175 - Upgrade Business Objects (BOXI) from the current version 3.1 to the next version 4.0

In June 2009 the AOC implemented the last version upgrade to data warehouse (EDW) software. However, the courts recognized that the newer versions of the reporting tool had the flexibility and functionality to query data from sources other than a universe (e.g., excel or local file system). Hence, the courts requested AOC to provide this feature.

This functionality, marketed as Business Intelligence Rich Client from within the suite SAP Business Intelligence tools, failed in AOC testing. Therefore, the feature upgrade could not move forward at that time. By the time the software vendor SAP found a solution to fix the problem, the AOC data warehouse team moved on to work on the high priority project to get JIS accounting reports into the reporting tool, known to Washington state court community as BOXI.

With the initial phase of the JIS accounting project almost completed, AOC is looking at upgrading the reporting tool. It is understood that the earlier performance issue that prohibited AOC from implementing the court requested feature may have been addressed with the latest version of the reporting tool.

Also, there are several other features available in the tool that address:
1. Resolution for frequent time-out issue fixed
2. Ability to export more data in to MS Excel
3. The use of comma separated variable (CSV) in scheduled jobs
4. Easier methods to integrate system notification messages instead of being embedded in the cover tab of the report

This newly released version, now marketed as Business Objects 4.0, has one area of concern that also impacted the last tool upgrade. The customer experience has changed considerabley. This new version of the tool has a big change to the “look and feel” as compared to the current version of BOXI that is being used by the court users.

One of the goals of this project would be to select a name for the court reporting tool, currently known as BOXI, in order to be vendor neutral. This will prevent AOC from having to change the name of the reporting solution based on the technology or vendor branding.

Affected business areas include calendaring, auditing, case management, and other critical operations.

Examples: Courts rely on Business Objects being available and responsive first thing in the morning so that they can post their dockets in the lobby of the court room for hearings scheduled that day. They also use it during hearings to determine if the defendant has had any charges filed in other courts since the initial arraignment.

Upgrading BOXI to the latest version will allow AOC to leverage the latest features the tool has to offer and to stay current on the release from the software vendor. Also, this will enable AOC to give customers requested functionalities, and will provide AOC with vendor software support.

The newer version of BOXI has a new user interface and features different from the current installed version. It will require AOC staff to be trained in the new features, spend time to determine the features to implement, determine the impacts to existing reports, and customer training options.

Users have to be trained in the new user interface and features to perform their tasks, before they can be productive.

The user training materials will have to be updated with new information.

The upgrade might require new hardware and/or server upgrades.

AOC estimates three to four months to complete the impact and initial wave of training of AOC technical staff. Once this initial phase is completed, a project plan can be determined for the upgrade and for training the court personnel.

The latest version is called Business Objects Business Intelligence (BOBI). Therefore, once the upgrade is completed BOXI (which stands for Business Objects XI (Eleven)) will be a misnomer. One of the new features within the tool is for custom branding, hence AOC will no longer have to update the name of the tool because the vendor decides to change the name or if we decide to go with a completely different reporting solution.