Oracle Discoverer has been a valuable ad hoc query and analysis reporting tool for businesses for many years. However, since Oracle announced the end of life for Discoverer in June 2017, organizations have been facing the challenge of finding a suitable replacement. In this article, we will explore the reasons why Discoverer migration is essential, the risks associated with continuing to use unsupported software, and the best practices for a successful migration to a modern reporting solution.
Why Migrate from Discoverer?
1. End of Support and Technical Limitations
Oracle’s decision to end support for Discoverer means that there will be no new patches or updates after June 30, 2017. This lack of support could lead to security vulnerabilities and technical issues that cannot be resolved. Furthermore, Discoverer is limited to reporting against Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) data sources, making it inadequate for organizations that need to report against various data sources, including cloud-based ones.
2. Integration and Scheduling Constraints
One of the significant drawbacks of Discoverer is its lack of integration with Oracle Concurrent Manager, preventing the scheduling of reports to run regularly. This limitation hampers automation and efficiency in reporting processes, which modern reporting solutions can offer.
3. Missed Opportunities and Opportunity Costs
By sticking with Discoverer, businesses miss out on the benefits of modern, feature-rich ad hoc reporting analysis tools available in the market. These tools empower users to gain valuable insights, leading to cost savings, profit opportunities, improved efficiencies, risk mitigation, and enhanced overall performance.
Reasons Organizations Hesitate to Migrate
1. Project Complexity and Time-Consuming Migration
Migrating from Discoverer to a new reporting solution is a substantial undertaking, especially for large organizations that have hundreds or thousands of reports created in Discoverer. The manual recreation of these reports can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.
2. Cost and Complexity of Oracle’s Replacement Reporting Options
Oracle’s own replacement options for Discoverer, such as OBIEE and OTBI, are expensive and complex. These solutions require significant training and hand-holding to ensure a smooth transition. Additionally, some tools might not fully migrate the end-user layer (EUL), resulting in extra effort to rebuild the semantic layer for all reports.
Selecting a Discoverer Replacement Solution
1. SplashBI – A Seamless Migration Option
SplashBI offers a Discoverer Migration Utility called SplashDM, providing organizations with a self-service, real-time reporting solution, meaningful analytics, and excellent data visualization. With SplashDM, organizations can smoothly transition from Discoverer to a more modern and comprehensive reporting platform.
2. Built-in Data Models for Customization
A suitable replacement should have built-in data models to facilitate quick and easy report generation without extensive technical knowledge. While these models may not always meet all unique needs, they can be extended when necessary, ensuring flexibility and customization.
Best Practices for a Successful Migration
1. Thorough Planning and Assessment
Before initiating the migration, conduct a comprehensive assessment of existing reports, their complexity, and their relevance to the organization’s needs. Prioritize reports based on criticality and complexity to create a phased migration plan.
2. Engage Key Stakeholders and Users
Involve key stakeholders and end-users in the migration process to gather their feedback and understand their specific requirements. User involvement is crucial for a successful transition and acceptance of the new reporting solution.
3. Data Validation and Quality Checks
Perform thorough data validation and quality checks during and after the migration process. Ensuring data accuracy and integrity is essential for delivering reliable reports and insights.
4. Training and Support
Provide comprehensive training and ongoing support to end-users to familiarize them with the new reporting solution. A well-trained workforce will maximize the benefits of the migration and reduce the learning curve.
Conclusion
Migrating from Oracle Discoverer to a modern reporting solution is not just a necessity but an opportunity to leverage advanced features and capabilities. Organizations must carefully evaluate their options, plan meticulously, and involve key stakeholders to ensure a smooth and successful migration process.
FAQs
Q – Can I continue using Discoverer after the end of life date?Â
A – No, Oracle Discoverer is no longer supported, and using it after the end of life date can lead to security vulnerabilities and technical issues.
Q – What are the risks of staying on unsupported software?Â
A -Unsupported software introduces vulnerabilities and may not be compatible with newer technologies and data sources, leading to operational challenges.
Q – Why is migration from Discoverer essential?Â
A – Migration is necessary to ensure access to technical support, report against various data sources, and schedule reports regularly.
Q – Is migrating from Discoverer a complex process?Â
A – Yes, migrating from Discoverer can be a time-consuming and complex project, especially for organizations with a large number of existing reports.
Q – What benefits can a modern reporting solution offer?Â
A – Modern reporting solutions offer feature-rich ad hoc analysis tools that empower users to gain valuable insights and improve overall business performance.
