Why SAP BusinessObjects BI platform?

Because our powerful BI software allows you to put decision-ready information within business users’ reach. With our analytics platform, you can increase responsiveness, reduce IT costs and workload, and drive better decision making across your organization.

Gain real-time business intelligence from any data
Increase user autonomy by exposing data in plain business terms
Make information consumption simple, personalized, and dynamic
Benefit from a flexible and scalable information infrastructure

Connect with our BI experts via email

Have you thought about your analytics strategy?

Ensure alignment across your organization and justify ongoing investment. SAP provides assessment tools and workshops to help you assess your Analytics and BI strategy and create an Analytics strategy.

Learn how SAP BusinessObjects BI platform can simplify the lives of business users and IT staff.

Functional Capabilities

Answer new and evolving business questions with self-service ad-hoc reporting and analysis – on the Web, your desktop, or a mobile device.

Take advantage of easy-to-use BI reporting tools
Drill, slice-and-dice, and format information based on your business needs
Use simple drag-and-drop features to create interactive reports
Combine data from different sources to get answers to your business questions
Set-up data alerts so you are on top of the information that matters
Share trusted insights with business partners and customers

Learn about SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence

Multidimensional analysis

Perform analysis of multidimensional data sources in an intuitive Web-based environment,
so you can quickly answer complex business questions.

Uncover deep business insights without the help of a database administrator
Share business insights with peers in a fixed or interactive Web format
Run multidimensional analytics on one common business intelligence platform
Improve user adoption while optimizing the return on your IT investment

Learn about SAP BusinessObjects Analysis for OLAP

New: Single sign-on to SAP HANA using SAML

New: Collaboration with SAP JAM

Suggested resources

Technical Capabilities

SAP HANA as BI system repository and audit database
SAP HANA data access
Software development kits
Multiple servers running on one or more hosts and/or clusters for high performance, load balancing, and availability
Single sign-on (SSO) integration with LDAP, Kerberos, eTrust SiteMinder, and Windows AD
Universe semantic layer access to over 40 data sources
Support for SAP BW 7.x, SAP Business Suite, and SAP S/4HANA

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Need additional help? Explore SAP Digital Business Services

System requirements for SAP BusinessObjects BI platform

System and software requirements vary according to specific customer scenarios – please refer to the SAP BusinessObjects BI Platform Sizing Guide for details. Also, please see the SAP BusinessObjects BI Platform Product Availability Matrix for the latest information on updates and releases.

System Requirement	Details
Minimum server hardware requirements	Refer to the SAP BI 4 Sizing Guide for more information
Minimum disk space	14 GB to 16 GB for default server installation, depending on operating system
Operating systems	Apple Safari, Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Windows: Server 2008 and 2012; Suse SLES 11 x86_64; Red Hat EL 5 and 6 x86_64; AIX 6.1 and 7.1 Power; Solaris 10 and 11 SPARC
Browsers	HP JSE, IBM JSE, Oracle (Sun) JSE, SAP JVMMicrosoft IE 8, 9, 10, 11, Mozilla Firefox ESR 31.x, Google Chrome, Safari 7
Java application servers	JBoss Application Server; SAP NetWeaver Java Application Server; Apache Tomcat; Oracle WebLogic Server; IBM WebSphere Application Server

Product Availability Matrix*

Sizing Guide*

Explore licensing and purchasing options for SAP BusinessObjects BI platform

The modular structure of SAP software licenses allows you to license and pay for only the functionality and number of users that you require at any given time. This means that you can start with the packages and named user licenses your organization needs today, and add more users and functionality as your needs change. This product is deployed on-premise and therefore requires a perpetual license. Contact your local SAP account executive for additional licensing and purchasing options.

Buy SAP software now and pay later — with our flexible payment plans and financing options

Consult Licensing SAP Software: A Guide for Buyers for more information

Our cloud and on-premise solutions can help you engage your customers like never before. In addition to SAP BusinessObjects BI platform, we offer:

SAP Analytics Cloud

Product Extensions for our BI platform

Want to extend the functionality of SAP BusinessObjects BI platform? Take advantage of these powerful product extensions:

SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence

SAP BusinessObjects Analysis for Microsoft Office

SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards

SAP BusinessObjects Explorer

SAP Lumira

SAP BusinessObjects Mobile

SAP BusinessObjects Analysis for OLAP

Learn how the 2016 HIMSS Enterprise Davies Award Recipient, Mercy Health, uses SAP BusinessObjects business intelligence solutions running on SAP HANA to improve patient care while achieving cost savings.

View the customer story

Cirque du Soleil®

SAP Business Intelligence is the platform for Cirque du Soleil and provides executive insights across the business, to make more informed decisions.

View more customer stories

Ensure a successful implementation and maximize your ROI with information resources that support the different phases of SAP BusinessObjects BI platform – from planning and installation to operation.

- Plan
- Install
- Operate
- Train

Start planning your implementation with a personalized guide from the implementation experts.

Get your report

Download the software

Visit the SAP Support Portal* to download SAP BusinessObjects BI platform software installation package.

Plan your installation

Refer to SAP BusinessObjects BI Suite 4.2 Master Guide* for important information about installation and upgrade planning.

Confirm that you have a license key

To request permanent license keys, you need authorization under myProfile*. To extend your authorization, please contact an SAP user administrator*.

Need additional help? Contact SAP Digital Business Services or SAP Enterprise Support services

Find an SAP partner to help with your implementation

Connect with our BI experts via email

Complete the installation steps

Section 3.3 “Upgrade Installation” in the Master Guide* – Get a step-by-step overview of the installation process, including the required tools and associated documentation.
Installation Guide for Windows* – Download instructions for performing a full installation on Windows.
Installation Guide for UNIX* - Download instructions for performing a full installation on UNIX.
Master Guide* – Use this guide as a starting point for planning an installation in your system landscape.
SAP Business Intelligence Platform Pattern Books* – Follow these end-to-end instructions for setting up various deployment scenarios or patterns in your environment.
Sizing Guide* – Review recommendations and best practices for deploying and scaling the various services in SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.
Rapid Deployment Solution* – Fast-track BI adoption in all of your departments with our rapid-deployment solution.
BI Platform Architecture Diagram* – Download an architecture diagram that shows the supported products and databases.
Web Application Deployment Guide for Windows* – Learn how to deploy and configure your BI platform Web applications for Windows
Web Application Deployment Guide for UNIX* - Learn how to deploy and configure your BI platform Web applications for UNIX

Need additional help with your implementation?
Contact SAP Digital Business Services or SAP Enterprise Support services

Find an SAP partner to help with your implementation

Download the SAP BusinessObjects BI Platform Administrator Guide* to learn how to manage, maintain, and run your SAP applications at peak performance.

Ensure the security of SAP BusinessObjects BI platform

Refer to Section 8, “Security,” in the Administrator Guide* for important information on ensuring the security of SAP BusinessObjects BI platform.

Need expert guidance with your educational needs? Learn about our education consulting services

View the SAP BusinessObjects BI platform training and certification catalog* of instructor-led courses and e-courses – and train when and where it’s convenient for you.

View the catalog

Stay up-to-date with our learning maps

Consultants, get role-specific learning maps with SAP implementation and operation information. These online knowledge products cover our latest products and upgrades.

Learn more*

Plan and carry out a successful upgrade to the latest release of SAP BusinessObjects BI platform – so you can take advantage of the new features and capabilities right away.

- Plan
- Upgrade

Start planning your upgrade with a personalized guide from the upgrade experts.

Get your report

Plan your upgrade

The Upgrade Guide contains important information about SAP BusinessObjects BI platform 4.2 upgrade planning.

Read the guide*

Plan landscape changes

The Landscape Planner lets you visualize your existing system landscape, simulate changes, and analyze the impact.

Use the planner*

Size the implementation

Use the Web-based Quick Sizer tool to help you select an economically balanced system based on your requirements

Open the Quick Sizer tool*

Need additional help? Contact SAP Digital Business Services or SAP Enterprise Support services

Find an SAP partner to help with your implementation

Connect with our BI experts via email

Get step-by-step guidance on the upgrade process, including installing the platform, using the upgrade management tool, and more.

View the Master Guide*

Upgrade management tool

Find out how to migrate content directly from an older version of the platform.

Perform a complete upgrade*

Perform an incremental upgrade*

Upgrade audit and monitoring data

Learn more about the auditing and monitoring features of SAP BusinessObjects BI platform and how to upgrade from previous versions.

Learn more

Pattern book on BI 4.2 upgrade

Get step-by-step instructions on how to deploy or upgrade SAP BusinessObjects BI system and its components based on real-world system landscape.

Read the Pattern Book

Optimization tips

Learn from GB & Smith how to optimize your migration to SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform 4.2

Read the blog*

Get the support you need to keep SAP BusinessObjects BI platform running at peak performance. Our experts can help you maximize the value of your software, take advantage of new business models and capabilities, and more.

Troubleshoot and Maintain

Find solutions to known issues. Stay up to date with technical planning resources and software updates. See more

SAP Support Portal Resources

Search for SAP Notes & Knowledge Base Articles

Get BI Platform 4.2 maintenance dates, upgrade paths and platform availability

Find out when the next BI Platform 4.2 support package or patch will be released

Download BI Platform 4.2 support packages and patches

BI4 Support Pack Upgrade and Patch Install Best Practice Guide

How to patch BI 4.x servers

How To Trace Business Objects 4.0 and 4.1 (Servers and Clients)

Support procedures for resolving security vulnerabilities

Best practices for collecting a BI Platform 4.x end-to-end trace