dashboards from other SAP customers to reference while designing your own

A document outlining best practices for creating an enterprise-wide data management strategy

A sample BI roadmap and checklist to help determine an effective BI strategy for your organization

Sample code for restructuring Business Objects audit data, along with sample audit reports and publications

An overview of the data flow that links together source reporting systems, multiple Business Objects queries, and an online receipt submission form for streamlined compliance and reimbursement processes

A decision matrix of each reporting tool’s strength points to ensure you’re leveraging the correct tools in your organization

A list of commonly-used formulas for high-performing SAP Crystal Reports

Sample code to optimize SAP BusinessObjects BI functionality within your own organization

A security diagram for an integrated SAP NetWeaver BW and SAP BusinessObjects environment, along with a tip sheet for naming conventions

A sample work plan for installing SAP BusinessObjects Explorer, accelerated version, and a template for planning, budgeting, and rolling it out in your organization

A comprehensive decision matrix to help choose the right development method for your dashboarding needs

A customized Excel template with Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) for SAP Business Explorer (SAP BEx) and SAP BusinessObjects Analysis

Business value attainment (BVA) checklist for BI project managers, along with a white paper comparing the costs of pre- and post-go-live fixes

A list of considerations for change management and end user training, including how to prepare your organization from both technical and functional perspectives


Strategies • Best practices • SAP updates • Skills development

Las VegasFeb. 28 - Mar. 2

MGM Grand3799 Las Vegas Blvd S.Las Vegas, NV 89109

877-313-5757

Produced by Wellesley Information Services, LLC, publisher of BusinessObjects Expert.

SAP, R/3, SAP NetWeaver, Duet, PartnerEdge, ByDesign, SAP BusinessObjects Explorer, StreamWork, and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG in Germany and

other countries. Business Objects and the Business Objects logo, BusinessObjects, Crystal Reports, Crystal Decisions, Web Intelligence, Xcelsius, and other Business Objects products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or

registered trademarks of Business Objects Software Ltd. Business Objects is an SAP company.

©2012 Wellesley Information Services. All rights reserved.

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