What you might have missed

Cognos Analytics has continued to evolve over the past decade, transforming from a developer-heavy reporting solution into a modern, AI-driven analytics platform designed to make insights accessible to everyone. With version 12, IBM has introduced significant enhancements that empower business users and analysts alike to work more efficiently and uncover deeper insights.

In the video below, I explore some of the most impactful updates in Cognos Analytics 12, including:

• Enhanced AI Assistant – Ask questions in natural language, generate visualizations instantly, and surface insights automatically.

• Narrative Insights & Forecasting – Built-in explanations and predictive analytics make it easier to understand trends and anticipate what comes next.

• Dashboard Improvements – From nested visualizations and cascading filters to conditional formatting, dashboards are now more dynamic and intuitive.

• Performance Upgrades – With local data caching, dashboards refresh faster, even when working with large, complex datasets.

These updates are just a fraction of the enhancements introduced in Cognos Analytics 12. Watch the full video to see these capabilities in action and learn how they can help your organization make smarter, data-driven decisions.

Cloud migration and modernisation

As organizations continue to modernize their analytics strategy, many are considering moving Cognos Analytics to the cloud. With version 11.1.7 already out of support and 11.2 reaching end of support in April 2026, now is an ideal time to evaluate both upgrades and deployment options.

In this video, I break down the key benefits of migrating Cognos Analytics to a cloud-based solution and explain the options available:

• Lower Maintenance & Reduced Costs – Eliminate infrastructure overhead with IBM-managed hosting, automated updates, and streamlined support.

• Deployment Options – Choose between Cognos Analytics Cloud Hosted (single-tenant) or Cognos Analytics on Cloud On-Demand (multi-tenant) to suit your organization’s needs.

• Seamless Upgrades & Continuous Innovation – Always stay on the latest release with zero disruption to your analytics workflows.

• Scalability & Performance – Leverage Kubernetes-based architecture and certified containers for improved agility, resilience, and cost efficiency.

• Security & Compatibility – Maintain enterprise-grade security while retaining full compatibility with Framework Manager and existing content stores.

Whether you’re upgrading from an older on-premises deployment or planning a full cloud migration, Cognos Analytics offers flexible paths designed to minimize disruption and maximize value. Watch the video below for a walkthrough of the migration process and what to expect at every stage.

IBM Watsonx BI: Smarter, Faster, and More Accessible Analytics

With the latest updates in Cognos Analytics 12 and the flexibility of deploying on the cloud, IBM continues to make analytics more powerful and more accessible. But the evolution doesn’t stop there. IBM Watsonx BI is a new AI-powered analytics agent designed to simplify the way business users consume insights.

In the demo video below, @Rodrigo de Andrade showcases how Watsonx BI enables users to interact with their data through a natural, conversational interface. Instead of building dashboards or writing queries, you can simply ask questions in plain language and instantly receive visualizations, explanations, and narrative insights.

By integrating seamlessly with IBM’s broader analytics ecosystem, Watsonx BI complements the capabilities of Cognos Analytics, making it easier than ever for everyone, from analysts to executives, to uncover and act on data-driven insights.

IBM’s Watsonx BI redefines analytics through an intuitive, business-user-first interface. In this demonstration, Rodrigo shows how effortlessly even non-technical users can interact with data.

In this video:

• Intuitive Natural-Language Queries
  Power your analysis with everyday language — no SQL or dashboard design needed.

• Instant Analytics Access
  Watsonx BI dynamically generates visuals and insights based on your request, making data truly self-serve.

• Inclusive Data Interaction
  Whether you're brainstorming queries or exploring data relationships, the video highlights how Watsonx BI caters to all user types by simplifying access and interpretation.

From the powerful enhancements in Cognos Analytics 12 to the flexibility of cloud deployment and the intuitive capabilities of Watsonx BI, IBM is redefining what’s possible in business intelligence. These innovations aren’t just about new features — they’re about empowering every user to explore data, uncover insights, and make smarter decisions faster.

Whether you’re upgrading to the latest version of Cognos Analytics, migrating to the cloud, or adopting Watsonx BI for AI-powered, conversational analytics, IBM provides a unified ecosystem designed to meet your organization’s evolving needs.

By combining robust enterprise-grade reporting, scalable cloud infrastructure, and cutting-edge AI assistance, IBM is helping businesses bridge the gap between data creation and data consumption — making analytics more seamless, accessible, and impactful than ever before.

If you’d like to learn more or explore these capabilities in detail contact me at z.king@ibm.com.