IBM’s latest Cognos Analytics release, version 12.1.1, makes one thing clear: enterprise reporting is getting more interactive, more automated, and more AI-assisted.
For organizations using QuickStart Solution for SAP Business One, that’s good news. QuickStart is powered by IBM Cognos Analytics, so these enhancements strengthen the reporting foundation you already rely on—without rebuilding your content.
Key Enhancements in Cognos 12.1.1
12.1.1 focuses on making reports easier to explore, maintain, and operationalize:
Interactive Brushing
Click on a bar, point, or category in one visualization and instantly see related data highlighted or filtered across the report—no scripting required.
Master–Detail for VIDA Visualizations
Link a list and a chart in the same report so that choosing a region, customer, or product automatically updates the visualization.
Kiosk Mode (Auto-Refresh)
Set reports to refresh on a timer for use on wallboards, warehouse screens, or executive “war rooms,” with no manual reruns.
Modern Mobile Experience (Preview)
Access classic, interactive, and active reports on smartphones and iPads, with proactive alerts and built-in AI assistance.
Smarter Foundations
Full browser and accessibility support for Interactive Viewer.
Admin control over default delivery for scheduled reports (attachment vs. link).
Automatic conversion of legacy PG-SDK charts to the new engine.
Together, these changes make day-to-day reporting more interactive for users and less work for administrators.
Meet Reporting Agents: AI on Top of Trusted Reports
The biggest strategic shift is the introduction of Reporting Agents—an AI layer that works with your existing Cognos reports and models.
What Reporting Agents Can Do
Semantic Search
Ask questions in natural language (e.g., “Why are customers leaving?”) and get directed to the most relevant report using semantic, context-aware search.
Report Summarization
Let the agent read a complex report and return key findings, trends, and watch-outs—ideal for executives who need the story first.
Conversational Authoring
Start a new report with a prompt like “Show revenue and margin by region and quarter,” and let the agent propose structure and layout for you to refine.
Built for Governance
Reporting Agents are secure by design—they respect existing Cognos security, including:
Data Source Rules
Agents only see the data each user is already allowed to query, based on your existing database and data source security.
Model Security
Any row-, column-, or object-level controls defined in your Cognos models still apply when agents search, summarize, or help author reports.
Folder/Report Permissions and Capabilities
Users can only discover, view, or share reports they already have access to, and agent actions are limited by their assigned Cognos roles and capabilities.
They work on top of trusted, governed Cognos content instead of introducing yet another data silo.
Why It Matters for Business Leaders
Under the hood, 12.1.1 is about turning reporting into a faster, more intelligent partner for the business:
Faster insight
Interactivity and AI summaries help users get to the “so what” quicker.
Higher adoption
Easier exploration, mobile access, and always-on screens make reports part of daily decision-making.
Governed AI
AI sits on top of trusted, governed Cognos content instead of introducing yet another data silo.
For QuickStart customers, it means your SAP Business One data can now be explored, explained, and shared more intelligently—using the same governed reporting layer you already trust.
Want to See What This Looks Like With Your Data?
If you’re using Cognos—or QuickStart Solution for SAP Business One—and want to understand how 12.1.1 and Reporting Agents could improve your reporting:
Book a walkthrough with our team.
We’ll show you how these new capabilities can plug into your existing reports and models to deliver faster insight, stronger governance, and reporting your teams will actually use.
