Financial reporting is becoming a more strategic part of enterprise performance management. Finance teams are no longer expected to simply produce reports after the close. They are expected to deliver timely insights, explain performance movements, support executive review, manage report packages, collaborate across stakeholders and reduce repetitive reporting administration.
Oracle Cloud EPM Reporting continues to evolve in this direction with enhancements across Report Packages, Reports, Smart View, Narrative Reporting and Generative AI. The August 2025 Cloud Customer Connect update covers general announcements, Report Package features, Reports features, Generative AI in Narrative Reporting and upcoming innovation areas.
For CFOs, controllers, FP&A leaders and EPM administrators, these updates point to a clear shift: reporting is moving from static report production to a more automated, collaborative and AI-supported operating model.
Why Reporting Modernization Matters
Many finance teams still spend significant time preparing reporting packs, refreshing data, validating numbers, exporting files, distributing reports and consolidating review comments. Even when the reporting system is strong, the surrounding process can remain manual.
Common reporting challenges include:
- Repeated manual refreshes
- Delays in report package preparation
- Limited collaboration inside reporting workflows
- Manual movement of report tables into Word or PowerPoint
- Heavy dependency on Excel exports
- Complex prompt handling
- Slow report design maintenance
- Limited narrative automation
- Difficulty summarizing notes and commentary
- Fragmented executive reporting outputs
Oracle’s latest reporting enhancements address these areas by improving automation, usability, design flexibility and AI-assisted narrative generation.
Updated Narrative Reporting Samples
Oracle has updated Narrative Reporting samples in 25.04. These updates include refreshed year dimension members, updated report packages and reports, a sample variable list for shared variables, changes to Sample Report 13c for GenAI commentary, and new reports and a book to support book prompts. This is useful for implementation teams because samples often act as practical starting points for training, design validation and internal demonstrations. Updated samples help organizations understand new reporting capabilities faster and apply them more confidently in their own environment.
Report Package Enhancements
Report Packages are essential for structured reporting cycles such as board reporting, management reporting, statutory packs and executive performance reviews.
Oracle’s latest Report Package enhancements include:
- Report Reference Doclets designating tables as available content
- New Embedded Content Panel in Smart View
- New Report Package Data Source Refresh job type
These improvements are focused on making report packages easier to prepare, maintain and refresh.
Report Reference Doclets as Available Content
Oracle now allows Report relational tables to be designated as sources for available content within Report Reference Doclets. This content can be embedded into Microsoft Word or PowerPoint doclets. When embedded in Word, report table objects are converted into Word tables. When embedded in PowerPoint, the table objects are converted into images. This helps reporting teams reduce manual copy-paste effort and maintain stronger consistency between source reports and published doclets. For finance teams preparing recurring packs, this can improve reporting control, reduce formatting effort and support more repeatable report assembly.
New Embedded Content Panel in Smart View
Oracle has introduced a new Embedded Content Panel in Smart View. Previously, available content and embedded content tasks were mainly accessed through Narrative Reporting ribbon buttons and dialogs. With the new panel, doclet authors can add available content from reference doclets and files, embed it into doclets and locate previously inserted embedded content in Word and PowerPoint. This improves the authoring experience for report package contributors. It gives users a more direct way to manage embedded content inside Smart View and reduces friction during report preparation.
Report Package Data Source Refresh Automation
A major Report Package enhancement is the new Report Package Data Source Refresh job type. Oracle states that this job can automate data source refresh within a Report Package. Users can run it immediately or schedule daily or weekly execution. They can also select the Report Package and choose whether to refresh all data sources or an individual data source. Completed jobs show execution details, including refresh execution time and doclets refreshed and updated. This is highly relevant for recurring reporting cycles. Instead of relying on manual refresh coordination, finance teams can create a more controlled refresh process. This supports better report readiness, fewer missed refresh steps and stronger governance over reporting timelines.
Reports Enhancements for Better Usability and Performance
Oracle’s Reports updates include Smart View 25.100 enhancements, native database suppression for Reports grids, prompt enhancements and new capabilities for Reports in the Cloud EPM Platform. These improvements strengthen the report design and consumption experience across both web and Smart View users.
Smart View 25.100 Reports Enhancements
Smart View 25.100 introduces two important Reports enhancements:
- Ability to insert multiple instances of the same report into a workbook
- A “Refresh All Reports” toolbar button to refresh all reports in the workbook
For finance users who work heavily in Excel, this can improve productivity. A single workbook can hold multiple report instances, and users can refresh the full reporting workbook more efficiently.
Native Database Suppression for Reports Grids
Oracle has added a new suppression option for Reports grids called Native Database suppression. This applies row suppression at the Oracle Essbase level instead of the business process level. Oracle notes that this reduces the amount of data on the business process side and eliminates the impact on Platform query thresholds. This is a meaningful performance and scalability improvement for reporting environments with large grids, complex dimensions or high-volume reporting requirements.
Prompt Enhancements in Reports and Books
Oracle has introduced several prompt enhancements across Reports and Books.
These include:
- Manual entry for prompts in reports and books
- Multi-select prompts within functions
- Dimension hierarchy in prompt choice lists
Manual prompt entry allows users to enter member unique names or aliases based on the prompt display setting. Multiple members can be entered for multi-select prompts using commas as separators, and member input is case sensitive. Invalid entries must be corrected before users can leave the dialog, except by cancelling. These enhancements give users and report designers more flexibility when working with dynamic report selections.
Multi-Select Prompts Within Functions
Previously, prompts used as parameters within member selection functions, such as Children (Prompt), supported only a single selection. Oracle now supports multi-select prompts within Children, Descendants and Bottom member selection functions. This helps report designers create more flexible report prompts and supports broader user-driven reporting analysis.
Dimension Hierarchy in Prompt Choice Lists
Oracle has improved prompt choice lists by allowing certain lists to render in hierarchy format instead of always displaying as flat lists. A prompt choice list using a single member selection function of Descendants or Descendants Inclusive can now be shown in hierarchy format to end users. Children and Bottom functions continue to display as flat lists with the parent member on top. This improves usability when users need to choose members from complex hierarchies.
Reports in the Cloud EPM Platform
Oracle has also enhanced Reports in the Cloud EPM Platform. Users can now open reports and books directly in Excel through an icon in the Platform Reports Library. Previously, users had to launch reports in HTML or PDF, or books in PDF, and then export to Excel, requiring the report or book to be run twice. Oracle recommends enabling Preview POV in user preferences so users can set the POV before launching the report or book in Excel. This is a practical productivity improvement for finance users who prefer Excel-based review.
New Report Manager Role
Oracle has introduced a new granular application role called Reports – Manage. All Platform application types will have this role activated and visible in the Manage Application Roles listing, allowing even a Planner or Viewer to view and manage reports where assigned. Oracle also notes that existing Power Users were migrated to include the Reports – Manage role in 25.05, and going forward, the core Power User role will need the Reports – Manage role for report designer capabilities. This matters for security and governance. Report design access can now be managed more precisely, helping organizations separate reporting responsibilities from broader application privileges.
Generative AI in Narrative Reporting
Oracle is expanding Generative AI capabilities in Narrative Reporting. The update includes:
- Improvements to the GenAI causality zoom use case
- Ability to exclude POV dimensions from GenAI text output
- Notes Summarization using GenAI
These capabilities are important because narrative reporting depends on explanation, not just numbers. Finance users need to describe exceptions, explain drivers and summarize commentary in a way that is accurate, concise and useful for decision-makers.
GenAI for Management Reporting Narratives
Oracle Reports can use Generative AI to generate narrative summaries in text boxes or text rows and columns. The supported use cases include:
- Describing exceptions where a condition is satisfied
- Describing causality for exceptions by identifying contributors
- Performing comparative analysis against prior periods
Oracle notes that this GenAI feature is currently available only in Enterprise license Narrative Reporting deployments, is not available in Oracle Enterprise Performance Management Cloud deployments, and is not available in all data centers. This distinction is important for adoption planning. Organizations should validate licensing and data center availability before designing GenAI reporting use cases.
How GenAI Narratives Work in Reports
Oracle exposes narrative generation through the conditional text framework. Conditional text is defined for rows, columns or cells. When the condition is satisfied, the GenAI service returns narrative text using the Conditional Text text function. Oracle also states that machine learning property files are used for each use case, providing examples that help generate narrative text through GenAI. This gives reporting teams a structured way to use AI-generated commentary rather than applying AI randomly.
Improved Causality Analysis
Oracle has enhanced the GenAI causality zoom use case. Previously, the causality use case described the top or bottom three contributing children for the selected analytic dimension. In 25.03, optional Auto Text Summary (ZOOM) parameters were added, including:
- Top or bottom number
- Auto Text Summary Zoom Type
- Auto Text Summary Level or Generation
This allows report designers to control how many contributors are returned and whether contributors are based on children, relative generation or level. For finance users, this creates more meaningful variance explanations because analysis depth can be configured based on reporting need.
Excluding POV Dimensions from GenAI Text Output
Oracle has added the ability to exclude POV dimensions from GenAI text output. Previously, GenAI text output typically referenced all grid POV dimensions, which could make the narrative verbose when the source cube had many dimensions. Now, report designers can control the inclusion of POV dimensions by hiding dimensions that should not appear in the text output. This improves readability and helps keep AI-generated commentary concise for executive reporting.
Notes Summarization Using GenAI
Oracle now supports GenAI-based Notes Summarization in Narrative Reporting. Notes can be summarized from either a Note segment or a Note text box. Summarization is available through designer setup in a text box, column or row, and also as an end-user action while previewing a report.
Oracle supports Notes Summarization through:
- Notes text function
- Grid Notes text function
- Summarize Grid Notes text function
- End-user Summarize Notes action
This can significantly improve reporting review. Instead of reading long note entries across multiple report areas, users can generate concise summaries that support faster understanding.
Notes Text Function
The Notes text function in a Note box now includes an optional parameter to summarize notes. When Summarize Notes = true, the notes in the Note text box are summarized using GenAI. When the parameter is false or not included, the note text box displays as defined without AI summarization. Oracle notes that Include Context is not available for summarized notes using the Note text function because the underlying data values for the notes are not available. This gives designers simple control over whether notes should be displayed as entered or summarized.
Grid Notes Text Function
The Grid Notes text function retrieves note text attached to a cell based on the selected Note Format and Note Template. It can be inserted into a text column, text row or text box. Oracle has added an optional parameter to summarize notes. When Summarize Notes = true, Grid Notes output is summarized using GenAI. When false or omitted, the function displays the notes without summarization. This is useful for reports that contain commentary attached to specific grid cells and need summarized explanation alongside financial values.
Summarize Grid Notes Text Function
The Summarize Grid Notes text function can be inserted into a text box and used to summarize notes that appear in a Note segment in a grid. Oracle states that this function is only available in a text box, not a text row or column, and requires a grid with a Note segment to be present in the report. This gives report designers another way to produce consolidated note summaries for report consumers.
End-User Summarize Notes Action
Oracle also allows end users to summarize notes while viewing a report. Users can choose Summarize Notes from the Actions menu. A pop-up dialog appears where the user can choose to include context and copy the summary to the clipboard. This is a practical end-user productivity feature because business reviewers can generate summaries on demand without needing a report designer to preconfigure every summary output.
New Notes Summarization ML Properties File
Oracle has added a new machine learning properties file containing examples for Notes Summarization. This supports more structured GenAI behavior by giving the service examples for how note summaries should be generated. For organizations, it reinforces the need to manage AI narrative design carefully so summaries are useful, consistent and aligned with reporting intent.
Future Direction for Cloud EPM Narrative Reporting
Oracle’s roadmap shows ongoing innovation across Narrative Reporting, Report Packages, Reporting, System capabilities and Generative AI. Recent highlights include management reporting narratives for variance, causality and period comparison, embedded content clarity in PowerPoint, shared variable lists, enhanced XBRL partner integration, EPM system reporting, book prompts, native job scheduling and bursting email improvements.
Areas in development include Office 365 support for Mac and browser, report package automation, Doclet Notes, reference variables sourced from reports, Oracle Analytics Cloud dashboards for embedded content, assisted authoring with GenAI, additional EPM system reporting schemas and insights reporting.
Looking ahead, Oracle identifies contextual data exploration, Data Exploration Analyst, Data Visualization Agent, Dynamic Visualization Assistant, OAC integration, ODA skills for reporting, process-reporting dashboards, remote report support, narrative generation for Report Packages and auto-translation. This future direction shows that EPM reporting is becoming more interactive, more AI-assisted and more connected across analytics and reporting workflows.
What This Means for Finance Leaders
The reporting function is becoming a controlled decision layer. These updates can help finance teams improve how reports are designed, refreshed, reviewed, distributed and explained.
The business impact includes:
- Faster report package preparation
- Reduced manual refresh dependency
- Better Smart View productivity
- More flexible report prompts
- Improved performance for large Reports grids
- Stronger report design governance
- More controlled report management access
- Better AI-generated narrative explanations
- Faster note summarization
- Improved variance commentary
- Stronger roadmap for AI-driven reporting
For finance leaders, the opportunity is not only to adopt new features. It is to redesign reporting as a more automated, governed and insight-driven process.
How NexInfo Can Help
NexInfo helps organizations modernize Oracle Cloud EPM Reporting with a practical focus on finance process improvement, report package governance, reporting automation and AI-enabled narrative readiness.
NexInfo’s enterprise delivery approach is strengthened by ISO 9001 Quality Management and ISO 27001 Information Security certifications, which support consistent delivery quality, operational governance and secure transformation practices. NexInfo has also received the AI-Enabled Workforce Excellence Award at the 1st Annual Long Beach Business AI Summit, reinforcing its focus on practical AI adoption across workforce enablement, enterprise systems and operational transformation.
NexInfo can support organizations with:
- Oracle EPM Reporting assessment
- Narrative Reporting optimization
- Report Package automation planning
- Report Reference Doclet design
- Embedded content strategy
- Smart View reporting enablement
- Data source refresh automation
- Reports migration and modernization
- Native suppression and performance review
- Prompt design and hierarchy planning
- Report Manager role governance
- GenAI narrative reporting readiness
- Notes Summarization configuration
- ML properties file governance
- Reporting roadmap planning
- User training and managed support
NexInfo helps finance teams convert Oracle EPM Reporting innovation into practical, governed and measurable reporting improvement.
Conclusion
Oracle Cloud EPM Reporting is becoming more automated, more collaborative and more AI-enabled. Enhancements across Report Packages, Reports, Smart View, prompts, data source refresh jobs, Report Manager security and GenAI Notes Summarization show a strong direction toward smarter finance reporting.
For organizations, the next step is not only feature adoption. It is reporting transformation. Finance teams need clear governance, structured report design, reliable automation, controlled access and AI-ready narrative processes. With the right roadmap, Oracle Cloud EPM Reporting can help organizations reduce manual reporting effort, improve executive insight and build a more scalable reporting operating model.
NexInfo helps organizations adopt Oracle Cloud EPM Reporting enhancements with Oracle EPM expertise, ISO-certified delivery governance, AI-enabled transformation experience and continuous support.
FAQ
What is Oracle Cloud EPM Reporting?
Oracle Cloud EPM Reporting includes Reports, books, Narrative Reporting, Report Packages, Smart View reporting, embedded content, bursting, notes, prompts and AI-assisted narrative capabilities.
What are the latest Oracle EPM Report Package enhancements?
Recent Report Package enhancements include Report Reference Doclets designating tables as available content, a new Embedded Content Panel in Smart View and a new Report Package Data Source Refresh job type.
What is Report Package Data Source Refresh?
Report Package Data Source Refresh is a job type that automates data source refresh within a Report Package. It can run immediately or be scheduled daily or weekly, with parameters to refresh all data sources or selected data sources.
What are the Smart View 25.100 Reports enhancements?
Smart View 25.100 allows users to insert multiple instances of the same report into a workbook and includes a Refresh All Reports toolbar button to refresh every report in the workbook.
What is Native Database suppression in Reports grids?
Native Database suppression applies row suppression at the Oracle Essbase level instead of the business process level, reducing data volume on the business process side and avoiding Platform query threshold impact.
What prompt enhancements are available in Reports?
Prompt enhancements include manual prompt entry, multi-select prompts within Children, Descendants and Bottom member selection functions, and hierarchy display for certain prompt choice lists.
What is the Reports – Manage role?
Reports – Manage is a granular application role for managing Reports in the Cloud EPM Platform. Oracle states that Power Users need this role going forward for report designer capabilities.
How does GenAI support Narrative Reporting?
GenAI supports management reporting narratives by describing exceptions, explaining causality for exceptions and performing comparative analysis against prior periods.
What is Notes Summarization using GenAI?
Notes Summarization uses GenAI to summarize notes sourced from Note segments or Note text boxes. It can be configured by report designers or used by end users from the Actions menu while previewing a report.
What is theSummarizeGridNotestext function?
Summarize Grid Notes is a text function inserted into a text box to summarize notes that appear in a Note segment in a grid. It requires a grid with a Note segment to be present in the report.
What future capabilities are planned for Oracle EPM Reporting?
Oracle identifies future areas such as contextual data exploration, Data Exploration Analyst, Data Visualization Agent, Dynamic Visualization Assistant, OAC integration, ODA skills for reporting, narrative generation for Report Packages and auto-translation.
How can NexInfo help with Oracle Cloud EPM Reporting?
NexInfo can help with Oracle EPM Reporting assessment, Narrative Reporting optimization, Report Package automation, Smart View enablement, prompt design, report governance, GenAI Notes Summarization, reporting roadmap planning, user training and managed support.