Migration Case Studies

 

 

 

Rapid SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.2 SP5 → BI 4.3 SP4 Migration in 20 Weeks

When SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.2 SP5 reached end-of-life, our client faced a ticking clock: unsupported software, security risks, and no vendor patches. They needed a fast, reliable upgrade to BI 4.3 SP4. In just 20 weeks, we migrated 1,000+ WebI reports and 15+ universes—across Sales, HR, Audit, and Payroll—with near-zero downtime and zero data loss.

Business Challenge

  • End-of-Life Platform: BI 4.2 SP5 support ended Dec 31, 2024, exposing the system to risk.
  • Large Content Volume: Over 1,000 reports and 15 universes needed smooth migration.
  • Aggressive Timeline: Only 20 weeks for DEV & PROD, driven by compliance deadlines.
  • Minimal Disruption: Mission-critical BI platform required continuous access, with just a weekend cutover.
  • Windows Server Stack: Existing Windows Server + Apache Tomcat environment demanded full compatibility testing.

Project Scope & Objectives

We executed a side-by-side deployment of BI 4.3 SP4 on new Windows Server machines, migrating all BI content and performing a weekend production cutover:

  • Provision fresh DEV & PROD servers (Windows Server 2019, CMS & File Store)
  • Migrate reports, universes, users, security, schedules
  • Validate performance, functionality, and run User Acceptance Testing
  • Complete PROD switchover over a single weekend

Migration Strategy & Approach

Side-by-Side Upgrade

We built parallel BI 4.3 environments to keep the legacy BI 4.2 live during prep and testing.

“Copy Data Source” Migration

  1. Backup the BI 4.2 SP5 CMS database & File Store.
  2. Restore both onto the new BI 4.2 SP5 DEV/PROD server.
  3. Run the BI 4.3 SP4 installer in-place to upgrade repository schema & content.

Result: 1,000+ reports, 15+ universes, all security & schedules intact—no manual exports or rebuilds.

Lifecycle Management Promotions

While BI 4.2 remained live, any late-breaking reports were pushed into BI 4.3 DEV using LCM Promotion Management—ensuring the test system stayed current until cutover.

Testing & Validation

  • Smoke-tested critical reports across all departments.
  • Engaged power users for UAT on the new Fiori Launchpad.
  • Automated scripts compared sample outputs (4.2 vs 4.3) for data fidelity.

20-Week Timeline

  • Weeks 1–2: Assessment & planning
  • Weeks 3–6: DEV setup & copy-data migration
  • Weeks 7–10: DEV testing & issue resolution
  • Weeks 11–14: UAT & stakeholder sign-off
  • Weeks 15–17: PROD setup & dry-run
  • Week 18: Weekend PROD cutover
  • Weeks 19–20: Post-go-live support & tuning

Results & Outcomes

  • Supported Platform: BI 4.3 SP4 under SAP support through 2027.
  • 100% Content Migration: All reports & universes migrated with zero data loss.
  • On-Time Delivery: PROD cutover in 20 weeks, avoiding compliance gaps.
  • Performance Gains: Faster report runtimes on the optimized BI 4.3 platform.
  • User Adoption: Seamless transition—minimal support tickets and positive feedback.

 

 

 

Why This Approach Works for You

  • Speed: Automate with Copy Data Source & LCM promotions to compress timelines.
  • Reliability: Side-by-side builds provide fallback options and minimal downtime.
  • Fidelity: Automated cloning preserves every object—no content drift.
  • Compliance: Move off unsupported BI 4.2 before end-of-life deadlines.

Next Steps

Ready to accelerate your SAP BusinessObjects upgrade? Explore our BOBJ migration services or get in touch for a free project assessment.

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