SAP is closing in on their release date of the next major release of BusinessObjects… and as with any release, marketing want to get the name just right. We’ve seen quite a few changes over the years.
Remember all those changes in Windows naming? Windows 3.1, Windows 95, then Windows XP? Now finally it’s back to numbers with Windows 7? There’s probably someone out there that’s written a book about how to name your next software release. 
Here’s a look at where we’ve come from in the last 7 years of BusinessObjects Product Names… starting back in 2003 with the combination of BusinessObjects 6 and Crystal Enterprise 10 into the new XI… Xtreme Insight!
BusinessObjects Product Names… the more they stay the same. It is so true… and the upcoming release will include some additional name changes. Here are some names on the horizon.
XI Product Name4.0 Product NameSAP BusinessObjects EnterpriseSAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence PlatformSAP BusinessObjects Web IntelligenceSAP BusinessObjects Web IntelligenceSAP BusinessObjects Xcelsius EnterpriseSAP BusinessObjects DashboardsSAP BusinessObjects Analysis, edition for OLAPSAP BusinessObjects Analysis, edition for ExcelFor more information on the whys check out Jon Reed’s blog post.
It’s amazing how some product names take on a life of their own even before the product is released. Pioneer is a great example. It is the first release of the legacy SAP BEx Web Analyzer and SAP BEx Analyzer for Excel. Pioneer was simply the code name for this yet to be release product. We can now retire that code name and begin using the actual product name, SAP BusinessObjects Analysis.
Some name changes like Xcelsius were introduced even before a major new release. Earlier this summer, I had someone call me to ask me about SAP Crystal Dashboard Design. I’d never heard of it. It wasn’t until I googled it that I discovered that we weren’t offering a new product. SAP had just renamed some Xcelsius packages. SAP Dashboard Design and SAP Presentation Design had formally been known as Xcelsius Engage and Xcelsius Present, respectively.
Thinking back, Xcelsius has also been through a number of changes: Xcelsius 4.5, Crystal Xcelsius 4.5, Xcelsius 2008… It will be interesting to see if the Xcelsius Designer, aka Xcelsius 2008 keeps it’s name and becomes Xcelsius 2010.
Did you know that SAP BusinessObjects Analysis, edition for Excel has already been released? Yep! The plug-in for Excel is completely stand-alone and can be used without interfering with your existing BusinessObjects XI 3.1 environment. If you have SAP and want to get the best possible connectivity within Excel without waiting for your entire environment to be upgraded, you can. Today.
«Good BI»
Paul Grill started his career in Information Technology in the U.K. in 1978, as an Executive Data Processing Trainee for Honeywell. More than thirty years later, he still has a voracious appetite for learning as Information Technology continues to advance at an ever accelerating pace. He was first introduced to the world of Business Intelligence in 1991, in France, when he saw a demonstration of an early version of BusinessObjects on Windows 2.1. He returned to the U.S. to rave about this phenomenal product, but it was many years before BusinessObjects made it into the mainstream. Paul founded InfoSol in 1997, and made Business Intelligence one of the key solutions offered by the company. Today, InfoSol is a leading SAP BusinessObjects solutions partner, known for its expert consulting, education and innovative add-on solutions. Paul is well known within the SAP BusinessObjects community for his extensive knowledge of Business Intelligence, and he has lectured and written many articles on the subject. Paul enjoys writing, running and coaching kids soccer, and is passionate about Ancient Egyptology. 
Yolande Grill is the Vice President of Business Development at InfoSol Inc. I would like to think of myself as the Chief Transformation Officer. My favorite quote to ponder is one from Trina Paulus. "How Exactly does one become a butterfly? You must want to fly so badly, that you are willing to give up being a catterpillar"