Connector Between Concur Intelligence and Power BI from Microsoft

[new_phoenix]

It is my understanding that there are some suppliers who have a connector between the Cognos Data Warehouse in SAP Concur and Power BI from Microsoft. Can you confirm whether this functionality exists, and/or whether these suppliers are authorized to provide such a connection? SAP had previously indicated that the company is moving in the direction of API connectors to the data, so I am wondering if there are instructions for how clients could proceed with the development of an API connector to the Cognos Data Warehouse from SAP to either Power BI or Tableau, etc. 

The connector between Power BI from Microsoft and the Concur Intelligence Data Warehouse should be complete where the Power BI desktop could directly interact with the data elements from the data warehouse. Can you elaborate about whether it is possible to connect an external API to the Concur Intelligence Data Warehouse with providing a server name and database name with authentication?  If not, then why are there several suppliers asserting that they have already built a connector between the SAP Concur Data Warehouse (Concur Intelligence) and the Power BI desktop application from Microsoft? Thus, if they have done so successfully, then it must be possible to do so. Can you elaborate further?

[TRedman]

@new_phoenix Great questions!  SAP Concur currently has limited API's that can be used to populate 3rd party BI solutions (Power BI, Tableau, etc. ) as well as provide select Partners access to limited datasets.  I would encourage you to connect with your Account Manager to discuss if the Intelligence Extract Service, or Custom Extracts/APIs are the the right fit for your needs. 

Note, none of these options will provide you a complete copy of the Concur Intelligence Data Warehouse, access to the complete data set is not available today.  We are evaluating a Bulk API for future development, which would provide access to a larger dataset.  If this is a requirement I would again recommend you discuss with your Account Manager to share you needs, and pass those requirements on to myself or others on the Data & Analytics Product Strategy team.  We would welcome any use cases you have on the topic.  

[new_phoenix]

Hi, Tiffany -

How do you explain the availability of third party providers who already claim that they can connect Cognos to Power BI? Those companies have apparently developed connectors between the two enterprise systems. I have heard that data may be transferred to a folder on a regular basis so that the data is available to Power BI, but approach would not provide the accuracy that is required, since data may change, if you can see what I mean. A direct connector with complete connection would provide the most accurate data output, which could leverage all of the data visualization tools available in Power BI.

How do you explain the connectors that claim to be offered by third party suppliers? Examples include: Senturus and CDATA.
Senturus:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sxkatq3x_JE
CDATA:     https://www.cdata.com/kb/tech/concur-odbc-power-bi-report-server.rst

Here are my concerns regarding third party providers. My concern is that the data would not be equipped with the best security during transit, and that the transactional data and PII information may be "harvested" by the third party connector and processed within the servers for those third party providers. Not a good idea, because of the high level of confidential information and credit card financial information that is available. Not to mention that those third party providers would charge for their connector that would be difficult to sell to potential clients. I would much rather have the connector be supported and authorized by both Concur and Microsoft rather than trusting a third party provider for a connector, 

By the way, here is a message that was provided by CDATA regarding my inquiry, which in turn raises my concern level:  "Our SAP Concur Power BI Connector is not official certified by SAP or Microsoft. I can let you know that the APIs we connect to for Concur require SSL and our drivers in particular will use TLS 1.2 to transmit the data securely. Connections go straight from Concur to your machine and don't pass through CData's servers. We don't currently have any intention of pursuing certification with either SAP or Microsoft at this time, so if this is a requirement for you, we won't be able to provide what you're looking for."

Could Concur develop a valid data connector between the Cognos Data Warehouse for which the role of "Cognos Professional Author" must be valid in order to connect to the data with other security mechanisms put in place as well? I have security training/education and would rather utilize an authorized connector between both Concur and Microsoft. 

[TRedman · Accepted solution]

SAP Concur does not allow customers, or 3rd parties export the complete Cognos Data Warehouse for use in other tools.  As I mentioned, SAP Concur currently has limited API's that can be used to populate 3rd party BI solutions (Power BI, Tableau, etc. ) as well as provide Partners access to limited datasets.  I would encourage you to connect with your Account Manager to discuss if the existing solutions Intelligence Extract Service, or Custom Extracts/APIs are the the right fit for your needs.  

We are considering a Bulk API, or access to a larger set of Concur data.  I again encourage you to discuss your requirements with your Account Manager so they can pass those requirements on to the Product Management team for consideration.  

[new_phoenix]

Ok. I understand. My objective here was just to investigate the current status for whether a Bulk API is already in existence or not. Thank you for the clarification that it is not currently available. When the Bulk API is available, I would hope that there would be an announcement to all Concur profiles that have access to the "Cognos Professional Author" role and with a general publication in the upgrade newsletter so that we are aware of that significant upgrade.  I will contact our Concur Lead to review options such as the Custom Extracts/APIs that is currently available until the Bulk API becomes available.

[jmaldoj1]

Connect to concur

[salimladak]

@TRedman - Hi, I wanted to ask following your post in 2021 as to whether SAP Concur have any update relating to the then considerations of a Bulk API, or access to a larger set of Concur data - thank you. 

[new_phoenix]

Hi, @salimladak -

I have not heard any updates. If the APIs were opened up to utilize an SAP Concur connector, the reports would become much better, since Cognos has a lot of limitations.

As long as there were security put in place such as limiting the access to those who had "Cognos Professional Author" equivalents, then it should not be a problem from a security standpoint. After all, that is the level of access in Cognos with that permission, so why not extend it to an API?

There is the ability to extract bulk Cognos Reports to a server and to run output on the basis for those outputs. But, what if that information changes? The output would then become inaccurate.

Thus, an SAP Concur connector would provide accurate and up to date information. A SAP Connector with a BI application interface with Permissions requirements would be much better. Bear in mind, there is also the cost to companies of those API connectors to consider and the use of the BI software to consider as well.

[salimladak]

@new_phoenix very helpful, thanks!

[TRedman]

Yes, in fact if you review the SAP Roadmap Explorer for Travel & Expense  you will find reference to Data Delivery Service.  A new SAP Concur solution for automatic streaming of the customer's data back to them, effectively creating a data pipeline between SAP Concur solutions and the customer.  The first phase release will focus on Expense data, with Travel & Invoice to follow.