Insights

Expert Perspectives

Thought leadership on AI adoption, cloud strategy, and enterprise digital transformation.

Topic

AllAICloudConsultingData IntegrationDigital TransformationEDMEnterpriseEPMEPM FormsEPM ReportingEssbaseInfrastructureIPMMethodologyMigrationNarrative ReportingPlanningSmart ViewStrategy

Author

AllMoe GoharyPaul LewisRobert Gideon
·Paul Lewis·From Paul's blog

EPM August 2026 Updates

Oracle’s August 2026 EPM update introduces modernized Redwood interfaces for Alias Tables and Variables pages, new REST APIs for on-demand diagnostics and agentic AI Insights, plus improvements such as data integration job queuing, support for FreeForm tasks in Task Manager, and scrollable dashboards. There are also important changes to agent authentication, Smart View extensions, and precision settings for PCM. Organizations should note that EPM Automate clients earlier than version 26.09 will become unsupported with the December update, making it essential to plan timely upgrades.

EPMEPM FormsEPM Reporting
·Paul Lewis·From Paul's blog

Shared Connection (kind of) for HsGetValue Formulas

Paul Lewis explains that while it is not possible to use a shared XML connection file with HsGetValue formulas in Oracle Smart View, there is a practical workaround: using the URLFN connection string. By inserting the URLFN string (which includes the environment URL, server, application, and database) into a single cell, users can avoid creating machine-specific private connections, making workbooks easy to share and refresh across teams. However, he advises caution with extensive HsGetValue use due to potential performance drawbacks in large spreadsheets.

EPMSmart ViewPlanning
·Paul Lewis·From Paul's blog

EPM July 2026 Updates

Oracle EPM’s July 2026 updates introduce several noteworthy enhancements outside of Planning, including expanded support for multi-value runtime parameters in Simulate Concurrent Usage, improved IPM Insights with new variance detection and the ability to view insights directly from forms and dashboards, and the launch of natural language queries through the Reporting Agent. Administrators should also note a key change: trailing Unicode whitespace in member and alias names is now automatically trimmed during metadata validation, aligning EPM Cloud with Essbase and reducing data synchronization issues. Most customers are unlikely to experience problems, but reviewing member and alias names for uniqueness after trimming is recommended.

EPMPlanning
·Paul Lewis·From Paul's blog

Clarifications for Advanced Predictions

Paul Lewis reflects on his recent presentations at Ascend26 and Kscope26, offering important clarifications on Oracle EPM’s Advanced Predictions functionality. He explains that the ETF algorithm has been removed from Oracle’s selection list and, more critically, that AutoMLx does not select multivariate algorithms like Light GBM or XGBoost unless specifically chosen, contrary to what he previously stated. Lewis underscores the importance of validating documentation with hands-on analysis and engaging with the EPM community for accurate insights.

EPMPlanning
·Paul Lewis·From Paul's blog

Can I Have Duplicate Member Names in EPM?

Duplicate member names in Oracle EPM applications are technically allowed only across different dimensions, not within the same one, due to how Essbase structures metadata. However, using the same member name in multiple dimensions is not recommended, as it can introduce confusion in business rules, data integrations, and reporting. To ensure clarity and maintain best practices, always use unique member names and aliases within your EPM environment.

EPMPlanning
·Paul Lewis·From Paul's blog

EPM June 2026 Updates

Oracle’s June 2026 EPM updates deliver several notable enhancements, including a direct integration to Oracle Autonomous Database for streamlined data extraction and support for Gen AI narrative summaries and advanced comparison features now available in EPM Reports. Key improvements also cover user access management, flexible automation with cross-application data map scheduling, expanded regression options in Advanced Predictions, and important updates affecting Predictive Planning in Smart View and EPM Automate’s Java support. These changes will strengthen integration, analysis, and automation capabilities for EPM customers, making processes more efficient and secure.

EPMData IntegrationAI
·Paul Lewis·From Paul's blog

EPM May 2026 Updates

Oracle EPM’s May 2026 updates introduce a robust Environment Backup feature that operates at the physical level and includes all artifacts and data, offering improved restoration and cloning capabilities via EPM Automate and REST API. Key enhancements include expanded Generative AI availability across additional regions, support for migrating Essbase load rules to cloud applications, new pipeline controls, and updated Smart View extensions. Consultants should take note of the Workforce rules deprecation timeline and ensure Action menus are updated to the new 2.0 standards before December 2026 to avoid disruption.

EPMEPM ReportingAI
·Paul Lewis·From Paul's blog

EPM April 2026 Updates

Oracle EPM’s April 2026 updates bring meaningful new features across infrastructure, automation, AI integration (including Fusion AI Agents), and user flexibility. Key changes include improved environment migration without disrupting URLs, Gen AI in all OC1 regions, an updated EPM Automate install flow, new REST APIs for agentic AI, enhanced audit reporting, and stricter Groovy validation coming in May. Organizations should review integration scripts soon and explore expanded automation and data customization options to take full advantage of these enhancements.

EPMAINarrative Reporting
·Paul Lewis·From Paul's blog

EPM Updates Delayed Until April 2026

Oracle has postponed EPM updates until April 2026 to address issues discovered in the 25.11 release, particularly around calculation accuracy and system performance following the Essbase 21c upgrade. While some modules (Narrative Reporting, Account Reconciliation, and Enterprise Data Management) are unaffected, clients using Consolidations, Planning, PCM, or Tax should carefully assess their own environments. We advise reviewing your systems and, if stable, requesting Oracle to align your production version with your test environment to maintain consistency during the extended update pause.

EPMEssbasePlanning
·Paul Lewis·From Paul's blog

EPM in 2026: What I Think is Coming

Paul Lewis predicts that 2026 will bring significant advancements to Oracle EPM, with AI taking center stage across Advanced Predictions, IPM Insights, and Narrative Reporting, although some marketing claims may outpace actual functionality. The Planning Agent will transform user interaction by enabling natural language queries and providing deeper guided analysis, while upcoming features like improved diagnostics in PCM and enhanced Predictive Cash Forecasting will further empower finance teams. More integrated workflows and better data connectivity across planning, insights, and reporting will result in a more cohesive EPM experience, and organizations that do not adopt AI will risk falling behind.

EPMAIIPM

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