V12 was the last major release of IBM Cognos Analytics.

But what does this mean for you and your business?

IBM Cognos Analytics 12, the latest major release in the Cognos Analytics series. While its name may be familiar, this update represents more than just a version number. Consider it a 'statement of direction' from IBM, subtly signalling their future priorities for the Cognos brand. While you won't find sweeping changes in functionality compared to the previous release (11.2.4), this update sends a clear message to the market about the exciting next steps in the evolution of Cognos Analytics brand.

The direction of travel is very much next generation AI. The biggest change in Cognos 12 is the prominence of the assistant, IBM’s interface into the Watson component of the product. Assistant is now front and centre on the home page and is the gateway to your analytics journey with Cognos 12. Even novice users of Cognos can get valuable natural language insights into their data with little effort.

IBM have 4 parallel themes for Cognos 12

• Self-service for all. Users can start anywhere and go everywhere, from natural language Q&A, through dashboards, stories and explorations to pixel perfect, governed reporting and beyond.

• Actionable AI. Explainable, natural language insights, and extensible support for different foundation models, allowing data scientists to bring their own AI models

• Analytics at the speed of business. Adaptive caching based on workload patterns, configurable caching for dashboard and report authors

• Analytics everywhere – flexible deployment options, and the ability to embed Cognos capabilities into business applications and processes

But aside from the marketing speak, what else does IBM Cognos Analytics 12 offer?

• AI Assistant - As already mentioned, the AI assistant is now front and centre of your Cognos 12 experience, occupying a prominent position on the home page.

There are also natural language enhancements, for a more intuitive experience. Narrative insights directly from assistant, for meaningful natural language insights into your data. Share visualisations directly from Assistant to Email, Teams or Slack. Embed Assistant into any web page or web application. Administrators can now set default data sources for Assistant, by role.

• Custom tabs in content view – It is now possible for administrators to enhance the user experience by adding custom tabs to the content view using extensions

• Fuzzy search – search terms are now matched using fuzzy search, meaning you don’t need to get the search term exact – it will also show items that are close matches

• Teams – enhancements to embedded reports and dashboards in teams

• Interactive Performance Assistant (IPA) – A new performance analysis tool allowing authors to analyse performance details about reports and dashboards

• Dashboards – Local, configurable data caching on dashboard widgets, for performance optimisation. Statistical details on multivariate forecasts, for a better understanding of forecast results. Nested dashboards for multiple sets of content on the canvas. Zoom bar now available in more visualisations. New alignment options for visualisation elements.

And what has been removed in IBM Cognos Analytics 12?

Now the bad news. It is the end of an era for Analysis Studio, Query Studio and Workspace. These products are no longer available in IBM Cognos Analytics 12. However, the bulk conversion tool introduced in version 11.2.4 will quickly and easily convert your content into the new IBM Cognos Analytics 12 world.

So, what are you waiting for?

Upgrade to IBM Cognos Analytics 12 now and experience its greatness first-hand! Book some time with us to explore the exciting possibilities this release has to offer for your business!

If you missed my blog on the 9 Reasons Why Upgrading to Cognos Analytics 11.2.4 LTSR is a Smart Move

Catch up here

Cognos version 11.1.x reaches the end of support on April 30, 2024. It's time to upgrade for enhanced performance and security. 

With the release of version 12, it's even more important for organisations to ensure they're on a supported long-term release version of Cognos Analytics 

Enquire today

About the author

John Wilkinson is a highly skilled Senior Business Analytics Consultant/Solutions Architect with over 19 years of experience in IBM Cognos BI. He is widely recognised as a top consultant in the industry, known for his exceptional technical skills and positive attitude. John has extensive experience in IBM Cognos Analytics, including proficiency in IBM Planning Analytics, and i2 marketplace. With 8 IBM professional certifications and a strong understanding of IT principles, both hardware, and software, John brings a valuable perspective to his work. What sets John apart is his commitment to providing exceptional customer experiences. He is known for his outstanding interpersonal skills, and his ability to build strong relationships with clients and colleagues alike. He is not only a technically proficient consultant but also a great communicator who is adept at working with people to solve complex problems. With a wealth of expertise in IBM Cognos BI, Cognos Analytics, SQL, Planning Analytics, and surrounding technologies, John is a highly valuable consultant in the field of business analytics. His extensive experience and exceptional skill set enable him to deliver top-notch solutions and consultative advice to clients, making him a sought-after expert in the industry.