Oracle Wants to Make FDM Classic Seem Really Old

Oracle recently released FDMEE 11.1.2.4. Back when Oracle rolled out Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) System Release 11.1.2.3 in 2013, FDMEE was missing a number of core FDM Classic features (e.g. support for file-based data loads and scripting). Since the initial release, the Oracle development team published several patch set updates; each delivering more FDM Classic features to FDMEE.

Now, with 11.1.2.4, FDMEE is FDM Classic and more. Like an aging superstar athlete in the twilight of a storied career, FDM Classic is looking ready to give way to its successor. Here are a few reasons why.
 

1. Web-enabled Application – FDM Classic comes with a Windows client called Workbench.  A Windows client is so 2005.  Like most other Oracle EPM applications, FDMEE is a fully Web enabled application.

 

2. Direct Connect to Any ERP System – Want to integrate data and metadata directly from an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) source system?  With FDM Classic, you will need to use the ERPi add-on module.  ERPi turns FDM Classic into a bit of a Frankenstein monster.  With FDMEE, this functionality is baked into one product.

 

3. Advanced Architecture – FDMEE’s underlying data transformation engine is Oracle Data Integrator (ODI).  ODI is a world-class data integration tool on par with Informatica.  FDM Classic doesn’t have ODI (unless you use it in conjunction with ERPi module).

 

4. EPM Data Sync – Oracle Hyperion FDMEE Release 11.1.2.4 introduced data synchronization to the product.  Using the data synchronization feature, you can now move data between EPM applications (e.g. from HFM to Planning).  FDM Classic does not have this capability.

 
 

5. Superior Performance on Exalytics – Want blazing data transformation performance using Exalytics, Oracle’s engineered system for EPM and BI systems?  FDM Classic isn’t an option; it can only run on Windows machines.  FDMEE and Exalytics, on the other hand, are a perfect combination, like peanut butter and jelly.

 
Still not convinced?  Think of FDM Classic as a BlackBerry Curve and FDMEE as an iPhone 6.  They’re both smartphones.  But one gives you rudimentary e-mail, contact management, and calendar capabilities. Yeah, it’s on a dull display, but it does the job.  The other device delivers these features with a superior user interface and a vibrant display. It also gives you access to the largest library of apps and music. Which would you choose? FDMEE. It’s an easy choice.