The September 2026 Oracle EPM updates are on the way. I am again a little later than others in getting my summary posted. Updates will go to test environments September 4th and prod environments September 18th.
Environments to Remain on One-off Patch or Manual Skip Update for a Maximum of Six Months
If you use EPM Automate skipUpdate command for three months, you can ask Oracle to skip updates for a maximum of three more months.
First Name Is Optional for EPM Users
This is an interesting change. When creating or updating users in Cloud EPM, you can omit a first name. The field is now optional and can be left blank. Apparently, there are customers that do want to provide first names of users in IDCS. I have not had such a request.
New Administering AI chapter
Guides for business processes (i.e. Planning, FreeForm, Narrative Reporting) now include a chapter that highlights AI features available in the business process. “Administering AI” will have links to documentation for steps to enable, administer, set up, and configure the AI feature. This should be very helpful information!
New Implementation Success Program for Conversational Interface
This is a customer focused initiative to increase the success rate of implementations of AI Agent conversational interfaces. The Implementation Success Program (ISP) supports customers who either currently use or plan to use ChatGPT/Codex, Claude, or other AI agents to create conversational experiences in EPM. A key objective is to identify REST API gaps.
Updates to the Get Insights and Get Insight Summary REST APIs
The REST APIs Get Insights and Get Insight Summary now accept both display labels (Forecast Variance & Bias, Prediction, Anomaly, and Period Movement Variance) and internal enum names (HISTORICAL_INSIGHTS, FUTURE_INSIGHTS, and MOVEMENT_VARIANCE_INSIGHTS) for the input type filter. This is being done for backward compatibility of the APIs.
Support for SQL for Complex Target Mappings in Quick Mode
Quick Mode in Data Integration will support SQL for complex target mappings. Previously, Quick Mode lacked the ability to handle complex transformation requirements. This update will allow us to preserve SQL based mapping logic, derive target values from multiple source columns, and reduce the need for custom preprocessing or extensive mapping redesign when moving integrations from Standard to Quick Mode.
New Video: Sankey Charts
Last month a new chart type was introduced. This overview video shows how Sankey Charts work and includes common use cases with the designer and runtime experiences.
Ability to Designate a Dashboard 2.0 as Default Landing Page
I like this one! A dashboard can now be designated as the default landing page. This is a personalized landing page, each user can select the dashboard they want to see when they login. At least that’s how I am interpreting it, will need to be tested as soon as the update hits our environments.
Fitted Values Are Now Supported for Dynamic Calc Members in Advanced Predictions
In Advanced Predictions, the Model Estimates line in the Explainability chart is now available for dynamic calc members. Model Estimates is also known as fitted values. Previously, only base members were supported for the explainability, now dynamic calc members can be used thereby providing better transparency into prediction accuracy.
Performance Enhancement for Some Allocation Rule Types
In EPCM, certain rules can be calculated in parallel. This will improve performance in models having many of these rules, calculation time can be notably reduced.
The Enhanced PCM Agent Now Supports Trace
The enhanced PCM Agent now supports trace commands. Remember that the original PCM Agent will no longer be available after the 26.10 (October) update.
Simplified FreeForm Application Creation
FreeForm application creation is now only available from the FreeForm business process option on the EPM landing page. Previously, a FreeForm application could be created from the landing page or from within the Planning application creation. This will provide a more consistent process and reduce confusion.
Dashboards Automatically Upgraded to Dashboard 2.0
Dashboards are being automatically updated to 2.0. with the 26.09 (September) update. This applies to dashboards in the Planning Modules (Capital, Financials, Workforce, Projects), Sales Planning, and Strategic Workforce Planning. Since custom dashboards are not mentioned, I assume they will not be automatically updated. I recommend you update to Dashboards 2.0 all your custom dashboards as well.
New runApplicationDiagnostics EPM Automate Command
The EPM Automate command runApplicationDiagnostics is now available. The Application Diagnostics report analyzes the application compliance with design best practices in the use of metadata, forms, and rules.
IMPORTANT Actions and Considerations
Generative AI Features Require Cloud EPM 26.04 or Later
Generative AI functionality is now provided only for environments running the April (26.04) or later update of Cloud EPM. Environments that are not upgraded to 26.04 or later no longer have access to Generative AI features.
Applies to: Account Reconciliation, Enterprise Data Management, Enterprise Profitability and Cost Management, Financial Consolidation and Close, FreeForm, Narrative Reporting, Planning, Profitability and Cost Management, Tax Reporting
Oracle Profitability and Cost Management Application Type Statement of Direction
The Oracle Profitability and Cost Management Application Type Statement of Direction provides an overview of the strategic plans and future direction of Oracle Profitability and Cost Management Cloud Service and Oracle Enterprise Performance Management Enterprise Cloud Service Profitability and Cost Management business process. Included is information about the change in Development focus to the newer Enterprise Profitability and Cost Management Application Type available exclusively with Enterprise Performance Management Enterprise Cloud Service.
Oracle Support Document 2955235.1 (Oracle Profitability and Cost Management Application Type Statement of Direction)
There are plenty of updates I did not highlight, including a lot for EDM. Read the full Oracle document for everything.
As always, happy EPM’ng!
Random EPM Notes 