Oracle EPM updates for May 2026 are out. After the large number of updates last month, it is no surprise that this month is a bit less. But there are some good ones here, so read on for the ones I found interesting. Updates will go to test environments May 1st and prod environments May 15th.
New Environment Backup
A new type of backup is being introduced. What grabs my attention here is that it is created at the physical level and includes all artifacts and data. Does this mean we will be able to restore only data from this backup? That is not possible from the Artifact Snapshot, so if it is possible from this Environment Backup that is a nice improvement. This backup will be created during the daily maintenance process,
Generative AI Enabled on OC4, OC19, OC29, OC42 Realms
Following up on last month’s updates to Gen AI in OC1 region, it is now available in OC4, OC19, OC29, and OC42 realms.
New restoreEnvironment EPM Automate Command and REST API
Along with the addition of the Environment Backup functionality is the EPM Automate and REST API functionalities for the backup.
Support for Environment Backup in the cloneEnvironment EPM Automate Command and REST API
I feel like I’m repeating myself 😊. The new type of backup (Environment Backup) will be supported in EPM Automate and REST API for cloning environments.
Mandatory Groovy Update
As communicated last month, May includes the mandatory Groovy update. A new version of the Groovy engine will have stricter validation rules.
Updated EPM Books Extension for Smart View
There is an updated EPM Books extension for Smart View. As always, I recommend updating Smart View extensions when they are available.
Support for Essbase Load Rules in Cloud Applications
This is a big one, in my opinion. Previously when we migrated an on-prem application to cloud, the Essbase load rules had to be recreated as Data Integrations. Now we will be able to migrate the data load rules.
Ability to Restart Pipelines from Failed Stages
This is a nice improvement. Instead of having to rerun the whole pipeline from the beginning when a failure happens, we can now restart the pipeline from the point of failure.
Ability to Control Timing within Pipeline Jobs
Wait times can now be added within a pipeline job. This will help to control the timing of sequential processes and improve processing efficiency.
Narrative Reporting Assistant
This is a cool enhancement. If you have a Fusion Cloud subscription (sorry, it is not available to EPM customers without the Fusion Cloud subscription), this assistant will allow you to:
- Use chat to search and browse Narrative Reporting library artifacts
- Select a report and ask questions about it
- Summarize the results of a report
- Refresh data sources for a Report Package
- Run a bursting definition
Updated Narrative Reporting Extension for Smart View
There is an updated Narrative Reporting extension for Smart View. As always, I recommend updating Smart View extensions when they are available.
PCM Interrogation Assistant
This assistant includes preconfigured definitions to help create AI agents in AI Agent Studio. The agents can automate tasks and interact with EPM applications, including retrieving data and triggering actions.
IMPORTANT Actions and Considerations
Workforce Rules Being Deprecated
In the 24.12 update, the following Workforce rules were updated to automatically determine the FixParallel dimension for all new applications.
Workforce Rules
- Synchronize Defaults 2.0
- Synchronize Definition 2.0
- Process Loaded Data with Synchronize Defaults
- Process Loaded Data with Synchronize Definition
- Calculate Compensation for all 2.0
Strategic Workforce Planning Rules
- Process Loaded Strategic Workforce Data
- Calculate Supply for All Data
- Calculate Demand for All Data
Oracle recommends that any customers who created applications prior to the December 2024 update modify the following Action menus to use the 2.0 version of the rules:
- Existing Actions
- New Hires Actions
Note that these action menus will be tracked as modified artifacts, and you must reverse your customizations and then re-apply them to take advantage of any new features for these menus in the future.
The prior versions of these rules will be deprecated sometime in the fourth calendar quarter of 2026.
Of course there are other items in the update that I did not cover, so you should read the full Oracle document and be prepared when environments are updated.
As always, happy EPM’ng!
Random EPM Notes 